JP6731195B2 - Terminal and printer - Google Patents

Description

The present specification discloses a technique in which a terminal device causes a printer to perform printing by using a print mediation server.

Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a service on the Internet called Google (registered trademark) Cloud Print (hereinafter referred to as “GCP”). The user, for example, accesses the printer using the terminal device, and causes the printer to communicate with a server that provides GCP (hereinafter referred to as “GCP server”). As a result, the printer can register printer-related information including the name of the printer, print conditions (that is, Capability) that can be used by the printer, default settings of the printer, and the like in the GCP server. After that, the user submits the image data representing the image to be printed to the GCP server by using the terminal device, for example. As a result, the printer can acquire print data (that is, data that can be interpreted by the printer) generated from the image data by the GCP server and execute printing of the image represented by the print data.

“What is Google Cloud Print”, [online], [June 25, 2013 search], Internet <URL: https://developers.google.com/cloud-print/>

In the above technique, the user needs to cause the printer to communicate with the GCP server in order to register the printer-related information in the GCP server.

The present specification provides a technique in which the printer does not have to communicate with the print mediation server in order to register the printer-related information in the print mediation server. Also, a technique for causing a printer to print an image represented by target print data generated by a print mediation server is provided by a method different from the conventional technique.

In the first aspect disclosed by the present specification , the terminal device includes a first transmission unit. The first transmission unit transmits a registration request for registering virtual printer-related information related to the virtual printer to the print mediation server to the print mediation server. Moreover, the terminal device includes a first receiving unit. The first receiving unit receives the authentication information from the print mediation server. Moreover, the terminal device includes a second transmission unit. After the virtual printer-related information is registered in the print mediation server, the second transmission unit transmits image data-related information related to the target image data representing the target image to be printed to the print mediation server. The image data related information is associated with the virtual printer related information and the authentication information in the print mediation server. In addition, the terminal device includes a third transmission unit. The third transmission unit transmits the authentication information to the real printer. The authentication information is used by the existing printer to acquire the target print data generated from the target image data by the print mediation server.

The above technique employs a method of registering virtual printer-related information related to a virtual printer in the print mediation server, rather than registering printer-related information related to an actual printer in the print mediation server. That is, the terminal device transmits a registration request to the print mediation server and registers the virtual printer-related information in the print mediation server. For this reason, the user does not have to cause the actual printer to communicate with the print mediation server in order to register the printer-related information in the print mediation server. Further, the terminal device transmits the image data relation information to the print intermediation server after the virtual printer relation information is registered in the print intermediation server, so that the virtual printer relation information, the authentication information, and the image in the print intermediation server. Data related information can be associated. Then, the terminal device transmits the authentication information to the real printer. As a result, the actual printer can acquire the target print data generated from the target image data from the print mediation server by using the authentication information. In this way, the terminal device registers the virtual printer-related information in the print mediation server without registering the printer-related information in the print mediation server by the real printer, and acquires the target print data in the real printer appropriately. Can be run.

The terminal device may further include a memory that stores virtual printing condition information that is predetermined as virtual printing conditions that can be used by the virtual printer. The first transmission unit may transmit a registration request including the virtual printing condition information in the memory to the print mediation server. The virtual printing condition information may be registered as information included in the virtual printer-related information in the print mediation server. With this configuration, the terminal device can register the virtual printer-related information including the virtual printing condition information in the print mediation server. The virtual printing condition information may be stored in the memory without being acquired from the actual printer.

The terminal device further reads the virtual printing condition information from the memory without acquiring the virtual printing condition information from the printing mediation server after the registration request is transmitted to the printing mediation server, and the virtual printing condition information indicates the virtual printing condition information. A display control unit that causes the display unit to display a selection screen for allowing the user to select print settings for printing the target image from the typical print conditions. The second transmission unit may transmit the image data related information and the print setting information indicating the print setting selected by the user to the print mediation server. The print setting information may be associated with the virtual printer related information, the authentication information, and the image data related information in the print mediation server. The target print data may be data generated from the target image data by the print mediation server according to the print setting indicated by the print setting information. With this configuration, the terminal device can allow the user to select the print setting from the virtual printing conditions indicated by the virtual printing condition information in the memory. Then, the terminal device associates the virtual printer relationship information, the authentication information, the image data relationship information, and the print setting information in the print mediation server by transmitting the image data relationship information and the print setting information to the print mediation server. You can Therefore, the existing printer can acquire the target print data generated according to the print setting indicated by the print setting information from the print mediation server, using the authentication information.

The third transmission unit may transmit the authentication information to the real printer by transmitting the encrypted authentication information obtained by encrypting the authentication information to the real printer. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent unauthorized acquisition of authentication information by a third party.

The authentication information may include printer identification information for identifying the virtual printer and an authentication token. The printer identification information may be information generated by the print mediation server in response to the transmission of the registration request from the terminal device to the print mediation server. The authentication token may be information generated by the print mediation server in response to a login from the terminal device to the print mediation server.

The second transmission unit may transmit the printer identification information included in the authentication information and the image data related information to the print mediation server. The third transmission unit may transmit the printer identification information included in the authentication information and the authentication token included in the authentication information to the actual printer. With this configuration, the terminal device can associate the virtual printer relationship information, the authentication information, and the image data relationship information in the print mediation server by transmitting the printer identification information and the image data relationship information to the print mediation server. it can. Further, since the terminal device sends the printer identification information and the authentication token to the real printer, the real printer can obtain the target print data from the print mediation server by using the printer identification information and the authentication token.

The third transmission unit may transmit the authentication information to the real printer without using the position information indicating the position of the real printer.

The terminal device may further include a deletion unit that deletes the image data related information from the print mediation server while maintaining the state in which the virtual printer related information and the authentication information are associated in the print mediation server. According to this configuration, when the user does not want the target image to be printed after the image data related information is transmitted from the terminal device to the print mediation server, the user uses the terminal device, The image data related information can be deleted from the print mediation server.

The first transmission unit may perform wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method to transmit the registration request to the print mediation server. The first receiving unit may perform wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method to receive the authentication information from the print mediation server. The second transmission unit may perform wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method to transmit the image data related information to the print mediation server. The third transmission unit may perform wireless communication according to a short-range wireless communication method for performing wireless communication at a shorter distance than a predetermined communication method, and may transmit the authentication information to the real printer. According to this configuration, the terminal device can perform various types of information transmission/reception by performing wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method and wireless communication according to a short-range wireless communication method.

The image data related information may include target image data. With this configuration, the terminal device can associate the virtual printer-related information, the authentication information, and the target image data in the print mediation server by transmitting the image data relationship information including the target image data to the print mediation server. it can.

In a second aspect disclosed herein , the printer comprises a first interface. The printer also includes a second interface that is different from the first interface. The printer also includes a print execution unit. The printer also includes a control unit. The control unit includes a receiving unit. The receiving unit receives the authentication information from the terminal device via the first interface. The authentication information is information received by the terminal device from the print mediation server, and in the print mediation server, virtual printer-related information related to a virtual printer and image data related to target image data representing a target image to be printed. This is information associated with the relationship information. The control unit also includes an acquisition unit. The acquisition unit requests the print mediation server to transmit the target print data via the second interface using the authentication information, and acquires the target print data from the print mediation server via the second interface. To do. The target print data is data generated from the target image data by the print mediation server. The control unit also includes a print control unit. The print control unit causes the print execution unit to execute printing using the target print data.

