JP6977516B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

The present specification discloses a printer that transmits condition information indicating printing conditions that can be used by the printer to a terminal device.

Patent Document 1 discloses that communication according to IPP (abbreviation of Internet Printing Protocol) is executed between a printer and a terminal device, and the printer executes printing according to an instruction from the terminal device. When the printer receives the capability information request from the terminal device including the printer driver, the printer sends a capability notification including data format information, resolution information, etc. that can be used by the printer to the terminal device. Then, the printer receives print data according to the data format, resolution, etc. included in the capability notification from the terminal device, and prints the image represented by the print data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-72785 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-350604

In the technique of Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to the type of printer driver of the terminal device. The present specification provides a printer capable of performing appropriate processing according to the type of printing application for instructing the printer to execute printing.

The printer disclosed by the present specification is an information request receiving unit that receives an information request from a print execution unit and a terminal device for requesting condition information indicating printing conditions that can be used by the printer. Is the information request receiving unit and the information request transmitted from the terminal device to the printer by using a specific printing application for instructing the printer to perform printing in the terminal device. A condition information determination unit that determines target condition information to be transmitted to the terminal device according to the content, and a condition information transmission unit that transmits the target condition information determined by the condition information determination unit to the terminal device. A print data receiving unit that receives the target print data according to the target condition information from the terminal device after the target condition information is transmitted to the terminal device, and a target image represented by the target print data. A print control unit that causes the print execution unit to perform printing may be provided, and the condition information determination unit may request the information because the specific print application is a first-class print application. When indicates the first content, the first condition information indicating the first printing condition is determined as the target condition information, and the specific printing application is different from the first type printing application. When the information request indicates a second content different from the first content due to the printing application of the above, a second printing condition different from the first printing condition is indicated. The condition information of may be determined as the target condition information.

According to the above configuration, when the terminal device uses the first type printing application, the printer determines the first condition information indicating the first printing condition as the target condition information, and the terminal device is the first type. When a second type of printing application different from the printing application of No. 1 is used, the second condition information indicating the second printing condition different from the first printing condition is determined as the target condition information. Therefore, the printer can transmit the target condition information according to the type of the printing application of the terminal device to the terminal device. As a result, the printer can receive the target print data according to the target condition information according to the type of the print application of the terminal device from the terminal device and execute printing. In this way, the printer can perform appropriate processing according to the type of printing application of the terminal device.

A control method for realizing the above printer, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium for storing the computer program are also new and useful. Further, a communication system including the above-mentioned printer and terminal device is also new and useful.

The configuration of the communication system is shown. A sequence diagram of each process executed by the printer and the terminal device is shown. The flowchart of the target condition information determination process is shown. The sequence diagram of the case A realized between the printer and the first terminal apparatus is shown. The sequence diagram of the case B realized between the printer and the second terminal apparatus is shown. The sequence diagram of the case C realized between the printer and the third terminal apparatus is shown.

(Configuration of communication system 2; FIG. 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a printer PR and a plurality of terminal devices TE1 to TE3. The devices PR, TE1 to TE3 can communicate with each other via LAN (abbreviation of Local Area Network) 4. The LAN 4 may be either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

(Configuration of printer PR)
The printer PR is a peripheral device capable of executing a printing function (that is, a peripheral device of each terminal device TE1 to TE3). The printer PR may be a multifunctional machine capable of executing a scanning function, a fax function, and the like in addition to the printing function. The printer PR includes an operation unit 12, a display unit 14, a print execution unit 16, a communication interface 18, and a control unit 20. Each part 12 to 20 is connected to a bus line (reference numeral omitted).

The operation unit 12 includes a plurality of keys. The user can give various instructions to the printer PR by operating the operation unit 12. The display unit 14 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 14 also functions as a so-called touch panel (that is, an operation unit). The print execution unit 16 includes a printing mechanism such as an inkjet method and a laser method. The communication interface 18 is connected to the LAN 4.

The control unit 20 includes a CPU 22 and a memory 24. The CPU 22 is a processor that executes various processes according to the program 30 stored in the memory 24. The memory 24 is composed of a ROM, RAM, and the like, and stores condition information 32 in addition to the above program 30.

