JP2018154114A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a delay of processing.SOLUTION: A printer executing radio communication with an information terminal, comprises: a communication control part receiving second data when detecting transmission of the second data included in a second data group from a second information terminal before receiving an execution request of prescribed processing from a first information terminal after receiving first data included in a first data group from the first information terminal; and a processing execution part executing the prescribed processing based on the second data when the communication control part receives the execution request of the prescribed processing from the second information terminal before receiving data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal after receiving the second data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Data is transmitted from the information terminal to the printer, and the printer executes printing based on the transmitted data.
A process in which one file is divided into a plurality of divided data (packet data) and transmitted from the communication terminal device to the MFP is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-194594 A

  When an information terminal transmits a large amount of data to a printer at once, the information terminal may occupy the printer, and may wait for a long time until another information terminal communicates with the printer. Here, as in the above-mentioned document, when dividing data is transmitted from an information terminal to a printer, when the divided data is transmitted from a plurality of transmission source information terminals to the printer, the receiving printer receives a plurality of information terminals. There is a possibility that appropriate processing corresponding to each information terminal cannot be executed by confusing the transmitted divided data. Also, in an environment where divided data can be transmitted to a printer from each of a plurality of transmission source information terminals, when data transmission from the information terminal is interrupted due to a cause on one information terminal side, another information terminal on the printer side The communication between the other information terminal and the printer may be delayed without being properly switched to the state of receiving the data.

  The present invention provides a printing apparatus effective for at least one of the above-described problems.

  One aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs wireless communication with an information terminal, and after receiving first data included in a first data group from a first information terminal, the first information terminal A communication control unit that receives the second data when detecting transmission of the second data included in the second data group from the second information terminal before receiving the execution request for the predetermined process from the second information terminal; The communication control unit receives the execution request for the predetermined process from the second information terminal after receiving the second data and before receiving data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal. A process execution unit that executes the predetermined process based on the second data.

  According to this configuration, in an environment where each of the plurality of information terminals can execute data transmission to the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus finishes transmitting all of the first data included in the first data group from the first information terminal. When the transmission of the second data included in the second data group is executed from the second information terminal before the second information terminal, the second data terminal receives the second data before receiving data from the information terminal other than the second information terminal. If the execution request can be received from the information terminal, a predetermined process based on the second data is executed. As a result, when the data transmission from one information terminal (first information terminal) is interrupted or the interval is opened, the data transmission from another information terminal (second information terminal) is accepted without delay in the printing apparatus. The predetermined process proceeds smoothly.

One aspect of the present invention is that the communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal and then receives the execution request from the first information terminal. When the second data is not received from the second information terminal, the process execution unit executes the predetermined process based on the first data in response to the execution request, and the communication control unit When receiving the second data from the second information terminal after receiving the first data from the first information terminal and before receiving the execution request from the first information terminal, The process execution unit may not execute the predetermined process based on the first data.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus can avoid confusion between data received from different transmission sources and confusion of predetermined processing based on data received from different transmission sources, and can appropriately perform predetermined processing corresponding to one transmission source. It can be carried out.
Further, the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs wireless communication with an information terminal, and the first data is transmitted when the first data included in the first data group is transmitted from the first information terminal. A communication control unit that receives the second data when the second data included in the second data group is transmitted from the second information terminal, and an execution request for the predetermined process received by the communication control unit. And a process execution unit capable of executing the predetermined process based on the data received by the communication control unit, wherein the communication control unit receives the first information terminal from the first information terminal. When the execution request is received from the first information terminal after receiving data and before receiving data from an information terminal other than the first information terminal, the predetermined processing based on the first data And the communication control unit When receiving the second data from the second information terminal after receiving the first data from the first information terminal and before receiving the execution request from the first information terminal, The predetermined process based on the first data is not executed, and then the communication control unit receives the data from the second information terminal before receiving data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal. When an execution request is received, it may be understood that the predetermined process based on the second data is executed.

In one aspect of the present invention, the communication control unit receives data specifying an electronic file stored in a storage device connected to the printing device as each of the first data and the second data. Also good.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus can obtain the designation of the electronic file stored in the storage device connected to the printing apparatus from the external information terminal.

One aspect of the present invention is that the predetermined process execution request is a print process execution request, and the communication control unit receives the second data and then receives an information terminal other than the second information terminal. If the execution request is received from the second information terminal before the data is received, the process execution unit may print the electronic file specified by the second data. That is, the process execution unit executes the printing of the electronic file specified by the first data as the predetermined process based on the first data, and the second data as the predetermined process based on the second data. The electronic file specified by is printed.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus can smoothly print the electronic file designated by the second information terminal. Similarly, the printing apparatus can smoothly print the electronic file designated by the first information terminal.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the communication control unit receives data from the information terminal, the communication control unit issues identification information for identifying the transmission source of the data to the information terminal of the transmission source, and other If the identification information issued to the other information terminal is invalidated to identify the information terminal, and the process execution unit receives the execution request from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated, The predetermined processing based on data received from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated may be executed.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus performs predetermined processing based on data received from an information terminal having identification information that has not been invalidated. Thereby, the confusion of the process based on the data received from different transmission sources can be avoided, and the predetermined process corresponding to one transmission source having the currently valid identification information can be appropriately performed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the communication control unit is configured to execute the predetermined process based on data received from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated. May invalidate the identification information.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus returns to a state where there is no valid identification information, and again waits for data transmission from the information terminal.

In one aspect of the present invention, the processing execution unit receives the execution request from the first information terminal after the communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal. Before receiving the second data from the second information terminal, the first data may be discarded.
According to this configuration, it is possible to save memory resources in the printing apparatus by discarding data that can be said to be useless once.

One aspect of the present invention is that, after discarding the first data, the communication control unit transmits a predetermined screen display instruction to the first information terminal to indicate that the first data has been discarded. The first information terminal may be caused to execute at least one of a screen display and a screen display prompting retransmission of the first data.
According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of the first information terminal that the first data has been discarded or to prompt the user to retransmit the first data, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

In one aspect of the present invention, after the process execution unit executes the predetermined process based on the second data, the communication control unit instructs the first information terminal to retransmit the first data. By transmitting, the first information terminal may be caused to retransmit the first data.
According to this configuration, since the transmission of the first data from the first information terminal is automatically started after the execution of the predetermined process based on the second data by the process execution unit, the printing apparatus is finally The predetermined process based on the data transmitted from the first information terminal can be executed.

One aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs wireless communication with an information terminal, and the first data is transmitted when the first data included in the first data group is transmitted from the first information terminal. A communication control unit that receives the second data when the second data included in the second data group is transmitted from the second information terminal, and the communication control unit receives from the first information terminal. The first data is held in association with the first information terminal, and the communication control unit holds the second data received from the second information terminal in association with the second information terminal. A data holding unit; and a process execution unit capable of executing a predetermined process based on data held by the data holding unit, wherein the process execution unit finishes transmitting all the data constituting the data group. Supports information terminals according to terminal order Only the executing predetermined processing based on the data held by.
According to this configuration, in an environment where each of the plurality of information terminals can execute data transmission to the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus transmits the first data included in the first data group from the first information terminal, and the second Each of the second data included in the second data group from the information terminal is transmitted and received, and the received data is stored in association with the transmission source. Then, predetermined processing based on data held in association with the information terminals is executed in the order of the information terminals that have finished transmitting all the data constituting the data group. As a result, when data transmission from one information terminal is interrupted or an interval is opened, data transmission from another information terminal is accepted without delay in the printing apparatus, and the predetermined processing proceeds smoothly. In addition, when data transmission from an information terminal in which data transmission has been interrupted or opened is resumed, it is possible to smoothly execute a predetermined process based on data from the information terminal that has resumed the data transmission. Further, confusion between data received from different transmission sources and confusion of predetermined processing based on data received from different transmission sources can be avoided.

In one aspect of the present invention, the data holding unit may store at least a part of the held data in a storage device connected to the printing apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
According to this configuration, even when a large amount of data is received from the information terminal, the printing device distributes the received data in the own device (data holding unit) and the storage device connected to the own device. Can be held.

As a specific example, the data holding unit, when the total data size of the data received from the information terminal by the communication control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold regarding the storage capacity of the data holding unit, or a data group It may be determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the number of information terminals that are continuing the transmission process of each piece of data exceeds a predetermined threshold value regarding the number of information terminals.
According to this configuration, the printing apparatus avoids a situation where the data holding unit cannot hold the data transmitted from the information terminal, and the storage device connected to the own apparatus (data holding unit) and the own apparatus. The data can be distributed and held.

The technical idea of the present invention can be realized in various modes other than the category of apparatus. For example, a method including each process realized by each unit of the printing apparatus and an invention of a program for causing a hardware (computer) to execute such a method are established.
A system including an information terminal and a printing apparatus is also established as an invention. As an example, a communication system including an information terminal that performs wireless communication and a printing apparatus, a first information terminal that transmits first data included in a first data group to the printing apparatus, and the first information After the transmission by the terminal, a second information terminal that transmits the second data included in the second data group to the printing apparatus, and a predetermined process from the first information terminal after receiving the first data If the transmission of the second data is detected prior to receiving the execution request, the communication control unit that receives the second data and the communication control unit after receiving the second data, A process of executing the predetermined process based on the second data when the execution request of the predetermined process is received from the second information terminal before receiving data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal. And an execution unit You can grasp the arrangement comprising a serial printing apparatus.

In addition, inventions of respective categories such as an information terminal, a process (method) executed by the information terminal, and a program for causing the information terminal to execute processing are also established. As an example, a communication control program for causing an information terminal to perform communication, a selection reception function for receiving selection of a plurality of electronic files, and a plurality of file paths indicating storage locations of the plurality of selected files A communication function that transmits to the printing apparatus, wherein the communication function divides the plurality of file paths into a plurality of groups and transmits the file path in units of groups to the printing apparatus for each communication in a plurality of communications. Can be grasped.
The invention of a computer-readable storage medium storing a program is also established.

The figure which shows an apparatus structure simply. The figure which shows a file selection screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating wireless printing processing. The figure for demonstrating the specific example of a wireless printing process. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of an alert screen, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of an alert screen. 9 is a flowchart showing wireless printing processing according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each figure is only an example for explaining this embodiment.

1. System description:
FIG. 1 simply shows the configuration of a system 10 according to the present embodiment. The system 10 may be called a printing system or a communication system. The system 10 includes a printer 20 as a printing apparatus and a plurality of information terminals 30. The printer 20 is a device that functions as at least a printer, and may be a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a scanner and a facsimile. The printer 20 may be a stationary printer or a small portable printer (mobile printer). The printer 20 may be called an image forming apparatus.

  The printer 20 includes, for example, a control unit 21, interfaces (IF) 22, 23, a display unit 24, an operation unit 25, a printing unit 26, and the like. The control unit 21 includes, for example, one or a plurality of ICs having a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and the like, other memories, and the like. In the control unit 21, the CPU 21a executes arithmetic processing according to the firmware or program stored in the ROM 21b or the like using the RAM 21c or the like as a work area, whereby the behavior of each unit of the printer 20 including the printing unit 26 is performed. To control. The control unit 21 is installed with a wireless printing execution program 27 as a kind of program.

  The IF 22 is an IF for performing wireless communication with an external wireless communication device (such as the information terminal 30). In the present embodiment, the wireless communication standard is not particularly limited, and various communication standards can be adopted. For example, the IF 22 performs wireless communication with an external wireless communication device via an access point or the like by connecting to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) managed by an access point (not shown) or a router. Alternatively, the IF 22 may execute direct wireless communication with an external wireless communication device without using an access point or the like. In that case, for example, the IF 22 itself functions as an access point.

  The IF 23 is an IF for connecting to an external device by wire or directly. The IF 23 is, for example, a memory slot into which the storage device 40 is directly inserted, or a port to which a communication cable connected to the storage device 40 is connected. Of course, the printer 20 can have a plurality of IFs 23. In addition to the storage device 40, various devices such as a personal computer (PC) (not shown) and a digital still camera can be wired to the IF 23. The types of storage devices 40 connected to the IF 23 shown in FIG. 1 are various. Examples thereof include a memory card such as an SD card, a USB memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical disk, and other stick-shaped memories. . The storage device 40 stores a plurality of electronic files, for example, a plurality of image files.

  The display unit 24 is a means for displaying visual information, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 24 may include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation unit 25 is a means for inputting a user operation, and is realized by, for example, a touch panel, a physical button, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the display unit 24 can also function as such a touch panel. The display unit 24 and the operation unit 25 can be collectively referred to as an operation panel.

