JP3850819B2 - Information equipment and printers - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing control method and a printing system in a system that connects an information device such as a computer and a printer by wireless communication using electromagnetic waves or light as a medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional output devices such as printers have been connected to devices such as computers with signal cables. However, by connecting the two using wireless communication, they can be placed at a distance, or with multiple computers. One printer can be shared. Even devices such as electronic notebooks, personal digital assistants, and digital cameras that are usually not connected to a network are usually connected to a printer without a cable connection. It is possible to send.
[0003]
Since portable devices are required to reduce power consumption, when wireless communication is used, it is necessary to shorten the time for performing communication as much as possible. When using a printer, it is necessary to make an inquiry as to whether or not the printer is currently available. To save power, the wireless communication required for this inquiry must be reduced.
[0004]
A general printer stores data to be output and then processes it. However, especially when handling data with a large amount of information, such as a color printer, it receives data for each page and prints the data. In many cases, the next data cannot be received until the out is completed. When sequentially outputting a plurality of pages to such a printer, it is necessary to transmit the data of the next page after detecting that the printer has finished processing the currently processed page. . In addition, when a printout is already being executed by a request from another device when attempting to print out from a mobile device, it is necessary to detect that the processing has been completed and print out again. There is.
[0005]
As a method for solving this problem, the following methods are widely used. In other words, the printer that has received the printout request from the information device notifies the information device that the processing has been completed when the output is completed. In addition, when the printer is already processing the printout, if a new printout request is received, the requesting information device is registered in the queue, and when the printout is completed, The information device registered at the head of the queue is notified that the printout is possible and is deleted from the queue. By using this method, it is possible to automatically perform continuous printout of a plurality of pages and sequential printout from a plurality of information devices.
[0006]
In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-93672, when the information device and the printer are in a state where they can communicate wirelessly, the information device makes an inquiry to the printer at regular intervals, and the printer status is always displayed on the screen. By displaying it in the form of an icon above, the user can grasp the current printer status and know the end of the printout process.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the first method in the previous section, it is necessary for the information device to always be kept in a state where it can receive wireless communication until the printout is completed. This hinders electric power generation. Also, when reception of a signal indicating the end of processing from the printer fails due to a temporary failure, the information device continues to wait for a processing end signal in the reception state.
[0008]
In the second method in the previous section, the information device transmits data at a constant interval. However, generally, when transmitting, much more power is consumed than when receiving, so the power consumption increases as the interval decreases. Increase. Also, if the interval for making an inquiry is increased, the time from the end of the printout process to the inquiry becomes longer, resulting in wasted time.
[0009]
Therefore, the conventional method has a problem that power consumption on the information equipment side cannot be suppressed.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing control method and a printing system that can reduce power consumption on the information equipment side.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information device of the present invention is an information device provided with a wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with a printer, and transmits a connection request protocol to the printer,
After receiving the connection accepting protocol from the printer, the unit print data is transmitted by the print data sending protocol, the print data accepting protocol is received from the printer, and only the waiting time designated by the print data accepting protocol is followed. After waiting for the transmission of the unit print data, the subsequent unit print data is transmitted by the print data sending protocol, and the wireless communication transmitting / receiving means is stopped when waiting for the transmission.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, when the information device continuously issues a printout request, the information device automatically waits without performing any transmission or reception while the printer is processing, You can make a request. In other words, continuous automatic printout processing can be performed while suppressing the power consumption of the information equipment.
[0013]
Preferably, the information device repeats transmission of the print data transmission protocol, reception of the print data reception protocol, and waiting for transmission until there is no unit print data to be printed.
[0014]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information device having a wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with a printer, wherein the connection request protocol is transmitted to the printer and the connection rejection protocol is received from the printer. In this case, after waiting for transmission for the waiting time instructed by the connection rejection protocol, the connection request protocol is retransmitted, and the wireless communication transmitting / receiving means is stopped when waiting for transmission.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, when a printout request is simultaneously made from an information device, the information device waits without performing any transmission or reception while the printer is processing according to a request from another information device, When the process is completed, the printout process can be automatically performed. That is, automatic printout processing can be performed while suppressing power consumption of the information equipment.
