JP2021146624A - Handy printer, handy printer control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to use scanning function of a handy printer more effectively.SOLUTION: A handy printer including a reading part and a printing part comprises: a reading control part which causes the reading part to read a medium including reading key information; a storage control part which reads out associated information in which comparison key information and printing object information are associated from a storage part; and a printing control part which causes the printing part to print printing object information, that is associated with the comparison key information which is coincident with the reading key information, on the medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a handy printer, a handy printer control method and a program.

A handy printer including a mechanism for scanning and reading already printed contents and a mechanism for executing printing has been conventionally known.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a handy printer that links scan information and a print position so that the print of the second and subsequent scans does not deviate from the print result of the previous one.

However, in the conventional technology, the scanning function provided in the handy printer cannot be utilized more effectively.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handy printer, a handy printer control method, and a program capable of more effectively utilizing the scanning function of the handy printer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a handy printer including a reading unit and a printing unit, and a reading control unit that causes the reading unit to read a medium containing reading key information. The storage control unit that reads the association information associated with the comparison key information and the print target information from the storage unit, and the print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the read key information are printed on the medium. It is provided with a print control unit for printing by the unit.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the scanning function provided in the handy printer can be utilized more effectively.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the handy printer of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy printer of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a medium containing read key information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of association information of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the handy printer control method of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of comparison key information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of print target information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of association information of the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the handy printer control method of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of print target information according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy printer system of the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the PC and the cloud of the third embodiment.

The handy printer, the handy printer control method, and the embodiment of the program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment)
First, an example of the hardware configuration of the handy printer of the first embodiment will be described.

[Example of hardware configuration]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the handy printer 1 of the first embodiment. The handy printer 1 is a printing device that prints an image on a medium such as paper by manually scanning the handy printer 1.

The handy printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a control device 10, an operating device 111, a printing device 112, a reading device 113, and a display device 114. Further, the control device 10 includes a Host I / F (Interface) 101, a CPU 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, a storage device 105, and a network I / F 106.

First, the configuration of the control device 10 will be described. The Host I / F 101 is an interface for connecting a PC (personal computer) 2. The CPU 102 controls the operation of the entire handy printer 1. The ROM 103 stores a program used to drive the CPU 102. The RAM 104 is used as a work area of the CPU 102.

The storage device 105 stores various data such as programs for handy printers and image data. The network I / F 106 is an interface for data communication using a communication network such as the Internet.

The operation device 111 receives an instruction from the user and outputs the instruction to the CPU 102. The operation device 111 is, for example, an input device such as a numeric keypad or a touch panel. In addition, buttons such as a print start button are also included in the operation device 111.

The printing device 112 prints an image on the medium. In the present embodiment, the printing device 112 is an inkjet head that prints an image by ejecting a liquid onto a medium. The printing device 112 is not limited to the inkjet head. For example, it may be a thermal head that prints on a medium by heat.

The reading device 113 reads the image printed on the medium. In the present embodiment, the reading device 113 is a reading device including an image sensor and the like. Examples of the image sensor include a one-dimensional CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensor and a one-dimensional CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Sensor) image sensor.

In the present embodiment, the reading device 113 reads the image printed on the medium by the user scanning the handy printer 1. Further, the reading device 113 is provided on the front side in the moving direction of the handy printer 1 with respect to the printing device 112 in the moving direction at the time of printing.

The display device 114 displays the operation screen and the like of the handy printer 1. The display device 114 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display.

The hardware configuration of the handy printer 1 is not limited to the above. For example, a sensor that detects the coordinates may be provided so that the position of the printing device at the time of rescanning can be corrected based on the coordinates and the information of the image printed on the medium read by the reading device 113.

The program executed by the handy printer 1 of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format on a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versaille Disc). It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a readable recording medium.

Further, the program executed by the handy printer 1 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the handy printer 1 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[Example of functional configuration]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy printer 1 of the first embodiment. The handy printer 1 includes a read control unit 11, a storage control unit 12, a storage unit 13, a determination unit 14, a conversion unit 15, a print control unit 16, a communication control unit 17, and an input control unit 18.

The reading control unit 11 causes the reading device 113 to read the medium containing the reading key information. The read key information is information used for the determination process by the determination unit 14. The medium is, for example, a resume or documents to be submitted by the government office. The material of the medium is not limited to paper and may be arbitrary.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a medium containing read key information. In the example of FIG. 3, the reading key information is, for example, a name, an address, a telephone, an email, or the like. In many cases, standard characters are handwritten on resumes and documents submitted by government offices as shown in FIG. Further, since it is troublesome to input the data many times, it is possible to save the trouble by describing them in the handy printer 1 of the first embodiment.