  The printing unit 26 is a mechanism that executes printing based on print data, and executes printing using, for example, an inkjet method. The printing method employed by the printing unit 26 is not limited to the ink jet method, and various methods such as an electrophotographic method can be employed. Since the configuration of the printing unit 26 is known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The information terminal 30 is realized by, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a PC, or a terminal having functions equivalent to those. Each information terminal 30 includes, for example, a control unit 31, an IF 32, a display unit 33, an operation unit 34, and the like. The control unit 31 includes, for example, one or a plurality of ICs having a CPU 31a, a ROM 31b, a RAM 31c, and the like, other memories, and the like. In the control unit 31, the CPU 31 a controls the behavior of the information terminal 30 by executing arithmetic processing according to a program stored in the ROM 31 b or the like using the RAM 31 c or the like as a work area. A wireless printing instruction program 35 as a kind of program (application) is installed in the control unit 31. The wireless printing instruction program 35 corresponds to the communication control program of the present invention.

  The IF 32 is an IF for performing wireless communication with an external wireless communication device (such as the printer 20). For the basic description of the display unit 33 and the operation unit 34, the above description regarding the display unit 24 and the operation unit 25 can be applied. In the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, communication between the information terminal 30 and the printer 20 is wireless communication via the IF 32 and IF 22.

2. Data transmission from the information terminal 30 to the printer 20:
The user can activate the wireless printing instruction program 35 by operating the operation unit 34 of the information terminal 30 and transmit data from the information terminal 30 to the printer 20.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a file selection screen 50 that is displayed on the display unit 33 by the control unit 31 of the information terminal 30 that executes processing according to the wireless printing instruction program 35. The control unit 31 (wireless printing instruction program 35) acquires a reduced image (thumbnail) for each image file stored in the storage device 40 connected to the printer 20 from the printer 20 by communicating with the printer 20. The plurality of acquired thumbnails are displayed in the file selection screen 50. In FIG. 2, each rectangle in the file selection screen 50 indicates a thumbnail 51.

  By operating the operation unit 34, the user arbitrarily selects an image (thumbnail 51) to be printed from a plurality of thumbnails 51 displayed on the file selection screen 50. The user operates, for example, the determination button 52 displayed on the file selection screen 50 with one or more thumbnails 51 selected. In response to the determination button 52 being operated, the control unit 31 receives the current selection state of the thumbnail 51. That is, the wireless printing instruction program 35 causes the control unit 31 to realize a selection receiving function for receiving selection of a plurality of electronic files.

  Next, the control unit 31 provides the printer 20 with a path (file path) indicating the storage location (folder in the storage device 40) of each image file corresponding to the thumbnail 51 that has received the selection as described above. Send. Note that when the control unit 31 acquires the thumbnail 51 for each image file stored in the storage device 40 from the printer 20 as described above, the file for each image file stored in the storage device 40 is also obtained. It is assumed that path information is also acquired from the printer 20. Such a file path corresponds to data designating an electronic file stored in a storage device connected to the printer 20.

  For example, the user can select several hundred thumbnails 51 at a time on the file selection screen 50. The control unit 31 may transmit file paths of several hundred image files corresponding to the thumbnails 51 selected in this way to the printer 20 by one communication. However, in the present embodiment, the information terminal 30 transmits a plurality of file paths divided into a plurality of communications. A specific example in which the file path is divided into a plurality of times of transmission will be described later with reference to FIG. In any case, the wireless printing instruction program 35 divides a plurality of file paths indicating the storage locations of the plurality of selected electronic files into a plurality of groups, and the file path for the group unit for each communication in a plurality of communications. It can be said that the control unit 31 realizes a communication function for transmitting the message to the printer 20.

3. Wireless printing process:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the wireless printing process realized by the control unit 21 of the printer 20 according to the wireless printing execution program 27. The control unit 21 functions as a communication control unit and a processing execution unit by executing processing according to the wireless printing execution program 27.
The control unit 21 waits for external wireless communication (step S100). In such a state, the control unit 21 continuously determines whether or not wireless communication from the outside can be detected via the IF 22 (step S110), and when wireless communication can be detected, that is, when there is communication. (“Yes” in step S110), the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the control unit 21 determines whether or not identification information for identifying the transmission source (information terminal 30) of the communication is attached to the communication detected in step S110. As will be described in detail later, when identification information is issued from the printer 20 to itself, the information terminal 30 attaches the issued identification information to the printer 20. When the identification information is not attached to the communication detected in step S110 (“No” in step S120), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, the control unit 21 branches the process depending on whether communication is currently being performed with an information terminal 30 other than the communication transmission source detected in step S110 (another information terminal 30). In other words, “currently communicating with another information terminal 30” refers to a state in which valid identification information is currently issued to the other information terminal 30. Valid identification information is identification information that has not been invalidated. If the control unit 21 is currently communicating with another information terminal 30 (“Yes” in step S130), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S150, and is not currently communicating with another information terminal 30 (“No” in step S130). ), Go to step S140.

  In step S140, the control unit 21 issues new identification information to the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the communication detected in step S110. That is, new identification information is generated, and the generated identification information is transmitted to the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the communication detected in step S110. There are various methods for generating identification information. For example, the control unit 21 can easily acquire information such as information specific to the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the communication detected in step S110 (such as a serial number), the current date and time, a randomly generated random number, and the like. Are used or combined as appropriate to generate unique identification information. By step S140, the state where there is no valid identification information is switched to a state where there is valid identification information. After step S140, the control unit 21 returns to step S100.

  On the other hand, in step S150, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information that has been valid until then, which is issued to the other information terminals 30, and newly adds to the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the communication detected in step S110. Issue identification information. By step S150, the identification information that has been valid until then is invalidated, and another valid identification information is generated. That is, in the present embodiment, the identification information issued for identifying the wireless communication transmission source by the printer 20 does not enable a plurality of pieces of identification information to be valid at the same time. After step S150, the control unit 21 returns to step S100.

  FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the wireless printing process. Hereinafter, the description will be continued with reference to both FIGS. FIG. 4 illustrates processing executed by each of the plurality of terminals 30A and 30B and the printer 20. Each of the terminals 30A and 30B is one information terminal 30. First, it is assumed that the terminal 30A transmits a communication start notification SS to the printer 20 and subsequently transmits file paths AP1 to AP10. The printer 20 can determine that there is communication ("Yes" in step S110) upon receiving (detecting) the communication start notification SS in a state of waiting for wireless communication from the outside (step S100). .