The above technique employs a method of registering virtual printer-related information related to a virtual printer in the print mediation server, rather than registering printer-related information related to an actual printer in the print mediation server. That is, in the print mediation server, the virtual printer related information, the authentication information, and the image data related information are associated with each other. Therefore, when the printer receives the authentication information from the terminal device via the first interface, the printer can use the authentication information to acquire the target print data from the print mediation server via the second interface. The printing of the target image represented by the target print data can be executed. As described above, since the virtual printer-related information is registered in the print mediation server, the printer appropriately executes printing of the target image without registering the printer-related information of the printer itself in the print mediation server. be able to.

The second interface may be an interface for executing wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method. The first interface may be an interface for performing wireless communication according to a short-range wireless communication system for performing wireless communication at a shorter range than a predetermined communication system. With this configuration, the printer can perform the relatively short-distance wireless communication to receive the authentication information from the terminal device, and can perform the relatively long-distance wireless communication to transmit the authentication information from the print mediation server. The target image data can be acquired.

In a third aspect disclosed by the present specification, the terminal device, before the real printer is designated, after the authentication information receiving unit that receives the authentication information from the print mediation server and the authentication information is received. A relation information transmitting unit that transmits image data relation information relating to target image data representing a target image to be printed to the print mediation server before the real printer is designated, In the print mediation server, the related information is a print indicating a print setting selected from virtual print conditions before the related information transmission unit and the actual printer associated with the authentication information are specified. A setting information transmitting unit that transmits setting information to the print mediation server, and an authentication information transmitting unit that transmits the authentication information to a real printer, wherein the authentication information is generated by the real printer by the print mediation server. Transmission of the authentication information, which is used for obtaining the target print data generated by using the print setting indicated by the print setting information and the image data relation information And a section.
In this way, it is possible to cause the printer to print the image represented by the target print data generated by the print mediation server by a method different from the conventional method.
In particular, in this aspect, the terminal device receives the authentication information from the print mediation server, and transmits the received authentication information to the printer to cause the printer to perform printing. Therefore, for example, the user can specify a desired printer from a plurality of printers and cause the specified printer to execute printing.
A control method, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium that stores the computer program for realizing any of the above devices (that is, a terminal device or a printer) are also novel and useful. In addition, a communication system including the above terminal device and printer (that is, a real printer) is also new and useful.

1 shows a configuration of a communication system. 3 shows a sequence diagram of the registration process. The sequence diagram of a submit process is shown. FIG. 6 shows a sequence diagram of the deletion process. The sequence diagram of a printing process is shown. The sequence diagram of a comparative example is shown. The sequence diagram of the registration process of 2nd Example is shown.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a printer 10, a mobile terminal 70, and a print mediation server 100. The respective devices 10, 70, 100 can communicate with each other via the Internet.

(Structure of Printer 10)
The printer 10 is a peripheral device (that is, a peripheral device such as a PC) capable of executing a print function. The printer 10 includes an operation unit 12 and a display unit 14. The printer 10 also includes an NFC (abbreviation of Near Field Communication) interface 16. The printer 10 also includes a wireless LAN (abbreviation of Local Area Network) interface 18. The printer 10 also includes a print execution unit 20. The printer 10 also includes a control unit 30. Each of the units 12 to 30 is connected to a bus line (reference numeral omitted). Hereinafter, the interface is referred to as “I/F”.

The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of keys. The user can give various instructions to the printer 10 by operating the operation unit 12. The display unit 14 is a display for displaying various information. The print execution unit 20 is a printing mechanism such as an inkjet type or a laser type.

The NFC I/F 16 is an I/F (that is, an IC chip, a communication circuit) for executing wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “NFC communication”) according to the NFC method for so-called short-range wireless communication. The NFC method is, for example, a wireless communication method based on the international standard of ISO/IEC 21481 or 18092.

The wireless LAN I/F 18 is an I/F (that is, an IC chip) for executing wireless communication (hereinafter, referred to as “normal Wi-Fi communication”) according to a normal Wi-Fi system defined by Wi-Fi Alliance. , Communication circuit). The normal Wi-Fi method is, for example, an IEEE (abbreviation of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 standard, and a standard pursuant thereto (for example, 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, etc.). Is a wireless communication system based on.

Here, the difference between the NFC I/F 16 and the wireless LAN I/F 18 will be described. The communication speed of the wireless communication via the wireless LAN I/F 18 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 11 to 600 Mbps) is higher than the communication speed of the wireless communication via the NFC I/F 16 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 100 to 424 Kbps). Is also fast. The frequency of the carrier wave in the wireless communication via the wireless LAN I/F 18 (for example, 2.4 GHz band and 5.0 GHz band) is the frequency of the carrier wave in the wireless communication via the NFC I/F 16 (for example, 13.56 MHz band). Is different from. Further, for example, when the distance between the NFC I/F 16 of the printer 10 and the NFC I/F of another device (for example, the mobile terminal 70) is about 10 cm or less, the control unit 30 causes the NFC I/F 16 to NFC communication can be executed with the other device. On the other hand, even if the distance between the wireless LAN I/F 18 of the printer 10 and the wireless LAN I/F of another device (for example, the mobile terminal 70) is 10 cm or less, it is 10 cm or more (for example, about 100 m at maximum). ), the control unit 30 can also perform normal Wi-Fi communication with the other device via the wireless LAN I/F 18. That is, the maximum distance at which the printer 10 can perform wireless communication with another device via the wireless LAN I/F 18 is greater than the maximum distance at which the printer 10 can perform wireless communication with another device via the NFC I/F 16. Is also big.

The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The CPU 32 is a processor that executes various processes according to the programs stored in the memory 34. The memory 34 includes a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like. The memory 34 stores not only the above program but also various data generated or acquired in the process in which the printer 10 executes various processes.

(Configuration of the mobile terminal 70)
The mobile terminal 70 is a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone (for example, a smartphone), a PDA, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, a portable music reproducing device, a portable moving image reproducing device, or the like. The mobile terminal 70 includes an operation unit 72, a display unit 74, an NFC I/F 76, a wireless LAN I/F 78, and a control unit 80. Each of the units 72 to 80 is connected to a bus line (reference numeral omitted).

The operation unit 72 includes a plurality of keys. The user can give various instructions to the mobile terminal 70 by operating the operation unit 72. The display unit 74 is a display for displaying various information. The NFC I/F 76 and the wireless LAN I/F 78 are the same as the NFC I/F 16 and the wireless LAN I/F 18 of the printer 10, respectively. Therefore, the difference between the NFC I/F 76 and the wireless LAN I/F 78 is the same as the difference between the NFC I/F 16 and the wireless LAN I/F 18.

The control unit 80 includes a CPU 82 and a memory 84. The CPU 82 is a processor that executes various processes according to the programs stored in the memory 84. The memory 84 is composed of a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like. The memory 84 stores not only the above program but also various data generated or acquired in the process in which the mobile terminal 70 executes various processes.

The memory 84 further stores a printer application (hereinafter, referred to as “printer application”) for causing the printer 10 to perform printing by using the print mediation server 100. The printer application is an application provided by the vendor of the printer 10. The printer application may be installed in the mobile terminal 70 from a server on the Internet, or may be installed in the mobile terminal 70 from a medium shipped together with the printer 10.

