JP3774725B2 - Printing apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method, and more particularly to a technique for printing out specific information resources provided by a server on a computer network such as the Internet.

  In recent years, with the development of computer network technology, various information can be freely obtained through various information media and information services. Also, these pieces of information are updated every day, and in order to always obtain the latest information, the user has to perform the same operation periodically on the computer. For example, when printing out periodically in order to always obtain the latest information, the user accesses the desired information resource on the WWW server from an application on the computer and acquires the printer driver each time. To make a print request to the printer.

Moreover, there are the following as conventional techniques.
JP 09-185607 A

  However, as described above, each time a printout is performed, it is very time-consuming to make a print request to the printer by the printer driver after accessing and obtaining a desired information resource on the WWW server from an application on the computer. This problem is troublesome, especially when the frequency of accessing information resources is high.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable a specific information resource provided by a server on a computer network to be automatically and periodically accessed and printed without using a computer. Furthermore, it is to improve the usability by allowing the user to easily determine whether the accessed information resource is updated.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a printing apparatus that accesses and prints hypertext data on a network, and registers address information and access frequency information of the hypertext data to be accessed on the network. In accordance with access frequency information registered by the registration means, access means for periodically accessing hypertext data existing at a location indicated by the address information registered by the registration means, and access by the access means Printing means for printing the hypertext data that has been accessed, and the hypertext data accessed by the access means has been previously accessed by the access means if it has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means Characterized in that it has a notification unit for notifying the during the.

  According to the present invention, specific information resources provided by a server on a computer network can be automatically and periodically accessed and printed without going through a computer, saving the user's trouble and convenience. Improves. In addition, the user can easily determine whether or not the accessed information resource is updated, thereby improving usability.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  This copying machine is connected to a network such as the Internet via the network I / F unit 108, and has a function of automatically accessing and printing information resources (hypertext) on the network periodically. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine includes a data display unit 101, a data input unit 102, a user I / F management unit 103, a data storage unit 104, a hypertext in addition to the network I / F unit 108 described above. It has a storage unit 105, a formatter unit 106 using PDL (Page Description Language), a printer unit 107, and a core unit 109.

  In this embodiment, the data display unit 101 is particularly configured by a liquid crystal display device, and performs input information for address information such as hypertext URL (Uniform Resource Location) on the network, access frequency information for the hypertext, and the like. Used for. In addition, the data input unit 102 is formed in the touch panel area of the liquid crystal display device, and in this embodiment, is particularly used to input a command specifying URL information or a command specifying access frequency information. The URL information and access frequency information input by the data input unit 102 are registered in the data storage unit 104.

  The user I / F management unit 103 has a function of receiving a command from the data input unit 102 and storing the command in the data storage unit 104 and supplying the data stored in the data storage unit 104 to the data display unit 101. ing. The hypertext storage unit 105 stores hypertext data supplied from the network I / F unit 108, and stores and manages access information such as URL information and access date / time of the hypertext data. .

  The formatter unit 106 has a function of developing the data stored in the hypertext storage unit 105 into image data (bitmap data) that can be recorded by the printer unit 107 and supplying the image data to the printer unit 107.

  The core unit 109 includes a communication unit that performs communication with the data storage unit 104, the hypertext storage unit 105, and the network I / F unit 108. The core unit 109 refers to data in the data storage unit 104, a network I / F It has a function for requesting the F unit 108 to acquire hypertext data on the server, a function for requesting the formatter unit 106 to output image data to the printer unit 107, etc. Is going.

  The core unit 109 includes a CPU 109a, a RAM 109b, and a ROM 109c. The ROM 109a stores programs corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5, 8, and 10, and the CPU 109a executes the programs in the ROM 109c while using the RAM 109b as a work area or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reader unit 110 and the printer unit 107. The reader unit 110 is configured by a scanner or the like for reading a document. However, since the reader unit 110 is not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 107 drives the laser destination unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the formatter unit 106. The laser beam is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 202, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the irradiated laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing unit 203. Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. To do. The recording sheet to which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed to the recording sheet by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 20 is discharged to the sorter 220 by the discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin for sorting. Note that the sorter 220 stores recording paper in the uppermost bin when sorting is not set. If double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the position of the discharge roller 208, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the refeed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path 210 is refeeded to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above. In this case, the recording paper is re-fed in a state where the front and back sides are reversed during double-sided recording, and is re-fed in a state where the front and back sides are not reversed during multiple recording.

