JP2017087647A - Printing device, printing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which can easily search for an objective file and perform printing without setting a search condition by opening a search screen.SOLUTION: A portable terminal 40 transmits a printing job including a search command file to a printer 10 (P1). The printer 10 analyzes the printing job received from the portable terminal 40, executes the printing when the printing job is the normal printing job and extracts a search condition of a file from the search command file when the printing job is the search command file (P2). The printer searches for the corresponding file from the own device, a server 7 on the cloud or the like on the basis of the extracted search condition (P3), displays the search result on a control panel of the own device, and performs printing of the selected file when receiving the file selection operation from among the displayed search results.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints a stored document, a printing system, and a program executed by the printing apparatus.

  The task of searching for and finding a target file, and sending the file to a printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral to be printed is usually performed. A file search is performed by inputting the name of a target document, a keyword, or the like into a UI of a browser / application program installed in an operation panel of the multifunction peripheral or a user terminal.

  As a technique for assisting document search, in Patent Document 1 below, when a document is created, modified, or viewed, user information of the user who performed the operation is automatically stored in association with the document. A printing apparatus capable of searching for a document based on user information is disclosed. In this printing apparatus, each user can search for a document that the user has created or modified in the past based on the user information without separately associating his / her user information with the document. .

JP 2004-78735 A

  If the storage location of the target file is known in advance, the user can print the target file by opening the folder at that location, selecting the target file, and performing a transmission operation to the printing apparatus. .

  However, if you think that the target file is stored and open a folder, you may find that the target file is not found in that folder and you misunderstand it. In such a case, in order to search for the target file, the user may start the browser application program again and open the search screen to perform a search, or the file may be stored in the storage unit of the multifunction device. If there is not, it is necessary to perform operations such as searching from the search screen of the multifunction peripheral. The multi-function peripheral has various operation screens corresponding to various functions, and even an unfamiliar user may even have difficulty in reaching the operation screen for searching for a file.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, user information is automatically associated with a document when the document is created or modified. However, the user itself searches for the document itself using the associated user information. It has to be done from the screen, and the search time is not reduced. In addition, if a search is performed simply by the user name, a large number of files are extracted as search results, and it may be difficult to find a target file from among them.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and can easily search and print a target file without opening a search screen and setting search conditions, and a printing system and printing. An object of the present invention is to provide a program to be executed by an apparatus.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A receiving unit that receives the first file as a print job;
Analyzing the first file received by the receiving unit, and when the first file is a predetermined search command file, an analyzing unit for extracting a file search condition from the first file;
A search unit for searching for a file based on the search condition extracted by the analysis unit;
A search unit for displaying a search result of the search unit, and receiving a selection of a file to be printed from the search result;
A printing unit for printing the file selected by the selection unit;
A printing apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention and the invention described in [8] below, when the first file received as a print job from the portable terminal or the like is a search command file in the printing apparatus, the file is searched with the search conditions described in the search command file. And display the search results. A file selection operation is accepted from the search results, and the selected file is printed.

[2] The analysis unit determines whether or not the first file is the search command file from the extension of the first file or the contents of the first file. Printing device.

[3] In the case where the extracted search condition indicates that a file similar to the next file to be sent is searched, the search unit receives the first file after the first file. The printing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein a file similar to the second file received from the same transmission source as the one file is searched.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [10] below, when the second file is transmitted to the printing apparatus following the search command file, a file similar to the second file is searched. Even if the detailed search condition is not specified in the search command file, the search condition can be added by transmitting the second file. Thereby, the same search command file can be used in common for searching various files.

[4] The printing apparatus according to [3], wherein when the print command for the second file is described in the search command file, the printing unit prints the second file.

[5] When the selection unit displays the search result and the reception unit receives a third file from the same transmission source as the first file, the search unit displays the search result as the first result. A process of narrowing down to a file similar to three files is performed, and the selection unit displays a search result after the narrowing process, and receives a selection of a file to be printed from the search result [1] Or the printing apparatus as described in [2].

  In the above invention and the invention described in [12] below, when there are a large number of search results based on the search conditions described in the search command file and narrowing down is insufficient, the third file is transmitted later to the third file. It can be added to the search condition that the content is similar.

[6] The search unit searches a search range of a file storage unit included in the printing device, an external storage device connected via a network, or the external storage device and the storage unit. The printing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [5].

