JP2011076182A - Printing system, printer, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain a memory volume for preparing print data from getting insufficient to make impossible the preparation of the print data, and to restrain printing from being not carried out smoothly because requiring time for the preparation of the print data, in a printer. <P>SOLUTION: The printer obtains a URL indicating positional information of a content stored by a server, and transmits the URL to an information processor. The information processor obtains the content from the server, based on the URL, when receiving the URL from the printer, and prepares the print data. The information processor transmits the print data to the printer. The printer executes printing processing, based on the print data transmitted from the information processor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that transmits print data, a printing system that includes a printing apparatus that receives and prints the print data, the printing apparatus, and a program that controls the information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in accordance with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) acquired from another device, content is directly acquired from a server via an Internet line without using a client terminal, and print data is created based on the acquired content. A printing apparatus that executes printing is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-355498

  However, in some cases, the printing apparatus has a smaller amount of memory and a processing capacity for creating print data is lower than that of a client terminal (personal computer) or the like. In such a case, the printing apparatus as described in the background art described above may not be able to create print data because the amount of memory for creating print data may be insufficient depending on the type of content and the amount of data acquired. It takes time to create data, and there is a possibility that printing cannot be performed smoothly. The present invention provides a technique capable of eliminating such inconvenience.

  A first problem-solving means that reflects the present invention includes an information processing apparatus that can communicate with a server that stores content, a printing apparatus that can communicate with the information processing apparatus, and that executes printing based on received print data. , Wherein the printing apparatus acquires a URL indicating the location information of the content, and a URL transmission means for transmitting the URL acquired by the URL acquisition means to the information processing apparatus. And print data receiving means for receiving, from the information processing apparatus, print data relating to the content acquired based on the URL transmitted by the URL transmitting means. URL receiving means for receiving the URL, and the content from the server based on the URL received by the URL receiving means. Content acquisition means for acquiring prints, print data generation means for generating the print data based on the content acquired by the content acquisition means, and print for transmitting the print data generated by the print data generation means to the printing apparatus And a data transmission unit.

  According to this printing system, even when the URL of the content to be printed is acquired in the printing apparatus, the acquisition of the content and creation of the print data can be entrusted to the information processing apparatus. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of an event in which the amount of memory for creation is insufficient and print data cannot be created, or it takes time to create print data and printing cannot be performed smoothly.

  According to a second problem solving means, the printing apparatus includes a first print setting value storage means for storing a print setting value relating to creation of print data in the information processing apparatus, and the URL transmission means includes the first printing The print setting value stored by the setting value storage means and the URL are transmitted, and the URL receiving means receives the URL and the print setting value from the printing apparatus, and the print data creation means Is a printing system that creates print data based on the print setting value received by the URL receiving means.

  According to this printing system, it is possible to output a printed matter printed with a print setting value desired by the user of the printing apparatus.

  According to a third problem solving unit, the information processing apparatus includes a second print setting value storage unit that stores a print setting value related to generation of print data by the print data generation unit, and the print data generation unit includes: A printing system is characterized in that print data is created based on a print setting value stored by a second print setting value storage means.

  According to this printing system, it is possible to print with a print setting value desired by a user of an information processing apparatus that creates print data.

  According to a fourth problem-solving unit, the information processing apparatus includes a first determining unit that determines whether the URL receiving unit has received a print setting value for generating print data by the print data generating unit together with the URL. And the print data creation means performs printing based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage means when the first determination means determines that the print setting value has not been received. A printing system characterized by creating data.

  According to this printing system, since the print setting value is not set in the printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent a problem that the print data cannot be created in the information processing apparatus.

  According to a fifth problem solving means, when the URL receiving means receives the URL and the print setting value, the information processing apparatus can use the received print setting value by the print data creating means. A second determination unit configured to determine whether or not the print setting value is satisfied; and when the second determination unit determines that the print setting value can be used, the print data generation unit performs printing using the received print setting value. On the other hand, when it is determined that the print setting value is not an available print setting value, the print system generates print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit. It is.

  According to this printing system, it is possible to prevent a problem that an inappropriate print setting value is set by the printing apparatus and print data cannot be created due to the inappropriate print setting value.

  According to a sixth problem solving means, the URL obtaining means obtains the title character string of the content and the URL, and the printing apparatus obtains the title character string obtained by the URL obtaining means, A title character string storage unit that associates and stores the URL in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs the title character string; and the print data transmission unit generates the print data and generates the print data. The URL is transmitted to the printing apparatus, the print data receiving unit receives the print data and the URL for generating the print data from the information processing apparatus, and the output unit includes: The title character string stored in the storage unit is output in association with the URL received by the print data receiving unit. Is Temu.