  Next, processing unique to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, URL information and access frequency information registration processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the data input unit 102 detects that a registration mode for URL information and access frequency information has been set by detecting a predetermined key operation signal, the data input unit 102 notifies the user I / F management unit 103 of that fact as a data input request. Notice.

  In response to the data input request from the data input unit 102, the user I / F management unit 103 displays a message on the data display unit 101 that prompts the user to specify the URL information of the hypertext data desired to be printed (step S100). S31). The user I / F management unit 103 receives the URL information designation operation from the data input unit 102 (step S32), and determines whether or not the URL information designation operation has been completed (step S33). As a result, if the URL information specifying operation has not ended, the process returns to step S32.

  On the other hand, when the URL information designation operation is completed, the user I / F management unit 103 sends a message prompting the data display unit 101 to designate access frequency information to the WWW (World Wide Web) server of the designated URL. It is displayed (step S34). Then, the user I / F management unit 103 accepts an access frequency information designation operation by the data input unit 102 (step S35), and determines whether or not the access frequency information designation operation has ended (step S36). As a result, when the operation for specifying the access frequency information has not ended, the process returns to step S35.

  On the other hand, when the access frequency information designation operation is completed, the user I / F management unit 103 displays the URL information and the access frequency information input from the data input unit 102 on the data display unit 101 (step S37). ), The user is confirmed whether or not the registration of the URL information and the access frequency information is correctly performed (step S38). When a confirmation signal is input from the data input unit 102 and registration is performed correctly, the user interface management unit 103 stores the input URL information and access frequency information in the data storage unit 104. After confirming (step S39), the registration process is terminated. On the other hand, if no confirmation signal is input and registration is not performed correctly, the process returns to step S31 and the registration process is performed again.

  Next, a process for setting an actual access point based on the registered access frequency information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The core unit l09 inquires of the data storage unit 104 whether the URL information and the access frequency information are already registered (step S41). As a result, if it is not registered, the process returns to step S41 to make an inquiry again. On the other hand, if registered, the URL information and access frequency information registered in the data storage unit 104 are read into the RAM 109b in the core unit l09 (step S42). Next, the core unit 109 calculates the next access date and time of the hypertext data based on the access frequency information read into the RAM 109b and the current time, and stores it in the RAM 109b in the core unit 109 (step S43). Then, by returning to step S41, the next access date and time are sequentially calculated.

  For example, when the access frequency information is every 12 hours and the current time is 19:00, 7:00 is stored as the next access time. As the access frequency information to be registered, in addition to the time interval as described above, the number of days and time, day of the week and time, day and time of the month, the last day of the month, the first day and time, and the like can be considered. Thus, by calculating the actual access date and time based on the access frequency information, it is possible to save the trouble of registering a large number of actual access dates and times.

  The calculated next access date / time is displayed on the data display unit 101 as the next scheduled access date / time, so that the copy operation is not performed on the access date / time, and the data printing process related to access and the printing related to the copying process are performed. It is advisable to avoid conflict with processing. In this case, the access date and time may be displayed at all times, but when the display area is small, for example, it may be displayed from 15 minutes before the access date and time.

[First Embodiment]
Next, processing for automatically acquiring and printing hypertext data periodically will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The core unit 109 compares the current time with the next access date and time stored in the RAM 109b, and determines whether or not the next access date has arrived (step S51). As a result, if the next access date / time has not arrived, the process returns to step S51 to wait for the next access date / time to arrive.

  On the other hand, when the next access date and time has arrived, the core unit 109 has previously acquired hypertext data existing at the address indicated by the URL information stored in the RAM 109b via the network I / F unit 108. The WWW server is requested to transfer the data using http (HyperText Transfer Protocol) only when the data has been updated (step S52). At this time, at the first request, the request is always transferred, and at the second request, the access date and time related to the hypertext data acquired last time is determined so that it can be determined whether or not the data has been updated. Send to server.

  Then, the core unit 109 determines whether or not hypertext data has been transferred from the WWW server via the network I / F unit 108 (step S53). As a result, if the hypertext data has not been transferred, the process returns to step S51. On the other hand, when the hypertext data has been transferred, the hypertext data is transferred to the hypertext storage unit 105 and stored, and the access date and time when the hypertext data is accessed is set to the access related to the previous data acquisition. The date and time are stored in the RAM 109b (step S54).

