JP2013030198A - Method for modifying label format - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for modifying a label format of a printer configured so as to print a tag or the like, which is configured so as to print a label, a tag, or the like in particular and provides more advantages than in the conventional technique.SOLUTION: The method includes a step for receiving label formats accumulated in a printer in order to visually observe the label formats through a web page, a step for receiving a change in the label formats through the web page, and a step for displaying the changed label format on the web page. The changed label format visually observable through the web page is a sample of a version to be printed for the changed label format.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a method for modifying the label format of a printer configured to print labels, tags, etc., and is particularly configured to print labels, tags, etc. and provides many advantages over the prior art. The present invention relates to a method for changing the label format of a printer.

  It is advantageous to reduce printer downtime or at least keep downtime to a minimum. Often, printers that print labels, tags, etc., such as bar code printers, are used for mission-critical applications. In this situation, if the printer breaks down, it costs a lot. For example, when a printer configured to print a shipping label has run out of ribbon or otherwise effectively fails, hundreds of boxes are placed in the inventory without being identified. Is expected. In this case, cost of several hundred thousand dollars or more per hour when the system or printer is unusable is lost due to loss of productivity. For this reason, it is advantageous to reduce printer downtime, which is generally economically necessary in mission critical applications.

  Conventional printers are not configured to automatically alert a person, such as an information technology (IT) administrator, who is not nearby when there is a printer malfunction. Thus, in order to keep downtime to a minimum, it is necessary to continuously monitor the printer in the field, which will make the downtime effective. For example, in an assembly line with an industrial bar code printer at the end, if the printer ribbon breaks, the assembly line operator may or may not immediately warn that the printer has run out of ribbon. When problems are finally found, it takes time to place or install a new ribbon in the printer, resulting in substantial downtime for the assembly line.

  Some conventional printers have a web server that allows an IT administrator to view a web page at a remote location that contains some basic information about the printer. However, these conventional printers are prepared for the spontaneous transmission of critical and non-critical printer data and the routing of data through multiple communication channels to IT managers. Absent. For example, these printers are important to IT managers via e-mail, portable small wireless callers with Internet connectivity, personal communications service (PCS) phones, or wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs). The data cannot be sent automatically. If this is possible, the IT administrator can quickly address the problem or potential problem, even if the IT administrator was not actually monitoring the printer at that time. Instead, printers with web servers can be proactively monitored by IT administrators and checked for printer status using a device that supports JAVA, such as a personal computer. Configured to do. Furthermore, even if a problem is discovered by the IT administrator in this way, with these printers, the problem cannot be resolved from a remote location by the IT administrator interfacing with the printer. For example, with a conventional printer, the IT administrator cannot access or modify a program running in the printer operating system from a remote location. Therefore, when a program needs to be changed, the IT administrator must access the program in the printer in the field using a computer connected to the printer's serial or parallel port. This process must be repeated for each printer that the IT administrator wishes to reprogram.

  Furthermore, with conventional printers, the IT administrator cannot monitor or modify the label format from a remote location. Printers adapted to print labels, tags, etc. do so according to a predetermined and pre-programmed format. For example, a printer configured to print a shipping label follows a format where the shipping company's logo, name and address are printed at the top left of the label, and the receiving company's name and address are printed in the center of the label. Configured to print. When the label format is changed (eg, the shipping company logo or whereabouts are changed), the IT administrator must change the label format in the field. After changing the label format, the IT administrator typically causes the printer to print the label to determine if the label looks acceptable. If not, the IT administrator changes the format again and causes the printer to print another label. This trial and error process must be repeated multiple times and will take considerable time. In addition, if the IT administrator wants to change the label format for several printers, the IT administrator must repeat the process for each printer.

  Currently, many bar code standards are used. Also, bar code standards are often changed (ie updated). Conventional barcode printers are configured so that IT administrators cannot download new or updated barcode representation algorithms to the printer from a remote location. Instead, conventional printers are typically sold with one or more barcode representation algorithms resident on it, and IT managers are required to add or update barcode representation algorithms Software is obtained and a new or updated bar code rendering algorithm is loaded into the printer on-site using a personal computer connected to the printer's serial or parallel port. This process will be repeated for each printer. In addition, conventional printers are not configured to allow an IT administrator to download a bar code representation algorithm, for example from a printer manufacturer's website, and then download the bar code representation algorithm to one or more printers. .