[7] The printing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6];
An information processing terminal for transmitting a file to the printing device;
With
The information processing terminal
A storage unit for storing files;
A file selection unit that displays a selection screen of a file stored in the storage unit and receives a selection of the file;
A transmission unit that transmits the file selected by the file selection unit to the printing device;
A printing system characterized by comprising:

[8] A program executed by the printing apparatus,
A receiving step of receiving the first file as a print job;
An analysis step of analyzing the received first file and extracting a file search condition from the first file when the first file is a predetermined search command file;
A search step for searching for a file based on the extracted search condition;
A selection step of displaying a search result in the search step and receiving a selection of a file to be printed from the search result;
A printing step for printing the file selected in the selection step;
The program characterized by having.

[9] In the analysis step, it is determined whether the first file is the search command file from the extension of the first file or the content of the first file. Program.

[10] In the search step, if the extracted search condition indicates a search for a file similar to the next file sent, the same as the first file after the first file. The program according to [8] or [9], wherein a file similar to the second file received from the transmission source is searched.

[11] The program according to [10], further including a step of printing the second file when an instruction to print the second file is described in the search command file.

[12] When the search result is displayed in the selection step and a third file is received from the same source as the first file, the search result is further converted into the third file in the search step. A process of narrowing down to similar ones is performed, and in the selection step, a search result after the narrowing process is displayed, and a file to be printed is selected from the search result [8] or [9 ] The program described in.

[13] In the search step, a file storage unit included in the printing device, an external storage device connected via a network, or the external storage device and the storage unit are searched in a search range. The program according to any one of [8] to [12].

  According to the printing apparatus, the printing system, and the program executed by the printing apparatus according to the present invention, a target file can be easily searched and printed without opening a search screen and setting search conditions.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the document list screen displayed on a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the description content of the search command file used with the 1st search method. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel of a printing apparatus on which a search result is displayed. It is a figure which shows an example of operation performed with a portable terminal, when implementing a 2nd search method. It is a figure which shows an example of the description content of the search command file used with the 2nd search method. It is a figure which shows an example of the list of the keywords extracted from the related document and the related document. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which selects the document (search command file) used by the search of the 1st step of a 3rd search method, and the list of search results. It is a figure which shows an example of the list of the search results after the screen which selects the document (related document) used by the search of the 2nd step of a 3rd search method, and narrowing down. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a portable terminal performs regarding a search printing function. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a printing apparatus performs regarding a search printing function. It is a flowchart which shows the process corresponding to the 3rd search method which a printing apparatus performs regarding a search printing function. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a portable terminal in the case of transmitting the list of search results from a printing apparatus to a portable terminal, displaying it, and receiving selection operation of the file for printing from a user in a portable terminal. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printing apparatus when a list of search results is transmitted from a printing apparatus to a mobile terminal to be displayed and a selection operation of a file to be printed is received from a user on the mobile terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a printing system 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 2 is a portable information processing terminal that is connected to a plurality of printing apparatuses 10 connected to a network 3 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the network 3 via an access point 5 by wireless communication. The terminal 40 is configured. A server 7 as a cloud is connected to the network 3 via the Internet.

  The printing apparatus 10 has a copy function for optically reading a document and printing the duplicate image on a recording paper, a scan function for storing the read image data of the document as a file, and transmitting the file to an external terminal via the network 3; This is a so-called multi-function machine having a print function for printing a document or image on a recording sheet based on a print job received from the portable terminal 40 or the like. Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 10 is also referred to as an MFP.

  In the printing system 2, the mobile terminal 40 transmits a normal print job to the printing apparatus 10, and also transmits to the printing apparatus 10 a print job for which a search command file in which search conditions are described is to be printed (P 1) . If the received print job is a normal print job, the printing apparatus 10 executes printing based on the print job.

  On the other hand, if the received print job is a search command file, the search command file is analyzed to extract search conditions (P2), and the file is searched according to the extracted search conditions (P3). The search range includes a storage unit of the own device, a storage unit of another printing apparatus 10 connected to the network 3, and a server 7 on the cloud. The printing apparatus 10 displays the search result on the display unit or the like of the own apparatus, receives a file selection from the user (P4), and prints the selected file. A function for searching and printing a file based on the search command file is referred to as a search printing function.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus 10. The printing apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that comprehensively controls the operation of the printing apparatus 10. The CPU 11 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an image reading unit 14, a printer unit 15, an image processing unit 16, a nonvolatile memory 17, a hard disk device 18, a facsimile communication unit 19, and a network communication through a bus. The unit 21 and the operation panel 22 are connected.

