JP6201599B2 - Information processing apparatus, printing system, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, it relates to a printing system and programs.

  Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a printing apparatus performs printing based on data received from a mobile terminal. The printing apparatus transmits candidate values that can be set (for example, on / off for double-sided printing, on / off for color printing, etc.) to the mobile terminal. The portable terminal displays the received candidate value and transmits the candidate value designated by the user to the printing apparatus.

JP 2009-37566 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for determining which of the operation screen of an information processing apparatus and the operation screen of a printing apparatus is to be used by a user in a system that transmits print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus. To do.

The invention according to claim 1 is an acquisition unit that acquires first information related to an operation screen displayed on a printing apparatus, the acquired first information, and second information related to an operation screen displayed on the own apparatus. When the comparison result indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing device is superior to the operation screen displayed on the device itself, the parameter specified on the operation screen displayed on the printing device is set. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit print data for executing printing corresponding to the printing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 2 shows that in the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen on which the comparison result is displayed on the own apparatus. A receiving unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not the parameter designation is to be performed on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus, and the transmission unit displays the parameter designation on the printing apparatus. The print data is transmitted when an instruction to be performed on the operation screen is received by the receiving unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, receiving means for receiving a parameter designated on an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus, and print data as the received parameter. And a conversion unit that converts the print data into a page description language. The transmission unit transmits the converted print data to the printing apparatus.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the information processing apparatus includes a parameter receiving unit that receives designation of a printing parameter on an operation screen displayed on the own apparatus, When the result of the comparison between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus, The parameter received by the parameter receiving unit and the print data are transmitted to the printing apparatus.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the transmission unit transmits information regarding a storage location of the print data.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the acquisition unit acquires the first information from the printing apparatus by a short-range wireless communication unit, and The transmission unit transmits at least the print data by a communication unit having a higher communication speed than the short-range wireless communication unit.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an acquisition unit configured to acquire first information related to an operation screen displayed on a printing apparatus, the acquired first information, and second information related to an operation screen displayed on the own apparatus. When the comparison result indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing device is superior to the operation screen displayed on the device itself, the parameter specified on the operation screen displayed on the printing device is set. An information processing apparatus including a transmission unit that transmits print data for executing printing corresponding to the printing apparatus, a reception unit that receives the parameter and the print data from the information processing apparatus, and a display on the apparatus. A receiving unit that accepts designation of a printing parameter on the operation screen displayed, and when the receiving unit does not receive a printing parameter, the print data and the receiving unit A printing system including a printing apparatus having an execution unit for executing a printing in response to a constant has been accepted parameters.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second acquisition unit for acquiring first information related to an operation screen displayed on a printing apparatus, a second information related to the acquired first information and an operation screen displayed on the computer. When the result of the comparison with the information indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing device is superior to the operation screen displayed on the computer, the information is designated on the operation screen displayed on the printing device. This is a program for functioning as a transmission means for transmitting print data for executing printing according to the parameters to the printing apparatus.

According to the first, fourth, seventh, and eighth aspects of the invention, in the system that transmits print data from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, the user is allowed to use either the information processing apparatus operation screen or the printing apparatus operation screen. Can be determined.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can select which one of the operation screen of the information processing apparatus and the operation screen of the printing apparatus is used.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality as compared with a configuration in which print data is transmitted to a printing apparatus without adding printing parameters.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the amount of data transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus can be reduced.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, compared with the structure which uses only a near field communication means, transmission of print data can be sped up.

The figure which shows the whole embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the portable terminal 200. The figure which shows the function structure of the portable terminal 200. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 100. FIG. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of Modification 3. The figure which shows the example in which 1st information and 2nd information contain several information.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire embodiment. The printing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that prints an image based on print data. The mobile terminal 200 is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook personal computer, or the like. The printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200 have a function of performing near field communication (hereinafter referred to as NFC) and a function of performing communication through a wireless local area network (LAN).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100.
The control unit 4 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) (all not shown). The ROM stores firmware that describes the startup procedure of hardware and an OS (Operating System). The RAM is used for storing data when the CPU executes an operation. The storage unit 5 includes a hard disk storage device, for example, and stores an OS, application programs, and the like.

