JPH10191453A - Data transfer output system and information processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transfer output system which transfers document data or the like prepared by a personal digital assistant(PDA) to a printer installed at a shop designated by a user to allow the printer to print out the document data. SOLUTION: Document data and position information (or information relating to a succeeding mobile location) prepared by a PDA 10 are transmitted to a service center 20 via a personal handy phone system(PHS) center 40 and the service center 20 selects information relating to a shop (a gas station in the case that a user is in a vehicle) being a print proposed location where a printer 30 is installed closer to the PDA 10 (or a succeeding moving location) than a database, transmits the information to the PDA 10 and the user designates the print location among the print proposed location displayed on the PDA 10 to allow the service center 20 to transfer document data to the designated printer 30, where the document is printed out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a data transfer output system which enables printout of document data of a portable information terminal in printing apparatuses installed in various stores scattered in an area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), which are small portable information terminals provided with functions such as a timekeeping function, a scheduler function, a document creation function, and a communication function (PHS function, facsimile function, etc.), etc. Has also begun to spread, and users can easily manage their own schedules, search for various types of information, or create documents and the like using a portable information terminal without being affected by time or place.

[0003] Further, the PDA is provided with communication functions such as a PHS function and a facsimile function so that it can exchange data with an external device having the communication function and receive information from a network that provides various information. It is also possible. When the PHS function is used, a position registration function for updating and registering its own position is provided, and the position information of the PDA is monitored by the PHS service control station, which is the master station on the PHS side, so that the position of the PDA can be known. Has become.

[0004]

However, a small portable information terminal such as a PDA usually does not have a printer for printing out data, and attempts to print out a document or the like created while moving or on the go. Also could not be done easily.

An object of the present invention is to transfer document data or the like created in a portable information terminal such as a PDA to a printing device installed in a store designated by a user and print out the document data or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data transfer output system which can be used.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a data transfer output system includes a portable information terminal having a document creation function and a communication function, and a monitor for monitoring position information of the portable information terminal. Means, printing devices scattered in the relevant area, installed in various stores that provide a print service for transfer data, a database storing information on the positions of the printing devices, and document data and printing created from a portable information terminal. When the request is transmitted, the database is searched based on the position information of the portable information terminal from the monitoring unit, and one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that are candidates for a printing place are selected,
Transmits information about the store where the selected printing device is installed to the portable information terminal, and prints the document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by the printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. Service center that allows the user to send document data created from the portable information terminal to the service center when trying to print a document or the like created on the portable information terminal. A database is searched for a suitable print candidate location that is close to the information terminal, and the search result is transmitted to the portable information terminal. When the user specifies a print location from the print candidate locations transmitted to the portable information terminal, the service is provided. The center will transfer the document data to the specified printing device and print out the document data on the specified printing device. That. As a result, the data transfer output system enables print output of a document or the like created by the portable information terminal even when the user is traveling or traveling.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a data transfer output system includes a portable information terminal having a document creation function, a communication function, a scheduler function, and a clock function, and a portable information terminal which is scattered in a corresponding area and transmits data. A printing device installed in various stores that provide a printing service, a database that stores information on the position of the printing device, and when the document data and print request created from the mobile information terminal are transmitted, the mobile information terminal A database is searched based on the transmitted supplementary information, and one or a plurality of printing apparatuses that are candidates for a printing place are selected, and information on a shop where the selected printing apparatus is installed is transmitted to the portable information terminal. A service center for printing document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by a printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. When the user wants to print a document or the like created on the portable information terminal, the user sends the document data created from the portable information terminal to the service center together with the supplementary information. A search is made for a print candidate location in consideration of the information from the database, and the search result is transmitted to the portable information terminal. When the user designates the print location from the print candidate locations transmitted to the portable information terminal, the service center transmits the document. The data is transferred to the designated printing device, and the designated printing device can print out the document data. As a result, this data transfer output system enables print output of a document or the like created by a portable information terminal at a printing device installation location in consideration of user's incidental information.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of an embodiment of a data transfer output system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a PDA 10 is applied as a portable information terminal, and a PHS center 40 is applied as a device for monitoring the position information of the PDA 10 (note that the PDA 10 is a portable information terminal). When the vehicle is in the vehicle, the position of the PDA may be grasped from the position information of the GPS unit 3).

First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire data transfer output system according to the first embodiment.