  The CPU 11 is based on an OS (Operating System) program, and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. Various programs are stored in the ROM 12, and each function as the printing apparatus 10 is realized by the CPU 11 executing various processes according to these programs.

  The RAM 13 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 11 executes processing based on a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like.

  The image reading unit 14 functions to optically read a document and acquire image data. The image reading unit 14 sequentially, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light and reads the document for one line in the width direction, and sequentially reads the reading position in line units in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a moving unit for moving, a lens, a mirror, and the like for guiding reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image, and a conversion unit for converting an analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data And so on.

  The printer unit 15 functions to form an image corresponding to the image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. Other methods may be used for image formation.

  The image processing unit 16 performs rasterization processing for converting a file (print data) included in a print job into image data, image data compression, expansion processing, and the like in addition to processing such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation.

  The nonvolatile memory 17 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and is used for storing various setting information.

  The hard disk device 18 is a nonvolatile, large-capacity storage device that stores various programs, received print jobs, and the like. The hard disk device 18 also functions as a file storage unit and can store a large number of files.

  The facsimile communication unit 19 performs a function of transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external device having a facsimile function through a public line.

  The network communication unit 21 performs a function of communicating with the mobile terminal 40, the other printing device 10, the server 7, and other external devices via the network 3.

  The operation panel 22 includes a display unit 23 and an operation unit 24. The display unit 23 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 24 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a start button, and a touch panel provided on the physical screen of the display unit 23. The touch panel detects a coordinate position where the physical screen of the display unit 23 is touched with a touch pen or a finger.

  The CPU 11 of the printing apparatus 10 performs functions such as a reception control unit 31, an analysis unit 32, a search unit 33, a selection unit 34, and a print control unit 35 with respect to the search print function.

  The reception control unit 31 controls the network communication unit 21 to receive a print job including a file to be printed. The analysis unit 32 analyzes a file included in the received print job, and if the file is a search command file, extracts a file search condition from the file. Whether or not it is a search command file is determined from, for example, the extension of the file or the contents of the file.

  The search unit 33 searches for a file based on the extracted search condition. The selection unit 34 displays the search result of the search unit 33 on the display unit 23 and the like, and receives selection of a file to be printed from the search result. The print control unit 35 obtains the selected file from the storage destination, and causes the printer unit 15 to print the file.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the mobile terminal 40. The mobile terminal 40 has a CPU 41 that controls the operation of the mobile terminal 40 in an integrated manner. The CPU 41 is connected to a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a nonvolatile memory 44, an operation unit 45, a display unit 46, a network communication unit 47, and the like through a bus.

  The CPU 41 is based on the OS program, and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. Various programs are stored in the ROM 42, and each function of the portable terminal 40 is realized by the CPU 41 executing various processes according to these programs.

  The RAM 43 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 41 executes processing based on a program.

  The nonvolatile memory 44 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and stores application programs, various fixed data, setting information, and the like. The nonvolatile memory 44 functions as a storage unit that stores various files (documents) created by the user, search command files, and the like.

  The display unit 46 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and fulfills a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 45 includes a small number of hard keys and a touch panel provided on the physical screen of the display unit 46.

  The network communication unit 47 functions to communicate with the printing apparatus 10 and other external devices via the network 3.

  Next, printing by the search printing function will be described in detail. Hereinafter, first to third search methods will be described.

<First search method>
In the first search method, a search command file in which search conditions are described is transmitted from the portable terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10. FIG. 4 shows an example of the document list screen 50 displayed on the display unit 46 of the mobile terminal 40. The document list screen 50 displays a list of files stored in the storage unit (nonvolatile memory 44) of the mobile terminal 40. A print button 52 is displayed on the right side of the file name of each file. When the user presses the print button 52 on the right side of the file to be printed, a print job including the file is transmitted from the portable terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10. The destination printing apparatus 10 can be selected on a separate selection screen in advance or after operating the print button.

  It is assumed that a search command file created in advance by the user is stored in the mobile terminal 40.

  For example, the user may find that the target file is stored in the mobile terminal 40 and displays the document list screen 50 to search for the file. In such a case, the user selects from the document list screen 50 a search command file prepared in advance to search for the target file from another printing apparatus 10 or the server 7 on the cloud, and the right side of the search command file is selected. Pressing the print button 52 transmits a print job including the search command file from the portable terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of description contents of the search command file 60 used in the first search method. The search command file shown in this example is an XML format file. A search condition is described in a portion surrounded by search condition tags. In this example, a search condition indicating that a file whose user name is “Ichiro Suzuki” and whose document creation date is 2015 is searched is described.