Returning to FIG. 2, the storage control unit 12 controls the reading of information from the storage unit 13 and the writing control of information to the storage unit 13. The storage unit 13 is realized by, for example, the storage device 105 of the handy printer 1. The storage unit 13 may be realized by the handy printer 1 and an external device connected via a network such as the Internet.

The storage unit 13 stores information read by the reading control unit 11, information received by the communication control unit 17, information input by the input control unit 18, and the like.

For example, the storage unit 13 stores the association information in which the comparison key information and the print target information are associated with each other. The comparison key information is key information to be compared with the read key information. The print target information includes at least one of characters, symbols, numbers and images. The storage control unit 12 reads out the association information in which the comparison key information and the print target information are associated with each other from the storage unit 13.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of association information of the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 4, for example, the print target information "Taro Yamada" is associated with the comparison key information "name".

Returning to FIG. 2, the determination unit 14 determines whether or not the read key information and the comparison key information match.

The conversion unit 15 converts the size of the print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the read key information when printing on the medium according to the size of the read key information on the medium.

The print control unit 16 causes the printing device 112 to print the print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the read key information on the medium.

The communication control unit 17 receives at least one of the comparison key information and the print target information associated with the comparison key information.

The input control unit 18 accepts at least one of the input of the comparison key information and the input of the print target information associated with the comparison key information. The input control unit 18 may accept input from an operating device 111 or the like provided in the handy printer 1 main body, or may receive input from a PC 2 or the like connected to the handy printer 1.

The handy printer 1 can receive comparison key information and print target information from a user by the communication control unit 17 or the input control unit 18.

For example, the storage destination information such as the URL and the file path is stored in the storage unit 13 in the main body, and the print target information is stored in the storage destination (outside the main body such as the cloud) specified by the storage destination information. You may leave it. That is, the print target information itself is stored outside the main body, and the association information in which the storage destination information and the comparison key information are associated may be stored in the storage unit 13.

[Example of handy printer control method]
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the handy printer control method of the first embodiment. First, the input control unit 18 receives the advance information input (step S1). Specifically, the input control unit 18 receives print target information such as a name, an address, a telephone number, and an e-mail as advance information input.

Next, the input control unit 18 stores the print target information received by the process of step S1 in the storage unit 13 (step S2). Specifically, the input control unit 18 inputs the print target information to the storage control unit 12, and the storage control unit 12 associates the print target information with the comparison key information and stores it in the storage unit 13 as the association information.

Next, the reading control unit 11 causes the reading device 113 to read the medium according to the scanning operation of the user (step S3). Next, the reading control unit 11 inputs a determination request for determining the scan data read by the process of step S3 to the determination unit 14 (step S4).

Next, the determination unit 14 acquires the association information from the storage unit 13 (step S5).

Next, the determination unit 14 compares and collates the scan data read by the process of step S3 with the association information acquired by the process of step S5, and selects the print target information (step S6). Specifically, when the read key information included in the scan data and the comparison key information included in the association information match, the determination unit 14 selects the print target information associated with the comparison key information. Further, the determination unit 14 determines the size of the print target information when it is printed on the medium according to the size of the read key information on the medium. For example, the determination unit 14 calculates the point size of the character indicating the reading key information included in the scan data, and determines the size of the print target information at the same point size.

In the comparison / collation process of step S6, the determination unit 14 may perform character recognition of the scan data to obtain character information and then perform comparison / collation, or may perform comparison / collation as an image. Further, the size at which the print target information is printed on the medium may be registered in the handy printer 1 in advance by the user.

Next, the determination unit 14 inputs to the conversion unit 15 a conversion request for the size when printing the print target information on the medium (step S7). Next, the conversion unit 15 converts the size at which the print target information is printed on the medium in response to the conversion request input by the process of step S7 (step S8). Next, the conversion unit 15 inputs a print request for printing the print target information to the print control unit 16 (step S9).

Next, the print control unit 16 causes the printing device 112 to print the print target information on the medium in response to the print request input in the process of step S9 (step S10).

In the process of step S10, the position where the print target information is printed on the medium may be any of the following patterns.
<Pattern 1>
The print control unit 16 determines the print position from the size of characters indicating the scan key information included in the scan data.
<Pattern 2>
Before scanning by the user, the input control unit 18 receives an input indicating how much space should be opened to print the print target information after reading the read key information (presetting).
<Pattern 3>
The print control unit 16 starts printing the print target information immediately after the specific mark (vertical line in the example of FIG. 3).
<Pattern 4>
The handy printer 1 is provided with a print start button, and when the button is pressed, the print control unit 16 causes the printing device 112 to start printing the print target information.

[UI example]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of comparison key information according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of print target information according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the UIs of FIGS. 6 and 7 are displayed as the user interface of the setting application running on the PC2.