  According to this printing system, a user of a printing apparatus viewing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

  In a seventh problem solving means, the URL obtaining means obtains the title character string of the content and the URL, and the printing apparatus obtains the title character string obtained by the URL obtaining means, Title character string storage means for storing the identification information for identifying the content in association with each other in the storage unit; and output means for outputting the title character string, wherein the URL transmission means includes the URL and the identification information. Is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the URL receiving means receives the URL and the identification information from the printing apparatus, and the print data transmitting means is configured to generate the print data and the print data. Together with the URL, the identification information received by the URL receiving means is transmitted to the printing apparatus, and the print data receiving means transmits the information processing device. The print data and the identification information are received, and the output means outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information received by the print data reception means. This is a printing system.

  According to this printing system, a user of a printing apparatus viewing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

  The eighth problem solving means is a printing system wherein the output means prints out the title character string on a recording medium together with the print data received by the print data receiving means.

  According to this printing system, the user can easily determine which content is a printed matter by looking at the recording medium.

  According to a ninth problem-solving means, the printing apparatus includes a display unit that displays the title character string, and the output unit displays and outputs the title character string on the display unit. System.

  According to this printing system, the user of the printing apparatus can determine which content the print data sent from the information processing apparatus is the print data by looking at the displayed title character string. .

  A tenth problem solving means includes content acquisition means for acquiring content from a server that stores content based on a URL received from another device, print data generation means for generating print data based on the acquired content, A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus comprising: a print data transmission unit configured to transmit the print data to another apparatus; a URL acquisition unit configured to acquire a URL indicating position information of the content; and the URL URL transmission means for transmitting the URL acquired by the acquisition means to the information processing apparatus, and print data for receiving print data created by the information processing apparatus based on the URL transmitted by the URL transmission means from the information processing apparatus And a printing process based on the print data received by the receiving means and the print data receiving means. A printing unit for performing a printing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to this printing apparatus, even if the URL of the content to be printed is acquired in the printing apparatus, content acquisition and print data creation can be entrusted to the information processing apparatus. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of an event in which the amount of memory for creation is insufficient and print data cannot be created, or it takes time to create print data and printing cannot be performed smoothly.

  The eleventh problem solving means comprises first print setting value storage means for storing a print setting value relating to creation of print data in the information processing apparatus, and the URL transmission means is controlled by the first print setting value storage means. The stored print setting value and the URL are transmitted, and the print data receiving unit converts the print data created based on the print setting value stored by the first print setting value storage unit into the information processing. A printing apparatus that receives the information from the apparatus.

  According to this printing apparatus, it is possible to output a printed matter printed with a print setting value desired by the user of the printing apparatus.

  In a twelfth problem solving means, the information processing apparatus transmits the print data and the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus, and the URL acquisition means includes the title of the content. Title character string storage means for acquiring a character string and the URL, and storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means in association with the URL in a storage unit; and the title character string Output means for outputting the print data, wherein the print data receiving means receives the print data and the URL for creating the print data from the information processing apparatus, and the output means receives the print A printing apparatus that outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with a URL received by a data receiving unit. .

  According to this printing apparatus, the user of the printing apparatus viewing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

  In a thirteenth problem solving means, the information processing apparatus transmits the print data and identification information for identifying content relating to the print data creation to the printing apparatus, and the URL acquisition means includes: A title character string for acquiring the title character string of the content and the URL, and storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means in association with identification information for identifying the content in a storage unit Column storage means and output means for outputting the title character string, the URL transmission means transmits the URL and the identification information to the information processing apparatus, and the print data reception means The print data and identification information for identifying the content related to the print data creation are received from the information processing apparatus, and the output means receives the print A printing device and outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information received by over data receiving means.

  According to this printing apparatus, the user of the printing apparatus viewing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

  A fourteenth problem solving means is the printing apparatus, wherein the output means causes the printing means to print out the title character string on a recording medium together with the print data received by the print data receiving means. .

  According to this printing apparatus, the user can easily determine which content is a printed matter by looking at the recording medium.

  A fifteenth problem solving means includes a display unit that displays the title character string, and the output unit displays and outputs the title character string on the display unit.

  According to this printing apparatus, the user can determine which content the print data sent from the information processing apparatus is print data by looking at the displayed title character string.

  A sixteenth problem solving means is a program for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a server that stores content and a printing apparatus that transmits a URL indicating position information of the content. Based on the URL receiving means for receiving the URL from the printing apparatus, the content acquiring means for acquiring the content from the server based on the URL received by the URL receiving means, and the content acquired by the content acquiring means. And a print data creation unit that creates the print data and a print data transmission unit that sends the print data created by the print data creation unit to the printing apparatus.

  According to this program, even if the printing apparatus has the URL of the content to be printed, the content acquisition and the creation of print data can be entrusted to the information processing apparatus. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of an event in which the amount of memory for creating the print data is insufficient and the print data cannot be created, or the print data creation takes time and the printing cannot be performed smoothly.

  According to a seventeenth problem solving means, the printing apparatus transmits the URL and a print setting value relating to creation of print data in the information processing apparatus, and the URL receiving means receives from the printing apparatus. The program is characterized in that the URL and the print setting value are received, and the print data creating means creates print data based on the print setting value received by the URL receiving means.