  Finally, traditional printers allow IT administrators to recall (i.e. upload) printer settings from a remote location, change their printer settings, and download new printer settings to that printer or other printers. Not configured. For this reason, the printer settings of a conventional printer cannot be modified at a remote location, and the conventional printer can quickly and easily produce the same thing (ie, include the same printer settings) from a remote location. Is not configured.

  An object of the present invention is to automatically transmit data such as critical and non-critical printer data, for example, e-mail and mobile wireless devices (for example, portable small wireless callers compatible with the Internet connection, personal communication services (PCS)) It is to provide a printer configured to transmit its data through at least one of a plurality of communication channels and services, such as a telephone or a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA).

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer configured to be programmed and controlled from a remote location.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer configured such that a new label format can be added from a remote location and the label format stored in the printer can be viewed or modified from a remote location. It is in.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a printer configured such that a bar code representation algorithm can be downloaded to the printer.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a printer configured such that printer settings can be viewed or modified from a remote location and then downloaded to that printer and / or other printers in the network. It is to provide.

  Briefly, in accordance with at least one of the above objects, embodiments of the present invention provide a printer configured to print labels, tags, etc., the printer including a housing and an electronic device within the housing. The electronic device determines the status of the printer (eg printer error or warning situation) and then automatically transmits the data corresponding to the status to a remote location, eg via an intranet, the Internet and / or a wireless communication network Configured to do.

  Preferably, the printer transmits the data via e-mail to a portable small wireless call device compatible with the Internet connection, a personal communication service (PCS) phone, and / or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The printer automatically sends the data so that the IT administrator can be alerted to problems with the printer (ie, warning situations or printer errors) and the IT administrator can take immediate action to correct the problem. it can. Preferably, the printer is configured such that at least some problems are corrected from a remote location by the IT administrator by communicating with the printer via an interface. However, some problems may need to be corrected in the field (eg, when the printer runs out of paper).

  Preferably, the printer is programmable and controllable from a remote location via an intranet, the Internet, and / or a wireless communication network. Preferably, the printer settings can be viewed and modified in this way. Ideally, the printer can be programmed and controlled using a web browser of a personal computer connected to an intranet or the Internet and is configured to display a web page on a mobile device such as a PDA or PCS phone. .

  Furthermore, preferably, the label format stored in the printer can be viewed or modified from a remote location. The printer is also preferably configured so that a bar code representation algorithm can be downloaded to the printer, preferably in the form of executable code.

  Preferably, the printer acquires data by independently controlling one or more peripheral devices, and then sends data to the host without being asked by the host via email or TCP / UDP messages. Can be uploaded (when the host is preparing to receive data). Preferably, the data is incorporated into one or more databases and processed by the host in other applications.

  Preferably, the printer is configured to send the settings to the remote location in XML format. Thus, the printer settings can be easily read and viewed using a web browser of a personal computer connected to an intranet or the Internet, for example. The settings can then be modified and downloaded back to the printer, or downloaded to another printer to facilitate the same (copy) creation (cloning). Preferably, the printer 10 (and other printers in the same object creation process) is configured so that it interprets data from XML and resets its settings based on the data interpreted from XML.

  This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/149966, filed Aug. 20, 1999 and US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/162789, filed Oct. 29, 1999.