  The NFC communication unit 6 is a communication I / F for performing NFC communication with the mobile terminal 200, for example, with a non-contact type IC card provided in the NFC communication unit 203 of the mobile terminal 200. It is a reader / writer that performs communication. The NFC standard is, for example, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) / IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 18092. The NFC communication unit 6 is provided at a position adjacent to a UI (User Interface) unit 1, and a mark indicating the position of the NFC communication unit 6 is provided outside the casing of the printing apparatus 100. The NFC communication unit 6 periodically transmits an inquiry signal. When the user holds the portable terminal 200 over the position of the mark, the NFC communication unit 203 of the portable terminal 200 receives the inquiry signal, and triggered by this reception, NFC between the printing apparatus 100 and the portable terminal 200 is started.

The wireless LAN communication unit 7 is a communication I / F (Interface) for connecting the printing apparatus 100 to a wireless LAN. The wireless LAN standard is, for example, one of IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 series. The wireless LAN in the present embodiment is, for example, an ad hoc mode wireless LAN in which the mobile terminal 200 and the printing apparatus 100 communicate with each other without passing through a communication facility such as an access point or a router.
Note that the printing apparatus 100 has a communication I / F for connecting the printing apparatus 100 to a wired LAN, and for transmitting and receiving image data to and from the facsimile apparatus by connecting the printing apparatus 100 to a telephone line. A communication function such as a modem may be provided (not shown).

  The reading unit 2 optically reads a document and generates image data. Specifically, the reading unit 2 includes a light source, an optical system, and an image pickup device (all not shown), and the light source irradiates the document placed on the platen glass 2A and is reflected by the document. The reflected light is separated into R (Red) color, G (Green) color, and B (Blue) color via the optical system and enters the image sensor. The imaging element converts incident light into a signal and supplies the signal to the image processing unit 3.

  The image processing unit 3 performs image processing on the image data to generate image data representing gradation for each color and each pixel. Specifically, the image processing unit 3 performs A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion on the signal supplied from the reading unit 2, and performs shading correction, gamma correction, noise removal, R color, G color, and B color to Y. Conversion to (Yellow) color, M (Magenta) color, C (Cyan) color, K (Black) color, screen processing, etc. is performed. The image processing unit 3 has a function of converting print data described in a page description language into raster data. When print data is received from the outside, the image processing unit 3 converts the received print data into raster data and converts the print data into raster data. The image processing is performed.

The transport unit 30 transports the recording medium P along the transport path 34. Specifically, sheet-like recording media P such as paper are stacked and accommodated in the medium accommodating portion 31, and the feeding roller 32 feeds the recording media P one by one to the conveying path 34, and the conveying roller 33 The recording medium P is transported in the direction of arrow C along the transport path 34.
The image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K generate toner images of Y color, M color, C color, and K color by electrophotography based on the raster data supplied from the image processing unit 3, respectively. The toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P in an overlapping manner. Hereinafter, the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are collectively referred to as the image forming unit 10.

  The UI unit 1 includes a display unit 1a and a reception unit 1b. The display unit 1 a displays an operation screen for the user to operate the printing apparatus 100. The display unit 1a is a display device using, for example, a liquid crystal or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) element, and has a flat display surface. The operation screen is a screen on which virtual operators (so-called icons) corresponding to the functions of the printing apparatus 100 are arranged.

  The accepting unit 1 b accepts a user operation on the printing apparatus 100. The accepting unit 1b is, for example, a touch panel provided so as to cover the display surface of the display unit 1a, and the user performs an operation on an operation screen that can be seen through the touch panel. When the user's finger touches the touch panel, the reception unit 1b outputs contact position information representing the contact position of the finger to the control unit 4. The control unit 4 specifies the content of the operation based on the contact position information, and operates the printing apparatus 100 according to the content.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 200.
The control unit 201 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU and a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM (both not shown). The ROM stores firmware that describes hardware and OS startup procedures. The RAM is used for storing data when the CPU executes an operation. The storage unit 202 includes a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), and stores an OS, an application program, and the like.

The NFC communication unit 203 is a communication I / F for performing NFC communication with the printing apparatus 100. For example, the NFC communication unit 203 is a slot in which a non-contact type IC card is mounted. The wireless LAN communication unit 204 is a communication I / F for connecting the mobile terminal 200 to the wireless LAN.
Note that the mobile terminal 200 may include a communication I / F for connecting the mobile terminal 200 to a mobile phone communication network, a speaker, a microphone, a voice processing circuit, and the like for communication (not shown). ).