  According to this program, it is possible to output a printed matter printed with a print setting value desired by the user of the printing apparatus.

  The eighteenth problem solving means comprises second print setting value storage means for storing print setting values relating to creation of print data by the print data creation means, and the print data creation means stores the second print setting value storage. According to another aspect of the present invention, a print data is created based on a print setting value stored by the means.

  According to this program, it is possible to print with a print setting value desired by the user of the information processing apparatus that creates the print data.

  A nineteenth problem solving means comprises first judgment means for judging whether the URL receiving means has received a print setting value for creation of print data by the print data creation means together with the URL, and the print data creation And means for creating print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage means when the first determination means determines that the print setting value is not received. It is a featured program.

  According to this program, since the print setting value is not set in the printing apparatus, it is possible to prevent a problem that the print data cannot be created in the information processing apparatus.

  In a twentieth problem solving means, if the URL receiving means receives the URL and the print setting value, whether or not the received print setting value is a print setting value that can be used by the print data creation means. The print data creation means creates print data with the received print setting value when the second judgment means determines that the print setting value can be used. When it is determined that the print setting value is not usable, the print data is created based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit.

  According to this program, it is possible to prevent a problem that an inappropriate print setting value is set by the printing apparatus and print data cannot be created due to the inappropriate print setting value.

  In a twenty-first problem solving means, the printing apparatus stores the title character string of the content stored in the server in association with the URL, and corresponds to the URL transmitted from the information processing apparatus. The title character string is output, and the print data transmission unit transmits the print data and the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus.

  According to this program, the user of the printing apparatus browsing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

  In a twenty-second problem solving means, the printing apparatus stores the title character string of the content stored in the server in association with identification information for identifying the content, and stores the URL and the identification information. The title character string transmitted to the information processing apparatus and stored in association with the identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus is output, and the URL receiving means includes the URL, the identification information, From the printing apparatus, and the print data transmitting means transmits the print data and the identification information received by the URL receiving means together with the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus. Is a program characterized by

  According to this program, the user of the printing apparatus browsing the output title character string can determine which content is the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system and functional blocks of a printer and a PC included in the printing system. It is the flowchart which showed instruction data transmission processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing application main process. It is the flowchart which showed the printing process. It is a figure which shows an example of the display mode of the various information displayed on the display part of the printer. It is a figure which shows the instruction data transmitted to PC from a printer.

  Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a printer 10, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 20, a content providing server 30, and a router 50. The printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 has one printer 10, one PC 20, and one content providing server 30, but these numbers can be changed as appropriate.

  The content providing server 30 has a configuration equivalent to a known server computer, is connected to the Internet line 60, and has a plurality of contents. Furthermore, the content providing server 30 stores RSS (Rich Site Summary) type feed information including a plurality of pieces of content information that is information related to the content.

  The content information includes a title character string indicating the title of the content, a content URL indicating the storage location of the content, a summary character string that is a character string that summarizes the content details, and the like. The content providing server 30 provides feed information and content in response to a request from the printer 10 or the PC 20. Examples of the content include a web page including text and images.

  The printer 10 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown). A control unit 11 that controls each operation of the printer 10 based on a program stored in the ROM, and a local area network line (hereinafter, referred to as a “printer”). A network interface (hereinafter referred to as “network I / F”) 12 connected to the content providing server 30 and the PC 20, an operation unit 13 for receiving instructions from the user of the printer 10, and various types of information. A display unit 14 for displaying, a printing unit 15, and a storage unit 16 that includes a flash memory and stores various information. In addition, the control part 11 and each part 12-16 are mutually connected via the bus line.

  The storage unit 16 includes a URL storage area 161 and a print setting value storage area 165. The URL storage area 161 stores the position information of the feed information stored in the content providing server 30, that is, the feed information acquisition destination URL 163 that is position information indicating the acquisition destination of the feed information. The feed information acquisition destination URL 163 may be input and stored when the user of the printer 10 operates the operation unit 13.

  The print setting value storage area 165 stores a print setting value used when instructing the PC 20 to create print data for each setting item that needs to be set when the print data is created. As setting items, for example, there are PaperType (paper type), Quality (print quality), Papersize (paper size), and PageLayout (page layout). In addition, as print setting values set in the setting items, there are Plain Paper / Inkjet Paper / Photo Paper / Other for the setting item PaperType, and A4 / Letter / A5 / A6 / Postcard for the setting item Papersize, Regarding the setting item PageLayout, there is Normal / 2 in 1/4 in 1. In the present embodiment, a case where the print setting value corresponding to the setting item Quality is not stored in the print setting value storage area 165 will be described. In the present embodiment, when print setting values that can be set in the setting items are stored in the print setting value storage area 165, the print setting values that are set by default are determined for each setting item. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the above four setting items (PaperType, Quality, Papersize, and PageLayout) are setting items that require setting of print setting values when executing printing.