  The printing apparatus 10 that has received the print job including the search command file 60 analyzes the extension and description contents of the search command file, identifies that this file is a search command file, and searches from the search command file. Extract conditions. When the search command file 60 shown in FIG. 5 is received, a search condition that the user name (owner) of the file is “Ichiro Suzuki” and the document creation date is 2015 is extracted. The printing apparatus 10 searches for a file using the search condition, and displays the search result on the display unit 23 of the printing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation panel 22 of the printing apparatus 10 on which the search result is displayed. In the example of FIG. 6, a list of search results in which the contents of each first page of the searched file are listed in a reduced display like a thumbnail is displayed. When the printing apparatus 10 receives a selection operation of a desired file from the search result list and detects a pressing operation of the start button 26, the printing apparatus 10 prints the selected file.

  In the example of FIG. 6, a list of search results is displayed on the operation panel 22 of the printing apparatus 10. The terminal 40 may accept the selection result and receive the selection result from the portable terminal 40.

  In the first search method, if the search conditions described in the search command file are set loosely, the same search command file can be shared for searching various files. In the example of FIG. 5, any file created by Ichiro Suzuki in 2015 can be used for searching. If such a search command file is prepared and prepared in advance, the document list screen 50 is displayed and printed on the assumption that the target file is stored in the portable terminal 40 of the user. If the search command file is not selected and the user presses the print button 52 instead, the target file can be searched for by the printer 10.

<Second search method>
In the first search method, if the search conditions described in the search command file are loose, a large number of files may be displayed in a list of search results. The time and effort to select is increased. Therefore, in the second search method, the search results are narrowed down by adding search conditions while maintaining the versatility of the search command file. Specifically, following the search command file, an existing file (related document) related to the target file is transmitted to the printing apparatus 10, and matches the other search conditions described in the search command file, and And search for a file similar to the content of the related document.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation performed on the portable terminal 40 when the second search method is performed. On the document list screen 50, first, a search command file is selected and the print button 52 is operated, and then a related document similar to the target file (in this example, a project document.doc) is selected and the print button is selected. 52 is operated. As a result, a print job including the search command file and a print job including the related document are transmitted from the portable terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the description content of the search command file 62 when the second search method is used. A description related to the print job including the related document is made in a portion sandwiched between the tags of the related document. In this example, “after job 1 file” is described, and it is described that a file included in a print job subsequent to the print job including the search command file is a related document. If it is described as “post job N file” (N is an integer of 2 or more), N related documents can be set. In this case, following the print job including the search command file, N related documents are transmitted as print jobs from the portable terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10.

  In addition, the portion between the related document printing tags describes whether or not to print the related document itself.

  The printing apparatus 10 that has received the search command file 62 analyzes the search command file 62, and if the related document is designated, the file included in the print job sent continuously from the same portable terminal 40 Are related documents, and keywords appearing in the related documents are extracted. The extracted keyword is added to the search condition. Note that if the designation to print the related document is made in the portion surrounded by the related document printing tag, the related document is also printed.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a related document 70 and a list 72 of keywords extracted from the related document 70. In this case, in addition to the search condition specified in the search command file, the printing apparatus 10 has a user name (owner) of the file “Ichiro Suzuki”, and the document creation date is 2015, A file is searched using a search condition that the extracted keyword is included in the document in a predetermined amount or more.

  The display of the search result list, the selection of a file from the list, and the execution of printing are the same as in the first search method, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the second search method, it is possible to add a search condition only by transmitting a related document already stored in the mobile terminal 40 to the printing apparatus 10 following the search command file without setting keywords individually. Therefore, the user can easily search and print a document similar to an existing related document. If one search command file corresponding to the second search method is prepared, the file can be searched under various search conditions by simply changing the related document.

<Third search method>
In the second search method, the fact that the related document is used as a search condition is described in advance in the search command file. However, in the third search method, the same search command file as that in the first search method is transmitted to the printing apparatus 10. Display the list of search results once. Then, when there are many search results and it is considered that further narrowing is necessary, it is possible to narrow down the search results by sending a related document later.

  FIG. 10 shows that a search command file 60 similar to the first search method in the portable terminal 40 is selected on the document list screen 50 and transmitted to the printing apparatus 10. This shows how it is displayed. When the user wants to further narrow down the search result based on the related document, the user can print the related document from the portable terminal 40 while the list of search results is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22 of the printing apparatus 10. 10 to send.