As an example, in the description of FIG. 4, the information terminal 30 (terminals 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B) collectively transmits 10 file paths to the printer 20 by one communication. For example, when the terminal 30 </ b> A receives selection of 200 thumbnails 51 from the user via the file selection screen 50, the terminal 30 </ b> A sets 200 file paths for each image file corresponding to the 200 thumbnails 51 in units of 10 units. Dividing into groups (20 groups in total), a file path (for example, file paths AP1 to AP10) for one group is transmitted to the printer 20 by one communication. Such a file path for one group is included in the first (or second) data group (for example, 200 file paths) received by the printer 20 from the first (or second) information terminal. This corresponds to an example of 1 (or second) data.
Although not specifically shown in FIG. 3, the printer 20 receives and stores data (such as a file path) transmitted from the information terminal 30 following the communication start notification SS.

  Assume that the communication start notification SS and the file paths AP1 to AP10 transmitted from the terminal 30A to the printer 20 are not attached with the identification information described so far. In this case, the control unit 21 determines “No” in step S120 and proceeds to step S130. In the description of FIG. 4, it is assumed that the printer 20 is not communicating with another information terminal 30 (that is, there is no currently valid identification information) at the time of communication from the terminal 30A. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 21 determines “No” in step S130 and proceeds to step S140. In step S140, the control unit 21 generates new identification information (identification information ID1), and transmits this identification information ID1 to the terminal 30A.

  The terminal 30A transmits a communication end notification ES to the printer 20 following transmission of the file paths AP1 to AP10. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication from the set of communication start notification SS to the communication end notification ES is one-time (once) communication from the information terminal 30 to the printer 20. The terminal 30A that has received the issuance of the identification information ID1 from the printer 20 attaches the identification information ID1 to the communication to the printer 20 after the next time. The information terminal 30 can finally transmit all the file paths to be transmitted (for example, 200 file paths) to the printer 20 by repeating the transmission of the file paths for one group. .

  Here, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the communication start notification SS and the file paths BP1 to BP10 are transmitted from the terminal 30B to the printer 20 at a timing after the terminal 30A finishes transmitting the file paths AP1 to AP10. Each of the file paths AP1 to AP10, the file paths BP1 to BP10, and the file paths BP11 to BP20, which will be described later, simply mean 10 file paths. In response to the communication from the terminal 30B, the control unit 21 performs the determination in step S120 through steps S100 and S110.

  It is assumed that no identification information is attached to the communication start notification SS and the file paths BP1 to BP10 transmitted from the terminal 30B to the printer 20. Therefore, the control unit 21 determines “No” in step S120 and proceeds to step S130. In this case, as described above, since the identification information ID1 is issued to the terminal 30A, the control unit 21 determines “Yes” in step S130 and proceeds to step S150. In step S150, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information ID1 issued to the terminal 30A, and issues new identification information (identification information ID2) to the terminal 30B.

  The terminal 30B transmits a communication end notification ES to the printer 20 following transmission of the file paths BP1 to BP10. The terminal 30B that has received the issuance of the identification information ID2 from the printer 20 attaches the identification information ID2 to the communication to the printer 20 after the next time.

If the identification information is attached to the communication detected in step S110 (“Yes” in step S120), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S160.
In step S160, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the identification information attached to the communication detected in step S110 is valid. The information terminal 30 may perform communication with identification information issued to itself and identification information that is currently invalidated to the printer 20. For example, in a situation where the identification information ID2 is issued, a case where the terminal 30A performs communication with the identification information ID1 (invalidated identification information) to the printer 20 is conceivable. Therefore, the determination in step S160 is necessary.

  When it is determined that the identification information attached to the communication detected in step S110 is valid (“Yes” in step S160), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S170, whereas when the identification information is determined to be invalid ( In step S160, “No”), the process proceeds to step S190.

  In step S190, the control unit 21 notifies the transmission source of the communication detected in step S110 that the communication is not valid (error notification). For example, in a situation where the valid identification information is the identification information ID2, when the terminal 30A performs communication with the identification information ID1 (invalidated identification information) to the printer 20, the control unit 21 performs the communication. An error notification is sent to the terminal 30A as a response to (Step S190). The information terminal 30 that has received the error notification can recognize that the identification information attached to the communication to the printer 20 has already been invalidated, and can prevent the identification information from being used thereafter. After step S190, the control unit 21 returns to step S100.

  On the other hand, in step S170, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the communication detected in step S110 corresponds to the final communication. The final communication is an execution request for a predetermined process based on data transmitted so far, and corresponds to a print process execution request (print execution instruction PRC (see FIG. 4)) to the printer 20 here. When the communication detected in step S110 corresponds to the final communication (“Yes” in step S170), the control unit 21 proceeds to step 180. On the other hand, when the communication detected in step S110 does not correspond to the final communication (“No” in step S170), the process returns to step S100.

  After the identification information ID2 is issued to the terminal 30B as described above, the communication start notification SS, the file paths BP11 to BP20, and the communication end notification ES are transmitted from the terminal 30B to the printer 20 as shown in FIG. Suppose that In response to the communication from the terminal 30B, the control unit 21 performs the determination in step S120 through steps S100 and S110. In this case, since the identification information ID2 (currently valid identification information) is attached to the communication from the terminal 30B, “Yes” is determined in steps S120 and S160, and the determination in step S170 is performed. Since the file paths BP11 to BP20 received from the terminal 30B do not correspond to the final communication, the control unit 21 determines “No” in step S170 and waits for further communication (step S100).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that a communication start notification SS, a print execution instruction PRC, and a communication end notification ES are transmitted from the terminal 30B to the printer 20. In response to the communication from the terminal 30B, the control unit 21 performs the determination in step S120 through steps S100 and S110. Also in this case, since the identification information ID2 (currently valid identification information) is attached to the communication from the terminal 30B, both “Yes” are determined in steps S120 and S160, and the determination in step S170 is performed. Since the print execution instruction PRC received from the terminal 30B corresponds to the final communication, the control unit 21 determines “Yes” in step S170, and proceeds to step S180.

  In step S180, the control unit 21 executes print processing based on the file path received from the transmission source of the print execution instruction PRC in accordance with the print execution instruction PRC. According to the example of FIG. 4, the control unit 21 has received the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30B. Therefore, the control unit 21 reads a plurality of image files respectively indicated by the plurality of file paths BP1 to BP10 and BP11 to BP20 received from the terminal 30B from the storage device 40, and prints the plurality of read image files. In this case, the control unit 21 appropriately performs resolution conversion, color conversion, halftone processing, and the like on the read image file to generate print data, and causes the printing unit 26 to perform printing based on the generated print data. .

