JP4872951B2 - Portable terminal, portable terminal control method, and portable terminal control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal, a portable terminal control method, and a portable terminal control program, and more particularly to a technique for selecting a desired printer ink cartridge.

Ink cartridges that are removable from the printer are well known. For example, an ink cartridge as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707 is an example. In general, since such an ink cartridge is a consumable item, a user needs to replace a new ink cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a new ink cartridge) when the ink cartridge is empty or empty. ). For example, a desired ink cartridge, that is, an ink cartridge suitable for a printer, is selected and purchased from among ink cartridges that are individually packaged and arranged in a store.
JP 2003-118140 A

By the way, in the individual packaging of new ink cartridges, there is currently no characteristic difference in the shape of the appearance, and the user confirms the ink product number printed on the individual packaging, the corresponding printer model number, design, etc. An ink cartridge is selected. In recent years, ink cartridges are often separated for each color, and a plurality of ink cartridges are used in one type of printer. Furthermore, since there are a wide variety of printers according to the application and purpose, the types of ink cartridges inevitably increase. Of course, it goes without saying that ink cartridges not only compatible with recent printers but also compatible with older printers are available.
Then, it may take a considerable amount of time to accurately select a desired new ink cartridge from among a large number of new ink cartridges arranged side by side.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a portable terminal capable of accurately and quickly selecting a desired new ink cartridge, a method for controlling the portable terminal, and It is to provide a control program for a portable terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a portable terminal according to the present invention includes a display panel capable of displaying predetermined information, a current information acquisition unit, a product information acquisition unit, a collation unit, and a screen display unit. The current status information acquisition unit acquires current status information relating to an ink cartridge currently installed in the printer (hereinafter referred to as an installed ink cartridge) from the printer. Further, the product information acquisition means uses a wireless IC tag reader to read the new product information from a wireless IC tag individually packaged with a new ink cartridge and recorded with new product information for specifying the type of the new ink cartridge. To get. The collation means collates the current status information with the new product information. And the said screen display means displays a predetermined | prescribed screen on the said display panel based on the collation result by the said collation means.
Therefore, for example, at a sales floor of an ink cartridge, a user sequentially holds a portable terminal after obtaining current information about the installed ink cartridge over a large number of new ink cartridges, thereby displaying the display panel of the portable terminal. It is possible to display a predetermined screen based on the collation result obtained by collating the current status information with the new product information. Thereby, the user can select a desired new ink cartridge accurately and promptly with reference to a predetermined screen.

  Preferably, the current status information may include installed product information for specifying the type of the installed ink cartridge. The collating unit may determine whether the installed ink cartridge and the new ink cartridge are the same type of ink cartridge from the new product information and the installed product information. The predetermined screen when the collating unit determines that the ink cartridges are of the same type may be a message indicating that the ink cartridge is desired by the user. Accordingly, the user can confirm that the desired new ink cartridge is obtained by simply holding the portable terminal over the new ink cartridge.

  Preferably, the current status information may further include ink remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of ink in the mounted ink cartridge. A message relating to the remaining amount of ink in the mounted ink cartridge may be further added to the predetermined screen when the collating unit determines that the ink cartridges are of the same type. Thus, the user can determine whether the installed ink cartridge is empty and therefore needs to be replaced with a new ink cartridge, or whether the ink cartridge is not empty but needs a new ink cartridge preliminarily. .

  Preferably, an audio unit that emits a predetermined sound based on a collation result by the collation unit may be further provided. Accordingly, since the user can obtain audio information in addition to visual information, the user can select a desired new ink cartridge more accurately and quickly.

  Preferably, the current status information may include image data relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge of the same type as the installed ink cartridge. The image display unit may further include an image display unit that displays a predetermined image based on the image data on the display panel. As a result, when the user sequentially holds the portable terminal over a large number of new ink cartridges, the user can hold the portable terminal approximately at a place with reference to a predetermined image. It can be selected accurately and quickly.

  Preferably, the image data relating to the individual packaging of a new ink cartridge of the same type as the installed ink cartridge based on the current status information, connected to the external server after obtaining the current status information, and connecting means with a predetermined external server May be further provided with image acquisition means for acquiring the image from the external server and image display means for displaying a predetermined image based on the image data on the display panel. As a result, when the user sequentially holds the portable terminal over a large number of new ink cartridges arranged in sequence, the user can hold the portable terminal at an approximate position with reference to a predetermined image. It can be selected accurately and quickly.