(Configuration of print mediation server 100)
The print mediation server 100 is a server installed on the Internet, and is, for example, a GCP server provided by Google (registered trademark). However, in a modification, the print mediation server 100 may be, for example, a server provided by the vendor of the printer 10 or a server provided by a business operator different from the vendor of the printer 10.

The print mediation server 100 is a server for executing mediation of printing between an external device (for example, the mobile terminal 70) and a printer (for example, the printer 10). That is, the print mediation server 100 converts the image data submitted from the external device to generate print data having a data format interpretable by the printer, and supplies the print data to the printer. Therefore, even if the external device does not include a printer driver for converting image data into print data, the printer can execute printing by submitting the image data to the print mediation server 100.

(Advance preparation)
As described above, for example, the mobile terminal 70 can cause the printer 10 to execute printing via the print mediation server 100. Various processes for the printing will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. The user of the mobile terminal 70 needs to perform the following preparations in order to realize the operation of the mobile terminal 70 disclosed in FIGS. 2 to 5.

That is, the user needs to register the account information in the print intermediation server 100 using the mobile terminal 70, for example. The account information includes, for example, a user ID and password. The user may register the account information in the print intermediation server 100 by using another device (for example, a PC or the like) instead of using the mobile terminal 70. If the user's account information is registered in the print mediation server 100, the user can use the mobile terminal 70 to cause the printer 10 to perform printing via the print mediation server 100.

(Registration process; Figure 2)
Subsequently, a registration process for the mobile terminal 70 to register necessary information in the print mediation server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a registration process using OAuth is executed. In a second embodiment described later, a registration process using Client Login is executed (see FIG. 7).

In the registration process, the user of mobile device 70 does not have to be near printer 10. That is, for example, in a situation where the printer 10 is installed in a home and the user is carrying the mobile terminal 70 and going out, the user uses the mobile terminal 70 to send various information to the print mediation server 100. You can register at.

The user of the mobile terminal 70 first activates the printer application installed in the mobile terminal 70, and selects the button indicating “registration” on the screen displayed according to the printer application. In this case, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 executes each process shown in FIG. 2 according to the printer application.

The CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 first reads the virtual printing condition information registered in advance in the printer application from the memory 84. The virtual printing condition information is information indicating virtual printing conditions that can be used by the virtual printer, not by the actual printer (for example, the printer 10), and is information that is predetermined by the vendor of the printer 10. As shown in FIG. 1, virtual printing condition information is registered in advance in the printer application. Therefore, the virtual printing condition information is stored in the memory 84 in advance without being acquired from the actual printer (for example, the printer 10).

The virtual printing conditions include, for example, a data format interpretable by a printer, a size of a printing paper on which an image is printed (that is, paper size), whether double-sided printing is performed, and the number of colors (for example, monochrome printing, color printing, etc. ) Etc. are included. In this embodiment, the predetermined virtual printing conditions include "A4" and "B5" as the paper size, "none" as to whether or not double-sided printing is executed, and "monochrome printing" as the number of colors. And "color printing". The virtual printing conditions may further include other conditions such as printing orientation (for example, landscape printing, portrait printing).

Next, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 reads the proxy ID of the mobile terminal 70 (that is, the ID for identifying the mobile terminal 70) from the memory 84. Then, the CPU 82 transmits the registration request 200 including the virtual printing condition information and the proxy ID to the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78 (that is, via the Internet). The URL of the print mediation server 100 (that is, the URL of the transmission destination of the registration request 200) is registered in the printer application in advance. Also in the following, the URL of the destination of the request may be a URL registered in advance in the printer application, unless otherwise specified. However, the URL of the transmission destination of the request may be the URL acquired from the print intermediation server 100 before the transmission of the request.

Upon receiving the registration request 200 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 uses the proxy ID included in the registration request 200 to generate a printer ID for identifying the printer to be registered. Since the mobile terminal 70 does not specify the real printer (for example, the printer 10) as the printer to be registered (that is, the registration request 200 does not include the print condition information of the real printer, the proxy ID of the real printer, etc.). Therefore, the printer ID generated by the print mediation server 100 is an ID for identifying the virtual printer.

The print mediation server 100 stores the printer ID of the generated virtual printer and the virtual print condition information included in the registration request 200 in association with each other. In FIG. 2, a box on the right side of the broken line corresponding to the print mediation server 100 shows a state in which each information in the box is associated. The same applies to FIG. 3 and subsequent figures.

Next, the print mediation server 100 transmits to the mobile terminal 70 a response 202 including the generated printer ID and a login URL indicating the location of login screen data 212 described below.

Upon receiving the response 202 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 stores the printer ID included in the response 202 in the memory 84. Next, the CPU 82 sends the access request 210 to the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78 with the login URL included in the response 202 as the destination.

Upon receiving the access request 210 from the mobile terminal 70, the print mediation server 100 transmits the login screen data 212 to the mobile terminal 70. The login screen data 212 is data representing a login screen for inputting account information (that is, user ID, password, etc.).

When the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 receives the login screen data 212 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 displays the login screen represented by the login screen data 212 on the display unit 74. The user uses the operation unit 72 to input the account information registered in the print mediation server 100 in the advance preparation described above into the mobile terminal 70. In this case, the CPU 82 transmits the login request 214 including the entered account information to the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78.

In the above example, the account information is input to the mobile terminal 70 by the user. However, in the modification, for example, when the above-mentioned preparation is executed using the mobile terminal 70, The memory 84 of the mobile terminal 70 may store account information. In this case, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 may read the account information from the memory 84 and send the login request 214 including the account information to the print intermediation server 100 without causing the user to input the account information. It should be noted that this modification may be adopted even in a situation where the login request is transmitted from the mobile terminal 70 to the print intermediation server 100 in the processes of FIG.

Upon receiving the login request 214 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 authenticates the account information included in the login request 214. Specifically, the print intermediation server 100 determines whether the account information included in the login request 214 is already registered in the print intermediation server 100. If the print intermediation server 100 determines that the account information has not been registered, that is, if the authentication of the account information fails, the login failure notification is transmitted to the mobile terminal 70, though not shown. In this case, the registration process ends without performing the subsequent processing.

On the other hand, when the print intermediation server 100 determines that the account information is already registered, that is, when the authentication of the account information is successful, the print intermediation server 100 generates a token that is a unique character string. The token is information for authentication used in the subsequent processing (for example, the printing process of FIG. 5). Hereinafter, the token generated here is referred to as a "first AT (abbreviation of Authentication (or Access) Token)".

Next, the print intermediation server 100 stores the account information for which the authentication has succeeded, the printer ID of the virtual printer, the virtual print condition information, and the generated first AT in association with each other. Then, the print intermediation server 100 transmits a login success notification 216 including the generated first AT to the mobile terminal 70.

Upon receiving the login success notification 216 from the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 stores the first AT included in the login success notification 216 in the memory 84. This ends the registration process.