The condition information 32 is information indicating the printing conditions that can be used by the printer PR, in other words, the ability information indicating the ability of the printer PR (that is, the ability related to printing). The print condition that can be used by the printer PR includes each item value corresponding to the condition item for each of the plurality of condition items. The plurality of condition items include "format" and "print resolution". The condition item "format" is an item indicating the format of print data that can be used (that is, interpretable) by the printer PR. Printer PR is PWG (abbreviation of Printer Working Group) Raster (hereinafter abbreviated as "PWG" for short), JPEG (abbreviation of Joint Photograph Experts Group), and PDF (abbreviation of Portable Document Format). ) Can be interpreted as print data having any of the formats. Therefore, the item value "PWG", the item value "JPEG", and the item value "PDF" are associated with the condition item "format". The condition item "print resolution" is an item indicating the print resolution that can be used by the printer PR. The printer PR can perform printing using any of the print resolutions of 300 dpi, 600 dpi, and 1200 dpi. Therefore, the item value "300 dpi", the item value "600 dpi", and the item value "1200 dpi" are associated with the condition item "print resolution".

(Configuration of each terminal device TE1 to TE3)
Each terminal device TE1 to TE3 is a user terminal such as a desktop PC (abbreviation of Personal Computer), a notebook PC, a tablet PC, or a smartphone. Each terminal device TE1 to TE3 includes printing applications AP1 to AP3 for instructing the printer PR to print in a procedure according to IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). In the following, the printing application is simply referred to as an "app". Each of the applications AP1 to AP3 is a general-purpose application capable of causing each of a plurality of types of printers provided by a plurality of vendors including the vendor of the printer PR to execute printing.

The application AP1 of the terminal device TE1 is Ubuntu® Print. UBUNTUPrint is typically used in Linux® OS. LinuxOS is usually installed in a PC and not in a smartphone. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal device TE1 is a PC having a relatively high processing capacity.

The app AP2 of the terminal device TE2 is AirPrint®. AirPrint is typically used with iOS®. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal device TE2 is a smartphone.

The application AP3 of the terminal device TE3 is Mopria (registered trademark). Mopria is usually used in Android® OS. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal device TE3 is a smartphone.

(Processing of printer PR and each terminal device TE1 to TE3; FIG. 2)
With reference to FIG. 2, the contents of each process executed by the printer PR and the terminal devices TE1 to TE3 will be described. The following processing is a processing for the applications AP1 to AP3 of each terminal device TE1 to TE3 to instruct the printer PR to print according to the procedure according to the IPP. That is, all of the applications AP1 to AP3 execute communication with the printer PR using IPP which is the same protocol. In the following, each terminal device TE1 to TE3 will be collectively referred to as "terminal device TE".

In S10, the terminal device TE receives a print instruction from the user. The print instruction includes an instruction to start an application of the terminal device TE (hereinafter referred to as a "target application") and an instruction to select a button indicating "print" on the screen displayed by the target application. When the terminal device TE receives a print instruction from the user in S10, the terminal device TE uses the target application in S12 to transmit the condition information request to the printer PR. The condition information request is a command for requesting condition information indicating printing conditions that can be used by the printer PR.

When the CPU 22 of the printer PR receives the condition information request from the terminal device TE in S12, the target condition determines the target condition information to be transmitted to the terminal device TE according to the content of the condition information request in S20. Executes information determination processing. Next, the CPU 22 transmits the target condition information to the terminal device TE in S22. In the example of FIG. 2, the target condition information includes three item values (that is, PWG, JPEG, PDF) corresponding to the condition item “format” and three item values (that is, PWG, JPEG, PDF) corresponding to the condition item “print resolution”. That is, 300 dpi, 600 dpi, 1200 dpi) and the like.

When the terminal device TE receives the target condition information from the printer PR in S22, the terminal device TE displays the setting screen by using the target application in S30. In the example of FIG. 2, the setting screen includes three item values (that is, 300 dpi, 600 dpi, 1200 dpi) corresponding to the condition item “print resolution” included in the target condition information. As a result, the user can specify a desired print resolution from the three print resolutions included in the setting screen. The setting screen does not include the three item values corresponding to the condition item "format" included in the target condition information. That is, the user cannot specify the format of the print data to be transmitted to the printer PR.

In S32, the terminal device TE receives a designated instruction from the user. The designation instruction includes an instruction to specify one print resolution (hereinafter referred to as "designated resolution") on the setting screen displayed in S30, and an instruction to select an OK button. The designation instruction further includes an instruction to designate one image data (hereinafter referred to as "designated image data") from one or more image data stored in the terminal device TE.