  The control unit 11 acquires feed information from the content providing server 30 based on the feed information acquisition destination URL 163 according to a program stored in the ROM. The control unit 11 displays content information included in the acquired feed information on the display unit 14. In the present embodiment, displaying content information is to display the title character string included in each piece of content information included in the acquired feed information on the display unit 14 as indicating each piece of content information. However, not only the title character string but also the content URL or summary character string included in the content information may be displayed on the display unit 14 as indicating each content information. In order to identify the content information to the user, Any one of various types of information included in the content information may be displayed for each content information, and various display forms can be employed.

  When the title character string displayed on the display unit 14 is selected by the user via the operation unit 13, the control unit 11 displays a summary character string included in the content information including the selected title character string. Displayed on the unit 14. Further, when a print instruction is input by the user, the content URL included in the content information including the title character string and the summary character string is transmitted to the PC 20. When the network I / F 12 receives the print data transmitted from the PC 20, the control unit 11 causes the printing unit 15 to execute print processing according to the print data.

  The PC 20 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and is connected to the control unit 21 that controls each operation of the PC 20 based on a program stored in the ROM and the LAN 40, and the content providing server 30. And a network I / F 22 that communicates with the printer 10, an operation unit 23 that receives instructions from the user of the PC 20, a display unit 24 that displays various types of information, a hard disk and the like, and a storage unit 25 that stores various types of information. It is equipped with. The control unit 21 and the units 22 to 25 are connected to each other via a bus line.

  Further, the CPU included in the PC 20 has a higher calculation speed than the CPU included in the printer 10. Further, the RAM capacity of the PC 20 is larger than the RAM capacity of the printer 10. Examples of the program stored in the ROM include a driver program for controlling the printer 10, a print application program described later, and a web browser as a display application for displaying content. And various function means are comprised because CPU runs the program memorize | stored in ROM on RAM.

  The storage unit 25 includes a print setting value storage area 251. The print setting value storage area 251 stores print setting values for each of a plurality of setting items that require setting of print setting values when creating print data. Those print setting values that can be handled by the driver program, in other words, those that can be used by the driver program as print setting values are stored. As setting items, for example, there are PaperType (paper type), Quality (print quality), Papersize (paper size), and PageLayout (page layout). In addition, as print setting values set in the setting items, there are Plain Paper / Inkjet Paper / Photo Paper / Other for the setting item PaperType, Normal / Fast / Fine for the setting item Quality, and the setting item Papersize. Is A4 / Letter / A5 / A6 / Postcard, and there is Normal for the setting item PageLayout. In these print setting values, a default print setting value is determined for each setting item, and when the instruction data acquired from the printer 10 does not include the print setting value, the default print setting value is used. Print data.

  In the present embodiment, the setting item and print setting value stored in the print setting value storage area 165 of the printer 10 and the setting item and print setting value stored in the print setting storage area 251 of the PC 20 are set in the setting item PageLayout. The print setting values “2 in 1” and “4 in 1” are not stored in the print setting storage area 251 of the PC 20, and the print setting values for the setting item Quality are stored in the print setting storage area 251. The memorized point is different.

  The control unit 21 accesses the content providing server 30 according to the print application program stored in the ROM, and acquires content data for displaying the content. Based on the content data, the content is displayed on the display unit 24, the print data is created according to the print setting value stored in the print setting value storage area 251, and the produced print data is transmitted to the printer 20. In this embodiment, when content is described as being acquired, it may be described in the meaning of acquiring content data for displaying the content.

  Hereinafter, an instruction data transmission process executed by the control unit 11 of the printer 10 based on a program stored in the ROM of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The instruction data transmission process is started when a feed information acquisition instruction is received from the user via the operation unit 13.

  When the instruction data transmission process is started, the control unit 11 executes a feed information acquisition process and acquires feed information (S202). The feed information acquisition processing is processing for acquiring feed information from the content providing server 30 based on the feed information acquisition destination URL 163 stored in the URL storage area 161.

  The control part 11 displays the title character string contained in each of the some content information contained in the feed information acquired by the process of S202 on the display part 14 (S204). FIG. 5A is an example of a display mode of the title character string displayed in S204. The title character strings 502 are displayed as many as the number of content information included in the feed information. In this embodiment, as described above, the title character strings 502 included in each content information are displayed as a list as information for specifying the content information. However, the content URL and the summary character string included in each content information are displayed. May be displayed.