  The structure and method of construction and function of the present invention, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer configured to print tags and the like, and is particularly configured to print labels, tags and the like and provides many advantages over the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the printer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the printer of FIG. 1. The printer is connected to a personal computer at a remote location via the Internet, and is connected to a plurality of mobile wireless devices including a portable small wireless caller, a PCS phone and a PDA compatible with the Internet. Internet connection. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the user. The user can upload the settings of the printer of FIG. 1, view and modify the settings using, for example, a web browser, and then download the settings back to the printer. Download settings to other printers in the network for production. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a user uploading, modifying, and downloading a ZBI and activating / deactivating the ZBI from a remote location. FIG. 6 illustrates how a label can be uploaded if the user uploads the program stored in the printer used to print the label, views and modifies the program, prints it, and / or prints out the label. It is a block diagram of the process of visually checking whether it is visible and downloading the modified program back to the printer. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the printer of FIG. 1 connected to a host computer and uploading data to the host. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a user. The user downloads a barcode expression algorithm from a website such as a printer manufacturer's website, and then downloads the barcode expression algorithm to a plurality of printers.

  While the invention can be embodied in various forms, there are embodiments of the invention shown and described herein in detail, and the descriptions herein are considered to be illustrative of the spirit of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention as described and illustrated herein.

  FIG. 1 shows a printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As will be described in detail later, the printer 10 provides many advantages over the prior art. For example, as will be described below, the printer 10 preferably automatically transmits data such as critical and non-critical printer data, as well as e-mail and mobile wireless devices (eg, portable small wireless calls compatible with the Internet connection). Such as a personal computer, a personal communication service (PCS) telephone or a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., and the data is routed along at least one of a plurality of communication channels and services. Is done. Thus, for example, a person such as an IT administrator can be kept informed of the status of the printer 10 without having a proactive monitor for the printer 10.

  Preferably, the printer 10 can also be programmed and controlled from a remote location, and the label format stored therein can be monitored and modified from the remote location. Further, the printer 10 is preferably configured such that a bar code representation algorithm can be downloaded to the printer, and the printer settings can be monitored and modified from a remote location. After this, the printer settings can be downloaded to the printer 10 or the printer settings can be downloaded to other printers in the network to easily create the same.

  As shown in FIG. 2 depicting the electronic device 20 of the printer 10, the printer 10 includes a label generation and communications microprocessor 30 that communicates with a parallel port 40 and a serial port 50. Of course, other ports may be provided in the printer 10, and these other ports may communicate with the label generation and communication microprocessor 30. As shown, a print server 60 can be connected to the parallel port 40, and the print server 60 can be connected to an Ethernet work 70 or other type of network. These networks are then connected to an intranet and / or the Internet, as shown in FIG. For example, a device 80, such as a personal computer, programmable logic controller (PLC), weigh scale, bar code scanner or other type of device, may be connected to the serial port 50, thereby allowing the printer 10 to connect to the printer. 10 provides a data stream used to print tags, labels, etc.

  The label generation and communication microprocessor 30 communicates with the user interface 90. The user interface 90 includes buttons and switches mainly arranged on the front panel 100 (see FIG. 1) of the printer 10. The label generation and communication microprocessor 30 also communicates with the printing control microprocessor 110. The printing control microprocessor 110 generally communicates with a common and well known printer mechanism 120 and controls the printer mechanism 120 based on information received from the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 by the printing control microprocessor 110 to provide tags, labels, and the like. Let it print.

  Preferably, the printing control microprocessor 110 monitors certain elements and conditions of the printer mechanism 120 to determine the presence of warning conditions, printer errors or other problems, and reports to the label generation and communication microprocessor 30. Composed. For example, preferably the printing control microprocessor 110 determines whether the printer 10 has run out of paper, whether it is offline or online, ribbon has run out, whether the print head is open, or is overheated. Configured to determine such as. This type of monitoring is generally well known. The configuration of the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 and the fact that the printing control microprocessor 110 monitors the printer mechanism 120 and the printer 10 is connected to the intranet and / or the internet (see FIG. 3) are critical for the printer 10 to be critical. Provide for automatically sending non-critical printer information to one or more remote devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the remote device may be a personal computer 130, 140 connected to an intranet or the Internet, or a portable small wireless caller 150, a PCS phone 160 and / or a PDA 170 compatible with Internet connection via a wireless communication network. It is. This will be described in detail later.