The data transfer output system according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle electronic control unit 1, a PDA 10, a service center 20, and a printing device 30, a PHS center 40, and a printing device 30 in various stores that provide printing services. Network 24 connecting service center 20, PH
It comprises a base station 41 on the S center 40 side.

The electronic control unit 1 for a vehicle is an electronic control unit for controlling the GPS unit 3 among various electronic control units mounted on the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. And the arithmetic processing function and PD
It has a short-range communication function with A10 or the like, and can perform data communication with the PDA 10 (details of the vehicle electronic control device 1 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2).

PDA (Personal Digital Assistants)
Reference numeral 10 denotes a user having a document creation function capable of inputting and creating data by key input or PIN input, a clock function, a personal data management function (PIM function) such as a scheduler, and a communication function such as a PHS function. Is a small portable information terminal carried by the vehicle, and also has a function of communicating with the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle at a short distance (details of the PDA 10 are described later with reference to FIG. 3).

The service center 20 is provided with a database 23 of various stores in which the printing devices 30 are scattered in the area and information on printing services in the stores, and a printing device suitable for a print request from the PDA 10 of the user. 30 is selected, and the user transmits the document data to the printing device 30 designated by the user and causes the printing device 30 to print the document data (the details of the service center 20 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4). In addition, the service center 20 creates password data and transmits it to both the PDA 10 and the printing device 30.

The printing apparatus 30 is installed in various stores (for example, convenience stores, gas stations, etc.) that provide printing services scattered in the area, and receives print data from a user and prints out the data. The print data sent from the PDA 10 to the PHS center 40 is the PHS
The password is transmitted from the center 40 to the printing device 30 via the service center 20 (or directly without passing) (at this time, the password data is transmitted from the service center 20 to the PDA).
10 and the printing device 30). Then, the printed document is received by the user who has requested the printing service, paying a prescribed fee to the store. However, when the secret data is created, the printer 3
The 0 side and the user of the PDA 10 confirm whether the password data (such as a password) received from the service center 20 matches each other.

The PHS center 40 is a PHS service control station serving as a master station of the base station 41 installed in order to receive radio waves from the PDA 10. Monitors the location information of the PDA 10 which is a terminal, and transmits received data from the PDA 10 to the service center 20 or transmits data from the service center 20 to the PDA 10 via base stations 41 distributed in the area. (However, the print data may be directly transmitted to the printing device 30 without transmitting to the service center 20).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a vehicle electronic control unit 1 which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

The electronic control unit 1 for a car includes a CPU 2, a GPS
Unit 3, display unit 4, input unit 5, RAM 6, ROM
7, a storage device 8 having a storage medium 8a, a communication unit 9, and the like, and these components are interconnected via a bus 1a.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
Stores, in a program storage area in the RAM 6, an application program designated from among a system program stored in the storage device 8 and various application programs corresponding to the system program,
Various instructions or data input from the GPS unit 3, the input unit 5, and the PDA 10 (via the communication unit 9) are stored in the RAM 6, and are stored in the storage device 8 according to the input instructions or input data. Various processes are executed according to the application program, and the processing results are
The data is stored in the AM 6 and transmitted to the PDA 10 to the communication unit 9.

GPS unit (Global Positioning Sys
tem Unit) 3 receives radio waves from geosynchronous satellites (at least three or more) using a dedicated antenna installed in the car, calculates the position (longitude, latitude) of the car, and determines the optimal route to the destination. This device performs calculation, distance calculation to the destination, and the like. The calculation result (hereinafter, this calculation result is referred to as GPS information) is sent to the CPU 2, and the CPU 2 stores the received data on the calculation result in the RAM 6. . The GPS unit is usually provided with a display unit, which is an image display device that performs CRT display and LCD display, and visually displays the above calculation results on a map or the like on a screen.
Further, the calculation result is transmitted from the communication unit 9 to the PDA 10 as necessary (in response to a request from the PDA 10).

Normally, the GPS unit 3 itself has a dedicated CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like.
Is configured to send only an operation instruction or an operation result data transmission instruction to a dedicated CPU, receive the operation result, and store it in the RAM 6.

The display unit 4 is composed of an image display device that performs CRT display or LCD display, and the position (longitude and latitude) of the car, the optimal route to the destination, and the distance to the destination by the GPS unit 3. , Etc. are displayed.

The input unit 5 is an input unit for inputting various data such as initial setting data to the GPS unit 3 and for inputting a display switching instruction on the display unit 4.

A RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 6 is a C
It comprises a storage area for temporarily storing various programs and data to be processed by the PU2, and the stored various programs and data are also read out.