  When the printing apparatus 10 receives a print job from the same portable terminal 40 as the transmission source portable terminal 40 of the search command file while displaying the list of search results, the file included in the print job is set as a related document. Judgment is made and keywords are extracted from the related documents. Then, the search result file is narrowed down based on the matching with the keyword, and the search result after narrowing down is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22. For example, a file (document) that contains more than a predetermined number of extracted keywords is judged to be similar to a related document and is left in the search results. A file (document) that does not contain more than a predetermined number of extracted keywords is deleted from the search results. To narrow down the search results.

  FIG. 11 illustrates a search result obtained by selecting a related document on the document list screen 50 of the mobile terminal 40 and transmitting it to the printing apparatus 10 and narrowing down based on a keyword extracted from the related document. 22 shows the state displayed on the screen. When the printing device 10 receives a selection operation of a desired file from the list of search results and detects a pressing operation of the start button 26, the printing device 10 prints the selected file.

  In the third search method, if only a search command file corresponding to the first search method is prepared in advance, both search using only the search command file and search using a related document can be executed. .

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the mobile terminal 40 regarding the search printing function. The portable terminal 40 displays the document list screen 50 on the display unit 46, and accepts a document (file) selection operation (step S101). When a print instruction is received by pressing the print button 52 with the document selected (step S102; Yes), a print job including the selected document is created and transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 (step S103).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the printing apparatus 10 regarding the search printing function. When receiving the print job from the portable terminal 40 (step S201; Yes), the printing apparatus 10 analyzes the print job (step S202) and determines whether the file included in the print job is a search command file (step S202). Step S203).

  If it is not a search command file (step S203; No), printing of the file included in the received print job is executed (step S204), and this process is terminated.

  If it is a search command file (step S203; Yes), search conditions are extracted from the search command file (step S205). Then, it is determined whether a related document is specified as a search condition (step S206). If the related document is not specified (step S206; No), the file (document) is searched with the search condition extracted from the search command file (step S210), and a list of the search results is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22. (Step S211).

  Thereafter, when a file (document) is selected from the search result list and the start button 26 is operated (step S212; Yes), the selected file (document) is printed (step S213). This process ends.

  When the related document is specified in the search command file (step S206; Yes), the next print job is waited for (step S207; No), and the next mobile terminal 40 that is the transmission source of the search command file is next. When a print job is received (step S207; Yes), keywords are extracted from the file (related document) included in the print job (step S208). Then, the document is searched using the search condition specified in the search command file and the keyword extracted from the related document as the search condition (step S209), and a list of the search results is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22. (Step S211).

  Thereafter, when a file (document) is selected from the search result list and the start button 26 is operated (step S212; Yes), the selected file (document) is printed (step S213). This process ends.

  Note that if the search command file specifies that the related document is to be printed, the related document is also printed.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of processing corresponding to the third search method. In the third search method, the process of FIG. 14 is performed after step S210 of FIG.

  A list of search results obtained by searching in step S210 is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22 of the printing apparatus 10 (step S251). If the next print job is received from the same portable terminal 40 as the transmission source of the search command file during the display (step S252; No, step S253; Yes), the file included in the print job is transferred to the related document. And a keyword is extracted from the related document (step S254). Then, the search result file is narrowed down based on the matching with the extracted keyword (step S255), and the search result after narrowing down is displayed on the display unit 23 of the operation panel 22 (step S251).

  When a file (document) is selected from the list of search results being displayed (step S252; Yes), the selected file (document) is printed (step S256), and this process ends.

  FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show processing when the search result is transmitted from the printing apparatus 10 to the portable terminal 40 and displayed, and the portable terminal 40 accepts an operation for selecting a file to be printed from the user.

  FIG. 15 shows processing performed by the mobile terminal 40. When the search result information is received from the printing apparatus 10 (step S121; Yes), a list of search results is displayed on the display unit 46 of the terminal (step S122). When a user selects a file (document) to be printed from the search result list (step S123; Yes), a print instruction for the selected file (document) is transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 (step S124). ), This process is terminated.

  FIG. 16 shows processing performed by the printing apparatus 10, and the same step numbers are assigned to the same processing portions as those in FIG. 13, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In FIG. 16, step S211 in FIG. 13 is replaced with S211B and step S212 is replaced with S212B, and the other steps are the same as in FIG.

  In step S211B, the search result is transmitted to the mobile terminal 40 that is the transmission source of the search command file. In step S212B, the selection result is received from the portable terminal 40. In step S213, the file (document) indicated by the received selection result is printed.