  Preferably, the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 is configured to be programmed and controlled using a predetermined programming language (denoted “ZPL” in FIG. 2). As will be described in detail later, the printer 10 is preferably configured such that the printer can be programmed and controlled from a remote location, such as via an intranet, the Internet, or a wireless communication network.

  Preferably, the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 includes a web server (which is typically mounted in the printer's operating system), which is a hypertext description language (HTML) (denoted “HTML” in FIG. 2). It is configured to communicate in a form that facilitates the display of web pages over an intranet, the Internet or a wireless communication network. As will be described in more detail below, this provides that a person, such as an IT administrator, can monitor printer settings and program and control the printer 10 from a remote location using a web browser. Preferably, the printer is configured to provide data in a simple format that does not require the receiving device to support JAVA. In this way, data can be easily processed and displayed by a portable small wireless caller 150, PCS phone 160 or PDA 170 that does not necessarily support JAVA.

  Preferably, the printer 10 is a program and corresponding firmware (indicated by “ZBI” in FIG. 2) configured to change the data flow (data stream) from one format to another. This makes the printer 10 compatible with a plurality of different data flow formats. In particular, the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 receives a data stream, for example, from a serial port 50, for example from a personal computer, a weighing scale or a barcode scanner. ZBI can convert the data stream from one format that is not compatible with the printer 10 to another format that is compatible with the printer 10. The label generation and communication microprocessor 30 uses the converted data to format labels, tags, etc., and communicates with the printing control microprocessor 110. The printing control microprocessor 110 then controls the printer mechanism 120 to print labels, tags, etc. based on the format. US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 162,789 discloses ZBI in more detail and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  As described above, the printer 10 is preferably configured such that the printer 10 can communicate with a remotely located device via email or TCP / UDP over an intranet, the Internet, or a wireless communication network. This is now explained in more detail.

  As described above, the printer 10 is preferably configured to display web pages over an intranet, the Internet, or a wireless communication network. Preferably, a web page is configured so that the user can select the conditions he / she wishes to be alerted to (eg printer error or alert condition) and how he or she wants to be alerted. The Particularly preferably, the web page allows the user to select a status, select an email to provide a website with his or her email address, select a PCS phone and have his or her phone number Can provide a website, can select a portable small wireless caller to provide a website with that number, or other methods over an organization's (corporate) local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) It is configured so that you can choose to be warned. After this, if the printer 10 (ie, the printing control microprocessor 110) detects the condition, the printer 10 alerts the user of the condition via the selected means (ie, sends an email to the user, and the person Call the phone to display information on the screen of the PCS phone, call the person and display the information on the screen of the portable small wireless caller, or alert the person in some way via the organization's LAN or WAN (See FIG. 3). This eliminates the need for a user, such as an IT administrator, to proactively monitor the printer 10, and allows the printer 10 to automatically and quickly notify the user of printer errors and warning conditions via the selected communication channel. Will let you know. Preferably, the web page provides that the user can also choose to be informed that the condition has improved (i.e., the warning situation or printer error detected by the printer 10 has been resolved). This is an advantage. This is because a user such as an IT administrator does not have to spend time trying to solve a problem that has already improved, for example, by a person at the printer 10. Preferably, the other web page is configured so that the user can view the printer settings.

  Preferably, the other web page allows the user to visually (monitor) and modify printer settings such as overall printer setup, serial communication setup, network communication setup, media setup, calibration, etc. as well as other printer settings. Is also configured so that it can be viewed and modified. In addition, the user can preferably instruct the web page to have the printer 10 print the settings on tags, labels, etc. for viewing on the spot. Preferably, the web page is formed so that the user must enter a password to adjust printer settings. For media setup, preferably the user can specify the media type and sensor type as well as the printing method and the print width and maximum length within acceptable limits.

  Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the printer 10 allows the user 180 to upload printer settings in a format such as XML, visually and modify the settings using a web browser, and then change the settings to the printer. It is configured so that it can be downloaded back to 10 or downloaded back to another printer (10a, 10b, 10c, etc.) in the network in order to easily produce the same object.