In the RAM 6, the GPS unit 3
Data relating to GPS information (the position of the car, the optimal route to the destination, the distance to the destination, etc.) is temporarily stored.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 7 is a CPU 2
This is a read-only memory that reads out data stored in response to an instruction from the server, and stores a dedicated program for processing various data related to vehicle monitoring and control.

The storage device 8 has a storage medium 8a in which programs, data and the like are stored, and this storage medium 8a is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. In addition, the storage medium 8a is fixedly provided in the storage device 8, or is detachably mounted.

The storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, various data input processing, communication processing, detection processing, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 8 may be configured to be received from another device connected via a communication line or the like and stored. A storage device having the above storage medium may be provided on another connected device side, and the program and data stored in this storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The communication unit 9 is a PDA 1 carried by the user.
A communication device for performing communication (for example, infrared communication) in a short distance with 0, and transmits a signal (for example, a signal indicating that the transmission source is a car) to the PDA 10 to specify the transmission source.

FIG. 3 shows a PDA (Pe) which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a rsonal digital assistant (10).

The PDA 10 includes a CPU 11, a PHS unit 12, a display unit 13, a clock unit 14a, an input unit 14b,
It comprises an AM 15, a ROM 16, a storage device 17 having a storage medium 17a, a communication unit 18, and the like, and these components are interconnected via a bus 10a.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11
Stores a system program stored in the storage device 17 and an application program designated from among various application programs corresponding to the system program in a program storage area in the RAM 15, and stores the PHS unit 12, the clock unit 14a, Part 14
b, various instructions or data input from the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle (via the communication unit 18) and the PHS 40 (that is, the service center 20) via the base station 41 are transmitted to the R
Various processes are executed in accordance with an application program stored in the storage device 17 in accordance with the input instruction or the input data.
Stored in the RAM 15 and the service center 2
Data to be sent to 0 (document data, print request data, etc.)
Is read from the RAM 15 and input to the PHS unit 12. Also, the transmission data to the electronic control unit 1 of the car is
The data is read from the RAM 15 and input to the communication unit 18.

PHS unit (Personal Handy-phone S)
The system unit 12 transmits data (document data, print request data, and the like) input from the CPU 11 to the external wireless base station 41 from the attached small antenna 12a by PHS.
This device transmits in the form of radio waves based on the communication protocol.

The display unit 13 has a display screen capable of LCD display and CRT display, and is a device for displaying various data input from the CPU 11 on the display screen.

The clock section 14a is a device having a timekeeping function. Information on the time to be timed is displayed on the display section 13, and the CPU 11 inputs data accompanied by time information (for example, data on a schedule). When saving or the like, time information is input to the CPU 11 from the clock unit 14a, and the CPU 11 performs the above operation based on the input time information.

The input section 14b is composed of various function keys and a display screen for performing pen input (the display screen in this case is almost the display screen of the display section 13) and the like. Input of data related to schedules, input of various search commands, and PD by input and pen input (including handwritten character recognition by pen)
An input device for inputting various settings of A10, etc., and outputs a key input or a pen input signal to the CPU 11.

A RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 15
It comprises a storage area for temporarily storing various programs and data which are processed by the CPU 11, and also reads out the stored various programs and data.

The RAM 15 has an input instruction or input data from the input section 14b, various data (including password data) transmitted from the service center 20 or the like through the PHS unit 12, and the CPU 11 has a storage medium 17a.
A processing result, schedule data, and the like processed according to the program code read from the program are temporarily stored.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 16 has a CPU
2 is a read-only memory for reading stored data in accordance with an instruction from the second memory.

The storage device 17 has a storage medium 17a in which programs, data, and the like are stored. The storage medium 17a is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. In addition, the storage medium 17a
The storage device 17 is provided fixedly or detachably mounted.

This storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, display processing, communication processing, input processing, data (including schedule data) processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 17 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. A storage device having the above storage medium may be provided on another connected device side, and the program and data stored in this storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The communication unit 18 is a communication device for performing short-distance communication (for example, infrared communication) with the communication unit 9 of the electronic control unit 1 of the car, and is used when a user carries the PDA 10 and gets on the car. The communication unit 18 receives a signal transmitted from the communication unit 9 of the electronic control device 1 (for example, a signal indicating that the vehicle is a car), and transmits the received signal to the CPU 11 so that the PDA 10 Detects riding.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a service center 20, which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

The service center 20 has the communication unit 2
1, an information retrieval device 22, a database 23, and the like.