[0016]
In the information device, the connection request protocol may include a device identifier, connection information, and print data information of the information device.
[0017]
Further, the printer of the present invention is a printer provided with wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with an information device, receiving a connection request protocol including at least connection information transmitted by the information device, and receiving the connection request If printout processing is possible at the time of protocol reception, a connection acceptance protocol is transmitted to the information device, and after receiving a print data transmission protocol transmitted from the information device, the connection information and the connection request protocol Alternatively, the information device includes a print data reception protocol that calculates a print processing time of printout data received by the print data transmission protocol from printout data information included in the print data transmission protocol, and includes the print processing time as a standby time. It is characterized by sending to
[0018]
Another printer of the present invention is a printer provided with wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with a reporting device, receives a connection request protocol transmitted by the first information device, and receives the first information If the printout process requested by the second information device is being executed when the connection request protocol is received from the device, the processing time required until the printout process being executed is completed is calculated, and the first A connection rejection protocol including the calculation result as a standby time is transmitted to the information device.
[0019]
In the printer, the connection request protocol transmitted by the first information device includes connection information and printout data information. When the first connection request protocol is received, a request is made by the second information device. If the printout process is being executed, a processing time required until the printout process being executed is completed is calculated, and the calculation result is included in the first information device as a standby time. The connection rejection protocol is transmitted, the connection information and the printout data information included in the connection request protocol received from the first information device are stored, and the printout process requested by the second information device is executed. The connection request protocol is received by the third information device while at least one of the first information devices is on standby In this case, the processing time required for the printer-out process requested by the second information device is calculated from the connection information and the print-out data information in all the first information devices waiting at that time. The connection rejection protocol including the processing time required for the printout process requested by each first information device plus the waiting time can be transmitted to the third information device.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system having a digital still camera and a printer to which the present invention is applied.
[0021]
The system according to the present embodiment includes a digital still camera (information device) 1 having an infrared communication function and a printer 2. 10 is a CPU that controls the entire digital still camera 1, 11 is a timer having a function of notifying the passage of time, 12 is a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU 10, and 13 is data used by the CPU 10. 14 is a secondary storage device for storing captured image data, 15 is a user interface unit for recognizing operations from the user and displaying images, and 16 is for controlling the image sensor. A camera control unit for performing image processing and the like, an infrared communication control unit for creating a protocol and performing modulation / demodulation for performing infrared communication, and an infrared light emitting unit for transmitting data by emitting infrared light, 19 Is an infrared receiving unit that receives infrared rays and receives data. In the digital still camera 1, the infrared communication control unit 17, the infrared light emitting unit 18, and the infrared light receiving unit 19 constitute a wireless communication transmitting / receiving unit.
[0022]
Reference numeral 20 denotes a CPU that controls the entire printer 2, 21 denotes a timer having a function of notifying the passage of time, 22 denotes a ROM storing a program executed by the CPU 20, and 23 denotes data used by the CPU 20. Is a secondary storage device for storing data to be printed out and font data, 25 is a user interface unit for recognizing operations from the user, displaying the print status, and the like. The printer control unit 27 for controlling the printer head, the paper feeding device, etc., 27 creates a protocol for infrared communication, and the infrared communication control unit 28 performs modulation / demodulation. 28 emits infrared rays to transmit data. The infrared light emitting unit 29 is an infrared light receiving unit that receives infrared light and receives data. In the printer 2, the infrared communication control unit 27, the infrared light emitting unit 28, and the infrared light receiving unit 29 constitute a wireless communication transmitting / receiving unit. In the following description, it is assumed that the printer 2 has only the RAM 23 and the secondary storage device 24 having a size necessary for processing data (unit print data) for one page at a time.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a wireless communication procedure when a digital still camera 1 requests the printer 2 to print out a plurality of pages.
[0024]
First, the digital still camera 1 sends a connection request protocol to the printer 2 (procedure 1).
[0025]
If the printer 2 can process, the connection acceptance protocol is sent to the digital still camera 1 (procedure 2). The connection request and connection acceptance protocol includes connection information such as communication speed, communication buffer size, image size, paper size, number of colors, etc. that can be processed by each device. At this point, these parameters used in the subsequent communication are determined between the two.