  The UI unit 206 includes a display unit 206a and a reception unit 206b. The display unit 206a displays an operation screen for the user to operate the mobile terminal 200. The display unit 206a is a display device using, for example, a liquid crystal or an organic EL element, and has a flat display surface. The operation screen is a screen on which virtual operators (so-called icons) corresponding to the functions of the mobile terminal 200 are arranged.

  The accepting unit 206b accepts a user operation on the mobile terminal 200. The accepting unit 206b is, for example, a touch panel provided so as to cover the display surface of the display unit 206a, and the user performs an operation on an operation screen that can be seen through the touch panel. When the user's fingertip touches the touch panel, the receiving unit 206 b outputs contact position information indicating the position of the fingertip to the control unit 4. The control part 4 specifies the content of operation based on contact position information, and operates the portable terminal 200 according to the content.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the mobile terminal 200.
First, the acquisition unit 210 will be described. The acquisition unit 210 acquires first information related to an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. Specifically, the storage unit 5 stores an IP address of the printing apparatus 100 and first information. The IP address is used as a destination when the mobile terminal 200 transmits information such as print data to the printing apparatus 100 via a wireless LAN. The first information is information related to the operation screen displayed on the display unit 1a of the printing apparatus 100, for example, information related to the screen size. The information related to the screen size may be the area of the operation screen, the height and width of the operation screen, the number of icons that can be displayed simultaneously on the operation screen, and the like. Note that the IP address and the first information may be stored in a memory (not shown) provided in the NFC communication unit 6.

  When the user holds the portable terminal 200 over the NFC communication unit 6 of the printing apparatus 100, NFC is started between the printing apparatus 100 and the portable terminal 200. Then, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 transmits the IP address read from the storage unit 5 and the first information to the portable terminal 200 via the NFC communication unit 6. The transmitted IP address and the first information are received by the NFC communication unit 203 of the portable terminal, and the control unit 201 causes the storage unit 202 to store the received IP address and the first information.

  Next, the transmission unit 220 will be described. The transmission unit 220 is configured so that the result of the comparison between the first information acquired by the acquisition unit 210 and the second information related to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 is greater than the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200. When the operation screen displayed on 100 indicates that the operation screen is dominant, print data for executing printing according to the parameter specified on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 100. . Further, when the result of the comparison between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the transmission unit 220 In addition, the parameters and print data specified on the operation screen displayed on the portable terminal 200 are transmitted to the printing apparatus 100. Specifically, it is as follows.

  The second information is information related to the operation screen displayed on the display unit 206a of the mobile terminal 200, for example, information related to the screen size. The information related to the screen size may be the area of the operation screen, the height and width of the operation screen, the number of icons that can be displayed simultaneously on the operation screen, and the like. The second information is stored in the storage unit 202. When the first information is acquired by the acquisition unit 210 described above, the control unit 201 reads the second information from the storage unit 202, compares the first information with the second information, and based on the comparison result, the mobile terminal Whether the operation screen displayed on 200 and the operation screen displayed on the printer 100 are superior or inferior are determined. For example, when the screen size indicated by the first information is larger than the screen size indicated by the second information, the printing apparatus 100 has better visibility of the operation screen than the mobile terminal 200. The unit 201 determines that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200. The second information may be stored in a non-contact IC card (not shown) installed in the slot of the NFC communication unit 203.

  On the other hand, when the screen size indicated by the second information is larger than the screen size indicated by the first information, the mobile terminal 200 has better visibility of the operation screen than the printing apparatus 100. The unit 201 determines that the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. In addition, when the screen sizes of the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200 are the same, the visibility of the operation screens of both is the same, so the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200 are displayed. There is no superiority or inferiority to the operation screen.

  When the comparison result between the first information and the second information indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the operation screen of the mobile terminal 200 is It is not used for specifying printing parameters (for example, single-sided printing / double-sided printing, enlargement / reduction ratio, number of pages when a plurality of pages are combined into one page, etc.). In this case, the control unit 201 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 via a wireless LAN without adding a printing parameter. This print data can be in any format, for example, a document edited using software such as a word processor or spreadsheet, a document written in a markup language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), or a raster or vector image. Or data obtained by converting these data into a page description language such as PostScript (registered trademark).