Furthermore, the technical idea according to the present invention can be understood as an invention other than the above-described portable terminal. As an example, the invention can also be grasped as a control method of a portable terminal having steps corresponding to each means in the portable terminal described above.
The invention can also be understood as a control program for a portable terminal that causes a computer to realize functions corresponding to the respective means in the portable terminal described above.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order with reference to the drawings.
(1) Schematic configuration of printer, portable terminal, and new ink cartridge (2) New ink cartridge selection flow using portable terminal (3) Modification (4) Summary

(1) Schematic Configuration of Printer, Portable Terminal, and New Ink Cartridge FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a new ink cartridge selection system 100 including a portable terminal 10 as a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the main parts of the mobile terminal 10, the printer 20, and the individual ink box 30. 1 and 2, a new ink cartridge selection system 100 includes a portable terminal 10, a printer 20, and an ink individual packaging box 30, and is of the same type as an installed ink cartridge 22 mounted on a printer 20 owned by a user. In this system, a new ink cartridge (that is, a replacement ink cartridge) 32 can be easily selected, for example, at a store (ink sales floor).

  The printer 20 includes a mounted ink cartridge 22, a printer control unit 24, a printing mechanism unit 26, and a communication I / F 28. For example, a printer that executes printing in response to a control command from a printer driver of a personal computer (not shown). It is. The printer 20 may be any printing device that has a mounted ink cartridge 22 mounted thereon and performs printing on a predetermined sheet with the ink of the mounted ink cartridge 22. For example, the printer 20 has a so-called direct printer that executes printing by reading electronic data on an external storage medium such as a memory card without a personal computer, a so-called copier having only a copy function, a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and the like. It may be a so-called multi-function machine.

  The mounted ink cartridge 22 includes a well-known IC chip 23 that is electrically contact type, and is a well-known consumable item that can be attached to and detached from the printer 20 body. On the IC chip 23, current state information on the mounted ink cartridge 22 is recorded freely. For example, in a state where the mounted ink cartridge 22 is mounted on the printer 20 main body, that is, in a state where the printer 20 main body and the IC chip 23 are in electrical contact, the current state information recorded on the IC chip 23 is read. Or rewritten, and new information is written in the IC chip 23. For example, the current status information includes installed product information for specifying the type of the installed ink cartridge 22, for example, the ink model number (ink product number) of the installed ink cartridge 22, and the remaining ink information of the installed ink cartridge 22, such as installed ink. For example, the current remaining ink amount of the cartridge 22.

The printer control unit 24 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a memory control unit, a non-volatile RAM, and the like, and a process for causing the printing mechanism unit 26 to generate a printed matter having contents corresponding to print job data received from a host device (not shown) This unit performs processing for returning status information representing 20 states (available functions, remaining amount of installed ink cartridges 22 and the like) to the device that requested it.
The printing mechanism unit 26 includes a paper feeding device, a printer engine, and the like, and is a mechanism that actually performs printing on the fed paper.
The communication I / F 28 includes at least one interface circuit corresponding to predetermined communication means such as Bluetooth / IrDA, wired / wireless LAN via TCP / IP, communication via USB, and the like. This is an interface for performing predetermined communication (information exchange) with.
In the printer 20 configured as described above, the printer control unit 24 includes current information reading means for reading and writing current information recorded on the IC chip 23 when the mounted ink cartridge 22 is mounted on the printer 20. Functionally equipped.

The ink individual packaging box 30 includes a new ink cartridge 32 and a wireless IC tag 34. The ink individual packaging box 30 is a well-known box that is used as a form when the new ink cartridge 32 is individually packaged and sold to a user.
The new ink cartridge 32 is an ink cartridge for replacing the installed ink cartridge 22 and has the same configuration as the installed ink cartridge 22.
The wireless IC tag 34 includes a small IC chip and a chip antenna. For example, electronic waves are electrically written into the IC chip using radio waves or electromagnetic waves (electric power is obtained by electromagnetic induction), or recorded on the IC chip. The read electronic data can be read out. For example, the wireless IC tag 34 is a non-contact type IC tag such as an RFID (Radio Frequency-IDentification) tag. In this embodiment, a well-known NFC (Near Field Communication) tag (hereinafter referred to as a wireless IC tag 34). NFC tag 34) is used. In particular, in this embodiment, the NFC tag 34 records new product information for specifying the type of the new ink cartridge 32, for example, the ink model number (ink product number) of the new ink cartridge 32. The NFC tag 34 is individually packaged together with the new ink cartridge 32 using the ink individual packaging box 30. For example, the NFC tag 34 is affixed to the ink individual packaging box 30 itself regardless of the inside or outside, or is affixed to the new ink cartridge 32. A form such as being attached or simply housed in the ink individual packaging box 30 is assumed. Note that, in this specification, the case where the NFC tag 34 (wireless IC tag) is simply pasted is included even when the NFC tag 34 is embedded.