  In step S180, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information issued to the transmission source of the final communication. According to the example of FIG. 4, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information ID2 issued to the terminal 30B that is the transmission source of the final communication (print execution instruction PRC). As a result, there is no valid identification information. After step S180, the control unit 21 returns to step S100.

4). Summary and other explanations:
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 21 of the printer 20 that performs wireless communication with the information terminal 30 transmits the first data included in the first data group from the first information terminal (for example, the terminal 30 </ b> A). For example, the first data is received when the file paths AP1 to AP10) are transmitted, and the second data (for example, the file paths BP1 to BP1) included in the second data group from the second information terminal (for example, the terminal 30B). BP10) functions as a communication control unit that receives the second data when transmitted, and performs predetermined processing based on the data received from the information terminal 30 in response to an execution request for the predetermined processing received from the information terminal 30. It also functions as an executable process execution unit. Then, the control unit 21 receives the first data (for example, file paths AP1 to AP10) included in the first data group from the first information terminal (for example, the terminal 30A), and then receives a predetermined value from the first information terminal. Before receiving the processing execution request (print execution instruction PRC), the second data (for example, file paths BP1 to BP10) included in the second data group from the second information terminal (for example, terminal 30B). When transmission is detected, the second data is received, and after receiving the second data, before receiving data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal, the second information terminal performs a predetermined process. When an execution request (print execution instruction PRC) is received, a predetermined process (print process) based on the second data is executed.

  In wireless communication, it is fully conceivable that communication is interrupted due to various causes on the information terminal 30 side that has been communicating with the printer 20 (for example, battery exhaustion or movement out of a wireless communication range). For example, after the file path AP1 to AP10 for one group is transmitted from the terminal 30A to the printer 20 as described above, the file path or print execution instruction PRC for the next group is not transmitted from the terminal 30A. Conceivable. On the other hand, in a situation where the printer 20 can receive the transmission of the file path and the transmission of the print execution instruction PRC wirelessly from the plurality of information terminals 30, the printer 20 is later than the information terminal 30 that has started communication with the printer 20 first. The information terminal 30 that has started communication from the printer to the printer 20 is preferentially responded to the request. As a result, when the data transmission from the information terminal 30 that has started communication is interrupted as described above, the information terminal 30 that has started communication later is not kept waiting, and the information that has started communication after that time. The request from the terminal 30 can be reliably met.

  In the present specification, the first information terminal and the second information terminal are information terminals included in a plurality of information terminals capable of transmitting data to the printing apparatus (printer 20), and each has different data. It is merely a name for distinguishing two information terminals that transmit at timing. In FIG. 4, if the printer 20 receives the file paths BP1 to BP10 from the terminal 30B and before receiving the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30B, the printer 20 receives another information terminal 30 (identification information) (not shown). When the file path is transmitted from an information terminal that does not have the printer 20, the printer 20 is ready to respond to a request from the other information terminal 30. That is, if attention is paid to the relationship between the terminal 30B and the other information terminal 30, the terminal 30B corresponds to the first information terminal, and the other information terminal 30 corresponds to the second information terminal. If the timing at which the terminal 30A transmits the file paths AP1 to AP10 is later than the timing at which the terminal 30B shown in FIG. 4 transmits the file paths BP1 to BP10, the terminal 30B is the first information terminal. In some cases, the terminal 30A corresponds to the second information terminal.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when receiving data from the information terminal 30, the control unit 21 issues identification information for identifying the transmission source of the data to the information terminal 30 of the transmission source, and other In order to identify the information terminal, the identification information issued to the other information terminal is invalidated (step S150). When an execution request (print execution instruction PRC) is received from the information terminal 30 having identification information that has not been invalidated (“Yes” in step S170), the information terminal 30 having identification information that has not been invalidated. A predetermined process (printing process) based on the received data is executed (step S180). In this way, the control unit 21 avoids confusion in print processing based on data received from different transmission sources by giving valid identification information to the only information terminal 30 at that time as a communication partner that meets the request, Printing processing corresponding to one transmission source can be appropriately performed.

  Temporarily, the control unit 21 receives the print execution instruction PRC from the first information terminal after receiving the first data (for example, the file paths AP1 to AP10) from the first information terminal (for example, the terminal 30A), It is assumed that the second data (for example, the file paths BP1 to BP10) is not received from the second information terminal (for example, the terminal 30B) between the reception of the first data and the reception of the print execution instruction PRC. Further, it is assumed that the control unit 21 has not received data from any information terminal 30 other than the second information terminal (for example, the terminal 30B) between the reception of the first data and the reception of the print execution instruction PRC. . In this case, the control unit 21 executes a predetermined process (print process) based on the first data in response to a print execution instruction PRC from the first information terminal. That is, an electronic file (image file) specified by the first data (file path) received from the first information terminal is read from the storage device 40, and the printing unit 26 is caused to print the read image file.

On the other hand, after receiving the first data (for example, the file paths AP1 to AP10) from the first information terminal (for example, the terminal 30A), the control unit 21 receives the print execution instruction PRC from the first information terminal. Before receiving the second data (for example, file paths BP1 to BP10) from the second information terminal (for example, terminal 30B), the predetermined process (printing process) based on the first data is not executed (that is, The first data is invalid for predetermined processing (print processing). More specifically, in step S150, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information ID1 that has been issued to the terminal 30A so far, and newly identifies the transmission source (terminal 30B) detected in step S110. When the information ID 2 is issued, the data received from the terminal 30A (file paths AP1 to AP10) are discarded because they are not used for the printing process. That is, the control unit 21 receives the first data from the first information terminal and then receives the execution request (print execution instruction PRC) from the first information terminal before receiving the execution request (print execution instruction PRC). When the second data is received, the first data is discarded (erased). Further, after issuing the identification information ID2 to the terminal 30B as described above, even if the printing execution instruction PRC with the identification information ID1 (invalidated identification information) is transmitted from the terminal 30A, the control unit 21 Determines “No” in step S160 for the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30A. Accordingly, the printer 20 can avoid confusion between data received from different transmission sources and confusion in printing processing based on data received from different transmission sources, and printing corresponding to one transmission source (in this case, the terminal 30B). Processing can be performed appropriately.
In addition, when the control unit 21 performs error notification to the information terminal 30 that has performed communication with invalid identification information in step S190, the data (file path) transmitted by communication with the invalid identification information is transmitted. ) Is discarded because it is not used in the printing process.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information in response to executing a predetermined process (printing process) based on data received from the information terminal 30 having identification information that has not been invalidated. (Step S180). As a result, the printer 20 returns to a state where there is no valid identification information, and again waits for data transmission from the information terminal 30.