  On the other hand, when the comparison result between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the display unit 206a operates the The screen is displayed, and the user performs an operation of specifying printing parameters on the operation screen. The accepting unit 206b outputs the contact position information to the control unit 201, and the control unit 201 specifies a parameter designated by the user based on the contact position information. The control unit 201 transmits the parameters specified by the user and the print data to the printing apparatus 100 via the wireless LAN.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 100.
First, the receiving unit 110 will be described. The receiving unit 110 receives print data from the mobile terminal 200. Specifically, when the mobile terminal 200 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 via a wireless LAN, the wireless LAN communication unit 7 receives the print data and outputs the received print data to the control unit 4. In addition, when the print parameter is transmitted from the portable terminal 200 together with the print data, the receiving unit 110 receives this parameter.

  Next, the receiving unit 120 will be described. The accepting unit 120 accepts designation of printing parameters on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. Specifically, the user performs an operation of specifying printing parameters on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 206a. The accepting unit 206b outputs the contact position information to the control unit 4, and the control unit 4 specifies a parameter designated by the user based on the contact position information.

  Next, the execution means 130 will be described. The execution unit 130 executes printing according to the print data received by the receiving unit 110 and the parameters received by the receiving unit 120. As described above, when the result of the comparison between the first information and the second information indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the mobile terminal 200 The control unit 201 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 without adding printing parameters. On the other hand, when the comparison result between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the control of the mobile terminal 200 is performed. The unit 201 transmits parameters and print data specified by the user on the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 to the printing apparatus 100.

  The control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 determines whether a print parameter is added to the print data received from the mobile terminal 200. When printing parameters are not added to the print data, the display unit 1a displays an operation screen, and the operation performed on the operation screen by the user is received by the reception unit 1b. The control unit 4 outputs the parameters specified by the user on the operation screen and the print data to the image processing unit 3. On the other hand, when a print parameter is added to the print data, the print data and the print parameter are output to the image processing unit 3.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.
In step S201, the user operates the portable terminal 200 to select print data, activates an application program corresponding to the print data, and causes the display unit 206a to display an image represented by the print data.
In step S202, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 determines whether the print button has been pressed. When the user presses the print button on the screen (step S202: YES), the process of the control unit 201 proceeds to step S203.
In step S203, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 causes the display unit 206a to display a screen indicating a state of waiting for touch. The touch waiting state is a state in which a screen that prompts the user to hold the mobile terminal 200 over the NFC communication unit 6 of the printing apparatus 100 is displayed on the display unit 206a.

In step S <b> 101, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 periodically determines whether or not the mobile terminal 200 has been detected. Specifically, the NFC communication unit 6 of the printing apparatus 100 periodically transmits an inquiry signal, and when the user holds the portable terminal 200 over the NFC communication unit 6 of the printing apparatus 100, the NFC communication of the portable terminal 200 is performed. The unit 203 receives the inquiry signal and transmits a response signal to the NFC communication unit 6 of the printing apparatus 100. Upon receiving this response signal, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 determines that the mobile terminal 200 has been detected (step S101: YES).
In step S102, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 transmits the IP address of the printing apparatus 100 and the first information to the portable terminal 200 by NFC.

In step S204, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 periodically determines whether or not the IP address and the first information of the printing apparatus 100 have been received. If the IP address and the first information are received (step S204: YES), the control unit 201 stores the received IP address and the first information, and proceeds to the process of step S205.
In step S <b> 205, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 compares the first information and the second information, and which of the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 and the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 is dominant. Determine if there is. When the comparison result between the first information and the second information indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 (step S205: YES), the control unit The process of 201 proceeds to step S206. On the other hand, when the result of the comparison between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 (step S205: NO). Then, the process of the control unit 201 proceeds to step S207.

In step S206, the control unit 201 of the portable terminal 200 transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 100 via the wireless LAN without adding the printing parameter, with the IP address received in step S204 as the destination.
In step S207, the display unit 206a of the mobile terminal 200 displays an operation screen, and the user performs an operation of specifying printing parameters on the operation screen. The accepting unit 206b outputs the contact position information to the control unit 201, and the control unit 201 specifies a parameter designated by the user based on the contact position information.
In step S208, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 transmits the parameter and print data specified by the user to the printing apparatus 100 via the wireless LAN with the IP address received in step S204 as the destination. Note that the print data obtained by converting the print data into the page description language according to the parameter specified by the user may be transmitted.

