JP2011128867A - Print control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control device which can present a user with reprintable content without troubling the user. <P>SOLUTION: In the print control device, a first print job including print data or a second print job including reference information for obtaining print data without including the print data is received from a host device. The print job received is stored in a memory. Based on the print job received, a printer is made to print. A determination is made as to whether the print job received is the first print job or the second print job. If the print job received is determined to be the first print job, the first print job, out of the print jobs stored in the memory, is deleted from the memory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that receives a print job from a digital television and causes the printing apparatus to print the received print job.

  In recent years, with the spread of digital broadcasting and broadband networks, digital television (hereinafter referred to as “DTV”) that allows convenient and easy use of communication services in addition to broadcast services has become widespread. In addition, technologies for interconnecting digital devices such as DTVs and printing apparatuses have become widespread, and services provided by cooperation between DTVs and various digital devices have attracted attention. As a service for linking a DTV and a printing apparatus, a service (hereinafter referred to as “printing service”) in which a printing apparatus prints content received by the DTV in accordance with an instruction from the DTV is known.

  In order to realize this print service, UPnP is generally used as a communication protocol. The print content of the digital broadcast has a mechanism in which a print job is issued from the DTV to the printing device by selecting a print button displayed on the data broadcast screen by a remote control operation or the like, and printed.

  There are two types of print jobs: a CreateJobV2 system in which the content itself is transmitted from the DTV to the printer, and a CreateURIJob system in which the content URI is designated and the printer downloads the content from the URI and prints it.

  In general, when printing from a DTV, printing is possible only while the print button is displayed on the data broadcast screen. Even if the content has been printed once, the print button disappears again from the data broadcast screen. It is impossible to print.

  When reprinting data once printed, the print data received for printing from the host is stored in a single file together with related information, and reprinted by a reprint command command from the host (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 11-129556 A

  In order to re-print a large number of contents while saving a storage area such as a RAM, a method of caching the print job itself, not the print contents, in the printing apparatus is conceivable. In the CreateJobV2 system, a large amount of RAM is required for job storage, so a large number cannot be stored. In addition, as long as the content by the CreateJobV2 system is saved in the cache, it is guaranteed that the content is correctly printed even when reprinting is performed, but memory management for saving is important.

  By the way, since only the URI information is stored in the CreateURIJob job, a large number of jobs can be stored. However, in the CreateURIJob method, since the content exists on the server, there is no guarantee that the content can be printed correctly at the time of reprinting even if the URI itself is stored. Therefore, a separate method for confirming whether or not the content of the CreateURIJob method can be correctly printed is required.

  As described above, even when the printing apparatus caches a job, it is necessary to change the management method depending on the type of job. As described above, in the method of caching the print job itself, a method of managing so that as many jobs as possible can be stored while distinguishing the management method in the printing apparatus depending on the type of job is required.

  In addition, this management process requires a process of deleting an old print job when the print job cannot be stored in the storage area. In this process, for example, if a CreateJobV2 job that occupies a large storage area is simply deleted, the old CreateURIJob job may remain and the new CreateJobV2 job may disappear. In this case, the user who prints the digital broadcast content cannot distinguish between the two types of jobs, so that the newer print job appears to have suddenly disappeared from the printing apparatus, causing confusion.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus that can show a user re-printable content without confusion for the user.

  The present invention is a print control apparatus that causes a printing apparatus to print in response to a print job received from a host apparatus, and for acquiring print data that does not include a first print job that includes print data or print data. Based on the receiving unit that receives the second print job including the reference information from the host device, the storage control unit that stores the print job received by the receiving unit in the memory, and the print job received by the receiving unit, Print control means for printing on the printing apparatus, determination means for determining whether the print job received by the reception means is the first print job or the second print job, and the reception means receive When the determination unit determines that the print job that has been performed is the first print job, the reception unit receives the print job stored in the memory. And the first print job, a print control apparatus characterized by having a deletion means for deleting from said memory.

  According to the present invention, the user can be presented with reprintable content without being confused by the user.

1 illustrates a hardware configuration of a print control apparatus 101 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a software structure of a print control apparatus 101. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a stored print job and a print history. 6 is a flowchart when the print control apparatus 101 receives a print job. It is a flowchart which shows the process which displays a printing history. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a concept when a CreateURIJob print job is deleted. FIG. 9 illustrates a state after a part of a CreateURIJob print job has been deleted. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating processing when a CreateJobV2 print job is received. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a CreateJobV2 print job is newly received. FIG. 10 is a diagram in which a print history of a CreateJobV2 print job is stored. FIG. 10 illustrates a state after a CreateJobV2 print job has been deleted.

  The mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a hardware configuration of a print control apparatus 101 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the software structure of the print control apparatus 101.