When the terminal device TE receives a designated instruction from the user in S32, the terminal device TE generates print data from the designated image data using the target application in S34. Specifically, the terminal device TE first sets the value of each item corresponding to the condition item "format" included in the target condition information according to the type of the application of the terminal device TE and the type of the designated image data. Select one of the item values (hereinafter referred to as "selection format"). The specific selection method will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. Next, when the format of the designated image data and the selected format do not match, the terminal device TE executes a format conversion process for the designated image data to generate converted image data having the selected format, and the converted image data. The resolution conversion process for is executed to generate print data having a specified resolution. Further, when the format of the designated image data and the selected format match, the terminal device TE executes the resolution conversion process for the designated image data without executing the format conversion process for the designated image data to obtain the designated resolution. Generate print data to have. Then, in S40, the terminal device TE transmits the print data to the printer PR by using the target application. In the example of FIG. 2, the print data has a PDF format and a print resolution of 1200 dpi.

When the CPU 22 of the printer PR receives print data from the terminal device TE in S40, the CPU 22 supplies the print data to the print execution unit 16 in S42, and prints the image represented by the print data to the print execution unit 16. Let it run. As a result, the process of FIG. 2 is completed.

(Target condition information determination process; Fig. 3)
Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 3, the content of the target condition information determination process in S20 of FIG. 2 will be described. When the CPU 22 of the printer PR receives the condition information request from the terminal device TE in S12 of FIG. 2, the CPU 22 of the printer PR starts the process of FIG.

In the IPP, in order to display the setting screen (see S30 in FIG. 2) in the terminal device TE, a request for confirming the print conditions that can be used by the printer PR is transmitted from the terminal device TE to the printer PR. ing. This request is a condition information request, and more specifically, the condition information request includes the command "Get-Printer-Attributes", and after the command, indicates each condition item of the print condition that can be used by the printer PR. Includes each string. It can be said that each character string is a command for requesting the printer PR to transmit each item value corresponding to the condition item. That is, the condition information request includes a plurality of commands including the command "Get-Printer-Attributes" and each command corresponding to each condition item. The condition information request is one in which each of the commands is described in each of the one or more packets according to the IPP, and the one or more packets are sequentially transmitted from the terminal device TE to the printer PR. The CPU 22 sequentially receives the one or more packets (that is, a condition information request) and analyzes each command to determine the target condition information to be transmitted to the terminal device TE.

In S50, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the condition information request includes the command "cups-version". The command "cups-version" is a command that requests the printer PR to send a version of CUPS (abbreviation of Common UNIX Printing System). When the application (that is, the target application) of the terminal device TE that is the source of the condition information request is UBUNTUPrant, the condition information request includes the command "cups-version", but the target application is not UBUNTUPrant (for example, AirPrint, In the case of Mopria etc.), the condition information request does not include the command. When the CPU 22 determines that the condition information request does not include the command (NO in S50), the CPU 22 proceeds to S60. On the other hand, when the CPU 22 determines that the condition information request includes the command (YES in S50), the CPU 22 determines in S52 that the target application is UBUNTUPrant, and proceeds to S54.

In S54, the CPU 22 has, as target condition information, an item value "PWG" corresponding to the condition item "format", three item values "300 dpi" and "600 dpi" corresponding to the condition item "print resolution", and "1200 dpi" is determined. That is, when the target application is UBUNTUPrant, the CPU 22 uses only the PWG without determining the PDF and JPEG as the target condition information even though the printer PR can use the print data of PDF and JPEG. decide. Further, when the target application is UBUNTUPrant, the CPU 22 determines all the print resolutions that can be used by the printer PR as the target condition information. When S54 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends. As a result, in S22 of FIG. 2, one format and three print resolutions are notified to the terminal device TE as the target condition information.

In S60, the CPU 22 determines whether the condition information request includes all three commands (that is, "print-icons", "number-up-default", and "print-quality-default"). do. The command "print-icons" is a command that requests the printer PR to send icon images. The command "number-up-default" is a command that requests the printer PR to send a default value of "number-up", which is a type of Nin1 printing that can be used by the printer PR. Nin1 printing is a printing method for printing N pages of images (N is an integer of 1 or more) on one printing medium. The command "print-quality-default" is a command that requests the printer PR to send a default value of print quality that can be used by the printer PR. When the target application is AirPrint, the conditional information request includes all of the above three commands, but when the target application is not AirPrint (for example, Mopria etc.), the conditional information request is the above 3 Does not include at least one of the commands. When the CPU 22 determines that the condition information request does not include at least one of the above three commands (NO in S60), the process proceeds to S70. On the other hand, when the CPU 22 determines that the condition information request includes all of the above three commands (YES in S60), the CPU 22 determines in S62 that the target application is AirPrint, and proceeds to S64.