  Preferably, the web page of the printer 10 allows the user to visually check the status of the memory of the printer 10 and is stored in the printer 10 and used by the printer 10 (ie, the label generation and communication microprocessor 30 and / or the printing control microprocessor). Configured to view a directory listening for others (used by processor 110). Such listening may include programs that execute within the printer operating system (as described above), as well as programs related to graphic images, fonts, label formats, and ZBI.

  Preferably, the printer 10 may be configured such that the user can instruct execution or stop of a program in the printer and add (add) or modify an existing program. In this case, the new or modified program is then downloaded to the printer 10 and the printer 10 is effectively reprogrammed. Preferably, the web page is configured such that the user must enter a password to add, run, stop or modify the program. FIG. 5 depicts a user controlling (ie, executing or stopping) ZBI from a remote location, such as uploading ZBI, modifying ZBI, and downloading modified ZBI to a printer. Preferably, the printer 10 is configured to display the ZBI in a web page format at a remote location. Also preferably, the printer 10 allows the user to instruct ZBI to open a TCP / UDP or email port for the Internet or intranet, thereby sending a message to or from the printer and with other systems on the Internet or intranet. Configured to provide communication.

  With respect to the label format, as shown in FIG. 6, preferably the printer 10 uploads the label format that the user accumulates in the printer 10 and uses for the printer to print the label (see FIG. 3), and then the format. It is configured so that it can be viewed and modified. Preferably, after the format change, the printer 10 directs the user to display on the web page what the label would look like if it was actually printed (ie, a label preview), or actually label the printer. Is configured so that it can be instructed to print. If the label does not look desirable, the user can further modify the format and view the label preview or print the label until it looks desirable. The user can then instruct the website to download the modified final format to the printer 10 (or one or more other printers). The printer will then print labels, tags, etc. using the modified format. Preferably, the printer 10 and web page are configured so that the user can format a new label and download the new label format to the printer for use.

  The printer 10 is preferably configured to allow web pages to be viewed using a web browser, but the printer 10 is configured to communicate with a computer executing a utility program over the Internet or an intranet (see FIG. 3). Also good. The utility program is instructed especially when monitoring the printer 10 and is prepared for centralized management of a plurality of printers in the network.

  As described above and as shown in FIG. 7, the printer 10 preferably affects the information by the printer 10 receiving data through, for example, the serial port 50 (see FIG. 2) and printing tags, labels, etc. This allows the data to be processed in an independent application and then uploads the processed data to the host 190 when the host is ready to receive the data without being prompted by the host 190 Configured to be able to.

  Preferably, as shown in FIG. 8, the printer is configured so that the user can download the barcode representation algorithm to the printer and use it as a printer that translates the data stream into machine language or generates a barcode. Is done. Preferably, the printer and web page are configured so that a user can download a barcode representation algorithm, for example from a printer manufacturer's website, and then download the barcode representation algorithm to the printer. In this way, it is easy for the user to keep the printer updated with respect to new or updated barcode standards, and it can be done from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is configured to be downloaded to the printer in a code format that is capable of executing a bar code representation algorithm and the printer can execute the code to print the bar code from the data stream. It is probably received by the printer through serial port 50 (see FIG. 2).

  As already mentioned, US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/162789 is incorporated herein by reference. US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/149966 is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and this application includes additional disclosure relating to the present invention.

  While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

Claims (7)

Receiving the label format stored in the printer for viewing through a web page;
Receiving the label format change through the web page;
Displaying the changed label format on the web page;
With
The modified label format visible through the web page is a sample printed version of the modified label format.   The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the label format stored in the printer into a label format that is viewable and modifiable through the web page.   The method according to claim 2, wherein the label format visible and modifiable through the web page is HTML or XML, and the label format stored in the printer is ZPL.   The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the changed label format visible and modifiable through the web page to a label format printable by the printer.   5. The method of claim 4, wherein the changed label format visible and modifiable through the web page is HTML or XML and the label format printable by the printer is ZPL. Sending the changed label format to the printer;
The method of claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to print one or more of labels or tags using the modified label format.   The method of claim 1, wherein the label format is changed remotely from the printer.