  The print control apparatus 101 includes a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a CPU 204, a print mechanism control unit 205, an I / F control unit 206, and a network communication unit 207. At the time of data transmission / reception, first, the physical layer and the data link layer are connected between the print control apparatus 101 and the DTV 102 in accordance with a method defined by a network standard. Next, a print job is transmitted and received between the print control apparatus 101 and the DTV 102 in accordance with the UPnP standard, which is an upper layer protocol.

  The print control apparatus 101 causes the printing apparatus 120 to print according to the print job received from the host apparatus. The print control apparatus 101 includes a network communication unit 103, a print job identification unit 104, a print job storage unit 105, a print job rendering unit 106, a print control unit 107, a print job / print history storage area 109, Have The print control apparatus 101 further includes a print history display unit 110, a display mechanism 111, a stored print job management unit 112, an input mechanism 113, a reprint job instruction unit 114, and a print job extraction unit 115. The print control apparatus 101 is connected to the DTV 102 and the printing apparatus 120.

  The network communication unit 103 transmits and receives data, and receives a first print job including print data or a second print job including reference information for acquiring print data without including print data from the host device. .

  When a print job is received from the DTV 102 via the network communication unit 103, the print job identification unit 104 identifies whether the print job is a CreateJobV2 print job or a CreateURIJob print job defined by the UPnP standard.

  The print job storage unit 105 stores and controls the print job identified by the print job identification unit 104 so that the print job storage unit 105 stores the print job in the print job / print history storage area 109 according to a predetermined method. The print job / print history storage area 109 is a memory that stores a print job received by the receiving unit.

  Thereafter, if the received job is a CreateJobV2 print job, the print job rendering unit 106 converts the received print data into a printable data format as it is. If the received job is a CreateURIJob print job, the print data is downloaded from the server based on the designated URI, and the print job rendering unit 106 converts the print data into a printable data format. Then, based on the print job received by the receiving unit, the print control unit 107 causes the printing apparatus 120 to print.

  The print job stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 is managed by the storage print job management unit 112 so that it does not exceed the capacity of the storage area separately for the CreateJobV2 print job and the CreateURIJob print job. . The stored print job management unit 112 manages the stored print job and print history when the print job is stored by the print job storage unit 105, the history is displayed by the print history display unit 110, or at a regular timing. . Further, the storage print job management unit 112, when the determination unit determines that the print job received by the reception unit is the first print job, out of the print jobs stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 Then, the print job received by the receiving unit is deleted.

  The print history stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 is displayed on the display mechanism 111 by the print history display unit 110 at a user instruction of the print control apparatus 101 or at an appropriate timing. The user confirms the print history displayed on the display mechanism 111 and instructs reprinting of a desired print job via the input mechanism 113. The reprint job instruction unit 114 interprets the user instruction, and the print job designated by the print job extraction unit 115 is extracted from the print job / print history storage area 109. Thereafter, if the extracted job is a CreateJobV2 print job, the print job rendering unit 106 converts the extracted print data into a printable data format as it is. If the extracted job is a CreateURIJob print job, the print data is downloaded from the extracted URI, and the print job rendering unit 106 converts it into a printable data format. Then, the print control unit 107 causes the printing apparatus 120 to print.

  The network communication means 103 is a communication I / F with the host, and employs UPnP as a communication protocol for receiving the print job. Also, Bluetooth I / F is adopted as the communication I / F with the host, and BPP is adopted as the communication protocol for receiving the print job. Further, data in a structured language is adopted as print data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the print job and the print history stored in the print job / print history storage area 109. As shown in FIG. 3, in the print job / print history storage area 109, a print job storage area for storing a print job and a print history storage area exist separately from each other. In the print job storage area, an area for storing a CreateJobV2 print job and an area for storing a CreateURIJob print job exist separately, and are managed separately from each other.

  In the first embodiment, the CreateJobV2 data that occupies a large storage area can be stored in only one storage area. For the CreateURIJob print job, the upper limit number of saving is not considered. The print history storage area is associated with the print jobs stored in the print job storage area, and is stored in chronological order. In the first embodiment, the job name specified in the print job and the print date and time are associated with the print job and stored as a print history.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the print control apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment receives a print job from the DTV 102.

  When the print control apparatus 101 receives a print job (S401), the print job identification unit 104 determines whether the print job is a CreateJobV2 print job (S402) or a CreateURIJob print job (S407).

  If it is determined that the job is a CreateJobV2 print job (S402), it is checked whether the CreateJobV2 print job is already stored in the job storage area (S403). If there is no saved CreateJobV2 print job, the print job saving unit 105 saves the received CreateJobV2 print job together with the print data in the print job saving area (S406). If a CreateJobV2 print job already exists in the job storage area, the stored print job management unit 112 deletes the stored CreateJobV2 print job, and deletes the print history associated with the job (S404). ). Further, the CreateURIJob print job having the print date older than the deleted CreateJobV2 print job and its print history are simultaneously deleted from the print job / print history storage area 109 (S405). The received CreateJobV2 print job is stored together with the print data (S406).