  When the identification information is invalidated in step S150 or step S180, the control unit 21 may notify the information terminal 30 to which the invalidated identification information is given that the identification information has been invalidated. . By this notification, it is possible to prevent the information terminal 30 from communicating with the printer 20 with identification information already invalidated.

  As described above, when the identification information issued to a certain information terminal 30 is invalidated in step S150, the control unit 21 also discards data received from the information terminal 30. After discarding such received data (that is, after step S150), the control unit 21 displays a predetermined screen on the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the discarded data in parallel with the flowchart of FIG. An instruction may be transmitted. Referring to FIG. 4, in response to receiving the transmission of the file paths BP1 to BP10 from the terminal 30B, the control unit 21 invalidates the identification information ID1 that has been issued to the terminal 30A in step S150, and identifies the identification information ID2. Is issued to the terminal 30B. Then, after discarding the file paths AP1 to AP10 received from the terminal 30A, a screen display instruction DC is transmitted to the terminal 30A.

  5A and 5B respectively show specific examples of alert screens displayed on the information terminal 30 by the screen display instruction DC. The alert screen 60 shown in FIG. 5A includes a message such as “The specified file path has been discarded.” The information terminal 30 that has received the screen display instruction DC from the printer 20 causes the display unit 33 to display such an alert screen 60. The user who viewed the alert screen 60 via the display unit 33 operates the information terminal 30 to discard the file path instructed to the printer 20, that is, each image file selected through the file selection screen 50 (FIG. 2). It is possible to recognize that printing has been disabled without being executed.

  The alert screen 70 shown in FIG. 5B includes a message such as “Please send the file path again after a while”. The information terminal 30 that has received the screen display instruction DC from the printer 20 may cause the display unit 33 to display such an alert screen 70. The user who views the alert screen 70 via the display unit 33 performs an operation to instruct the printer 20 to print each image file selected through the file selection screen 50 (FIG. 2), that is, a plurality of file paths (data groups). It can be recognized that transmission to the printer 20 should be performed again.

  The alert screen 60 is a specific example of screen display indicating that data has been discarded, and the alert screen 70 is a specific example of screen display indicating that data is to be retransmitted. According to such a configuration, the control unit 21 transmits a predetermined screen display instruction to the first information terminal after discarding the first data, thereby displaying the screen display indicating that the first data is discarded and the first data display. It can be said that the first information terminal is caused to execute at least one of the screen display prompting the retransmission of data. In addition, on the alert screen 70, the user may be notified of the timing for executing the data retransmission specifically (for example, “Please re-send the file path after 30 minutes”). The screen display instruction DC transmitted by the control unit 21 may be an instruction to display only one of the alert screens 60 and 70 on the information terminal 30 to which the instruction is transmitted, or both of the alert screens 60 and 70 may be displayed. It may be an instruction to display (for example, the alert screens 60 and 70 are continued). Further, when the error notification is performed in step S190, the control unit 21 may transmit the screen display instruction DC together with the error notification to the transmission destination of the error notification.

  The control unit 21 executes a predetermined process (printing process) based on the data received from the information terminal 30 having the identification information that has not been invalidated in step S180, invalidates the identification information, and then performs the flowchart of FIG. In parallel with this, a predetermined data retransmission instruction may be transmitted to the information terminal 30 whose identification information has been invalidated in the past step S150. Referring to FIG. 4, the control unit 21 executes a printing process based on the file path received from the terminal 30B in step S180 in response to receiving the transmission of the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30B. After invalidating the identification information ID2 issued to the terminal 30B, the data retransmission instruction RSC is transmitted to the terminal 30A having the identification information ID1 invalidated in step S150 earlier than that.

  The information terminal 30 that has received the data retransmission instruction RSC from the printer 20 transmits the file path (data group) of each image file selected and stored by the user through the file selection screen 50 (FIG. 2) in the past to the printer 20. To do. At this time, the information terminal 30 also transmits the already transmitted file path (file path group) again. According to such a configuration, the control unit 21 performs a predetermined process based on the second data, and then transmits a first data retransmission instruction (data retransmission instruction RSC) to the first information terminal. It can be said that the first information terminal is caused to retransmit the first data. The terminal 30A (FIG. 4) that has received the data retransmission instruction RSC starts transmission of the file path for each group in the plurality of file paths (data group) from the beginning (that is, from transmission of the file paths AP1 to AP10). As a result, the printer 20 can execute a printing process based on a plurality of file paths (data groups) transmitted from the terminal 30A.

  The above-described transmission of the screen display instruction DC and transmission of the data retransmission instruction RSC by the printer 20 are options included in the present embodiment. It can be said that transmission of the screen display instruction DC and transmission of the data retransmission instruction RSC are basically sufficient if any one of them is taken into consideration. However, this embodiment does not specifically deny that the printer 20 transmits the screen display instruction DC and the data retransmission instruction RSC to the same information terminal 30 at each timing.

  In this embodiment, the information terminal 30 divides the plurality of file paths into a plurality of groups and transmits a plurality of times when the plurality of file paths indicating the storage locations of the plurality of selected electronic files are transmitted to the printer 20. The file path of the group unit is transmitted to the printer 20 for each communication in the communication. This prevents one information terminal 30 from occupying wireless communication with the printer 20 and eliminates waiting for a long time until another information terminal 30 communicates with the printer 20.

  Until now, the information terminal 30 divides a plurality of file paths (data groups) indicating storage locations for each image file into groups of a predetermined number of file paths, and transmits them to the printer 20 in units of groups. explained. However, in the present embodiment, for example, the information terminal 30 may divide an image file held by the information terminal 30 into a plurality of data, and transmit the divided plurality of data to the printer 20 by a plurality of communications.

The execution request for the predetermined process from the information terminal 30 to the printer 20 is not limited to the print process execution request (print execution instruction PRC), and may be, for example, an image file copy (transfer) request. That is, the information terminal 30 transmits a plurality of file paths to the printer 20 in a plurality of times as described above, and then transmits an image file copy request to the printer 20. The printer 20 determines that the received copy request is the final communication (step S170). In step S180, the image file indicated by the file path received from the information terminal 30 that has transmitted the copy request is displayed according to the copy request. The data is copied from the storage device 40 to another storage device (a storage device connected to the printer 20 by wire or wirelessly).
In addition, if the predetermined process is not a printing process in this way, the contents that have been described so far as being executed by the printer 20 may be executed by an information processing apparatus (an apparatus that does not have a printing function) that is not a printer. Good.