As described above, in the registration process, the printer ID and the print condition information of the real printer (for example, the printer 10) are not registered in the print mediation server 100, but the printer ID of the virtual printer and the virtual print condition information are registered in the print mediation server 100. The method of registering with is adopted. That is, the mobile terminal 70 transmits the registration request 200 to the print intermediation server 100, and registers the printer ID of the virtual printer and the virtual printing condition information in the print intermediation server 100. Therefore, the user does not have to cause the printer 10 to communicate with the print mediation server 100 in order to register the printer ID and the virtual printing condition information (further, the first AT) in the print mediation server 100.

(Submit process; Figure 3)
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a submit process for the mobile terminal 70 to submit image data representing an image to be printed to the print mediation server 100 will be described. In the submit process as well, similar to the registration process, the user of the mobile terminal 70 does not have to be present near the printer 10. For example, the user can submit image data representing an image taken by the mobile terminal 70 to the print intermediation server 100 while away from home.

When the user of the mobile terminal 70 desires to submit image data to the print mediation server 100, the user starts the printer application and selects a button indicating “submit” on the screen displayed according to the printer application. Further, the user specifies the image data stored in the memory 84 of the mobile terminal 70. The image data may be data of any format as long as it represents data to be printed, and is, for example, bitmap format data such as JPEG (abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group). It may be data in vector format, data in text format, or data in other formats. When the above-described operations are executed by the mobile terminal 70, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 executes the respective processes shown in FIG. 3 according to the printer application.

The CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 first transmits an access request 220 to the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78.

Upon receiving the access request 220 from the mobile terminal 70, the print mediation server 100 transmits the login screen data 222 to the mobile terminal 70.

When the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 receives the login screen data 222 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 displays the login screen represented by the login screen data 222 on the display unit 74. The user uses the operation unit 72 to input account information into the mobile terminal 70. In this case, the CPU 82 transmits the login request 224 including the entered account information to the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78.

Upon receiving the login request 224 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 authenticates the account information included in the login request 224. If the authentication of the account information is successful, the print intermediation server 100 generates a second AT that is a token different from the first AT. Next, the print intermediation server 100 stores the account information that has been successfully authenticated and the generated second AT in association with each other. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, each information stored in the registration process of FIG. 2 (that is, account information, printer ID, virtual printing condition information, first AT), and the generated second AT, Are associated with. Then, the print intermediation server 100 transmits a login success notification 226 including the generated second AT to the mobile terminal 70.

When the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 receives the login success notification 226 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 displays the print setting selection screen on the display unit 74. Specifically, the CPU 82 reads the virtual printing condition information registered in advance in the printer application from the memory 84, and selects a virtual printing condition for printing an image from the virtual printing conditions indicated by the virtual printing condition information. A print setting selection screen for allowing the user to select print settings is displayed on the display unit 74.

As described above, the virtual printing conditions include “A4” and “B5” as the paper size, “none” as to whether or not double-sided printing is performed, and “monochrome printing” and “color printing” as the number of colors. including. Therefore, the print setting selection screen has a mode in which “A4” or “B5” can be selected as the paper size and either “monochrome printing” or “color printing” can be selected as the number of colors. ..

The user selects the print setting by selecting the paper size (for example, “A4”) and the number of colors (for example, “color”) using the operation unit 72 while looking at the print setting selection screen. The presence/absence of double-sided printing (that is, “none”) is automatically incorporated in the print setting because there is no option.

As will be described in detail later, the print mediation server 100 generates print data according to the selected print settings and supplies the print data to the printer 10 (see FIG. 5). As described above, the selected print settings are those selected from the virtual print conditions, not the print conditions that the printer 10 can actually use. That is, there is no guarantee that the printer 10 can execute printing according to the selected print settings. However, in the present embodiment, the vendor of the printer 10 predetermines a printing condition that can be used by a normal printer (for example, all printers sold by the vendor) as a virtual printing condition, and A printer application including virtual printing condition information indicating virtual printing conditions is provided. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the printer 10 can appropriately execute printing according to the selected print settings.

When the print setting is selected by the user, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 specifies the received second AT, the printer ID of the virtual printer in the memory 84, and the user via the wireless LAN I/F 78. The submit request 230 including the image data 232 and the print setting information 234 indicating the print setting selected by the user is transmitted to the print mediation server 100.

When the print intermediary server 100 receives the submit request 230 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediary server 100 authenticates the second AT included in the submit request 230. When the print intermediation server 100 determines that the second AT is stored (that is, when the authentication of the second AT is successful), the print intermediation server 100 stores the pieces of information included in the submit request 230 in association with each other. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, each information (that is, account information, printer ID, virtual printing condition information, first AT, second AT) stored when the second AT is generated, and the first The job information 240 (that is, the image data 232 and the print setting information 234) is associated. Then, the print intermediation server 100 transmits a submit success notification 236 to the mobile terminal 70.

The CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 receives the submit success notification 236 from the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78. This completes the submit process for submitting one piece of job information 240. When the user further desires to submit other image data to the print mediation server 100, the user performs the same operation as described above. As a result, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 can submit the second job information 250 to the print intermediation server 100 by executing the same processing as described above. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, two pieces of job information (that is, the first and second job information 240 and 250) are stored in association with the account information, the printer ID, and the like.

(Deletion process; Figure 4)
Subsequently, a deletion process for the mobile terminal 70 to delete the job information from the print mediation server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Even in the deletion process, the user of the mobile terminal 70 does not have to be present near the printer 10.

In the print mediation server 100, when the submit process of FIG. 3 is executed, account information, a printer ID, virtual printing condition information, a first AT, a second AT, and first job information 240 , Second job information 250 are associated with each other. However, since the second AT is a temporary token used only during the submit process, the second AT is not associated with it in FIG.

When the user of the mobile terminal 70 desires to stop the printing according to the second job information 250, he/she activates the printer application and clicks “Delete” on the screen displayed according to the printer application. Select the button shown. In this case, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 executes each process shown in FIG. 4 according to the printer application.

The CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 first transmits the access request 260 to the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78. The subsequent communication of the login screen data 262 and the login request 264 is similar to the communication of the login screen data 222 and the login request 224 of FIG.

Upon receiving the login request 264 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 authenticates the account information included in the login request 264. If the authentication of the account information is successful, the print intermediation server 100 generates a third AT that is a token different from the first AT and the second AT. Next, the print intermediation server 100 stores the account information that has been successfully authenticated and the generated third AT in association with each other. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, each information (that is, account information, printer ID, virtual printing condition information, first AT, first job information 240, second job) stored in the submit process of FIG. The information 250) is associated with the generated third AT. Then, the print intermediation server 100 transmits a login success notification 266 including the generated third AT to the mobile terminal 70.

Upon receiving the login success notification 266 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 sends a job list request 270 including the received third AT via the wireless LAN I/F 78. , To the print mediation server 100.

Upon receiving the job list request 270 from the mobile terminal 70, the print mediation server 100 executes the authentication of the third AT included in the job list request 270. When the print intermediation server 100 determines that the third AT is stored (that is, when the authentication of the third AT is successful), the first and second first and second associated with the third AT are performed. A job list 272 including first and second job IDs for identifying the job information 240 and 250 is generated. The job ID may include, for example, the file name of the image data included in the job information corresponding to the job ID. In this case, the user can know which image data the job ID corresponds to by looking at the job ID. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits the job list 272 to the mobile terminal 70.