  Then, the control unit 11 stands by until one of the displayed title character strings 502 is selected by the operation of the operation unit 13 by the user (S206: NO), and when selected (S206: YES), The summary character string included in the content information including the selected title character string 502 is displayed on the display unit 14 (S208). FIG. 5B is an example of a display form of the summary character string displayed in S208. In addition to the summary character string 504, a View button 506 that allows the user to select a content in which the content indicated by the summary character string 504 is described in detail on the display unit 24 of the PC 20, and the content indicated by the summary character string 504 A Print button 508 that is selected by the user to print the content described in detail is displayed.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the View 506 button has been selected (S210). If it is determined that the View 506 button has been selected (S210: YES), the control unit 11 together with the displayed content information including the summary character string 504 Instruction data for displaying content acquired based on the included content URL on the display unit 24 of the PC 20 is transmitted (S212). As shown in FIG. 6A, the instruction data includes a content URL 602 for specifying content to be displayed and a display command 604 for instructing the PC 20 to display the content. When the instruction data is transmitted to the PC 20, the control unit 11 shifts the process to S204 again and displays a list of content information.

  On the other hand, in the process of S210, when the control unit 11 determines that the View button 506 is not selected (S210: NO), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the Print button 508 is selected (S214). If it is determined that the Print button 508 has not been selected (S214: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to S210.

  When determining that the Print button 508 has been selected (S214: YES), the control unit 11 displays a print setting screen as shown in FIG. 5C (S216). In the present embodiment, a plurality of setting items that require setting of print setting values to execute printing are displayed on the display unit 14 and the default print setting values stored in the print setting value storage area 165 are read. Is displayed and set for each setting item.

  In the print setting screen, a confirmation button 510 is displayed. The confirmation button 510 is a button for transmitting instruction data to the PC 20 so as to create print data with print setting values set in each setting item when selected by the user via the operation unit 13.

  In the print setting screen, the control unit 11 determines whether the print setting value of each setting item has been changed by the user via the operation unit 13 (S218). In the present embodiment, the user selects an arbitrary print setting value from a plurality of print setting values stored in the print setting storage area 165 by operating the operation unit 13, and from the default print setting value for each setting item. Can be changed.

  If it is determined that the print setting value has been changed (S218: YES), the changed print setting value is set as a setting item and stored in the RAM (S220), and it is determined whether the confirm button 510 has been selected. (S222).

  If the print setting value of each setting item is not changed (S218: NO), the control unit 11 moves the process to S222. Then, the control unit 11 waits until the confirm button 510 is pressed (S222: NO), and determines that the confirm button 510 is pressed (S222: YES), the summary character string 504 displayed in the process of S208. The instruction data for instructing the creation of print data based on the content specified by the content URL included together with the content information including is transmitted to the PC 20 (S224).

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the instruction data includes a content URL 602 for specifying the content for which print data is to be created, a print command 606 for instructing the creation of print data, and a confirmation button 510 in the process of S222. A print setting value 608 for each setting item that was set when is selected, and an IP address 610 of the printer 10 are included. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which Plain Paper is set in the setting item PaperType, A4 is set in the setting item Papersize, 4 in 1 is set in the setting item PageLayout, and no setting value is set in the setting item Quality.

  Next, the control unit 11 stores the content URL 602 included in the instruction data transmitted to the PC 20 and the title character string 502 included in the content information including the content URL 602 in association with each other in the RAM (S226). The process proceeds again to S204 to display a list of title character strings.

  The instruction data transmission process is repeated from the process of S204 until a predetermined key (not shown) of the operation unit 13 is pressed. When the predetermined key is pressed, the instruction data transmission process is performed. finish.

  Next, a print application main process executed by the control unit 21 of the PC 20 based on a program stored in the ROM of the PC 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The PC 20 monitors the data transmitted from the printer 10 by executing a print application program when the PC 20 is activated. The print application main process described below is started on condition that instruction data is received from the printer 10.

  First, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the command included in the received instruction data is a print command 606 (S302). If it is determined that the command included in the received instruction data is not the print command 606, that is, if the command included in the received instruction data is determined to be the display command 604 (S302: NO), the control unit 21 Based on the content URL 602 included in the instruction data, content data for displaying the content on the display unit 24 is acquired from the content providing server 30 (S304). And the control part 24 displays a content on the display part 24 based on the acquired content data using a web browser (S306), and complete | finishes a printing application main process.

  On the other hand, when determining that the command included in the received instruction data is the print command 606 (S302: YES), the control unit 21 acquires content data from the content providing server 30 based on the content URL 602 included in the instruction data. (S308).

  Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not print setting values have been set in all the setting items that require setting of print setting values when creating print data in the received instruction data (S310). . When it is determined that the print setting value corresponding to each of the setting items is not set, that is, there is a setting item for which no print setting value is set among a plurality of setting items (S310: NO). The control unit 21 sets the print setting value stored in the print setting value storage area 251 for the setting item for which the print setting value is not set (S312). In the present embodiment, a default print setting value determined in advance for each setting item is set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the user appropriately selects from print setting values stored in the print setting value storage area 251. It may be possible to set it.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, in the instruction data in FIG. 6B, the print setting value of the setting item Quality is not set in the print setting value 608. Therefore, in step S312, the control unit 21 sets the default print setting value stored in the print setting value storage area 251 for the setting item Quality.