  Next, the hypertext storage unit 105 transfers the hypertext data to the formatter unit 106, and the formatter unit 106 forms image data (bitmap data) that the printer unit 107 can output from the format of the hypertext data ( Step S55). Then, the formatter unit 106 transfers the image data to the printer unit 107, and the printer unit 107 executes a printing process (step S56) and returns to step S51.

  In this way, if UPL information and access frequency information are registered, printing is automatically performed with periodic access, which eliminates the need for the user to perform access operations and print operations on a regular basis. become. In addition, since the hypertext data is transferred and printed only when the data is updated, the same content data is not printed unnecessarily, and paper is saved and wasteful use of a printing device or the like is avoided. It can be avoided.

[Application modification of the first embodiment]
Note that when printing hypertext data, access information such as URL information and access date / time may be added and printed as header information, footer information, or cover information.

  Processing in this case is as follows. That is, when the core unit 109 transfers the acquired hypertext data to the hypertext storage unit 105 and stores it in step S54 of FIG. The data is transferred to the unit 105 and stored. In step S55, the formatter unit 106 forms the bitmap data in a form in which the access information is added as header information, footer information, and cover information when the bitmap data is formed based on the hypertext data. .

  FIG. 6 shows a print example when URL information and access date and time are added as header information, and FIG. 7 shows a print example when URL information and access date and time are printed as cover information. As described above, by adding the URL information and the access date and time for printing, even when the sorter 220 or the like is mixed with another printed material, the desired printed material can be easily taken out.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, nothing has been printed if no data update has been performed when periodically accessed, but in the second embodiment, no data has been updated. To print.

  The core unit 109 compares the current time with the next access date and time stored in the RAM 109b, and determines whether or not the next access date has arrived (step S81). As a result, if the next access date / time has not arrived, the process returns to step S81 to wait for the next access date / time to arrive.

  On the other hand, when the next access date / time arrives, the data is updated from the previous time when the hypertext data existing at the address indicated by the URL information stored in the RAM 109b is acquired via the network I / F unit 108. The WWW server is requested to transfer using http only if it is (step S82). At this time, at the first request, the request is always transferred, and at the second request, the access date and time related to the hypertext data acquired last time is determined so that it can be determined whether or not the data has been updated. Send to server.

  Then, the core unit 109 determines whether or not hypertext data has been transferred from the WWW server via the network I / F unit 108 (step S83). As a result, when the hypertext data is transferred, the hypertext data is transferred to the hypertext storage unit 105 and stored, and the access date and time when the hypertext data is accessed is related to the previous data acquisition. The access date and time is stored in the RAM 109b (step S84), and the process proceeds to step S86.

  At this time, when the hypertext data is acquired by transferring the URL information and the access date and time to the hypertext storage unit 105 and storing them as in the above-described modified example, the access date and URL information May be printed as header information, footer information, or cover information.

  On the other hand, if the hypertext data has not been transferred, the URL information, the access date and time related to the previous data acquisition, and message data indicating that the data has not been updated are transferred to the hypertext storage unit 105 and stored ( Step S85), the process proceeds to Step S86.

  In step S86, the formatter unit 106 expands the data stored in the hypertext storage unit 105 into bitmap data. Then, the printer unit 107 executes print processing based on the bitmap data (step S87), and returns to step S81. FIG. 9 shows an example of printing when data is not updated.

  As described above, when the data has not been updated, the message data indicating that fact is printed together with the URL information and the access date and time related to the previous data acquisition, so that it is possible to instantaneously determine whether or not the hypertext data has been updated. Will improve.

[Third embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, the hypertext data is acquired and printed only when the data is updated. Of course, the data is automatically updated periodically regardless of whether the data is updated. Alternatively, hypertext data may be acquired and printed. Processing in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The core unit 109 compares the current time with the next access date and time stored in the RAM 109b, and determines whether or not the next access date has arrived (step S101). As a result, if the next access date / time has not arrived, the process returns to step S101 to wait for the next access date / time to arrive. On the other hand, when the next access date / time comes, the core unit 109 uses the http for hypertext data existing at the address indicated by the URL information stored in the RAM via the network I / F unit 108. A request is made to the WWW server to transfer the data (step S102).

  Then, the core unit 109 transfers the hypertext data transferred from the WWW server via the network I / F unit 108 to the hypertext storage unit 105 and stores it (step S103). The hypertext storage unit 105 transfers the hypertext data to the formatter unit 106, and the formatter unit 106 forms image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 107 from the format of the hypertext data (step S104). . Then, the formatter unit 106 transfers the image data to the printer unit 107, and the printer unit 107 executes a printing process (step S105) and returns to step S101.