Upon receiving the job list 272 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 causes the display unit 74 to display a job selection screen. Specifically, the CPU 82 displays a job selection screen for allowing the user to select the job ID corresponding to the job information to be deleted from the first and second job IDs included in the job list 272. 84 is displayed. The user selects one or more job IDs using the operation unit 72 while looking at the job selection screen. In the example of FIG. 4, the user selects the second job ID corresponding to the second job information 250.

When the user selects the second job ID, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 sends the received third AT and the second job ID selected by the user via the wireless LAN I/F 78. The deletion request 274 including the information is transmitted to the print mediation server 100.

Upon receiving the deletion request 274 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 selects the deletion request 274 from the first and second job information 240 and 250 associated with the third AT included in the deletion request 274. The second job information 250 corresponding to the second job ID included in is deleted. As a result, the print mediation server 100 can delete the second job information 250 while maintaining the state in which the account information, the printer ID, the first AT, and the first job information 240 are associated with each other. it can.

(Printing process; Figure 5)
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a printing process for the mobile terminal 70 to cause the printer 10 to perform printing according to the first job information 240 will be described. In the printing process, the user of the mobile terminal 70 must be near the printer 10. This is because the mobile terminal 70 and the printer 10 have to execute NFC communication, as described later. Therefore, the user uses the mobile terminal 70 to cause the printer 10 to perform printing after returning home from the place where the user is out.

In the print mediation server 100, when the deletion process of FIG. 4 is executed, account information, a printer ID, virtual printing condition information, a first AT, a third AT, and first job information 240. , Are associated. However, since the third AT is a temporary token used only during the deletion process, the third AT is not associated with it in FIG.

When the user of the mobile terminal 70 desires to cause the printer 10 to execute printing according to the first job information 240, the user starts the printer application and a button indicating “print” on the screen displayed according to the printer application. Select. In this case, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 executes each process shown in FIG. 5 according to the printer application.

The CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 first reads the first AT and the printer ID (that is, each information stored in the memory 84 in the registration process of FIG. 2) from the memory 84. Then, the CPU 82 uses the encryption key registered in advance in the printer application to encrypt the first AT and the printer ID to generate encrypted data. The encryption method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include AES (abbreviation of Advanced Encryption Standard) and DES (abbreviation of Data Encryption Standard).

The user of the mobile terminal 70 brings the mobile terminal 70 closer to the printer 10. When the distance between the NFC I/F 76 of the mobile terminal 70 and the NFC I/F 16 of the printer 10 becomes a predetermined distance (for example, 10 cm) or less, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 issues a print instruction and encryption via the NFC I/F 76. The data is transmitted to the printer 10. Here, since the CPU 82 executes NFC communication, the print instruction and the encrypted data can be transmitted to the printer 10 without using the IP address of the transmission destination, the URL of the transmission destination, and the like. In addition, since the first AT and printer ID are encrypted, it is possible to prevent unauthorized acquisition of the first AT and printer ID by a third party.

When the CPU 32 of the printer 10 receives the print instruction and the encrypted data from the mobile terminal 70 via the NFC I/F 16, the CPU 32 uses the encryption key stored in the memory 34 in advance, that is, the encryption key used in the mobile terminal 70. The encrypted data is decrypted using the matching encryption key. As a result, the CPU 32 can acquire the first AT and the printer ID.

Next, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 sets the URL of the print mediation server 100 stored in advance in the memory 34 as a transmission destination via the wireless LAN I/F 18 (that is, via the Internet), and the acquired first AT and A job list request 280 including the printer ID is transmitted to the print mediation server 100.

Upon receiving the job list request 280 from the printer 10, the print mediation server 100 executes the authentication of the first AT and printer ID included in the job list request 280. When the print intermediation server 100 determines that the first AT and the printer ID are stored (that is, when the authentication of the first AT and the printer ID is successful), the print intermediate server 100 is associated with the information. A job list 282 including a first job ID for identifying the existing first job information 240 and a URL indicating the location of print data 292 to be described later is generated. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits the job list 282 to the printer 10.

When the CPU 32 of the printer 10 receives the job list 282 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 18, the print data request 290 is sent via the wireless LAN I/F 18 with the URL included in the job list 282 as the destination. To send. The print data request 290 includes information indicating a data format that the printer 10 can interpret. The data format is, for example, PDF (abbreviation of Portable Document Format).

Upon receiving the print data request 290 from the printer 10, the print mediation server 100 executes the conversion process. That is, the print mediation server 100 follows the image data included in the first job information 240 according to the print setting information 234 included in the first job information 240 and the information indicating the data format included in the print data request 290. 232 is converted to generate print data 292. For example, when the print setting information 234 includes “XPS” as the data format, “A4” as the paper size, “none” as the presence/absence of double-sided printing, and “color” as the number of colors, The mediation server 100 generates print data 292 for printing a color image on only one side of an A4 printing sheet. When the print data request 290 includes information indicating the PDF format, the print mediation server 100 generates the print data 292 in the PDF format.

Next, the print mediation server 100 stores the generated print data 292 at the position corresponding to the URL included in the job list 282. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits the print data 292 stored in the position corresponding to the URL that is the transmission destination of the print data request 290 to the printer 10.

The CPU 32 of the printer 10 receives the print data 292 from the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 18. As a result, the CPU 32 can acquire the print data 292 from the print mediation server 100. Then, the CPU 32 supplies the acquired print data 292 to the print executing unit 20. As a result, the print execution unit 20 prints the image represented by the print data 292 on the printing paper. As a result, the user of the mobile terminal 70 can obtain the printed printing paper.

Although only one piece of job information 240 is stored in the print mediation server 100 in the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that a plurality of pieces of job information (for example, the first and second job information 240) are stored in the print mediation server 100. , 250) is stored, the job list 282 includes a plurality of job IDs and a plurality of URLs.

The printer 10 sequentially transmits a print data request to each of the plurality of URLs included in the job list 282 with the URL as the destination. Then, each time the print intermediation server 100 receives a print data request from the printer 10, the print mediation server 100 converts the image data included in the job information corresponding to the print data request to generate print data. Accordingly, the printer 10 can sequentially acquire each of the plurality of print data and sequentially execute the printing of each of the plurality of images represented by the plurality of print data.

(Comparative example; FIG. 6)
Before describing the effects of the present embodiment, the process of the comparative example will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the system of the comparative example, there are a printer 110, a PC 170, and a print mediation server 100. The printer 110 and the PC 170 can execute normal Wi-Fi communication, but cannot execute NFC communication. Therefore, all the communications shown in FIG. 6 are normal Wi-Fi communications.

The user of the PC 170 first executes an operation for accessing the web server function of the printer 110 on the PC 170. As a result, the PC 170 accesses the web server function of the printer 110 and sends a registration instruction to the printer 110.

Upon receiving the registration instruction from the PC 170, the printer 110 transmits a registration request including the print condition information available to the printer 110 and the proxy ID of the printer 110 to the print mediation server 100. That is, in the comparative example, the registration request including the print condition information that the actual printer (that is, the printer 110) can actually use, not the virtual print condition information that the virtual printer can use, is transmitted to the print mediation server 100.

Upon receiving the registration request from the printer 110, the print intermediation server 100 uses the proxy ID of the printer 110 included in the registration request to generate a printer ID for identifying the printer 110, and the generated printer ID, The printing condition information included in the registration request is stored in association with each other. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits a response including the generated printer ID and the login URL to the printer 110.