In S64, the CPU 22 has three item values "PWG", "JPEG", and "PDF" corresponding to the condition item "format" and three items corresponding to the condition item "print resolution" as target condition information. The item values "300 dpi", "600 dpi", and "1200 dpi" are determined. That is, when the target application is AirPrint, the CPU 22 determines all formats and all print resolutions that can be used by the printer PR as target condition information. When S64 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends. As a result, in S22 of FIG. 2, the terminal device TE is notified of the three formats and the three print resolutions as the target condition information.

In S72, the CPU 22 determines that the target application is Mopria or the like (that is, an application other than UBUNTUPrint and AirPrint), and proceeds to S74. In S74, the CPU 22 has two item values "PWG" and "JPEG" corresponding to the condition item "format" and one item value "300 dpi" corresponding to the condition item "print resolution" as the target condition information. And decide. That is, when the target application is Mopria or the like, the CPU 22 determines PWG and JPEG as the target condition information without determining the PDF even though the printer PR can use the print data of the PDF. .. Further, although the printer PR can use the print data of 600 dpi and 1200 dpi, the CPU 22 determines only 300 dpi without determining 600 dpi and 1200 dpi as the target condition information. When S74 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends. As a result, in S22 of FIG. 2, two formats and one print resolution are notified to the terminal device TE as target condition information.

(Specific case; FIGS. 4 to 6)
Subsequently, specific cases A to C realized by the processes of FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

(Case A; Fig. 4)
First, with reference to FIG. 4, a case A realized between the printer PR and the terminal device TE1 provided with the application AP1 (that is, UBUNTUPrint) will be described. When the terminal device TE1 receives a print instruction in S110, the terminal device TE1 transmits a condition information request to the printer PR in S112. The conditional information request generated by the app AP1 includes the command "cups-version".

When the printer PR receives the condition information request from the terminal device TE1 in S112, the condition information request includes the command "cups-version" (YES in S50 of FIG. 3). (S52), and in S120, as the target condition information, "PWG" corresponding to the condition item "format", "300 dpi", "600 dpi", and "300 dpi" corresponding to the condition item "print resolution", and " "1200 dpi" is determined (S54). Then, the printer PR transmits the determined target condition information to the terminal device TE1 in S122.

When the terminal device TE1 receives the target condition information from the printer PR in S122, the terminal device TE1 displays a setting screen including three print resolutions in the target condition information as options in S130. When the terminal device TE1 receives the designated instruction in S132, the terminal device TE1 generates print data in S134. Specifically, since the terminal device TE1 includes only one format "PWG" for the target condition information, "PWG" is selected as the selection format. Next, the terminal device TE1 executes a format conversion process for the designated image data designated by the user to generate converted image data having the PWG format. Then, the terminal device TE1 executes a resolution conversion process on the converted image data to generate print data PD1 having a designated resolution (1200 dpi in this case) specified by the user. Next, the terminal device TE1 transmits the print data PD1 to the printer PR in S140.

When the printer PR receives the print data PD1 from the terminal device TE1 in S140, the printer PR executes the printing process of the image represented by the print data PD1 in S142.

(Effect of Case A)
The app AP1 (ie, UBUNTUPrint) of the terminal device TE1 may generate print data including commands that the printer PR cannot interpret when generating print data having a JPEG or PDF format. In this case, the printer PR may not be able to properly execute the printing process. On the other hand, the printer PR can interpret any command of PWG. Therefore, when the printer PR determines that the application AP1 of the terminal device TE1 is UBUNTUPIrant, the printer PR determines the target condition information including only "PWG" without including "JPEG" and "PDF" (S120). The target condition information is transmitted to the terminal device TE1 (S122). Therefore, the printer PR can receive the print data PD1 having the PWG format from the terminal device TE1 (S140), and as a result, the print process can be appropriately executed (S142).