In step S103, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 determines whether print data and printing parameters have been received. When the print data and the print parameters are received (step S103: YES), the process of the control unit 4 proceeds to step S105, and the print data is received, but the print parameters are not received (step S103). : NO), the process of the control unit 4 proceeds to step S104.
In step S104, the display unit 1a displays an operation screen, and the user performs an operation of designating printing parameters on the operation screen. The receiving unit 1b outputs the contact position information to the control unit 4, and the control unit 4 specifies the parameter designated by the user based on the contact position information.
In step S <b> 105, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 outputs printing parameters and print data to the image processing unit 3. The image processing unit 3 converts print data into raster data based on printing parameters and outputs the raster data to the image forming unit 10, and the image forming unit 10 prints an image based on the raster data.
The above is the operation of the present embodiment.

  Operation screens displayed on mobile terminals and printing devices vary in size and function depending on the model, so it is difficult for users to use only one operation screen in a system that links mobile terminals and printing devices. It may happen that the user is forced to use the other operation screen. In the present embodiment, when the mobile terminal compares the first information and the second information and the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal displays the information on the printing apparatus. The operation screen that is advantageous to the user is selected according to the combination of the portable terminal and the printing apparatus used by the user.

  In the present embodiment, NFC communication is started by an operation in which the user first holds the portable terminal over the NFC communication unit of the printing apparatus, and the IP address of the printing apparatus and the first information are transmitted to the portable terminal. The portable terminal transmits print data to the printing apparatus via the wireless LAN with the IP address as a destination. Although the print data has a larger data amount than the IP address and the first information, in this embodiment, since the print data is transmitted by the wireless LAN, the time required for transmission is shortened compared to the case of transmitting the print data by NFC. The

<Modification>
The embodiment may be modified as follows. A plurality of modified examples may be combined.
<Modification 1>
The user may select the operation screen to be used after presenting the result of comparison between the operation screens of the printing apparatus 100 and the portable terminal 200 to the user. For example, even when the screen size of the printing apparatus 100 is larger than that of the mobile terminal 200, the user desires to use the operation screen of the mobile terminal 200 because the user is not used to the operation screen of the printing apparatus 100. There is a case. For such a case, for example, the result of comparison between the first information and the second information indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200. In this case, the reception unit 206b of the portable terminal 200 receives an instruction as to whether or not the parameter designation is performed on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100, and the parameter designation is performed on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. When an instruction to do so is received, a parameter specification may be received on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. In addition, when an instruction to perform parameter specification on the mobile terminal 200 is received, the mobile terminal 200 may receive parameter specification.

<Modification 2>
In the embodiment, when the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the portable terminal, only print data is transmitted from the portable terminal 200 to the printing apparatus 100 without transmitting printing parameters. Although an example of transmission is shown, in this case, when the printing apparatus 100 converts print data in accordance with parameters specified by the printing apparatus 100, image quality may be degraded. In order to prevent such a situation, for example, the mobile terminal 200 receives a parameter designated on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100, converts the print data in accordance with the parameter, and converts the converted print data. You may make it transmit to the printing apparatus 100. FIG.
Note that the mobile terminal 200 may add the parameter to the print data and transmit it to the printing apparatus 100 without converting the print data in accordance with the received parameter.

<Modification 3>
In the embodiment, the mobile terminal 200 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100. However, the mobile terminal 200 may transmit information regarding the storage location of the print data to the printing apparatus 100. The information related to the print data storage location is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the print data storage location. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third modification. Only differences from the flowchart (FIG. 6) of the embodiment will be described below.

In step S201a, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 accesses the server and acquires a list of data representing images (including file names, thumbnails, URLs, and the like). The display unit 206a displays the contents of the list, and the user operates the portable terminal 200 to select data representing an image to be printed, starts an application program corresponding to the data, and displays the image represented by the data This is displayed on the part 206a.
In step S102a, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 transmits the first information of the printing apparatus 100 to the portable terminal 200 by FNC. The IP address of the printing apparatus 100 is not transmitted.
In step S204a, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 periodically determines whether or not the first information of the printing apparatus 100 has been received. If the first information is received (step S204a: YES), the control unit 201 stores the received first information and proceeds to the process of step S205.

In step S206a, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 transmits the URL of the print data storage location to the printing apparatus 100 by NFC.
In step S208a, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 transmits the parameter specified by the user and the URL of the print data storage location to the printing apparatus 100 by NFC.
In step S102b, the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 receives the URL and acquires data corresponding to the URL.
According to this configuration, the amount of data transmitted from the mobile terminal 200 to the printing apparatus 100 is reduced.