  On the other hand, if the received print job is a CreateURIJob print job (S407), the print job storage unit 105 stores the CreateURIJob print job together with the URL information in the job storage area as it is (S408). In either print job, when printing ends normally (S410), the print history is saved (S411) in association with the saved print job. If it is not a CreateURIJob print job (S407), an error process is performed (S409).

  The print job storage unit 105 stores the print time of the print job as a part of the print history. The saved print job management unit 112 deletes the print job and its print history, and a print job having a print time (print date / time) that is earlier than the print time (print date / time) of the deleted print job, Delete the print history of the print job.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the print control apparatus 101 according to the first exemplary embodiment receives a print history display instruction from the user and displays the print history.

  When the print control apparatus 101 receives a print history display instruction from the user (S501), the print history display unit 110 reads out the stored print history for each job from the print job / print history storage area 109. (S502). If the read print history is the print history of the CreateURIJob print job (S503), it is checked whether the URI indicated by the CreateURIJob print job is still valid (S505). This confirmation is performed using a predetermined known technique such as whether print data exists at the URI designation destination or whether the print data is the same as previously printed data. If the read print history is not the print history of the CreateURIJob print job (S503), the print history is displayed (S504), and the process returns to S502.

  If there is print data that can be reprinted at present, the print history is displayed (S504). If it is determined that the URI indicated by the CreateURIJob print job is invalid, the stored print job management unit 112 deletes the print history and the CreateURIJob print job associated with the history (S506). If there is a print job having a print date older than the deleted CreateURIJob print job, the print job and its print history are deleted at the same time, regardless of whether it is a CreateURIJob or CreateJobV2 print job (S507).

  The above processing is performed for all stored print histories, and the print histories of the print control apparatus 101 are displayed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a concept when the print control apparatus 101 deletes a CreateURIJob print job from the print job / print history storage area 109 according to the processing shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the print job / print history storage area 109 after a part of the stored CreateURIJob print job is deleted in the first embodiment.

  In the process of S506 in FIG. 5, if it is determined that the print data indicated by the CreateURIJob print job 4 shown in FIG. 6 is invalid, as shown in FIG. 6, the print job 4 and the print history associated therewith are displayed. Deleted. Here, the print history whose title is CCC is deleted.

  At the same time, in S507, the print job older than the print job 4 and the print history associated therewith are deleted. Here, the print history whose titles are DDD and EEE, the print history older than these, the print job 1 associated therewith, the print job 5, and the print job older than these are deleted. As a result, the print job / print history storage area 109 is in the state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating details of processing when the print control apparatus 101 receives a CreateJobV2 print job.

  The determination (S403) of whether the print control apparatus 101 has print data in the print job storage area will be described in more detail. In the UPnP standard, a print job is composed of two entities: a print command describing details of a print instruction and print data. When the print control apparatus 101 receives the print command of the CreateJobV2 print job (S801), the print control apparatus 101 compares the received print command with information stored in the CreateJobV2 print job in a subsequent process.

  First, it is checked whether or not the CreateJobV2 print job itself is stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 (S802). If there is no saved CreateJobV2 print job, the received print command and all subsequent print data are saved in the print job / print history saving area 109 as a print job (S815). Then, printing is performed according to the CreateJobV2 print job (S808), the print history is saved (S809), and the process is terminated.

  If the CreateJobV2 print job is stored in the print job / print history storage area 109, it is determined whether the format of the stored job name and data matches the format of the received print command. Check (S803, S804). If they do not match, the stored CreateJobV2 print job is deleted, and the print history associated with the job is deleted (S813).

  Also, a CreateURIJob print job that is stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 and has a print date older than the deleted CreateJobV2 print job, and its print history are also deleted simultaneously (S814). ). Then, the already received print command and all subsequent print data are stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 (S815). The received job is printed (S808), the print history is saved (S809), and the process ends.

  If the format of the stored job name and data matches those of the received print command (S803, S804), reception of print data following the print command is started. The print data is received for each predetermined size (S805). The print data of the CreateJobV2 print job stored in advance is compared with the received print data, and as long as they match, the reception is continued while repeatedly comparing until the end of the print data (S806, S807).