Further, as described above, the application AP1 (that is, UBUNTUPrint) of the terminal device TE1 is usually mounted on a PC equipped with a Linux OS. That is, the terminal device TE1 is a PC having a relatively high processing capacity, and as a result, print data having a relatively high print resolution can be quickly generated. Therefore, when the printer PR determines that the application AP1 of the terminal device TE1 is UBUNTUPrint, the printer PR determines the target condition information including "1200 dpi" which is a relatively high print resolution (S120), and determines the target condition information. It is transmitted to the terminal device TE1 (S122). Even if 1200 dpi is specified by the user (S132), the terminal device TE1 can rapidly generate print data PD1 having a print resolution of 1200 dpi (S134). Therefore, the printer PR can quickly receive the print data PD1 from the terminal device TE1 (S140), and as a result, the print process can be executed quickly (S142).

(Case B; Fig. 5)
Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 5, a case B realized between the printer PR and the terminal device TE2 provided with the application AP2 (that is, AirPrint) will be described. When the terminal device TE2 receives a print instruction in S210, the terminal device TE2 transmits a condition information request to the printer PR in S212. The conditional information request generated by the app AP2 does not include the command "cups-version" and has three commands (ie, "print-icons", "number-up-default", and "print-quality-". default ") is included.

When the printer PR receives the condition information request from the terminal device TE2 in S212, the condition information request does not include the command "cups-version" (NO in S50 of FIG. 3), and the above three Since all of the commands are included (YES in S60), it is determined that the application AP2 of the terminal device TE2 is AirPrint (S62). In this case, in S220, the printer PR has "PWG", "JPEG", and "PDF" corresponding to the condition item "format" and "300 dpi" corresponding to the condition item "print resolution" as the target condition information. , "600 dpi" and "1200 dpi" are determined (S64). Then, the printer PR transmits the determined target condition information to the terminal device TE2 in S222.

When the terminal device TE2 receives the target condition information from the printer PR in S222, the terminal device TE2 displays a setting screen including three print resolutions in the target condition information as options in S230. The terminal device TE2 generates print data in S234 when receiving a designated instruction in S232. Specifically, the terminal device TE2 first selects one format from the three formats in the target condition information. For example, when the designated image data is specified by the user from the storage for storing the photographic image data representing the photographic image taken by the terminal device TE2, the terminal device TE2 selects JPEG. On the other hand, when the designated image data is designated from a storage different from the storage, the terminal device TE2 selects PDF. That is, in this case, PWG is not selected. The terminal device TE2 executes a format conversion process if necessary to generate converted image data having a JPEG or PDF format, and executes a resolution conversion process to generate print data PD2 having a specified resolution. .. Next, the terminal device TE2 transmits the print data PD2 to the printer PR in S240.

When the printer PR receives the print data PD2 from the terminal device TE2 in S240, the printer PR executes the printing process of the image represented by the print data PD2 in S242.

(Effect of Case B)
When generating print data having any of the formats of PWG, JPEG, and PDF, the application AP2 (that is, AirPrint) of the terminal device TE2 generates print data including only commands that can be interpreted by the printer PR. do. Therefore, when the application AP2 of the terminal device TE2 is determined to be AirPrint, the printer PR determines the target condition information including all formats (S220) and transmits the target condition information to the terminal device TE2 (S222). ). This makes it possible to provide the mobile terminal TE2 with a large number of format options. Even if the printer PR receives the print data PD2 having either the JPEG or PDF format from the terminal device TE2 (S240), the printer PR can appropriately execute the print process according to the print data PD2 (S242).

Further, although the terminal device TE2 is not a PC but a smartphone, the application AP2 (that is, AirPrint) can quickly execute the process of S234 for generating print data. Therefore, when the printer PR determines that the application AP2 of the terminal device TE2 is AirPrint, the printer PR determines the target condition information including "1200 dpi" which is a relatively high print resolution (S220), and determines the target condition information. It is transmitted to the terminal device TE2 (S222). Even if 1200 dpi is specified by the user (S232), the terminal device TE2 can quickly generate print data PD2 having a print resolution of 1200 dpi (S234). Therefore, the printer PR can quickly receive the print data PD2 from the terminal device TE2 (S240), and as a result, the print process can be executed quickly (S242).

(Case C; Fig. 6)
Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 6, a case C realized between the printer PR and the terminal device TE3 provided with the application AP3 (that is, Mopria) will be described. When the terminal device TE3 receives a print instruction in S310, the terminal device TE3 transmits a condition information request to the printer PR in S312. The condition information request generated by the app AP3 does not include the command "cups-version". Further, the condition information request includes the command "print-icons" and does not include the commands "number-up-default" and "print-quality-default".