  Also in the third embodiment, access information such as URL information and access date / time is added as header information, footer information, or cover information when hypertext data is printed by the processing as described above. It is also possible to print.

[Application modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, keywords and the number of link stages are registered together with URL information, an access request is made based on these information, and the access request is received. On the WWW server side, hypertext data related to the hypertext data indicated by the URL information is searched within the range of the number of links based on the keyword, and the related hypertext data is indicated by the URL information. It is also possible to transmit to the requesting copier together with the hypertext data to be printed.

  Further, the hypertext data may be provided by a server other than the WWW server on the Internet, or may be provided by a server on a network other than the Internet.

  Also, by registering a plurality of URL information together with the access date and time, a plurality of types of hypertext data can be automatically printed periodically. In this case, it is desirable that data transmission / reception does not compete by registering different access dates for each hypertext data.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to a single printing apparatus or a printing apparatus connected to a personal computer without being applied to a copying machine.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the said copying machine. It is a flowchart which shows the registration process of URL information and access frequency information. It is a flowchart which shows the setting process of the actual access date based on the registered access frequency information. 6 is a flowchart showing periodic and automatic hypertext acquisition / print processing in the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of a hypertext print at the time of adding UPL information and access date information as header information. It is the figure which showed the example of a hypertext print at the time of adding UPL information and access date information as display information. 12 is a flowchart showing periodic and automatic hypertext acquisition / printing processing in the second embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of printing of the message to the effect that there is no data update in a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the acquisition and printing process of a periodic and automatic hypertext in the example of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Data display part 102 ... Data input part 103 ... User I / F management part 104 ... Data storage part 105 ... Hypertext data storage part 106 ... Formatter part 107 ... Printer part 108 ... Network I / F part 109 ... Core part 109a ... CPU
109b ... RAM
109c ... ROM
201 ... Laser light emitting unit 202 ... Photoconductor drum

Claims (9)

A printing device for accessing and printing hypertext data on a network,
Registration means for registering the address information on the network of the hypertext data to be accessed and the access frequency information;
An access means for periodically accessing hypertext data present at a position indicated by the address information registered by the registration means according to the access frequency information registered by the registration means;
Printing means for printing hypertext data accessed by the access means;
Notification means for notifying the time accessed by the access means before, when the hypertext data accessed by the access means has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The notifying means prints the time previously accessed by the access means when the hypertext data accessed by the access means has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1. A printing device for accessing and printing hypertext data on a network,
Registration means for registering the address information on the network of the hypertext data to be accessed and the access frequency information;
An access means for periodically accessing hypertext data present at a position indicated by the address information registered by the registration means according to the access frequency information registered by the registration means;
Printing means for printing hypertext data accessed by the access means;
Holding means for holding time when the hypertext data accessed by the access means has been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means;
A notification means for notifying the time held by the holding means when the hypertext data accessed by the access means has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The notification means prints the time held by the holding means when the hypertext data accessed by the access means has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access means. The printing apparatus according to claim 3. The access frequency information, according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said access means the time interval for accessing the hypertext data, date, day of the week, at least one of the month Printing device. The network printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is constituted by the Internet. The hypertext data, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the data provided by the WWW server on the network. A method of controlling a printing device that accesses and prints hypertext data on a network,
A registration step of registering address information on the network of the hypertext data to be accessed and access frequency information;
According to the access frequency information registered by the registration step, an access step for periodically accessing hypertext data existing at the position indicated by the address information registered by the registration step;
A printing step of printing the hypertext data accessed in the access step;
A notification step for notifying the time accessed by the previous access step when the hypertext data accessed by the access step has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access step;
A control method comprising: A method of controlling a printing device that accesses and prints hypertext data on a network,
A registration step of registering address information on the network of the hypertext data to be accessed and access frequency information;
According to the access frequency information registered by the registration step, an access step for periodically accessing hypertext data existing at the position indicated by the address information registered by the registration step;
A printing step of printing the hypertext data accessed in the access step;
When the hypertext data accessed by the access step has been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access step, a holding step for holding time;
A notification step for notifying the time held by the holding step when the hypertext data accessed by the access step has not been updated from the hypertext previously accessed by the access step;
A control method comprising:

Images