The communication unit 21 transmits the PH from the PDA 10
Document data transmitted via S center 40 and PD
Data on the location of A10 (GP if you are in the car)
The position information by the S unit 3 is received, and the received data is input to the information search device 22. The data retrieved by the information retrieval device 22 and the password data created are transmitted to the PDA 10 and the printing device 30 via the communication unit 21.

The information retrieval device 22 has a CPU 22 inside.
a, RAM 22b, ROM 22c, and storage medium 22e
, Which are connected to each other via a bus 22f.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22
a stores an application program designated from among a system program stored in the storage device 22d and various application programs corresponding to the system program in a program storage area in the RAM 22b. Various instructions or data to be input are stored in the RAM 22b, and various processes are executed in accordance with the application instructions or the application programs stored in the storage device 22d in accordance with the input instructions or the input data.
2b as well as the PDA 10 and the printing device 30.
Is read from the RAM 22b and output to the communication unit 21.

The CPU 22a is provided with the communication unit 21.
The database 23 is searched based on the data on the position of the PDA 10 input through the PDA 10 (ie,
The information about the store where the printing apparatus 30 is installed near the user is extracted from the database 23 (at this time, when the PDA 10 is in the car, the gas station is extracted as the store), and the extracted data is transmitted. Output to the unit 21. The communication unit 21 is a PDA1
When the user inputs the information on the designated printing device 30 received from 0, password data and the like are created, and document data and password data are output to the communication unit 21.

RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 22b
Is composed of a storage area for temporarily storing various programs, data, and the like, which are processed by the CPU 22a. The stored various programs, data, and the like are also read.

The RAM 22b temporarily stores input data from the communication unit 21, output data from the communication unit 21, data retrieved and extracted from the database 23 by the CPU 22a in accordance with a program code read from the storage medium 22e, and the like. You.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 16 has a CPU
This is a read-only memory that reads out data stored in accordance with an instruction from 22a.

The storage device 22d has a storage medium 22e in which programs, data, and the like are stored, and the storage medium 22e is formed of a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. In addition, the storage medium 22e
Are fixedly provided on the storage device 22d or detachably mounted.

This storage medium stores a system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, communication processing, input processing, search processing, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 22e may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like. A storage device having the above storage medium may be provided on another connected device side, and the program and data stored in this storage medium may be used via a communication line.

The database 23 stores the service center 2
0 is a collection of data files in which information relating to various stores (for example, convenience stores and gas stations in nearby areas) in which the printing apparatus 30 provided by the printer 0 and print services at the stores are integrated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the file contents stored in the database 23 of the service center 20.

The file contents shown in FIG.
And information on various stores that provide a print service by installing a print service and print services at the store.

The item of the output destination includes data relating to the store name, the item of the location includes data relating to the location of the store, the item of the fee includes data relating to the fee per printed material, and the item of the type includes the data relating to the store. (For example, type X is a store related to a convenience store, type Y is a store related to a gas station, etc.), and the item of use time stores data related to the business hours of the store. .

For example, when looking specifically at the data of the A store, the location of the A store is X × XX2-1, the printing fee is 10 yen per sheet, and the business contents of the store are of the type. Classified as X (convenience store) and open 24 hours.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the PDA 1 from when the user creates a document on the PDA 10 until the user receives the printed document.
FIG. 2 is a diagram describing, in a time series, data exchange between a service center 0, a service center 20, and a printing device 30 designated by a user.

First, a user creates a document using the PDA 10 (step P1). Then, an output request for printing the created document, that is, the user performs an input operation from the input unit 14b of the PDA 10 to output the created document (step P2). At this time, when the PDA 10 is in the car, Then, GPS information is obtained from the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle (step P3). Then, the document data is converted to (PDA
If the GPS 10 is in the vehicle, the GPS data is also transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 (step P4).

The service center 20 has the communication unit 2
1, the information search device 22 searches the database 23 based on the received position information of the PDA 10 (GPS information when the PDA 10 is in a car) and print candidates. A place is selected (step Q2). Then, data on the selected print candidate location is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q
3).

The PDA 10 displays the print candidate location received from the service center on the display unit 13 (step P).
5) When the user designates a print location from the displayed print candidate locations, the PDA 10 transmits data on the designated print location to the service center 20 (step P6).