[0026]
When the connection between the two is established, the data of the first page is sent from the digital still camera 1 to the printer 2 as a print data sending protocol (procedure 3).
[0027]
When the printer 2 receives all the data correctly, the printer 2 performs printout from the connection information included in the connection request protocol and the printout data information such as the size and number of colors of the printout data included in the print data transmission protocol. The time T1 required for the image data is calculated, stored in the print data reception protocol, and sent to the digital still camera (step 4).
[0028]
At this point, the printer 2 starts printout processing. The digital still camera 1 that has received the print data acceptance protocol waits for the time T1, and then sends the next page data to the printer in the same manner as in the procedure 3 (procedure 5).
[0029]
Thereafter, the same processing as in the procedure 3 and the procedure 4 is sequentially repeated for all necessary pages (procedures 6 and 7). When the printout of the last page is completed, the digital still camera 1 sends a disconnection request protocol to the printer 2 (procedure 8). In response to this, the printer 2 sends a disconnection acceptance protocol, and the communication between the two ends (procedure 9).
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a portion related to wireless communication in the program for controlling the digital still camera 1. First, in step S1, a connection request protocol is transmitted to the printer 2, and the process proceeds to step S2. If the connection acceptance protocol is received in step S2, the process proceeds to step S4. If anything else is received, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, it is notified that the connection has failed and the wireless communication is terminated.
[0031]
In step S4, the first page of data is transmitted using the print data transmission protocol. If the print data acceptance protocol is received in step S5, the process proceeds to step S7. If anything else is received, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, it is notified that the print data transmission has failed and the wireless communication is terminated. If there is still data to be printed out in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8. If all the data has been sent, the process proceeds to step S9.
[0032]
In step S8, after waiting for the value of Tn included in the print data reception protocol received in step S5, the process returns to step S4. In step S9, a disconnection request protocol is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S10. If a disconnection acceptance protocol is received in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11. If anything else is received, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S11, all data transmission and notification that the disconnection process has been successful are notified, and the wireless communication is terminated.
[0033]
In step S12, it is notified that the disconnection process has failed, and the wireless communication is terminated. With the above procedure, a plurality of pages of data can be automatically and sequentially transmitted.
[0034]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a portion related to wireless communication in the program for controlling the printer 2. If the connection request protocol is received in step S21, the process proceeds to step S22. If anything else is received, the process returns to step S21 again. In step S22, a connection acceptance protocol is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S23.
[0035]
If the print data transmission protocol is received in step S23, the process proceeds to step S24. If anything else is received, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S24, a time Tn required to print out the data received in step S23 is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S25.
[0036]
In step S25, a print data acceptance protocol is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S26. At this time, the value of Tn is included in the print data reception protocol. In step S26, a printout process is performed, and the process returns to step S23.
[0037]
If the received data is a disconnection request protocol in step S27, the process proceeds to step S28. If anything else is received, the process returns to step S21. In S28, a disconnection acceptance protocol is transmitted, and the process returns to step S21.
[0038]
By using the system shown in this embodiment, in the digital still camera 1, in order to inquire about the status of the printer, a plurality of data is automatically consecutively continued without maintaining the reception state or transmitting inquiry data. Can be transmitted.
[0039]
[Embodiment 2]
The system of this embodiment includes a digital still camera 1 having an infrared communication function, a digital still camera 3 having the same function as the digital still camera 1, and a printer 2. FIG. 5 is an example of this embodiment.
[0040]
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the digital still camera 1 has sent print data to the printer 2 while the digital still camera 1 has finished sending print data to the printer 2 and the printer 2 is performing printout processing. This is a wireless communication procedure.
[0041]
First, the procedure for sending the printout data from the digital still camera 1 to the printer 2 is the same as the procedure 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 in the first embodiment (the procedure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
[0042]
Next, the digital still camera 3 transmits a connection request protocol to the printer 2 while the printer 2 is executing printout according to the request of the digital still camera 1, that is, during the period T1 (procedure). 7). Since the printer 2 cannot perform a new printout process at that time, the printer 2 transmits a connection rejection protocol. At this time, a waiting time T2, which is the time until the currently processed printout is completed, is calculated, and this value is included in the connection rejection protocol (procedure 8).