  When the print data of the mismatched part is received, all the remaining print data is received from the corresponding part of the saved CreateJobV2 print job while being overwritten (S810). Then, the print history associated with the stored CreateJobV2 print job is deleted (S811). Also, a CreateURIJob print job that is a print job that exists in the print job / print history storage area 109 and has an older print date than the overwritten CreateJobV2 print job, and its print history are simultaneously deleted (S812). Thereafter, the received print job is printed (S808), the print history is saved (S809), and the process ends.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a print job / print history storage area 109 when the print control apparatus 101 newly receives a CreateJobV2 print job.

  In the print control apparatus 101, as shown in FIG. 9, the CreateJobV2 print job 1 is stored in the print job / print history storage area 109 in advance. In this state, when a new CreateJobV2 print job 6 is received, it is determined whether or not the previously stored CreateJobV2 print job 1 and the received CreateJobV2 print job 6 are the same print job according to the processing shown in FIG. Check.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the print job / print history storage area 109 when the print control apparatus 101 stores a plurality of print histories of the CreateJobV2 print job. The state of the print job / print history storage area 109 when it is determined that they are the same print job is the state shown in FIG.

  Only the CreateJobV2 print job 1 is stored in the print job storage area. Only the CreateJobV2 print job 1 is stored because the CreateJobV2 print job 1 and the CreateJobV2 print job 6 are the same job, and it is not necessary to store a plurality of them.

  On the other hand, in the print history, histories having the same title but different only in print date and time are stored in association with the print job 1. By adopting such a storage form, it is possible to print correctly regardless of which reprint of the print job 1 or the print job 6 is instructed from the print history.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the print job / print history storage area 109 after the print control apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment deletes the stored CreateJobV2 print job.

  FIG. 11 shows the state of the print job / print history storage area 109 when it is determined that the CreateJobV2 print job 1 and the received CreateJobV2 print job 6 are different print jobs. In the print job storage area, CreateJobV2 print job 1 is deleted, and print job 6 is stored. In step S811, the print history associated with the print job 1 is deleted. At the same time, in S812, the print job older than the print job 1 and the print history associated therewith are deleted. Here, a history whose title is CCC, DDD, EEE, a history older than these, a print job 1, a print job 4, a print job 5, and a print job older than these are associated. Deleted. As a result, the print job / print history storage area 109 shown in FIG.

  According to the first embodiment, the user may suddenly feel that a new job has disappeared even if a print job that can no longer be stored is deleted while maximizing the storage area that is a limited resource. It is possible to control reprinting without inviting.

  In other words, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to manage so as to store as many jobs as possible while distinguishing the management method in the printing apparatus according to the type of job. Further, according to the above-described embodiment, for example, when an old CreateJobV2 job is deleted for the convenience of memory area management, an older CreateURIJob job can be deleted together. Therefore, when viewed from the user, it seems that a job older than a certain time in time series is deleted, so there is a sense of unity and there is no confusion.

101: Print control device,
102 ... DTV,
104: Print job identification means,
105: Print job storage means,
112: Stored print job management means.

Claims (7)

A print control device that causes a printing device to print in response to a print job received from a host device,
Receiving means for receiving a first print job including print data or a second print job including reference information for acquiring print data without including print data from the host device;
Storage control means for storing the print job received by the receiving means in a memory;
Print control means for causing the printing apparatus to print based on the print job received by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining whether the print job received by the receiving means is the first print job or the second print job;
When the determination unit determines that the print job received by the reception unit is the first print job, the first print received by the reception unit among the print jobs stored in the memory. A deletion means for deleting the job from the memory;
A printing control apparatus comprising: Claim 1 wherein
The storage control means is means for storing, in the memory, print data included in the first print job received by the receiving means and a history printed by the printing apparatus based on the print data. A printing control device. Claim 2.
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion unit is a unit that deletes the print data and the history from the memory. Claim 2.
When the determination unit determines that the print job received by the reception unit is the first print job, the deletion unit stores the history of the first print job received by the reception unit in the memory. The print control apparatus, wherein the storage control means is means for storing the history of the first print job received by the reception means in the memory. Claim 1 wherein
The storage control means is means for storing, in the memory, the reference information included in the second print job received by the receiving means and the history printed by the printing apparatus based on the reference information. A printing control apparatus characterized by the above. Claim 5 comprising:
The deletion means includes the first print job stored in the memory, the first print job received by the reception means, and the history having a history before the history of the first print job. A print control apparatus that deletes a second print job. A printing control method for causing a printing device to print in accordance with a print job received from a host device,
Receiving a first print job including print data or a second print job including reference information for acquiring print data without including print data from the host device;
A storage control step of storing the print job received in the reception step in a memory;
A print control step for causing the printing apparatus to print based on the print job received in the reception step;
It is determined whether the print job received in the reception step is the first print job or the second print job. If it is determined that the print job is the first print job, the memory is stored in the memory. A deletion step of deleting the first print job received in the reception step from the memory among the stored print jobs;
A printing control method characterized by comprising:

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