The portable terminal 10 is a portable terminal device that includes a terminal control unit 11, a display panel 12, an operation unit 13, a communication I / F 14, and an NFC tag reader 15 as a wireless IC tag reader. The mobile phone is capable of calling and information communication via a predetermined communication line.
The terminal control unit 11 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a memory control unit, a nonvolatile RAM, and the like, and is a unit that performs various processes according to user operations.
The display panel 12 and the operation unit 13 are user interface units between the user and the mobile terminal 10 (terminal control unit 11). The display panel 12 is a unit including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying predetermined information. The operation unit 13 is a unit including a plurality of push button switches that accept user operations. Here, the user operation includes, for example, a call operation, a communication operation, a character input operation, an operation when acquiring current status information about the installed ink cartridge 22 from the printer 20, and a new product of the new ink cartridge 32 from the ink individual packaging box 30. For example, an operation for acquiring information.
The communication I / F 14 includes at least one interface circuit corresponding to the predetermined communication unit, and is an interface for performing predetermined communication (information exchange) between the mobile terminal 10 and the printer 20.
The NFC tag reader 15 includes a reader antenna for reading information from the IC chip by wireless communication with the chip antenna of the NFC tag 34, and holds the portable terminal 10 near the ink individual packaging box 30 (NFC tag 34). On the contrary, by bringing the ink individual packaging box 30 closer to the mobile terminal 10, for example, electronic information recorded in the NFC tag 34 can be read by wireless communication in accordance with a command from the terminal control unit 11.

In the mobile terminal 10 configured as described above, the terminal control unit 11 acquires the current status information regarding the mounted ink cartridge 22 mounted on the printer 20 from the printer 20 via the predetermined communication unit. Product information acquisition means for acquiring new product information of the new ink cartridge 32 from the ink individual packaging box 30 (NFC tag 34) using the NFC tag reader 15, and verification means for verifying the current status information and the new product information And a screen display means for displaying a predetermined screen on the display panel 12 based on the collation result by the collation means.
For example, the terminal control unit 11 acquires the ink model number of the installed ink cartridge 22 and the current ink remaining amount of the installed ink cartridge 22 from the printer 20 by a user operation (current information acquisition unit). Thereafter, the terminal control unit 11 acquires the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 from the ink individual packaging 30 by a user operation (product information acquisition unit). At that time, the terminal control unit 11 determines whether the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are the same type of ink cartridge based on the ink model number of the installed ink cartridge 22 and the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32. Judgment (verification means). If the terminal controller 11 determines that the ink cartridges are of the same type, the terminal controller 11 displays a message indicating that the ink cartridge is desired by the user on the display panel 12 as the predetermined screen (screen display means). . A message relating to the current remaining ink amount of the installed ink cartridge 22 may be further added to the predetermined screen.
Further, when the terminal control unit 11 functionally includes a voice unit that emits a predetermined sound based on the collation result by the collation unit and determines that the ink cartridges are of the same type, in addition to displaying a message, the terminal control unit 11 The user may be notified by sound that the ink cartridge is to be used.

(2) Flow of New Ink Cartridge Selection Using Portable Terminal FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of new ink cartridge selection using the portable terminal 10 by the user. In FIG. 3, in the printer 20, the ink model number and the ink remaining amount of the mounted ink cartridge 22 recorded on the IC chip 23 of the mounted ink cartridge 22 are sequentially read (step 1). In the mobile terminal 10, the ink model number and the remaining ink amount of the mounted ink cartridge 22 are acquired from the printer 20 through a predetermined communication unit by a user operation or automatically sequentially (step 2). By the user's operation, the mobile terminal 10 is sequentially placed over the ink individual packaging boxes 30 (NFC tags 34) arranged in large quantities at the ink sales floor, and the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 is sequentially acquired in the mobile terminal 10 (step 3). ). In the mobile terminal 10, the ink model number of the installed ink cartridge 22 and the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 are sequentially collated. If the ink model numbers match and it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are the same type of ink cartridge, for example, a message as shown in FIG. Step 4). For example, FIG. 4A shows a predetermined screen displayed when it is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the installed ink cartridge 22 is empty or extremely small. FIG. 4B is a predetermined screen displayed when it is determined that there is some margin in the remaining amount of ink in the installed ink cartridge 22.