  If it is determined that print setting values have been set for all setting items that require setting of print setting values when creating print data (S310: YES), the controller 21 controls the printer 10. It is determined whether or not a print setting value that is not supported by the program, that is, a print setting value that cannot be used by the driver program is set in any setting item (S314).

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, in the instruction data of FIG. 6B, the print setting value is set as “4 in 1” in the setting item PageLayout in the print setting value 608, but as described above. In the driver program of the PC 20, “4 in 1” is not stored in the print setting storage area 251 as the print setting value, and the print setting value “4 in 1” cannot be used. That is, the printer program provided in the PC 20 cannot create print data with a 4 in 1 page layout. As described above, when a print setting value that is not stored in the print setting storage area 251 is set in the setting item, it is determined that the driver program is not compatible.

  If the driver program determines that an incompatible print setting value is set (S314: YES), the control unit 21 prints the setting item for which the incompatible print setting value is set. The print setting value stored in the setting value storage area 251 is set (S316). In other words, in this embodiment, the driver program cannot use the print setting value “4 in 1” as the setting item PageLayout. Therefore, the setting item PageLayout is stored in the print setting storage area 251 that can be handled by the driver program. “Normal” is set. As the print setting value set in S316, a default print setting value may be set.

  On the other hand, when the driver program determines that the incompatible print setting value is not set (S314: NO), the control unit 21 is preset in the instruction data based on the content data acquired in the process of S308. Print data is created according to the print setting value or the print setting value newly set in S312 and S316 (S318).

  Then, based on the IP address 610 included in the instruction data, the generated print data and the content URL 602 (content URL 602 included in the instruction data) related to the generation of the print data are generated for the printer 10 that is the instruction data transmission source. Is transmitted (S320), and the application main process is terminated.

  Next, a printing process executed by the control unit 11 of the printer 10 based on a program stored in the ROM of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The print process is started on condition that print data is received from the PC 20.

  The control unit 11 determines whether the content URL 602 is received together with the print data (S402). If it is determined that the content URL 602 is not received together with the print data (S402: NO), normal print processing is executed (S404), and the print processing is terminated. Note that the normal printing process is a process that performs printing based only on print data without displaying a title character string corresponding to a content URL 602 described later or printing a title character string, and is a well-known printing technique. The description is omitted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the content URL 602 is received together with the print data (S402: YES), the control unit 11 reads the title character string stored in the RAM in association with the content URL 602 in the process of S226 of FIG. 2 (S406). The title character string is set as a print target together with the received print data (S408). And the process which prints print data and a title character string on a recording medium is started (S410).

  When the printing based on the print data is started, the control unit 11 displays the title character string read in S406 on the display unit 14 until the printing is completed (S412, S414: NO), and when the printing is completed (S414). : YES), this print processing is terminated.

  Here, the content providing server 30 is an example of a server, the printer 10 is an example of a printing apparatus, and the PC 20 is an example of an information processing apparatus. In addition, the process (S202) is an example of a URL acquisition unit, the process (S224) is an example of a URL transmission unit, and the description of receiving print data as a print process start condition in FIG. 4 is an example of a print data reception unit. It is. Further, the description of receiving the content URL as a condition for starting the application main process in FIG. 3 is an example of the URL receiving unit, the process (S308) is an example of the content acquiring unit, and the process (S318) is the print data generating unit. It is an example.

  The process (S320) is an example of the print data transmission unit, the print setting value storage area 165 is an example of the first print setting value storage unit, and the print setting value storage area 251 is the second print setting value storage unit. It is an example. Further, the process (S310) is an example of a first determination unit, and the process (S314) is an example of a second determination unit. The RAM of the printer 10 is an example of a storage unit, the process (S226) is an example of a title character string storage unit, and the processes (S410, S412) are an example of an output unit. The content URL transmitted to the PC 20 in the process (S224) is an example of identification information.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the printer 10 that has acquired the content URL indicating the storage location of the content transmits the content URL to the PC 20. The PC 20 acquires content data from the server 30 according to the content URL, and creates print data. The PC 20 transmits the print data to the printer 10. The printer 10 executes printing based on the print data received from the PC 20. Therefore, even when the printer 10 has the content URL of the content to be printed, content data acquisition and print data creation can be entrusted to the PC 20, so a memory for print processing in the printer 10. It is possible to reduce the amount of use, and to suppress print data creation failure due to a memory shortage, and to prevent the smooth execution of print processing due to a memory shortage.

  Further, since the printer 10 transmits the print setting value to the PC 20, when the print data is generated in the PC 20, the print data can be generated using the print setting value. Therefore, the printing process can be performed with the print setting value desired by the user of the printer 10.

  Further, the PC 20 can create print data by using print setting values stored in the own apparatus. Therefore, the printing process can be performed with the print setting value desired by the user of the PC 20. Further, when the print setting value is not sent from the printer 10, the PC 20 can create print data using the print setting value stored in the self apparatus, so that the print setting value is set in the printing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the print data cannot be created.