<Modification 4>
In the embodiment, the example in which the first information and the second information are information related to the screen size of the operation screen is shown, but the first information and the second information may be other information. For example, the first information and the second information may be information regarding the display color of the operation screen. The information regarding the display color is, for example, the type of single color / multiple colors, color resolution, and the like. When one of the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200 is a single color and the other is a plurality of colors, it may be determined that the operation screen having a plurality of colors is superior, or the determination is different depending on the image to be printed. It may be allowed. For example, if the image to be printed is multi-colored, the operation screen is also more multi-colored, so the color reproducibility in the preview function is better, and as a result, the visibility of the operation screen is better. Alternatively, it may be determined that the operation screen of multiple colors is dominant.
Further, the first information and the second information may be information related to a touch panel function. The information on the touch panel function is, for example, the presence or absence of the touch panel function. When one of the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 200 has the touch panel function and the other does not have the touch panel function, the operability is better with the touch panel function. Therefore, it is determined to be superior.

<Modification 5>
In the embodiment, the example in which the first information and the second information include only one information is shown. However, the first information and the second information include a plurality of information, and the operation screen is advantageous based on the plurality of information. May be determined. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the first information and the second information include a plurality of pieces of information. Here, it is assumed that (a) is the first information (printing apparatus 100) and (b) is the second information (mobile terminal 200). For example, judging from the number of superior items, the printing device 100 has one item (screen size), and the mobile terminal 200 has two items (display color and touch panel function). It is determined that the operation screen of the mobile terminal 200 is dominant. Alternatively, weighting may be performed for each item to calculate the score, and determination may be made by the total of the score. For example, if a weight is assigned to 3 for the screen size and 1 for the display color and the touch panel function, the score of the printing apparatus 100 is 3, and the score of the mobile terminal 200 is 2, so that the operation of the printing apparatus 100 is performed. It is determined that the screen is dominant. Alternatively, the superiority or inferiority is determined in order from the item with the highest priority, and if it is determined that either the printing apparatus 100 or the portable terminal 200 is superior, the superiority or inferiority of the operation screen is determined based on the determination result of the item. Also good. For example, if the priority is the order of screen size, display color, and touch panel function, the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the screen size that is the first item, so the display color and the touch panel function are not compared. The operation screen of the printing apparatus 100 is determined to be dominant.

<Modification 6>
Information indicating the types of parameters that can be specified on the operation screen may be described in the first information and the second information, and the superiority or inferiority of the operation screen may be determined by comparing the information. The parameter types include, for example, a double-sided printing function, a function for printing a plurality of pages into one page, a stapling function, and a saddle stitch binding function. As a determination procedure, for example, the number of these parameters may be compared to determine that the larger number is superior, or the total of the points may be compared by weighting each parameter. Good. Alternatively, when there is a parameter included only in the first information as a result of the comparison between the first information and the second information, the user is notified of the type of the parameter and whether or not to use the operation screen of the printing apparatus 100. You may make it make a user judge.

<Modification 7>
In the embodiment, the example in which the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 100 receives the parameter specification on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 when the printing parameter is not received from the mobile terminal 200 has been described. Information indicating whether or not parameter designation is accepted on the operation screen displayed on the apparatus 100 is added to the print data, and the portable terminal 200 transmits it to the printing apparatus 100. Based on this information, the control unit of the printing apparatus 100 4 may determine whether or not to accept a parameter designation on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100.

<Modification 8>
In the embodiment, when the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the mobile terminal 200 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 without adding a printing parameter. Although an example of transmission is shown in the above, a default parameter may be added to the print data for transmission.

<Modification 9>
In the embodiment, the example in which the first information related to the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal 200 has been described. However, the identifier associated with the model of the printing apparatus 100, the first information, May be stored in the storage unit 202 of the portable terminal 200, and the control unit 201 may read out the first information corresponding to the identifier transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 from the storage unit 202.

<Modification 10>
In the embodiment, the mobile terminal 200 acquires an IP address and first information from the printing apparatus 100 by NFC, and the mobile terminal 200 transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 by wireless LAN. The IP address and the first information may be acquired from the printing apparatus 100 via a wireless LAN. Further, the mobile terminal 200 may transmit print data to the printing apparatus 100 by NFC. Further, wireless communication means such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used instead of the wireless LAN. In the embodiment, an example in which an ad hoc mode wireless LAN is used has been described. However, an infrastructure mode wireless LAN may be used.
Alternatively, the IP address of the printing apparatus 100 may be stored in advance in the mobile terminal 200, and only the first information may be transmitted from the printing apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal 200.