(3) Modified Example FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example (modified example 1) of the flow of selecting a new ink cartridge using the mobile terminal 10 by the user. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same components throughout the embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In the first modification, the terminal control unit 11 is represented on the outer surface of the individual ink box 30 grouped for each type of image data, for example, the type of the new ink cartridge 32, for the individual packaging of the new ink cartridge 32. A connection means with a predetermined external server 40 in which design image data is stored, and after obtaining current status information from the printer 20, it is connected to the external server 40, and based on this current status information, the same type as the installed ink cartridge 22 The image acquisition means for acquiring image data relating to the individual packaging of the new ink cartridge 32 from the external server 40, and a predetermined image based on the image data, that is, a symbol written on the outer surface of the ink individual packaging box 30 is displayed on the display panel 12. And an image display means for displaying on the screen.

In FIG. 5, the ink model number and the ink remaining amount of the mounted ink cartridge 22 are sequentially read from the IC chip 23 (step 1). The ink model number and remaining ink amount of the installed ink cartridge 22 are acquired from the printer 20 (step 2). A user operation connects to the external server 40 via a predetermined communication line (step 3). Image data of a symbol written on the outer surface of the ink individual packaging box 30 containing the new ink cartridge 32 having the same ink model number as the installed ink cartridge 22 is acquired from the external server 40 by a user operation (step 4). A design on the surface of the individual ink box 30 based on the image data is displayed on the display panel 12 by a user operation (step 5). The portable terminal 10 is held over the ink individual packaging box 30 that is supposed to have the symbols displayed on the display panel 12 out of the ink individual packaging boxes 30 arranged in large quantities in the ink sales floor by the user operation, The ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 is acquired in the portable terminal 10 (step 6). In the mobile terminal 10, the ink model number of the installed ink cartridge 22 and the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 are collated. If the ink model numbers match and it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are the same type of ink cartridge, a predetermined screen is displayed on the display panel 12 (step 7).
The reason why the portable terminal 10 is finally held and collated is to electronically confirm whether or not it is genuine for more accuracy. In addition, in each color of the ink cartridge in one type of printer, it is common that the design on the surface of the ink individual packaging box is the same, and therefore it cannot be said that the ink cartridge is a correct ink cartridge just by matching the design. Because of that.

In FIG. 5, when the current status information recorded on the IC chip 23 of the printer 20 includes image data relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge 32 of the same type as the installed ink cartridge 22 (step 1). The ink model number, the remaining ink amount, and the image data of the mounted ink cartridge 22 are read from the IC chip 23 in step S2, and the ink model number, the remaining ink amount, and the ink amount of the mounted ink cartridge 22 are read from the printer 20 in step 2). Image data may be acquired, and a design on the surface of the ink individual packaging box 30 based on the image data may be displayed on the display panel 12 by a user operation in (Step 5).
In such a case, (steps 1 and 2) surrounded by the broken line A in FIG. 5 may not be executed. Further, the connection unit and the image acquisition unit surrounded by the broken line B are not necessarily provided as functions of the terminal control unit 11.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example (Modification 2) of the flow of selecting a new ink cartridge by the user using the mobile terminal 10. That is, this FIG. 6 issues a point to a user who has purchased a new ink cartridge of the same ink model number, and for example, when purchasing a new ink cartridge using the point, the used point is converted into an amount and the amount of the amount is calculated from the store display price. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of purchasing a new ink cartridge 32 at a subtracted price.
In FIG. 6, in the printer 20, the unique ink ID uniquely assigned to the installed ink cartridge 22 is read from the IC chip 23 (step 1). In the portable terminal 10, a unique printer ID and ink ID uniquely assigned to the printer 20 are acquired from the printer 20 via a predetermined communication means by a user operation or sequentially automatically (step 2). The printer ID and ink ID are transmitted to the external server 50 through a predetermined communication line by a user operation (step 3). In the external server 50, the ink ID is confirmed, and for the ink ID for which the point has not been issued, the point is issued / added in association with the printer ID (step 4). The portable terminal 10 having acquired the printer ID together with the new ink cartridge 32 is presented to the register 60 (step 5). The printer ID is queried from the POS terminal 70 to the external server 50 (step 6). The received printer ID is collated, and the point of the printer ID is transmitted to the POS terminal 70 (step 7). A new ink cartridge 32 is purchased using the points. That is, the new ink cartridge 32 is purchased at a price obtained by converting the use points into an amount and subtracting the amount from the store display price (step 8). The use point at this time is transmitted from the POS terminal 70 to the external server 50, and the received use point is subtracted from the printer ID point (step 9).
The flow of purchasing a new ink cartridge in FIG. 6 may be executed in addition to the flow of selecting a new ink cartridge shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment (Modification 3) of the flow of selecting a new ink cartridge by the user using the mobile terminal 10. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of FIG.
In FIG. 7, in the portable terminal 10, a printer ID is acquired from the printer 20 via a predetermined communication means by a user operation or automatically sequentially (step 1). The portable terminal 10 having acquired the printer ID together with the new ink cartridge 32 is presented to the register 60 (step 2). In the portable terminal 10 or the POS terminal 70, the ink ID is read from the NFC tag 34 of the new ink cartridge 32 (step 3). For example, the printer ID and the ink ID are transmitted from the POS terminal 70 to the external server 50 (step 4). In the external server 50, the ink ID is confirmed, and the ink ID that has not been issued is issued and added in association with the printer ID (step 5). The point is transmitted to the POS terminal 70 (step 6). A new ink cartridge 32 is purchased using the points (step 7). The use point at this time is transmitted from the POS terminal 70 to the external server 50, and the received use point is subtracted from the printer ID point (step 8).
The flow of purchasing a new ink cartridge in FIG. 7 may be executed in addition to the flow of selecting a new ink cartridge shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