When the printer PR receives the condition information request from the terminal device TE3 in S312, the condition information request does not include the command "cups-version" (NO in S50 of FIG. 3), and the above three items are used. Since the two commands "number-up-default" and "print-quality-default" are not included (NO in S60), it is determined that the application AP3 of the terminal device TE3 is Mopria or the like (S72). .. Next, in S320, the printer PR determines, as the target condition information, "PWG" and "JPEG" corresponding to the condition item "format" and "300 dpi" corresponding to the condition item "print resolution" (S74). ). Then, the printer PR transmits the determined target condition information to the terminal device TE3 in S322.

When receiving the target condition information from the printer PR in S322, the terminal device TE3 displays a setting screen including only one print resolution (that is, 300 dpi) in the target condition information as an option in S330. When the terminal device TE3 receives the designated instruction in S332, the terminal device TE3 generates print data in S334. Specifically, the terminal device TE3 selects one format from the two formats included in the target condition information. For example, when the designated image data is designated from the storage for storing the photographic image data, the terminal device TE3 selects JPEG. On the other hand, when the designated image data is designated from a storage different from the storage, the terminal device TE3 selects PWG. The terminal device TE3 executes a format conversion process if necessary to generate converted image data having a PWG or JPEG format, and executes a resolution conversion process to generate print data PD3 having a specified resolution. .. Next, the terminal device TE3 transmits the print data PD3 to the printer PR in S340.

When the printer PR receives the print data PD3 from the terminal device TE3 in S340, the printer PR executes the printing process of the image represented by the print data PD3 in S342.

(Effect of Case C)
The app AP3 (ie, Mopria) of the terminal device TE3 may generate print data including commands that the printer PR cannot interpret when generating print data having a PDF format. On the other hand, when generating print data having either PWG or JPEG format, the application AP3 generates print data including only commands that can be interpreted by the printer PR. Therefore, when the printer PR determines that the application AP3 of the terminal device TE3 is Mopria or the like, the printer PR determines the target condition information including "PWG" and "JPEG" without including "PDF" (S320). The target condition information is transmitted to the terminal device TE3 (S322). Even if the printer PR receives the print data PD3 having either the PWG or JPEG format from the terminal device TE3 (S340), the printer PR can appropriately execute the print process according to the print data PD3 (S342). ..

Further, the terminal device TE3 is not a PC but a smartphone, and the application AP3 (that is, Mopria) takes a relatively long time to process S334 for generating print data. Therefore, when the printer PR determines that the application AP3 of the terminal device TE3 is Mopria or the like, the printer PR determines the target condition information including only "300 dpi" having a relatively low print resolution (S320), and the target condition. Information is transmitted to the terminal device TE3 (S322). Therefore, the terminal device TE3 can rapidly generate print data PD3 having a print resolution of 300 dpi (S334). Therefore, the printer PR can quickly receive the print data PD3 from the terminal device TE3 (S340), and as a result, the print process can be executed quickly (S342).

(Effect of this example)
According to this embodiment, the printer PR can transmit the target condition information corresponding to the types of the applications AP1 to AP3 of the terminal devices TE1 to TE3 to the terminal devices TE1 and the like (S122 and S222 of FIGS. 4 to 6). , S322). As a result, the printer PR can receive the print data PD1 or the like according to the target condition information according to the type of the application AP1 or the like of the terminal device TE1 or the like from each terminal device TE1 or the like and execute printing (S140). , S142, S240, S242, S340, S342). In this way, the printer PR can execute appropriate processing according to the type of the application AP1 or the like such as the terminal device TE1.

(Correspondence)
In one example, the app AP1 (ie, UBUNTUPrint) and the app AP2 (ie, AirPrint) are examples of a "first-class printing application" and a "second-class printing application," respectively. In this example, the content of the condition information request of S112 in FIG. 4 and the content of the condition information request of S212 of FIG. 5 are examples of "first content" and "second content", respectively. The command "cups-version" is an example of a "predetermined command". The print condition indicated by the target condition information in S122 of FIG. 4 and the print condition indicated by the target condition information in S222 of FIG. 5 are examples of the "first print condition" and the "second print condition", respectively. .. Here, when the condition item "format" is an example of a "specific condition item", the "first print condition" is an example of the "other print condition", and the "second print condition" is an example. It is an example of "one print condition", PWG is an example of "first item value", and JPEG or PDF is an example of "second item value".