  The storage device 40 is not limited to a storage device externally attached to the printer 20, and may be a storage device built in the printer 20 (connected to the printer 20 within the printer 20).

5. Second embodiment:
The embodiment described so far is also referred to as a first embodiment. Below, 2nd Embodiment in this invention is described. In the second embodiment, descriptions of matters common to the first embodiment are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a wireless printing process according to the second embodiment realized by the control unit 21 of the printer 20 according to the wireless printing execution program 27. In the second embodiment, the control unit 21 functions as a communication control unit, a data holding unit, and a processing execution unit by executing processing according to the wireless printing execution program 27.

Steps S200 and S210 are basically the same processing as steps S100 and S110 (FIG. 3) of the first embodiment. If there is wireless communication from the outside (“Yes” in step S210), the control unit 21 proceeds to step S220.
In step S220, the control unit 21 associates the data transmitted by the communication detected in step S210, that is, the data received from the information terminal 30, with a predetermined memory (for example, the data terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the data). RAM 21c). It can be said that the predetermined memory (for example, the RAM 21c) functions as at least a part of the data holding unit.

  Also in the second embodiment, it is assumed that the file path in units of groups as described above is transmitted from the terminals 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B each corresponding to the information terminal 30 to the printer 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the file paths AP1 to AP10 are transmitted from the terminal 30A following the communication start notification SS, the control unit 21 transmits the file paths AP1 to AP10 received from the terminal 30A. It is stored in association with the original terminal 30A (step S220). To store in association with the transmission source information terminal 30 means to store in association with information (serial number or the like) unique to the transmission source information terminal 30. After that, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the file paths BP1 to BP10 are transmitted from the terminal 30B following the communication start notification SS, the control unit 21 receives the file paths BP1 to BP10 received from the terminal 30B. Are stored in association with the terminal 30B as the transmission source (step S220). After that, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the file paths BP11 to BP20 are transmitted from the terminal 30B following the communication start notification SS, the control unit 21 receives the file paths BP11 to BP20 received from the terminal 30B. Are stored in association with the terminal 30B as the transmission source (step S220).

  Also in the first embodiment, it has been described that the printer 20 stores data (such as a file path) transmitted from the information terminal 30 following the communication start notification SS. However, naturally, the printer 20 also stores the data in the first embodiment. 20 stores the received data in a state where the one-to-one correspondence with the information terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the data is known. However, in the first embodiment, the printer 20 discards the data received so far from the information terminal 30 having the identification information invalidated in step S150 at the timing of step S150, or executes error notification in step S190. In addition, the data received with invalid identification information from the information terminal 30 that is the destination of the error notification is discarded, whereas in the second embodiment, such data is not discarded. Therefore, in the second embodiment, for the information terminal 30 (second information terminal) that started communication later than a certain information terminal 30 (first information terminal) as described in the first embodiment. The step of issuing valid identification information (steps S130, S140, S150) and the step of determining whether the communication terminal information terminal 30 has valid identification information (steps S120, S160) become unnecessary. .

  In step S230, the control unit 21 performs the same determination as in step S170 of the first embodiment. That is, it is determined whether or not the communication detected in step S210 corresponds to the final communication. As described above, the final communication is a print processing execution request (print execution instruction PRC) to the printer 20. When the communication detected in step S210 corresponds to the final communication (“Yes” in step S230), the control unit 21 proceeds to step 240. On the other hand, when the communication detected in step S210 does not correspond to the final communication (“No” in step S230), the process returns to step S200.

  In step S240, the control unit 21 performs print processing based on the file path received from the transmission source of the final communication (print execution instruction PRC) according to the communication detected in step S210 (in this case, the final communication). Then, the process returns to step S200. For example, it is assumed that the control unit 21 receives a print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30B (“Yes” in step S210 and step S230). In that case, the control unit 21 reads out and reads out from the storage device 40 the file paths already received from the terminal 30B, that is, the plurality of image files respectively indicated by the plurality of file paths stored in association with the terminal 30B in a predetermined memory. A plurality of image files are printed (step S240). Further, it is assumed that the control unit 21 receives the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30A during the repetition of the flowchart of FIG. 6 after receiving the print execution instruction PRC from the terminal 30B and executing step S240 (step S210). And “Yes” in step S230). In that case, the control unit 21 reads out and reads out the file paths received from the terminal 30A, that is, the plurality of image files respectively indicated by the plurality of file paths stored in association with the terminal 30A in a predetermined memory, from the storage device 40. A plurality of image files are printed (step S240).

  According to such 2nd Embodiment, the control part 21 of the printer 20 is 1st data (for example, file path AP1-AP10) contained in a 1st data group from a 1st information terminal (for example, terminal 30A). When the first data is received and the second data included in the second data group (for example, the file paths BP1 to BP10) is transmitted from the second information terminal (for example, the terminal 30B). It functions as a communication control unit that receives the second data, holds the first data received from the first information terminal in association with the first information terminal, and stores the second data received from the second information terminal. It functions as a data holding unit that holds the information in association with the two information terminals, and also functions as a process execution unit that can execute a predetermined process based on the held data (stored in a predetermined memory). The control unit 21 transmits the information terminal 30 that has performed the final communication (the transmission of the print execution instruction PRC), that is, the transmission of all data (all groups of file paths) constituting the data group (a plurality of file paths). In accordance with the order of the information terminals 30 that have finished, the predetermined processing based on the data held in association with the information terminals 30 is executed. Therefore, when the data transmission from one information terminal 30 (first information terminal) is interrupted or the time is opened, the data transmission from another information terminal 30 (second information terminal) does not stay in the printer 20. The process is accepted and the predetermined process according to the communication from the second information terminal smoothly proceeds. In addition, when data transmission from the first information terminal that has been interrupted or opened is resumed, the data received so far from the first information terminal is retained without being discarded. The printer 20 can smoothly execute a predetermined process corresponding to the communication from the first information terminal. In addition, by holding the data received from each information terminal 30 in association with the information terminal 30 of each transmission source, the printer 20 transmits the final communication (transmission of the print execution instruction PRC) from any information terminal 30. Even in the case where an error occurs, an appropriate printing process according to the print execution instruction PRC can be performed without confusion with data.