  Further, when the print setting value transmitted from the printer 10 cannot be handled by the driver program that controls the printer 10, that is, cannot be used, the PC 20 uses the print setting value stored in its own device. Thus, print data can be created. Therefore, an inappropriate print setting value is set by the printer 10. Occurrence of a situation in which print data cannot be created due to the inappropriate print setting value can be suppressed.

  Further, the printer 10 stores the title character string of the content and the content URL as identification information for identifying the content in association with each other, and the PC 20 stores the print data and the content URL for creating the print data in the printer. 10 to send. The printer 10 can output a title character string associated with the transmitted content URL. Thereby, the user of the printer 10 can determine which content the print data received by the printer 10 is. The output of the title character string can be printed out on a recording medium together with the printing of the print data, so that the user browsing the recording medium can easily determine which content the recording medium relates to. Since the output of the title character string is displayed on the display unit 14 of the printer 10, which print data is being printed by the user of the printer 10 even when the print data is being printed? Can be easily determined.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, although the content providing server 30 has a plurality of contents, it may have only one content. Moreover, you may provide the one content information regarding it.

  In addition, although the information displayed on the display unit 14 in the process of S204 is a title character string, the information is not limited to a character string such as a title character string. For example, when an image is included in the content information The image may be displayed as specifying the content information.

  In addition, the content URL is transmitted and received between the printer 10 and the PC 20 as identification information for identifying the content in order to acquire content data in S308 and to read out the title character string in S406. It is not limited to. For example, in S224, a predetermined character (number, symbol, etc.) can be transmitted as identification information together with the content URL for creating print data, and the predetermined character and title character string can be stored in association in S226. . Then, when receiving the predetermined character from the printer 10, the PC 20 may transmit the predetermined character string together with the print data to the printer 10 in S320. In step S <b> 406, the printer 10 may read the title character string stored in association with the predetermined character received from the PC 20. Further, the title character string itself may be transmitted and received as identification information, and the printer 10 may be able to output the title character string transmitted from the PC 20 together with the print data. In this case, the printer 10 transmits the title character string together with the title character string to the PC 20 in S224, omits S226, and the PC 20 transmits the title character string acquired from the printer 10 instead of the content URL to the printer 10 in S320. In step S402, the printer 10 determines whether the title character string is received instead of the content URL, omits step S406, sets the title character string received in step S408 as a print target, and displays the title character string received in step S412. do it.

  In S408, it is possible to set whether or not the title character string is to be printed, and the title character string may be printed only when the user sets the print target.

  In this embodiment, the content title character string, the content URL, and the summary character string are acquired in the feed information acquisition process of S202. However, acquisition of these information is not limited to the feed information acquisition process. It may be acquired by reading a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode.