In another example, the app AP2 (ie, AirPrint) and the app AP3 (ie, Mopria) are examples of a "first-class printing application" and a "second-class printing application," respectively. In this example, the content of the condition information request in S212 of FIG. 5 and the content of the condition information request in S312 of FIG. 6 are examples of the "first content" and the "second content", respectively. Three commands (ie, "print-icons", "number-up-default", "print-quality-default") are examples of "predetermined commands". The print condition indicated by the target condition information of S222 of FIG. 5 and the print condition indicated by the target condition information of S322 of FIG. 6 are examples of the "first print condition" and the "second print condition", respectively. .. Here, when the condition item "format" is an example of the "specific condition item", the "first print condition" is an example of the "one print condition" and the "second print condition" is an example. It is an example of "the other printing condition", PWG or JPEG is an example of "first item value", and PDF is an example of "second item value". When the condition item "print resolution" is an example of "specific condition item", the "first print condition" is an example of "one print condition" and the "second print condition" is an example. It is an example of "the other printing condition", 300 dpi is an example of "first item value", and 600 dpi or 1200 dpi is an example of "second item value". The other combination of the application AP1 to the application AP3 is also an example of the combination of the "first type printing application" and the "second type printing application".

The processes of S12, S20, S22, S40, and S42 in FIG. 2 are the "information request receiving unit", "condition information determining unit", "condition information transmitting unit", "print data receiving unit", and "print control unit", respectively. This is an example of the processing executed by. S50, S52, S60, S62, and S72 in FIG. 3 are examples of processes executed by the “type determination unit”.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and modifications of the specific examples exemplified above. Modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

(Modification 1) The combination of the "first-class printing application" and the "second-class printing application" may be, for example, the following combinations. That is, AirPrint used in the Mac® OS and AirPrint used in iOS may be examples of a "first-class printing application" and a "second-class printing application," respectively. In this case, for example, since the terminal device provided with the former AirPrint is likely to be a PC having a relatively high processing capacity, the printer PR obtains target condition information including a relatively high print resolution (for example, 1200 dpi). You may decide. Further, since the terminal device provided with the latter AirPrint is likely to be a smartphone having a lower processing capacity than the PC, the printer PR may determine the target condition information that does not include the high print resolution.

(Modification 2) The "target condition information" does not have to include the condition item "format". Further, in another modification, the "target condition information" may not include the condition item "print resolution". Further, in yet another modification, the "target condition information" may include the paper size and the number of colors. In this case, the printer PR has a relatively large paper size (for example, A3) and a number of colors of colors, for example, when the application of the terminal device is UBUNTUPrint or AirPrint (that is, when it has a relatively high processing capacity). When the target condition information including the above is determined and the application of the terminal device is Mopria (that is, when it has a relatively low processing capacity), the target condition does not include the large paper size and the number of colors of the color. Information may be determined.

(Modification 3) The printer PR may adopt the following method (1) or (2) instead of S50 and S60 in FIG. (1) For example, when the first command included in the condition information request is the first command, the printer PR determines that it is a first-class printing application, and the first command is the first command. If it is a different second command, it may be determined that it is a second type printing application. (2) For example, when the order of the plurality of commands included in the condition information request is the first order, the printer PR determines that it is a first-class printing application, and the plurality of commands are ordered. When the order of the second order is different from the order of the first order, it may be determined that the printing application is of the second type. Generally speaking, the target condition information may be determined according to the content of the information request.

(Modification 4) S52, S62, and S72 in FIG. 3 can be omitted. In this modification, the "type determination unit" can be omitted.

(Modification 5) Each application AP1 to AP3 does not have to be a general-purpose application, and may be an application capable of instructing printing only to a printer provided by a printer PR vendor.

(Variation Example 6) The protocols used by each of the applications AP1 to AP3 may be different from each other. For example, the protocol used by the application AP1 may be IPP, and the protocol used by the application AP2 may be a protocol different from the IPP (for example, a protocol unique to the printer PR vendor).

(Modification 7) In the above embodiment, each process of FIGS. 2 to 6 is realized by executing the program 30 in the memory 24 by the CPU 22 of the printer PR. Instead of this, at least one of these processes may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

Further, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the techniques exemplified in the present specification or the drawings achieve a plurality of purposes at the same time, and achieving one of the purposes itself has technical usefulness.