In the second embodiment, the following configuration can be further adopted.
In the second embodiment, the printer 20 holds the data received from the information terminal 30 without discarding it until it is used for printing processing according to the final communication from the information terminal 30 (transmission of the print execution instruction PRC). To do. Therefore, a device for holding a large amount of data is required. Therefore, the control unit 21 may store at least a part of the data held in the predetermined memory as described above in the storage device 40 connected to the printer 20 when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

As the predetermined condition, for example, the following conditions 1 and 2 are assumed.
Condition 1: The total data size of data (file path) received from each information terminal 30 exceeds a predetermined threshold value (first threshold value) regarding the storage capacity of a predetermined memory (for example, RAM 21c). It was. However, the storage capacity of the predetermined memory> the first threshold value.
Condition 2: The number of information terminals 30 that are continuing transmission processing of each data (group-unit file path) constituting a data group (a plurality of file paths) is a predetermined threshold value (second threshold) regarding the number of information terminals Value).

The information terminal 30 that is continuing transmission processing as referred to in condition 2 is the information terminal 30 in which the control unit 21 has received and held at least a part of data (file path), and the final communication (printing) The transmission of the execution instruction PRC means the information terminal 30 that has not yet been received.
When at least one of the conditions 1 and 2 is satisfied, the control unit 21 transfers a part of data (file path) currently stored in a predetermined memory (for example, the RAM 21c) to the storage device 40, and stores the storage device. 40. When receiving the final communication (transmission of the print execution instruction PRC) from a certain information terminal 30, the control unit 21 stores the data (file path) stored in association with the information terminal 30. It is read from a predetermined memory and storage device 40 and used for printing processing. According to such a configuration, the printer 20 avoids a situation in which the data transmitted from each information terminal cannot be held in the memory in its own device, and the storage device 40 connected to the memory and its own device. The data can be distributed and held.

  The control unit 21 stores data (file path) received from a certain information terminal 30 in a predetermined memory (for example, the RAM 21c) and the storage device 40 as described above. When it is detected that the printer is removed from the IF 23 (FIG. 1) of the printer 20, the data (file path) stored in the memory in association with the information terminal 30 is discarded. This is because the storage device 40 that stores a part of the file path associated with a certain information terminal 30 does not know whether or not it will be attached again to the printer 20 in the future, and the remaining information associated with the information terminal 30 This is because keeping the file path on the control unit 21 side is likely to be a waste of memory resources.

  Further, when detecting that the storage device 40 is attached to the IF 23 of the printer 20, the control unit 21 deletes data (file path) as one of initial processes for the storage device 40. In other words, if the file path transmitted from one of the information terminals 30 and stored in association with the information terminal 30 remains in the attached storage device 40, the control unit 21 stores the remaining file. Delete the path.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... System, 20 ... Printer, 21 ... Control part, 22, 23 ... IF, 24 ... Display part, 25 ... Operation part, 26 ... Printing part, 27 ... Wireless printing execution program, 30 ... Information terminal, 31 ... Control part 32 ... IF, 33 ... display unit, 34 ... operation unit, 35 ... wireless printing instruction program, 40 ... storage device, 50 ... file selection screen, 51 ... thumbnail, 60, 70 ... alert screen

Claims (11)

A printing device that performs wireless communication with an information terminal,
When the first data included in the first data group is transmitted from the first information terminal, the first data is received, and the second data included in the second data group is transmitted from the second information terminal. A communication control unit for receiving the second data in a case;
A process execution unit capable of executing the predetermined process based on the data received by the communication control unit in response to an execution request for the predetermined process received by the communication control unit;
The process execution unit
After the communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal and before receiving data from an information terminal other than the first information terminal, the communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal. When the execution request is received, the predetermined process based on the first data is executed,
The communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal and then receives the second request from the second information terminal before receiving the execution request from the first information terminal. When data is received, the predetermined processing based on the first data is not executed, and then the communication control unit receives the data from an information terminal other than the second information terminal before the data is received. When the execution request is received from two information terminals, the predetermined processing based on the second data is executed.   The said communication control part receives the data which designates the electronic file memorize | stored in the memory | storage device connected to the said printing apparatus as each of the said 1st data and the said 2nd data. Printing device. The predetermined process execution request is a print process execution request;
The process execution unit executes printing of the electronic file specified by the first data as the predetermined process based on the first data, and the second data is specified as the predetermined process based on the second data. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic file is printed. When the communication control unit receives data from the information terminal, the communication control unit issues identification information for identifying the transmission source of the data to the information terminal of the transmission source, and also identifies the other information terminal to identify another information terminal. Invalidate the identification information that has been issued to
When the process execution unit receives the execution request from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated, the predetermined process based on the data received from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein processing is executed.   In response to the process execution unit executing the predetermined process based on the data received from the information terminal having the identification information that has not been invalidated, the communication control unit invalidates the identification information. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.   The process execution unit may receive the second request after the communication control unit receives the first data from the first information terminal and before receiving the execution request from the first information terminal. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the second data is received from an information terminal, the first data is discarded.   After the discarding of the first data, the communication control unit transmits a predetermined screen display instruction to the first information terminal, thereby displaying a screen display indicating that the first data has been discarded, and re-establishing the first data. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first information terminal is caused to execute at least one of a screen display for prompting transmission.   After the process execution unit executes the predetermined process based on the second data, the communication control unit transmits an instruction to retransmit the first data to the first information terminal. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information terminal is caused to retransmit the first data. A printing device that performs wireless communication with an information terminal,
When the first data included in the first data group is transmitted from the first information terminal, the first data is received, and the second data included in the second data group is transmitted from the second information terminal. A communication control unit for receiving the second data in a case;
The communication control unit holds the first data received from the first information terminal in association with the first information terminal, and the communication control unit receives the second data received from the second information terminal. A data holding unit that holds the information in association with the second information terminal;
A process execution unit capable of executing a predetermined process based on data held by the data holding unit,
The process execution unit executes the predetermined process based on data held in association with an information terminal according to the order of the information terminals after transmission of all data constituting the data group is completed. Printing device to do.   The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the data holding unit stores at least a part of the held data in a storage device connected to the printing apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied.   The data holding unit is configured such that when the total data size of the data received from the information terminal by the communication control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold regarding the storage capacity of the data holding unit, or each data constituting the data group The printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition is determined to be satisfied when the number of information terminals that are continuing the transmission process exceeds a predetermined threshold value regarding the number of information terminals.

Images