10 Printer 20 PC
30 Content providing server

Claims (22)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a server for storing content, and a printing system capable of communicating with the information processing apparatus and executing printing based on received print data,
The printing apparatus includes:
URL acquisition means for acquiring a URL indicating position information of the content;
URL transmitting means for transmitting the URL acquired by the URL acquiring means to the information processing apparatus;
Print data receiving means for receiving, from the information processing apparatus, print data relating to the content acquired based on the URL transmitted by the URL transmitting means;
With
The information processing apparatus includes:
URL receiving means for receiving the URL from the printing device;
Content acquisition means for acquiring the content from the server based on the URL received by the URL reception means;
Print data creation means for creating the print data based on the content acquired by the content acquisition means;
Print data transmission means for transmitting the print data created by the print data creation means to the printing apparatus;
A printing system comprising: The printing apparatus includes:
A first print setting value storage unit for storing a print setting value for creating print data in the information processing apparatus;
The URL transmission unit transmits the print setting value stored in the first print setting value storage unit and the URL;
The URL receiving means receives the URL and the print setting value from the printing apparatus;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data creation unit creates print data based on the print setting value received by the URL reception unit. The information processing apparatus includes:
A second print setting value storage means for storing a print setting value related to creation of print data by the print data creation means;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data creation unit creates print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit. The information processing apparatus includes:
A first determination unit configured to determine whether the URL reception unit has received a print setting value for generating print data by the print data generation unit together with the URL;
When the first determination unit determines that the print setting value is not received, the print data creation unit generates print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing system is created. The information processing apparatus includes:
A second determination unit configured to determine whether the received print setting value is a print setting value that can be used by the print data generation unit when the URL reception unit receives the URL and the print setting value; Prepared,
The print data creation unit creates print data with the received print setting value when the second determination unit determines that the print setting value can be used, and determines that the print setting value is not an available print setting value. The printing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when the printing is performed, the printing data is created based on the printing setting value stored by the second printing setting value storage unit. The URL acquisition means acquires a title character string of the content and the URL.
The printing apparatus includes:
Title character string storage means for storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means and the URL in association with each other in a storage unit;
An output means for outputting the title character string;
With
The print data transmission means transmits the print data and the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus,
The print data receiving means receives the print data and the URL for generating the print data from the information processing apparatus,
The printing according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the URL received by the print data receiving unit. system. The URL acquisition means acquires a title character string of the content and the URL.
The printing apparatus includes:
Title character string storage means for associating and storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means and identification information for identifying the content in a storage unit;
An output means for outputting the title character string;
With
The URL transmitting means transmits the URL and the identification information to the information processing apparatus;
The URL receiving means receives the URL and the identification information from the printing apparatus;
The print data transmission means transmits the print data and the identification information received by the URL reception means together with the URL related to the print data creation to the printing apparatus,
The print data receiving means receives the print data and the identification information from the information processing apparatus;
The output unit outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information received by the print data receiving unit. Printing system.   8. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the output unit prints out the title character string on a recording medium together with the print data received by the print data receiving unit. The printing apparatus includes:
A display unit for displaying the title character string;
The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the output unit displays and outputs the title character string on the display unit. A content acquisition unit that acquires content from a server that stores content based on a URL received from another device, a print data generation unit that generates print data based on the acquired content, and the print data stored in the other device A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus comprising:
URL acquisition means for acquiring a URL indicating position information of the content;
URL transmitting means for transmitting the URL acquired by the URL acquiring means to the information processing apparatus;
Print data receiving means for receiving, from the information processing apparatus, print data created by the information processing apparatus based on the URL transmitted by the URL transmitting means;
Printing means for executing print processing based on the print data received by the print data receiving means;
A printing apparatus comprising: A first print setting value storage unit for storing a print setting value for creating print data in the information processing apparatus;
The URL transmission unit transmits the print setting value stored in the first print setting value storage unit and the URL;
The print data reception unit receives print data created based on the print setting value stored by the first print setting value storage unit from the information processing apparatus. apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits the print data and the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus;
The URL acquisition means acquires a title character string of the content and the URL.
Title character string storage means for storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means and the URL in association with each other in a storage unit;
An output means for outputting the title character string;
With
The print data receiving means receives the print data and the URL related to creation of the print data from the information processing apparatus,
The printing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the output unit outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the URL received by the print data receiving unit. The information processing apparatus transmits the print data and identification information for identifying content related to the print data creation to the printing apparatus.
The URL acquisition means acquires a title character string of the content and the URL.
Title character string storage means for associating and storing the title character string acquired by the URL acquisition means and identification information for identifying the content in a storage unit;
An output means for outputting the title character string;
With
The URL transmitting means transmits the URL and the identification information to the information processing apparatus;
The print data receiving means receives, from the information processing apparatus, the print data and identification information for identifying content related to the print data creation;
The printing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the output unit outputs the title character string stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information received by the print data receiving unit. .   14. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the output unit causes the printing unit to print out the title character string on a recording medium together with the print data received by the print data receiving unit. A display unit for displaying the title character string;
The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the output unit displays and outputs the title character string on the display unit. A program for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a server that stores content and a printing apparatus that transmits a URL indicating position information of the content,
The information processing apparatus;
URL receiving means for receiving the URL from the printing device;
Content acquisition means for acquiring the content from the server based on the URL received by the URL reception means;
Print data creation means for creating the print data based on the content acquired by the content acquisition means;
Print data transmission means for transmitting the print data created by the print data creation means to the printing apparatus;
Program to make it function. The printing apparatus transmits the URL and a print setting value related to creation of print data in the information processing apparatus.
The URL receiving means receives the URL and the print setting value from the printing apparatus;
The program according to claim 16, wherein the print data creating unit creates print data based on the print setting value received by the URL receiving unit. A second print setting value storage means for storing a print setting value related to creation of print data by the print data creation means;
The program according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the print data creation unit creates print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit. A first determination unit configured to determine whether the URL reception unit has received a print setting value for generating print data by the print data generation unit together with the URL;
When the first determination unit determines that the print setting value is not received, the print data creation unit generates print data based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage unit. The program according to claim 18, wherein the program is created. A second determination unit configured to determine whether the received print setting value is a print setting value that can be used by the print data generation unit when the URL reception unit receives the URL and the print setting value; Prepared,
When the second determination unit determines that the print setting value can be used, the print data generation unit generates print data using the received print setting value, but determines that the print setting value is not an available print setting value. 20. The program according to claim 18 or 19, wherein if it is done, print data is created based on the print setting value stored by the second print setting value storage means. The printing apparatus stores the title character string of the content stored in the server in association with the URL, and outputs the title character string corresponding to the URL transmitted from the information processing apparatus. Because
The program according to any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the print data transmission unit transmits the print data and the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus. The printing device stores the title character string of the content stored in the server in association with identification information for identifying the content, and transmits the URL and the identification information to the information processing device. Outputting the title character string stored in association with the identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
The URL receiving means receives the URL and the identification information from the printing apparatus;
21. The print data transmitting unit transmits the print data and the identification information received by the URL receiving unit together with the URL for generating the print data to the printing apparatus. A program according to any of the above.