When the service center 20 receives the data relating to the designated print location (step Q4), it calculates a password as personal identification data based on, for example, the terminal number of the PDA 10 (step Q5), and prints it through the communication unit. The document data and the password are transmitted to the device 30 (step Q6), and the password is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q7). At this time, the document data is directly transmitted from the PDA 10 without passing through the service center 20.
A configuration in which the data is transmitted to the designated printing device 30 may be used.

The designated printing device 30 receives the document data and the password from the service center 20 (step R1), and prints out the received document data (step R2). The PDA 10 is a service center 2
The password is received from 0 (step P7).

Then, at the store where the designated printing apparatus 30 is installed, after confirming the password, the printed matter is given to the user (step R3).

FIG. 7 shows that the service center 20 has a PDA
10 is a flowchart of a subroutine performed when document data (including GPS data) is received from the MFP 10 and a print location candidate of the document data is selected.

The program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is stored in the storage medium 22e of the information search device 22 in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 22a of the information search device 22 of the service center 20.

First, in step S1, the current time is checked, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, a store providing a print service at the current time as the output destination of the document data is selected, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the service center 20
Determines whether or not GPS-related data has been received from the PDA 10. If GPS-related data has been received, the process proceeds to step S4. If GPS-related data has not been received, the process proceeds to step S5. Transition.

In step S4, if the data relating to the GPS 3 has been received, the user carrying the PDA 10 is in the car.
In step 3, the information on the type Y store (gas station) that provides the printing service is searched with priority, and the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S5, if the data relating to GPS3 has not been received, the database 23 is searched for information relating to nearby print service shops based on the PHS location information, that is, the location information of the user. Then, control goes to a step S6.

In step S6, the search results are arranged and P
The data is configured to be transmitted to the DA 10, and the process returns to the main flow.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the document data (PDA
GPS data if 10 is in the car), PHS
Transmitted to the service center 20 via the center 40,
The service center 20 receives the PDA1 from the database 23
Information about a store (a gas station in the case of a car), which is a printing candidate place where the printing apparatus 30 is installed near 0, is selected, and the information is transmitted to the PDA 10. Then, when the user designates a print location from among the print candidate locations displayed on the PDA 10, the document data can be transferred from the service center 20 to the designated printing device 30 and printed out.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, when a candidate printing place is selected in the service center 20 based on data transmitted from the PDA 10, in the first embodiment, a document is sent from the PDA 10 to the service center 20. The location information of the PDA 10 (or information from the GPS 3 when in a car) is transmitted together with the data, and the PDA is transmitted.
Printing device 30 near the current location of 10 (user)
However, in the second embodiment, the information about the planned travel destination such as a visit destination, which is determined from the user's schedule stored in the PPDA 10, is sent to the service center 20 together with the document data.
In the above, the printing device 30 located near the place to be moved is selected.

It is to be noted that the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except that the printing candidate location is selected based on the information on the planned moving location found from the user's schedule.

FIG. 8 shows the PDA 1 from when the user creates a document on the PDA 10 until the user receives the printed document.
FIG. 2 is a diagram describing, in a time series, data exchange between a service center 0, a service center 20, and a printing device 30 designated by a user.

First, the user creates a document using the PDA 10 (step P'1). Then, an output request for printing the created document, that is, the user performs an input operation from the input unit 14b of the PDA 10 to output the created document (step P'2), and at this time, the schedule stored in the RAM 6 The next schedule information estimated from the current time is obtained from the data (step P ′).
3). Then, the data of the next scheduled place to be moved (for example, the next visit) determined from the document data and the schedule,
The data is transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 (step P'4).

The service center 20 has the communication unit 2
1, the information search device 22 searches the database 23 based on the received data of the next planned place of movement and selects a print candidate place (step Q'1). '2). And
The data on the selected print candidate location is transmitted to the PDA 10 (step Q'3).

The PDA 10 displays the print candidate location received from the service center on the display unit 13 (step P'5). When the user designates a print location from the displayed print candidate locations, the PDA 10 designates the print location. Data on the printing location is transmitted to the service center 20 (step P'6).

When the service center 20 receives the data on the designated print location (step Q'4),
A password as personal identification data is calculated based on, for example, the terminal number of the PDA 10 (step Q'5), and the document data and the password are transmitted to the printing device 30 through the communication unit (step Q'6). The password is transmitted (step Q'7). At this time, the document data may be directly transmitted from the PDA 10 to the designated printing device 30 without passing through the service center 20.