<Modification 11>
In the embodiment, an example in which the printing apparatus 100 has a function of displaying an operation screen has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a configuration in which the printing apparatus 100 does not have a function of displaying an operation screen. For example, when the first information includes information indicating the presence / absence of the display unit 1a that displays the operation screen, and the first information indicates that the display unit 1a is not provided in the printing apparatus 100, the mobile terminal 200 performs the operation. Therefore, the control unit 201 of the mobile terminal 200 determines that the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200 is superior, and accepts the parameter specification on the operation screen of the mobile terminal 200. May be.

<Modification 12>
In the embodiment, the example in which the mobile terminal 200 determines which of the operation screen of the mobile terminal 200 and the operation screen of the printing apparatus 100 is to be used by the user has been described. Good. For example, the printing apparatus 100 acquires the first information related to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, and the comparison result between the acquired first information and the second information related to the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100. Indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus 100 is superior to the operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal 200, the print data received from the mobile terminal 200 and the operation displayed on the printing apparatus 100. You may make it perform printing according to the parameter designated on the screen.

<Modification 13>
In the embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a system that transmits print data from a portable terminal to a printing apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is applied to a system that transmits some instruction from a portable terminal to an electronic device other than the printing apparatus. You may apply. The electronic device may be any device such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a display device.

<Modification 14>
In the embodiment, an example in which the mobile terminal and the printing apparatus realize the above functions by executing the program is shown. However, the program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. And the program may be read from the recording medium and installed in a portable terminal or a printing apparatus. In addition, this program may be provided through a telecommunication line. Further, the same function as that of the embodiment may be implemented in hardware on the mobile terminal and the printing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing apparatus, 1 ... UI part, 1a ... Display part, 1b ... Reception part, 2 ... Reading part, 3 ... Image processing part, 4 ... Control part, 5 ... Storage part, 6 ... NFC communication part, 7 ... Wireless LAN communication unit, 10 ... image forming unit, 30 ... conveying unit, 110 ... receiving unit, 120 ... receiving unit, 130 ... executing unit, 200 ... portable terminal, 201 ... control unit, 202 ... storage unit, 203 ... NFC communication unit 204 ... Wireless LAN communication unit 206 ... UI unit 206a ... Display unit 206b ... Accepting unit 210 ... Acquisition unit 220 ... Transmission unit

Claims (8)

Obtaining means for obtaining first information relating to an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus;
The operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus as a result of comparison between the acquired first information and the second information on the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit print data for executing printing in accordance with a parameter designated on an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus to indicate to the printing apparatus. When the result of the comparison indicates that the operation screen displayed on the printing device is superior to the operation screen displayed on the own device, the designation of the parameter is performed on the operation screen displayed on the printing device. Having a receiving means for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to perform,
2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the print data when the reception unit receives an instruction to specify the parameter on an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus. apparatus. Receiving means for receiving parameters designated on the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus;
Conversion means for converting print data into a page description language in accordance with the received parameters,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the converted print data to the printing apparatus. Provided with parameter accepting means for accepting designation of printing parameters on the operation screen displayed on its own device,
The transmission means, when the comparison result between the first information and the second information does not indicate that the operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the parameter received by the parameter receiving unit and the print data are transmitted to the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits information regarding a storage location of the print data. The acquisition unit acquires the first information from the printing apparatus by a short-range wireless communication unit;
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmission unit transmits at least the print data by a communication unit having a higher communication speed than the short-range wireless communication unit. Obtaining means for obtaining first information relating to an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus;
The operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus as a result of comparison between the acquired first information and the second information on the operation screen displayed on the own apparatus. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit print data for executing printing according to a parameter specified on an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus, ,
Receiving means for receiving the parameters and print data from the information processing apparatus;
Accepting means for accepting designation of printing parameters on the operation screen displayed on its own device;
A printing apparatus comprising: an execution unit configured to execute printing according to the print data and the parameter received by the receiving unit when the receiving unit does not receive a printing parameter; system. Computer
Obtaining means for obtaining first information relating to an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus;
The operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus is superior to the operation screen displayed on the computer as a result of comparison between the acquired first information and the second information on the operation screen displayed on the computer. A program for causing a printer to function as a transmission unit that transmits print data for executing printing according to a parameter specified on an operation screen displayed on the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus when indicating that the printing apparatus is present.

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