[0043]
The digital still camera 3 that has received the connection refusal protocol reads the waiting time T2 from that, waits for that time, and then transmits the connection request protocol to the printer 2 again (procedure 9). At this point, the printer 2 has completed the processing that has been performed previously, and sends a connection permission protocol to the digital still camera 3 (procedure 10). Thereafter, data is sent and disconnected in the same procedure as steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 (steps 11, 12, 13, and 14).
[0044]
[Embodiment 3]
The system of this embodiment includes a digital still camera 1 having an infrared communication function, a digital still camera 3 and a digital still camera 4 having functions similar to those of the digital still camera 1, and a printer 2. FIG. 7 is an example of this embodiment. The digital still cameras 3 and 4 have the same functions as the digital still camera 1. In this example, there are only three digital still cameras, but there may be four or more.
[0045]
FIG. 8 shows that while the digital still camera 1 has finished sending print data to the printer 2 and the printer 2 is performing printout processing, the digital still camera 3 tries to send print data to the printer 2. This is a wireless communication procedure in the case where the digital still camera 4 makes a connection request during a period in which the connection is refused by the printer 2 and waiting until the printer becomes usable.
[0046]
First, the digital still camera 1 sends a connection request protocol to the printer 2. At this time, in the connection request protocol, in addition to connection information that is information such as communication speed, communication buffer size, image size, paper size, and number of colors that can be processed by each device, it can be distinguished from other devices. A device identifier, which is a unique identifier, and printout data information which is information such as the size and number of colors of data to be printed out and the paper size are also included (procedure 1).
[0047]
If the printer 2 can process, the connection acceptance protocol is sent to the digital still camera 1. At this time, the printer 2 stores the device identifier, connection information, and printout data information received from the digital still camera 1 on the RAM 13 (storage means) (procedure 2).
[0048]
Reference numeral 40 in FIG. 9 denotes an example of the data structure (storage means) of the management table for storing these pieces of information. The procedures until the digital still camera 1 transmits and disconnects the print data to the printer 2 are the same as the procedures 3, 4, 5, 6 in the second embodiment (procedures 3, 4, 5, 6). . Next, the digital still camera 3 transmits a printout request to the printer 2 (procedure 7).
[0049]
Since the printer 2 cannot perform a new printout process at that time, the printer 2 transmits a connection rejection protocol. At this time, a waiting time T2, which is the time until the currently processed printout is completed, is calculated, and this value is included in the connection rejection protocol. In addition, the device identifier, connection information, and printout data information included in the connection request protocol from the digital still camera 3 are stored in the management table 40. (Procedure 8). The digital still camera 3 that has received the connection refusal protocol reads the waiting time T2 from that and waits for that time.
[0050]
Next, the digital still camera 4 transmits a connection request protocol to the printer 2 while the printer 2 is executing printout according to the request of the digital still camera 1, that is, during the period T2. 9).
[0051]
Since the printer 2 cannot perform a new printout process at that time, the printer 2 transmits a connection rejection protocol. At this time, a waiting time T7, which is a time until the currently processed printout is completed, is calculated, and this value is included in the connection rejection protocol. In the management table 40 of the printer 2, the waiting time T7 is the time until the printout that is currently in the print state is completed, and the connection request protocol, connection acceptance protocol, and print that are associated with each printout that is currently in the wait state. It can be obtained by adding together the time required for transmission and processing of the data transmission protocol and the time required for printout.
[0052]
In the case of the example of FIG. 8, the time T3 until the printout of the digital still camera 1 that is currently printing is completed, the time T4 until the connection request from the digital still camera 3 is received, and the digital still camera 3 The sum of the time T5 required to transmit the print data and the time T6 required to print out the data is the time T7 that the digital still camera 4 should wait. Since all the parameters for calculating these times are recorded in the management table 40 of the printer 2, they can be calculated immediately (procedure 10).