2: Communication system, PR: Printer, 10: Bus line, 12: Operation unit, 14: Display unit, 16: Print execution unit, 18: Communication interface, 20: Control unit, 22: CPU, 24: Memory, 30: Program, 32: Condition information, TE1-TE3: Terminal device, AP1-AP3: Print application, PD1-PD3: Print data

Claims (10)

It ’s a printer,
The print execution unit and
An information request receiving unit that receives an information request from a terminal device for requesting condition information indicating a print condition that can be used by the printer, wherein the information request is a specific information request for instructing the printer to perform printing. The information request receiving unit, which is transmitted from the terminal device to the printer by using the printing application in the terminal device,
A condition information determination unit that determines target condition information to be transmitted to the terminal device according to the content of the information request.
A condition information transmission unit that transmits the target condition information determined by the condition information determination unit to the terminal device, and a condition information transmission unit.
A print data receiving unit that receives target print data according to the target condition information from the terminal device after the target condition information is transmitted to the terminal device.
A print control unit that causes the print execution unit to print the target image represented by the target print data is provided.
The condition information determination unit
Due to the fact that the specific printing application is a first-class printing application, when the information request indicates the first content, the first condition information indicating the first printing condition is used as the target condition information. Determined as
When the information request indicates a second content different from the first content because the specific printing application is a second type printing application different from the first type printing application. , A printer that determines second condition information indicating a second print condition different from the first print condition as the target condition information. The condition information determination unit includes a type determination unit that determines the type of the specific printing application according to the content of the information request.
The type determination unit
When the information request indicates the first content, it is determined that the specific printing application is the first type printing application.
When the information request indicates the second content, it is determined that the specific printing application is the second type printing application.
The condition information determination unit
When the specific printing application is determined to be the first type printing application, the first condition information is determined as the target condition information.
The printer according to claim 1, wherein when the specific printing application is determined to be the second type printing application, the second condition information is determined as the target condition information. The first content includes that a predetermined command is described in the information request due to the particular printing application being the first type printing application.
The second content is claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising the fact that the predetermined command is not described in the information request due to the particular printing application being the second type printing application. The printer described. The printing conditions available to the printer include one or more item values for each of the one or more condition items.
The printing condition of one of the first printing condition and the second printing condition is a first item value and a second item value for a specific condition item among the one or more condition items. Including
A claim that the first print condition and the other print condition of the second print condition include the first item value and do not include the second item value for the specific condition item. The printer according to any one of 1 to 3. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the one or more condition items include at least one of the format and print resolution of the target print data to be transmitted from the terminal device to the printer. When the specific condition item is in the format,
The first item value is a format different from PDF (abbreviation of Portable Document Format).
The printer according to claim 5, wherein the second item value is the PDF. The specific printing application is any one of claims 1 to 6, which is a general-purpose application capable of instructing each of a plurality of types of printers provided by a plurality of vendors including the vendor of the printer to execute printing. The printer described in paragraph 1. A protocol used for communication executed between the terminal device and the printer using the specific printing application which is the first type printing application, and the specific type which is the second type printing application. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protocol used for communication executed between the terminal device using the printing application and the printer is the same. The printer according to claim 8, wherein the protocol is IPP (abbreviation of Internet Printing Protocol). A computer program for printers
The computer of the printer
An information request receiving unit that receives an information request from a terminal device for requesting condition information indicating a print condition that can be used by the printer, wherein the information request is a specific information request for instructing the printer to perform printing. The information request receiving unit, which is transmitted from the terminal device to the printer by using the printing application in the terminal device,
A condition information determination unit that determines target condition information to be transmitted to the terminal device according to the content of the information request.
A condition information transmission unit that transmits the target condition information determined by the condition information determination unit to the terminal device, and a condition information transmission unit.
A print data receiving unit that receives target print data according to the target condition information from the terminal device after the target condition information is transmitted to the terminal device.
It functions as a print control unit that causes the print execution unit of the printer to print the target image represented by the target print data.
The condition information determination unit
Due to the fact that the specific printing application is a first-class printing application, when the information request indicates the first content, the first condition information indicating the first printing condition is used as the target condition information. Determined as
When the information request indicates a second content different from the first content because the specific printing application is a second type printing application different from the first type printing application. , A computer program that determines, as the target condition information, second condition information indicating a second print condition different from the first print condition.

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