In the example of the UI of FIG. 6, the comparison key information is a method of specifying an image on the PC 2, a method of specifying a character string, or a method of scanning the scanned data with the handy printer 1 and using the scanned data as the comparison key information. Indicates the case of accepting by.

The data button 201 is a button for transitioning to the UI that accepts the print target information associated with the comparison key information. The setting transfer button 202 is a button for transferring the setting from the PC 2 to the handy printer 1.

The example of the UI of FIG. 7 shows a case where the print target information is accepted in the same manner as the case of the comparison key information of FIG. That is, in the example of the UI of FIG. 7, the print target information is scanned by a method of specifying an image on the PC 2, a method of specifying a character string, or a handy printer 1, and the scanned data is used as comparison key information. The case of accepting by the method of accepting is shown.

As described above, in the handy printer 1 of the first embodiment, the reading control unit 11 causes the reading device 113 to read the medium containing the reading key information. The storage control unit 12 reads out the association information in which the comparison key information and the print target information are associated with each other from the storage unit 13. Then, the print control unit 16 causes the printing device 112 to print the print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the read key information on the medium.

As a result, according to the handy printer 1 of the first embodiment, the scanning function provided in the handy printer 1 can be utilized more effectively. Specifically, the print target information can be selected or changed based on the collation result with the scan data.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same description as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and the parts different from those of the first embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a case where a plurality of print target information is associated with the comparison key information will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of association information of the second embodiment. In the example of FIG. 8, the comparison key information “phonetic” is associated with the print target information “Yamada Taro” and “Tokyo XX”.

[Example of handy printer control method]
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the handy printer control method of the second embodiment. In the handy printer control method of the second embodiment, steps S2-2 and S2-3 are added. The input control unit 18 accepts an input for selecting print target information to be used for printing when the read key information and the comparison key information match (step S2-2). Next, the input control unit 18 stores the print target information selected by the process of step S2-2 as the print target information used for printing when the read key information and the comparison key information match. Save to (step S2-3).

[UI example]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a UI that accepts input of print target information according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the UI of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) in that the registered data can be selected. The example of FIG. 10 shows a case where the user checks the check box of "Select registered data" and selects the registered data (registered print target information) from the drop-down list.

Note that the comparison key information may be handled by the user without associating a plurality of print target information. For example, in the advance information input process of step S1, the comparison key information is input as "Frigana" and the print target information is "Yamada Taro", and after printing in the print process of step S10, the user can clear the saved data. You may accept it. In this case, after receiving the input of the comparison key information as "Frigana" and the print target information as "Tokyo ○○" in the advance information input process of step S1, the process up to the print process of step S10 is executed again. ..

(Third Embodiment)
Next, the third embodiment will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same description as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and the parts different from those of the first embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, a case where a plurality of devices are combined to realize the same functions as in the first embodiment will be described.

[Example of functional configuration]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy printer system 100 of the third embodiment. The handy printer system 100 of this embodiment includes a handy printer 1, a PC 2, and a cloud 3.

The handy printer system 100 includes a handy printer 1, a PC 2, and a cloud 3. The handy printer 1 includes a read control unit 11, a print control unit 16, and a communication control unit 17. The PC 2 includes an input control unit 21. The cloud 3 includes a storage control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication control unit 33, a determination unit 34, and a conversion unit 35. Cloud 3 is realized by, for example, one or more server devices on a network.

In the third embodiment, the input control unit 21 of the PC 2 receives the association information (see FIG. 6) in the input of the prior information (step S1 described above), and transmits the association information to the cloud 3. When the storage control unit 31 of the cloud 3 receives the association information from the PC 2, the storage control unit 31 stores the association information in the storage unit 32. That is, in the third embodiment, the association information is stored in the storage unit 32 on the cloud 3.

Further, the input control unit 21 notifies the handy printer 1 of storage destination information such as a URL and a file path.

The reading control unit 11 of the handy printer 1 scans the medium from the front of the place where the print target information is printed, and acquires the scan data. The read control unit 11 inputs the scan data to the communication control unit 17. When the communication control unit 17 receives the scan data from the read control unit 11, the communication control unit 17 transmits the scan data to the cloud 3.

When the communication control unit 33 of the cloud 3 receives the scan data from the handy printer 1, the communication control unit 33 inputs the scan data to the determination unit 34. The determination unit 34 compares and collates the scan data with the association information of the storage unit 32, selects print target information (for example, a character string, etc.), and determines the size of the print target information (for example, font size in the case of a character string). Etc.).

The determination unit 34 inputs the print target information and the conversion request including the size of the print target information to the conversion unit 35. When the conversion unit 35 receives the conversion request from the determination unit 34, the conversion unit 35 converts the size at which the print target information is printed on the medium based on the conversion request, and the print target information whose size has been converted is used as the communication control unit. Enter in 33.