  According to the present invention, a search command file in which a search condition is described is transmitted as a print job from the portable terminal 40 or the like to the printing apparatus 10, thereby allowing the printing apparatus 10 to search for a file corresponding to the search condition. Therefore, a target file can be easily searched and printed without opening a search screen and setting search conditions. Further, if the related document is transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 following the search command file, the search is performed based on the keyword extracted from the related document. Therefore, when there is a related document similar to the target document, The target document can be searched using this, and the searched files can be easily narrowed down. If one search command file is prepared, it is possible to search for a file under various search conditions by simply changing the related document.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 has been described as a multifunction peripheral. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it has a printing function. The present invention may be a program executed by a printing apparatus.

  The document list screen 50, the search command files 60, 62, and the like shown in the embodiment are examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The search range may be arbitrary. For example, the search unit searches the file storage unit of the printing apparatus that has received the search command file, the external storage device connected via the network, or both of them in the search range.

2 ... Printing system 3 ... Network 5 ... Access point 7 ... Server 10 ... Printing device 11 ... CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Image reading part 15 ... Printer part 16 ... Image processing part 17 ... Non-volatile memory 18 ... Hard disk device 19 ... Facsimile communication part 21 ... Network communication part 22 ... Operation panel 23 ... Display part 24 ... Operation part 26 ... Start button 31 ... Reception control unit 32 ... analysis unit 33 ... search unit 34 ... selection unit 35 ... print control unit 40 ... mobile terminal 41 ... CPU
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
44 ... Non-volatile memory 45 ... Operation unit 46 ... Display unit 47 ... Network communication unit 50 ... Document list screen 52 ... Print button 60 ... Search command file (corresponding to first and third search methods)
62 ... Search command file (corresponding to the second search method)
70 ... Related documents 72 ... List of keywords

Claims (13)

A receiving unit for receiving the first file as a print job;
Analyzing the first file received by the receiving unit, and when the first file is a predetermined search command file, an analyzing unit for extracting a file search condition from the first file;
A search unit for searching for a file based on the search condition extracted by the analysis unit;
A search unit for displaying a search result of the search unit, and receiving a selection of a file to be printed from the search result;
A printing unit for printing the file selected by the selection unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit determines whether the first file is the search command file based on an extension of the first file or contents of the first file. . When the extracted search condition indicates that a file similar to the next file to be sent is searched, the search unit receives the first file after the first file. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a file similar to the second file received from the same transmission source is searched. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the print command for the second file is described in the search command file, the printing unit prints the second file. 5. When the selection unit displays the search result and the reception unit receives a third file from the same transmission source as the first file, the search unit converts the search result into the third file. 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein a process of narrowing down to similar ones is performed, and the selection unit displays a search result after the narrowing process, and receives a selection of a file to be printed from the search result. The printing apparatus as described. The search unit searches a search unit for a file storage unit included in the printing device, an external storage device connected via a network, or the external storage device and the storage unit. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
An information processing terminal for transmitting a file to the printing device;
With
The information processing terminal
A storage unit for storing files;
A file selection unit that displays a selection screen of a file stored in the storage unit and receives a selection of the file;
A transmission unit that transmits the file selected by the file selection unit to the printing device;
A printing system characterized by comprising: A program executed on a printing device,
A receiving step of receiving the first file as a print job;
An analysis step of analyzing the received first file and extracting a file search condition from the first file when the first file is a predetermined search command file;
A search step for searching for a file based on the extracted search condition;
A selection step of displaying a search result in the search step and receiving a selection of a file to be printed from the search result;
A printing step for printing the file selected in the selection step;
The program characterized by having. 9. The program according to claim 8, wherein in the analysis step, it is determined whether the first file is the search command file from the extension of the first file or the content of the first file. In the search step, when the extracted search condition indicates a search for a file similar to the next file to be sent, the same source as the first file is next to the first file. The program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a file similar to the received second file is searched. The program according to claim 10, further comprising a step of printing the second file when a print instruction for the second file is described in the search command file. When the search result is displayed in the selection step and the third file is received from the same source as the first file, the search result is further similar to the third file in the search step. The program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a narrowing process is performed, and in the selection step, a search result after the narrowing process is displayed, and a file to be printed is selected from the search result. . In the search step, a file storage unit included in the printing device, an external storage device connected via a network, or the external storage device and the storage unit are searched in a search range. The program according to any one of claims 8 to 12.

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