[0053]
Thereafter, after the digital still camera 3 and the digital still camera 4 stand by, the procedure for transmitting connection and printout data is the same as that in the second embodiment.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printing system including an information device and a printer according to the present invention, a plurality of pages are continuously printed from a device such as a digital camera to a printer that can process only one page at a time. When printing out, you can know the end of printout without frequently making inquiries to the printer from the device or waiting while maintaining the wireless communication reception status, thus reducing the power consumption of the device. However, there is an effect that a plurality of pages can be automatically printed out.
[0055]
In addition, even when a plurality of devices make a printout request almost simultaneously to a single printer, each device can know the end of printout in the same manner, thus reducing the power consumption of each device. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to automatically execute printout from each device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to first, second, and third embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of wireless communication in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a portion related to wireless communication in the program for controlling the digital still camera 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a portion related to wireless communication in the program for controlling the printer 2 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing system according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of wireless communication in the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing system according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of wireless communication in the third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an example of a data structure of a management table for storing information related to a device that has made a printout request in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital still camera (information equipment)
2 Printer 3 Digital still camera 4 Digital still camera 10 CPU
11 Timer 12 ROM
13 RAM (storage means)
14 Secondary storage device 15 User interface unit 16 Camera control unit 17 Infrared communication control unit (wireless communication transmitting / receiving means)
18 Infrared light emitting unit (wireless communication transmitting / receiving means)
19 Infrared light receiver (wireless communication transmission / reception means)
20 CPU
21 Timer 22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Secondary storage device 25 User interface unit 26 Printer control unit 27 Infrared communication control unit (wireless communication transmission / reception means)
28 Infrared light emitting part (wireless communication transmission / reception means)
29 Infrared light receiver (wireless communication transmission / reception means)

Claims (8)

An information device comprising wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with a printer,
Sending a connection request protocol to the printer;
After receiving the connection acceptance protocol from the printer, send the unit print data by the print data sending protocol,
After receiving the print data reception protocol from the printer and waiting for transmission of the subsequent unit print data for the standby time specified by the print data reception protocol, the subsequent unit print data is sent by the print data sending protocol. An information device which transmits and stops the wireless communication transmitting / receiving means when waiting for transmission. 2. The information device according to claim 1, wherein transmission of the print data transmission protocol, reception of the print data reception protocol, and waiting for transmission are repeated until there is no unit print data to be printed. An information device comprising wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with a printer,
Sending a connection request protocol to the printer;
When a connection rejection protocol is received from the printer, after waiting for transmission for the waiting time specified by the connection rejection protocol, the connection request protocol is retransmitted and the wireless communication transmitting / receiving means is stopped when waiting for transmission Information equipment characterized by that. The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection request protocol includes a device identifier, connection information, and print data information of the information device. 5. The information device according to claim 1, wherein the information device is a digital camera. A printer comprising wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with an information device,
Receiving a connection request protocol including at least connection information transmitted by the information device;
If printout processing is possible when receiving the connection request protocol, send a connection acceptance protocol to the information device,
Printout data received by the print data sending protocol from the connection information and the printout data information included in the connection request protocol or the print data sending protocol after receiving the print data sending protocol sent from the information device Print processing time for
A printer that transmits a print data reception protocol including the print processing time as a standby time to the information device. A printer comprising wireless communication transmitting / receiving means for communicating with an information device,
Receiving a connection request protocol sent by the first information device;
If the printout process requested by the second information device is being executed when the connection request protocol is received from the first information device, the processing time required until the printout process being executed is completed is calculated. And transmitting a connection rejection protocol including the calculation result as a standby time to the first information device. The connection request protocol transmitted by the first information device includes connection information and printout data information.
When the printout process requested by the second information device is being executed at the time of receiving the first connection request protocol, the processing time required until the printout process being executed is completed is calculated. A connection rejection protocol including the calculation result as a waiting time is transmitted to the first information device, and connection information and printout data information included in the connection request protocol received from the first information device are stored. ,
Furthermore, when the connection request protocol is received by the third information device while the printout process requested by the second information device is being executed and at least one of the first information devices is waiting, In the processing time required for the printer-out process requested by the two information devices, the respective first information calculated from the connection information and the print-out data information in all the first information devices waiting at that time 8. The printer according to claim 7, wherein a connection rejection protocol including a processing time required for the printout process requested by the information device and including a waiting time is transmitted to the third information device.

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