(4) Summary In the portable terminal 10 (new ink cartridge selection system 100) configured as described above, for example, at the ink cartridge sales department, the user moves the portable terminal 10 after acquiring the current status information about the installed ink cartridge 22. A predetermined screen based on the collation result obtained by collating the current status information with the new product information can be displayed on the display panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10 by sequentially holding the ink cartridges 32 placed in a large amount. Thereby, the user can select a desired new ink cartridge 32 accurately and promptly with reference to a predetermined screen.
If it is determined that the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are the same type of ink cartridge from the ink model number of the new ink cartridge 32 and the ink model number of the installed ink cartridge 22, Since a message indicating that the ink cartridge is desired by the user is displayed on the display panel 12 as a screen, the user confirms that the ink cartridge is the desired new ink cartridge by simply holding the portable terminal 10 over the new ink cartridge 32. be able to.
In addition, since a message regarding the remaining amount of ink in the installed ink cartridge 22 is further added to the predetermined screen, the user needs to replace the new ink cartridge 32 because the installed ink cartridge 22 is empty. In addition, it is possible to determine whether a new ink cartridge 32 is necessary, although it is not empty.
In addition, since the predetermined sound is generated based on the collation result as to whether or not the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are the same type of ink cartridge, the user receives the audio information in addition to the visual information. As a result, a desired new ink cartridge 32 can be selected more accurately and promptly.
The current status information further includes image data relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge 32 of the same type as the installed ink cartridge 22, or an image relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge 32 of the same type as the installed ink cartridge 22. Since data is acquired from an external server and a predetermined image based on the image data is displayed on the display panel 12, when the user sequentially holds the portable terminal 10 over a large number of new ink cartridges 32, the predetermined image is displayed. It is possible to hold it over to an approximate position for reference, and it is possible to select a desired new ink cartridge 32 more accurately and quickly.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, this invention is applied also in another aspect.
In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 that is a mobile phone is illustrated as the mobile terminal. However, the mobile terminal 10 includes at least the wireless IC tag reader and the display panel 12 and the mounted ink cartridge 22 that is mounted on the printer 20. Current status information is acquired from the printer 20, new product information of the new ink cartridge 32 is acquired from the ink individual packaging box 30, and a predetermined screen is displayed on the display panel 12 based on the comparison result between the current status information and the new product information. Any terminal can be used.
In the above-described embodiment, the installed ink cartridge 22 and the new ink cartridge 32 are provided with the IC chip 23, and the ink individual packaging box 30 is provided with the NFC tag 34. However, the NFC tag 34 is already installed. The NFC tag 34 may serve as the function of the IC chip 23 without being attached to the ink cartridge 22 or the new ink cartridge 32 and the IC chip 23 being attached. In this case, the printer 20 needs to include a wireless IC tag reader / writer that can read and write electronic data from and to the NFC tag 34. Further, the mobile terminal 10 may directly acquire the current status information in the NFC tag 34 without using the printer 20.
In the above-described embodiment, the terminal control unit 11 acquires the current status information about the installed ink cartridge 22 from the printer 20 via a predetermined communication unit, but from the printer 20 via an external storage medium such as a memory card. Current status information may be acquired.
6 and FIG. 7, the points are issued for the printer ID. However, a unique user ID or the like that is uniquely assigned to the user of the printer 20 may be used instead of the printer ID.
The technical idea according to the present invention can also be understood as inventions other than the above-described portable terminal 10. As an example, the invention can also be grasped as a method for controlling the mobile terminal 10 having steps corresponding to the respective means in the mobile terminal 10 described above. The invention can also be grasped as a control program for the mobile terminal 10 that causes the computer (terminal control unit 11) to realize functions corresponding to the respective means in the mobile terminal 10 described above.
The above description is only an embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in variously modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the portable terminal etc. of this invention. It is a block diagram which illustrates each principal part of a portable terminal, a printer, and an ink individual packaging box. It is a figure which illustrates the flow of the ink cartridge selection using a portable terminal. It is a figure which illustrates the message on the display panel at the time of ink model number matching. FIG. 10 is another diagram illustrating the flow of ink cartridge selection. FIG. 10 is another diagram illustrating the flow of ink cartridge selection. FIG. 10 is another diagram illustrating the flow of ink cartridge selection.