Upon receiving the response from the print mediation server 100, the printer 110 transmits the URL included in the response to the PC 170. Further, the printer 110 stores the printer ID included in the response, and further, although not shown, executes polling for the print mediation server 100. The polling is executed to establish an XMPP (abbreviation of eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) connection between the printer 110 and the print mediation server 100 when the authentication of the account information in the print mediation server 100 is successful.

Upon receiving the login URL from the printer 110, the PC 170 sends an access request to the print intermediation server 100 with the login URL as the destination, receives the login screen data from the print intermediation server 100, and displays the login screen. Then, the user inputs the account information into the PC 170. In this case, the PC 170 transmits a login request including the entered account information to the print mediation server 100.

Upon receiving the login request from the PC 170, the print intermediation server 100 executes the authentication of the account information, and if the authentication of the account information is successful, the print intermediation server 100 and the printer 110 respond to the polling from the printer 110. To establish an XMPP connection during. As a result, a so-called constant connection is established between the print mediation server 100 and the printer 110, so that the print mediation server 100 on the WAN side transmits a submit notification to be described later to the printer 110 on the LAN side. You can

The submit process using the PC 170 is the same as the submit process using the mobile terminal 70 in FIG. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, the account information, the printer ID, the print condition information, and the job information are associated with each other. When the submit process is executed, the print mediation server 100 uses the XMPP connection to send a submit notification including a print instruction to the printer 110.

Upon receiving the submission notification from the print mediation server 100, the printer 110 transmits a print data request to the print mediation server 100, receives print data from the print mediation server 100, and executes print processing.

(Effect of the first embodiment)
As described above, in the comparative example of FIG. 6, the print condition information of the existing printer (that is, the printer 110) is registered in the print mediation server 100. If such a method is adopted, the user of the PC 170 executes the work for accessing the web server function of the printer 110 in order to register the print condition information of the printer 110 in the print mediation server 100, and the print mediation server It is necessary to cause the printer 110 to communicate with 100.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in the registration process of FIG. 2, instead of registering the print condition information of the real printer in the print mediation server 100, the virtual print condition information of the virtual printer is printed in the print mediation server 100. The method of registering with is adopted. Therefore, the user of the mobile terminal 70 does not have to cause the printer 10 to communicate with the print mediation server 100 in order to register the print condition information (that is, virtual print condition information) in the print mediation server 100. Therefore, the user does not have to perform the work for accessing the web server function of the printer 10, and can easily register the virtual printing condition information in the print mediation server 100.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in the submit process of FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 70 transmits a submit request 230 including the image data 232 to the print intermediation server 100, thereby causing the print intermediation server 100 to perform virtual printing. The condition information, the first AT, and the image data 232 can be associated with each other. Then, as shown in the printing process of FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 70 transmits the first AT to the printer 10 using NFC communication. As a result, the printer 10 can obtain the print data 292 from the print intermediation server 100 by using the first AT, and can execute the printing of the image represented by the print data 292. As described above, according to the present technology, the mobile terminal 70 can appropriately cause the existing printer (that is, the printer 10) to print an image.

Further, in the comparative example of FIG. 6, since the XMPP connection (that is, the constant connection) is established between the printer 110 and the print mediation server 100, the communication load of the printer 110 and the print mediation server 100 is relatively high. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to establish the XMPP connection between the printer 10 and the print mediation server 100, the communication load of the printer 10 and the print mediation server 100 can be reduced.

Further, in the comparative example of FIG. 6, every time a piece of image data is submitted to the print intermediary server 100, a print notification is sent from the print intermediary server 100 to the printer 110, and the printer 110 executes printing. To be done. Therefore, if the user submits the image data to the print mediation server 100 by using the PC 170 at a place where the user is out, the printer 110 installed at home, for example, prints. In this case, since printing is performed in a state where the user is not present near the printer 110, there is a possibility that the printed printing paper may be seen by another person.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in the submit process of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the user submits the image data to the print intermediation server 100 by using the mobile terminal 70 on the go. Also, the printer 10 does not print. For this reason, the user can submit the image data to the print mediation server 100 by using the mobile terminal 70 on the go without worrying that the printed printing paper is viewed by others. You can
Then, as shown in the printing process of FIG. 5, printing is executed by the printer 10 triggered by the user bringing the mobile terminal 70 closer to the printer 10. Since the user can cause the printer 10 to perform printing while existing near the printer 10, the printed print sheet can be acquired without being seen by others. ..

Further, in the comparative example of FIG. 6, when one piece of image data is submitted to the print mediation server 100, the printer 110 immediately executes printing. Therefore, the user cannot delete the job information from the print mediation server 100. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the user can delete the second job information 250 from the print mediation server 100, as shown in the deletion process of FIG.

Further, in the comparative example of FIG. 6, the printer 110 must store the printer ID and must establish an XMPP connection with the print mediation server 100. Therefore, the load on the resources (memory, etc.) of the printer 110 is high. For example, assume that the printer 110 is shared by a plurality of users, including a user of the PC 170. In this case, if a plurality of users perform the work for registering the printer ID of the printer 110, the print condition information, and the like in the print intermediation server 100, the printer 110 determines that the plurality of printer IDs corresponding to the plurality of users. Must be stored, and a plurality of XMPP connections with the print mediation server 100 must be established. In this case, since the resource load of the printer 110 becomes extremely high, it is conceivable to place a restriction on the printer 110 such that only one printer ID corresponding to one user can be stored. In this case, only one user can cause the printer 110 to execute printing via the print mediation server 100.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the printer 10 does not need to store the printer ID, and further does not have to establish an XMPP connection with the print mediation server 100. The user who can cause the printer 10 to execute printing via the print mediation server 100 is not limited to one user (that is, the user of the mobile terminal 70). For example, if a user different from the user of the mobile terminal 70 uses another mobile terminal to perform the work for executing the processes of FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the printer 10 prints. Can be executed. As described above, according to the present embodiment, each of the plurality of users can cause the printer 10 to execute printing via the print mediation server 100 by using the mobile terminal of the user.

(Correspondence)
The printer ID and the first AT are examples of “printer identification information” and “authentication token”, respectively. The image data 232 is an example of “target image data” and “image data related information”. The normal Wi-Fi system and the NFC system are examples of the “predetermined communication system” and the “short-range communication system”, respectively. The NFC I/F 16 and the wireless LAN I/F 18 are examples of the “first interface” and the “second interface”, respectively.

The process of transmitting the registration request 200 of FIG. 2 in the mobile terminal 70 is an example of the process performed by the “first transmitting unit”. Further, the process of receiving the printer ID included in the response 202 and the process of receiving the first AT included in the login success notification 216 are examples of processes executed by the “first receiving unit”. The process of transmitting the submit request 230 of FIG. 3, the process of displaying the print setting selection screen, the process of transmitting the delete request 274 of FIG. 4, and the process of transmitting the encrypted data of FIG. 6 is an example of a process executed by the “unit”, the “display control unit”, the “deleting unit”, and the “third transmitting unit”.

The process of receiving the encrypted data of FIG. 5 in the printer 10 is an example of the process executed by the “reception unit”. The transmission of the job list request 280, the reception of the job list 282, the transmission of the print data request 290, and the reception of the print data 292 are examples of the processing executed by the “acquisition unit”. The process of supplying the print data 292 to the print execution unit 20 is an example of the process executed by the “print control unit”.