When the communication control unit 33 receives the print target information from the conversion unit 35, the communication control unit 33 transmits the print target information to the handy printer 1.

When the communication control unit 17 of the handy printer 1 receives the print target information from the cloud 3, the communication control unit 17 inputs the print target information to the print control unit 16. When the print control unit 16 receives the print target information from the communication control unit 17, the print control unit 16 causes the printing device 112 to print the print target information on the medium.

As described above, some of the functions realized by the handy printer 1 in the first embodiment may be realized by the PC 2 or the cloud 3.

[Example of hardware configuration]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the PC 2 and the cloud 3 of the third embodiment. Since the hardware configurations of the PC 2 and the cloud 3 are the same, the following description will explain the case of a computer that realizes the cloud 3 as an example.

The cloud 3 includes a control device 301, a main storage device 302, an auxiliary storage device 303, a display device 304, an input device 305, and a communication device 306. The control device 301, the main storage device 302, the auxiliary storage device 303, the display device 304, the input device 305, and the communication device 306 are connected via the bus 310.

The control device 301 executes the program read from the auxiliary storage device 303 to the main storage device 302. The main storage device 302 is a memory such as a ROM and a RAM. The auxiliary storage device 303 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a memory card, or the like.

The display device 304 displays the display information. The display device 304 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like. The input device 305 is an interface for operating a computer. The input device 305 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. When the computer is a smart device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, the display device 304 and the input device 305 are, for example, a touch panel. The communication device 306 is an interface for communicating with another device.

Programs that run on a computer are recorded in a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, memory card, CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versaille Disc) in an installable or executable format file. Provided as a computer program product.

Further, the program executed by the computer may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading the program via the network. Further, the program executed by the computer may be configured to be provided via a network such as the Internet without being downloaded.

Further, the program executed by the computer may be configured to be provided by incorporating it into a ROM or the like in advance.

The program executed by the computer has a module configuration including a functional block that can be realized by the program among the functional configurations (functional blocks) of the cloud 3 described above. As actual hardware, each functional block is loaded onto the main storage device 302 by the control device 301 reading a program from the storage medium and executing the program. That is, each of the above functional blocks is generated on the main storage device 302.

It should be noted that a part or all of the above-mentioned functional blocks may not be realized by software, but may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit).

Further, when each function is realized by using a plurality of processors, each processor may realize one of each function, or may realize two or more of each function.

1 Handy printer 2 PC
3 Cloud 10 Control device 11 Reading control unit 12 Storage control unit 13 Storage unit 14 Judgment unit 15 Conversion unit 16 Print control unit 17 Communication control unit 18 Input control unit 21 Input control unit 31 Memory control unit 32 Storage unit 33 Communication control unit 34 Judgment unit 35 Conversion unit 101 HostI / F
102 CPU
103 ROM
104 RAM
105 Storage 106 Network I / F
111 Operating device 112 Printing device 113 Reading device 114 Display device 301 Control device 302 Main storage device 303 Auxiliary storage device 304 Display device 305 Input device 306 Communication device 310 Bus

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-000486

Claims (9)

A handy printer that includes a reading unit and a printing unit.
A reading control unit that allows the reading unit to read a medium containing reading key information,
A storage control unit that reads out the association information associated with the comparison key information and the print target information from the storage unit,
A print control unit that causes the printing unit to print print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the reading key information on the medium.
Handy printer with. A conversion unit that converts the size of printing target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the reading key information on the medium according to the size of the reading key information on the medium.
The handy printer according to claim 1. A communication control unit that receives at least one of the comparison key information and the print target information associated with the comparison key information.
The handy printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising. An input control unit that accepts at least one of the input of the comparison key information and the input of the print target information associated with the comparison key information.
The handy printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising. When the comparison key information is associated with a plurality of print target information, the input control unit sets the print target information used for printing when the read key information and the comparison key information match. Accept input to select,
The handy printer according to claim 4. The storage unit is realized by a storage device of the handy printer or an external device connected to the handy printer via a network.
The handy printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The print target information includes at least one of characters, symbols, numbers and images.
The handy printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6. It is a handy printer control method of a handy printer including a reading unit and a printing unit.
A step in which the handy printer causes the reading unit to read a medium containing reading key information.
A step in which the handy printer reads out the association information in which the comparison key information and the print target information are associated with each other from the storage unit.
A step in which the handy printer causes the medium to print print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the read key information.
Handy printer control method including. A handy printer that includes a reading unit and a printing unit
A reading control unit that allows the reading unit to read a medium containing reading key information,
A storage control unit that reads out the association information associated with the comparison key information and the print target information from the storage unit,
A print control unit that causes the printing unit to print print target information associated with the comparison key information that matches the reading key information on the medium.
A program to function as.

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