Explanation of symbols

10: Mobile terminal (portable terminal), 11: Terminal control unit (current information acquisition means, current information acquisition process, current information acquisition function, product information acquisition means, product information acquisition process, product information acquisition function, verification means, Collation process, collation function, screen display means, screen display process, screen display function, sound means, image display means, connection means, image acquisition means, computer), 12: display panel, 15: NFC tag reader (wireless IC tag reader), 20: Printer, 22: Installed ink cartridge, 32: New ink cartridge, 34: NFC tag (wireless IC tag), 40: External server

Claims (8)

A portable terminal having a display panel capable of displaying predetermined information,
Current status information acquisition means for acquiring current status information about the installed ink cartridge currently installed in the printer from the printer;
Product information acquisition means for acquiring the new product information using a wireless IC tag reader from a wireless IC tag individually packaged together with the new ink cartridge and recording new product information for specifying the type of the new ink cartridge;
Collation means for collating the current status information with the new product information;
Screen display means for displaying a predetermined screen on the display panel based on the result of collation by the collation means. The current status information includes installed product information for specifying the type of installed ink cartridge,
The collating means determines whether the installed ink cartridge and the new ink cartridge are the same type of ink cartridge from the new product information and the installed product information.
2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined screen when the collating unit determines that the ink cartridges are of the same type is a message indicating that the ink cartridge is desired by a user. Machine. The current status information further includes ink remaining amount information indicating the remaining ink amount of the installed ink cartridge,
3. The message relating to the remaining amount of ink in the mounted ink cartridge is further added to the predetermined screen when it is determined by the collating means that the ink cartridges are of the same type. The portable terminal described.   The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a voice unit that emits a predetermined sound based on a collation result by the collation unit. The current information includes image data relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge of the same type as the installed ink cartridge,
5. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising image display means for displaying a predetermined image based on the image data on the display panel. Means for connecting to a predetermined external server;
An image acquisition unit that connects to the external server after acquiring the current status information, and acquires image data relating to individual packaging of a new ink cartridge of the same type as the installed ink cartridge from the external server based on the current status information;
The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising image display means for displaying a predetermined image based on the image data on the display panel. A method for controlling a portable terminal including a display panel capable of displaying predetermined information,
A current status information acquisition step of acquiring current status information about the installed ink cartridge currently installed in the printer from the printer;
A product information acquisition step of acquiring the new product information using a wireless IC tag reader from a wireless IC tag individually packaged with the new ink cartridge and recording new product information for specifying the type of the new ink cartridge;
A collation step of collating the current status information with the new product information;
And a screen display step of displaying a predetermined screen on the display panel based on the verification result of the verification step. A control program for a portable terminal having a display panel capable of displaying predetermined information,
A current status information acquisition function for acquiring current status information about the installed ink cartridge currently installed in the printer from the printer;
A product information acquisition function for acquiring the new product information using a wireless IC tag reader from a wireless IC tag individually packaged with the new ink cartridge and recording new product information for specifying the type of the new ink cartridge;
A collation function for collating the current status information with the new product information;
A control program for a portable terminal, which causes a computer to realize a screen display function for displaying a predetermined screen on the display panel based on a collation result by the collation function.

Images