(Second embodiment; FIG. 7)
In the first embodiment, the registration process using the OAuth method is executed (see FIG. 2), but in this embodiment, the registration process using the Client Login method is executed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the user of the mobile terminal 70 activates the printer application installed in the mobile terminal 70, and selects the button indicating “registration” on the screen displayed according to the printer application. In this case, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 causes the display unit 74 to display the login screen registered in advance in the printer application. The user uses the operation unit 72 to input account information into the mobile terminal 70. In this case, the CPU 82 transmits the login request 314 including the entered account information to the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78.

Upon receiving the login request 314 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 authenticates the account information included in the login request 314, and if the authentication of the account information is successful, generates the first AT. Next, the print intermediation server 100 stores the account information for which the authentication has succeeded and the first AT in association with each other. The print intermediation server 100 transmits a login success notification 316 including the generated first AT to the mobile terminal 70.

Upon receiving the login success notification 316 from the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 stores the first AT included in the login success notification 316 in the memory 84. Next, the CPU 82 transmits the registration request 320 including the virtual printing condition information and the proxy ID to the print mediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78.

Upon receiving the registration request 320 from the mobile terminal 70, the print intermediation server 100 uses the proxy ID included in the registration request 320 to generate a printer ID. Then, the print mediation server 100 stores the generated printer ID and the virtual print condition information. As a result, in the print mediation server 100, the generated printer ID, account information, virtual printing condition information, and the first AT are associated with each other. Then, the print mediation server 100 transmits a registration success notification 322 including the generated printer ID to the mobile terminal 70.

Upon receiving the registration success notification 322 from the print intermediation server 100 via the wireless LAN I/F 78, the CPU 82 of the mobile terminal 70 stores the printer ID included in the registration success notification 322 in the memory 84. This ends the registration process. The submit process, the delete process, and the print process are the same as in the first embodiment.

Also according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 70 can register the virtual printing condition information, the printer ID and the like in the print mediation server 100, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In the mobile terminal 70, the process of transmitting the registration request 320 shown in FIG. 7 is an example of the process executed by the “first transmitting unit”. In addition, the process of receiving the first AT included in the login success notification 316 and the process of receiving the printer ID included in the registration success notification 322 are examples of processes executed by the “first receiving unit”. is there.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

(Modification 1) In the embodiment described above, in the registration process of FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 70 transmits a registration request 200 including virtual printing condition information to the print mediation server 100. Instead, for example, when the virtual printing condition information is stored in a data server on the Internet (that is, a server provided by the vendor of the printer 10), the mobile terminal 70 sets the URL of the virtual printing condition information. The registration request including the registration request may be transmitted to the print mediation server 100. In this case, the print mediation server 100 may use the URL of the virtual printing condition information to acquire the virtual printing condition information from the data server and store the acquired virtual printing condition information. When the print mediation server 100 is a server provided by the vendor of the printer 10, the print mediation server 100 may store virtual printing condition information in advance. In this case, the mobile terminal 70 may send a registration request containing neither the virtual printing condition information nor the URL of the virtual printing condition information to the print mediation server 100.

(Modification 2) In the above-described embodiment, the first AT generated in the registration process of FIG. 2 is registered in the print mediation server 100 in the situation where the print process of FIG. 5 is executed. However, the expiration date of the first AT may have expired when the printing process of FIG. 5 is executed. Therefore, in the registration process of FIG. 2, the print mediation server 100 may generate not only the first AT but also a so-called refresh token and store the refresh token in association with the account information and the like. In this case, when the expiration date of the first AT expires, the print intermediation server 100 uses the refresh token to generate a new token and stores the new token in place of the first AT. can do. Then, the mobile terminal 70 receives not only the first AT but also the login success notification 216 including a so-called refresh token from the print mediation server 100. In the printing process of FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 70 sends the refresh token to the printer 10 as well as the first AT. In this case, when the expiration date of the first AT has expired, the printer 10 uses the refresh token to generate a new token, and uses the new token to print from the print mediation server 100. Data can be acquired. In this modification, the refresh token is an example of “authentication information” and “authentication token”.

(Modification 3) In the above-described embodiment, in the submit process of FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 70 transmits a submit request 230 including the image data 232 to the print mediation server 100. Alternatively, for example, when the image data 232 is stored in a data server on the Internet, the mobile terminal 70 may transmit a submit request including the URL of the image data 232 to the print mediation server 100. .. In this case, the print mediation server 100 stores the first job information 240 including the URL of the image data 232. Then, in the printing process of FIG. 5, when the print mediation server 100 receives the print data request 290 from the printer 10, the print media request server 290 acquires the image data 232 from the data server using the URL of the image data 232, and acquires the acquired image. The print data 292 may be generated by converting the data 232. In the present modification, the URL of the image data 232 is an example of “image data related information”.

(Modification 4) In the above embodiment, the "authentication information" includes the printer ID and the token (that is, the first AT). However, if the print intermediation server 100 is configured to be able to perform authentication using only the printer ID without using the token, the “authentication information” does not include the token, but includes only the printer ID. You can leave. Further, if the print intermediation server 100 is configured to be able to perform authentication using only the token without using the printer ID, the “authentication information” does not include the printer ID, but only the token. May be included. Generally speaking, the “authentication information” may be any information as long as it is information used for authentication in the print mediation server.

(Modification 5) The “virtual printer related information” is not limited to the virtual printing condition information, but information indicating a virtual printer name of the virtual printer, information indicating a virtual default setting of the virtual printer, and a virtual printer virtual. It may be information indicating a different status. That is, the “virtual printer-related information” is information that should be registered in the print mediation server and may be any information as long as it is information related to the virtual printer.

(Modification 6) In the above embodiment, the virtual printing condition information is registered in advance in the printer application. That is, the memory 84 of the mobile terminal 70 stores virtual printing condition information when the printer application is installed in the mobile terminal 70. Instead of this, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the user inputs virtual printing condition information into the mobile terminal 70. In this case, the memory 84 may store virtual printing condition information input by the user.

(Modification 7) In the above embodiment, in the submit process of FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 70 uses the virtual printing condition information in the memory 84 to display the print setting selection screen. Alternatively, the mobile terminal 70 may acquire the virtual print condition information from the print mediation server 100 and display the print setting selection screen using the acquired virtual print condition information.

(Modification 8) In the above-described embodiment, in the printing process of FIG. 5, the printer 10 sends a print data request 290 including information indicating "PDF" as a data format that the printer 10 can interpret (that is, print). It is transmitted to the print mediation server 100. Instead of this, the printer 10 sends to the print mediation server 100 a print data request 290 including information indicating “PWG-Raster” or “XPS (abbreviation of XML Paper Specification)” as a data format that the printer 10 can interpret. Send. Generally speaking, the real printer may send a print data request including information indicating a data format that the real printer can interpret to the print mediation server.

(Modification 9) In the above embodiment, in the print process of FIG. 5, the print mediation server 100 receives the print data request 290 including the information indicating the data format from the printer 10, and therefore the conversion processing for the image data 232. Can be executed to generate the print data 292 having the data format. Alternatively, in the registration process of FIG. 2, the portable terminal 70 may send a registration request 200 including virtual printing condition information including information indicating a data format interpretable by the virtual printer to the print mediation server 100. Good. In yet another modification, in the submit process of FIG. 3, the portable terminal 70 sends to the print intermediation server 100 a submit request 230 including print setting information 234 including information indicating a data format interpretable by the virtual printer. You may send it. With this configuration, the printer 10 does not need to include the information indicating the data format when transmitting the print data request 290.

(Modification 10) In the above-described embodiment, in the printing process of FIG. 5, the portable terminal 70 transmits the printer ID and the encrypted data generated by encrypting the first AT to the printer 10. Alternatively, the mobile terminal 70 may send the printer ID and the first AT to the printer 10 without encryption. Generally speaking, the “third transmitting unit” may transmit the authentication information to the real printer.

(Modification 11) The printer 10 and the mobile terminal 70 perform short-range wireless communication of another communication method (for example, wireless communication of a transfer jet method, an infrared method, etc.) instead of performing NFC wireless communication. Then, communication of encrypted data may be executed. In this modification, the other communication method described above is an example of the “short-range wireless communication method”. Further, the printer 10 and the mobile terminal 70 may perform normal Wi-Fi wireless communication to perform encrypted data communication, instead of short-range wireless communication. Further, the printer 10 and the mobile terminal 70 may perform wired communication to perform communication of encrypted data, instead of performing wireless communication. That is, the “first interface” does not have to be an interface for performing wireless communication according to the short-range wireless communication system, but is an interface for performing communication according to the normal Wi-Fi system or the wired system. May be

(Modification 12) The mobile terminal 70 executes wireless communication in the normal Wi-Fi system, and instead of executing communication of various information (for example, the registration request 200 in FIG. 2) with the print intermediation server 100, 3G. It is also possible to execute cellular-type wireless communication such as 4G to communicate with the print mediation server 100. When the mobile terminal 70 is connected to the Internet by wire, the mobile terminal 70 may execute wire communication to communicate with the print mediation server 100. In this modification, the cellular system or the wired system is an example of the “predetermined communication system”.

(Modification 13) When the printer 10 is connected to the Internet by wire, it executes wired communication and communicates with the print intermediation server 100 for various information (for example, the job list request 280 in FIG. 5). You may execute. In this modification, the wired system is an example of the “predetermined communication system”.

(Modification 14) The print mediation server 100 does not have to be a single server, but may be a plurality of servers configured separately. For example, the print mediation server 100 includes a first server that executes each process shown in the registration process of FIG. 2 and a second server that executes each process shown in each process of FIG. A second server configured separately from the server).

(Modification 15) The “terminal device” does not have to be the mobile terminal 70, may be a stationary PC, or may be another device (such as a television).

(Modification 16) In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 and the CPU 82 of the portable terminal 70 execute the programs (for example, printer application) in the memories 34 and 84, so that each of FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 is executed. Processing is realized. Instead of this, at least one of the processes of FIGS. 2 to 5 and 7 may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

Further, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exert technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technique illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of purposes at the same time, and achieving the one purpose among them has technical utility.

2: communication system, 10: printer, 12: operation unit, 14: display unit, 16: NFC I/F, 18: wireless LAN I/F, 20: print execution unit, 30: control unit, 32: CPU, 34: memory , 70: portable terminal, 72: operating unit, 74: display unit, 76: NFC I/F, 78: wireless LAN I/F, 80: control unit, 82: CPU, 84: memory, 100: print mediation server, 200: Registration request, 230: Submit request, 274: Delete request, 280: Job list request, 290: Print data request

Claims (10)

A terminal device,
Before actual printer is specified, the authentication information receiving unit for receiving authentication information from the print intermediary server,
After the authentication information is received and before the real printer is specified, the image data relation information relating to the target image data representing the target image to be printed is transmitted to the print mediation server. The image data relation information is related to the authentication information in the print mediation server, and the relation information transmission unit,
A setting information transmission unit that transmits print setting information indicating print settings selected from virtual printing conditions to the print mediation server before the real printer is designated;
An authentication information transmission unit for transmitting the authentication information to an actual printer, wherein the authentication information is target print data generated by the print mediation server by the actual printer, and is indicated by the print setting information. The authentication information transmitting unit, which is used to acquire the target print data generated using print settings and the image data relation information,
A terminal device including. The terminal device further comprises
A memory for storing virtual print condition information virtual printer is predetermined as a virtual print condition available,
Before the real printer is designated, the virtual printing condition information is read from the memory, and the print setting for printing the target image is selected from the virtual printing conditions indicated by the virtual printing condition information. A display control unit that causes the display unit to display a selection screen for allowing the user to select
The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the setting information transmitting unit transmits the print setting information selected by the user to the print mediation server. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the virtual printing condition information is stored in the memory without being acquired from the real printer. The terminal device further comprises
A condition information receiving unit that receives the virtual printing condition information from the print mediation server,
A display control unit that causes the display unit to display a selection screen for allowing the user to select print settings for printing the target image from the virtual printing conditions indicated by the received virtual printing condition information. When,
Equipped with
The terminal device according to claim 2 , wherein the setting information transmitting unit transmits the print setting information selected by the user to the print mediation server. 5. The authentication information transmitting unit transmits the authentication information to the real printer by transmitting encrypted authentication information obtained by encrypting the authentication information to the real printer, any one of claims 1 to 4. The terminal device according to 1 above. The authentication information includes an authentication token,
The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the authentication token is information generated by the print mediation server in response to a login from the terminal device to the print mediation server. The authentication information receiving unit performs wireless communication according to a predetermined communication method to receive the authentication information from the print mediation server,
The relation information transmitting unit executes wireless communication according to the predetermined communication method to transmit the image data relation information to the print mediation server,
The setting information transmission unit performs wireless communication according to the predetermined communication method to transmit the print setting information to the print mediation server,
The authentication information transmission unit performs wireless communication according to a short-range wireless communication system for performing wireless communication at a shorter range than the predetermined communication system, and transmits the authentication information to the real printer, The terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the image data relation information includes the target image data. The terminal device is further
A first interface capable of executing wireless communication according to the predetermined communication method;
A second interface capable of executing wireless communication according to the short-range wireless communication system,
The authentication information receiving unit receives the authentication information from the print intermediation server via the first interface,
The relation information transmitting unit transmits the image data relation information to the print mediation server via the first interface,
The setting information transmission unit transmits the print setting information to the print mediation server via the first interface,
The terminal device according to claim 7 , wherein the authentication information transmission unit transmits the authentication information to a printer via the second interface in order to specify the real printer. A computer program for a terminal device, comprising:
In the computer installed in the terminal device, the following processes, that is,
Before actual printer is specified, the authentication information reception process of receiving authentication information from the print intermediary server,
After the authentication information is received and before the real printer is specified, the image data relation information relating to the target image data representing the target image to be printed is transmitted to the print mediation server. The image data relation information is related to the authentication information in the print mediation server, and the relation information transmission process,
Before the real printer is designated, print setting information indicating print settings selected from virtual print conditions is transmitted to the print mediation server, and the authentication information is transmitted to the real printer. In the authentication information transmitting process for transmitting, the authentication information is target print data generated by the print mediation server by the real printer, and the print setting and the image data relationship indicated by the print setting information. The authentication information transmission process used to obtain the target print data generated using information,
A computer program that executes.

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