The designated printing device 30 receives the document data and the password from the service center 20 (step R'1), and prints out the received document data (step R'2). Further, the PDA 10 receives the password from the service center 20 (Step P'7).

Then, at the store where the designated printing apparatus 30 is installed, after confirming the password, the printed matter is given to the user (step R'3).

FIG. 9 shows that the service center 20 has a PDA
10 is a flowchart of a subroutine that is performed when document data (including data related to a moving place such as a visiting place stored in the schedule) is received from the scheduler 10 and a print place candidate for the document data is selected (step Q′2).

The programs for realizing the functions described in this flowchart are stored in the storage medium 22e of the information search device 22 in the form of program codes readable by the CPU 22a of the information search device 22 of the service center 20.

In step T1, the database 23 is searched on the basis of the data on the planned travel destination such as the visit received from the PDA 10, and the process proceeds to step T2. In step T2, the search results can be arranged and transmitted to the PDA 10. The process returns to step Q′3 with the data configuration.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the document data created in the PDA 10 is transmitted to the service center 20 via the PHS center 40 together with the data relating to the next scheduled place to be determined from the schedule. Then, the service center 20 selects from the database 23 information about a store that is a printing candidate place where the printing apparatus 30 near the next planned moving place is installed, and transmits the information to the PDA 10. And
When the user designates a print location from the print candidate locations displayed on the PDA 10, the document data can be transferred from the service center 20 to the designated printing device 30 and printed out.

[0092]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a data transfer output system includes a portable information terminal having a document creation function and a communication function, monitoring means for monitoring position information of the portable information terminal, and a corresponding area. Printing devices installed in various stores that provide a print data transfer service, a database that stores information on the positions of the printing devices, and document data and print requests created from the portable information terminal. At this time, the database is searched based on the position information of the portable information terminal from the monitoring unit, and one or a plurality of printing devices as printing site candidates are selected, and information on a store where the selected printing device is installed is provided. To the portable information terminal, and print the document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by the printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. Service center, the user transmits document data created from the portable information terminal to the service center when printing a document or the like created by the portable information terminal. Searches the database for a suitable print candidate location that is close to the location of, sends the search result to the mobile information terminal, and when the user specifies a print location from the print candidate locations sent to the mobile information terminal, the service center Then, the document data is transferred to the designated printing device, and the designated printing device can print out the document data. As a result, the data transfer output system enables print output of a document or the like created by the portable information terminal even when the user is traveling or traveling.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a data transfer output system includes a portable information terminal having a document creation function, a communication function, a scheduler function, and a clock function, and a print function for printing transfer data scattered in a corresponding area. A printing device installed in various stores that provide services, a database storing information on the position of the printing device, and a document data created from the portable information terminal and a print request transmitted from the portable information terminal when transmitted. Searching the database based on the incidental information and selecting one or more printing devices that are candidates for a printing place, transmitting information on the shop where the selected printing device is installed to the portable information terminal, A service center for printing document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by a printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content; By providing a user,
When printing a document or the like created with a portable information terminal, the document data created from the portable information terminal is transmitted to the service center together with the supplementary information. And send the search results to a personal digital assistant,
When the user designates a print location from the print candidate locations transmitted to the portable information terminal, the service center transfers the document data to the designated printing device, and the designated printing device can print out the document data. Become. As a result, this data transfer output system enables the printout of a document or the like created by the portable information terminal at the printing device installation location in consideration of the user's incidental information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of a data transfer output system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a vehicle electronic control device 1, which is one of components of a data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a PDA (Personal Digital Assembly) which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an istants 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a service center 20, which is one of the components of the data transfer output system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of file contents stored in a database 21 of the service center 20;

FIG. 6 illustrates, in chronological order, data exchange between the PDA 10, the service center 20, and the printing device 30 designated by the user from the time when the user creates a document on the PDA 10 to the time when the printed document is received. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine performed when the service center 20 receives document data (including GPS data) from the PDA 10 and selects a print location candidate for the document data.

FIG. 8 shows data between the PDA 10, the service center 20, and the printing device 30 specified by the user according to the second embodiment, from when the user creates a document on the PDA 10 until the user receives the printed document. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the exchange of the time series.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine performed by the service center 20 when receiving document data from the PDA 10 (including data relating to a moving location such as a visiting location stored in the schedule) and selecting a printing location candidate for the document data. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 electronic control device of car 2 CPU (related to electronic control device 1 of car) 3 GPS unit 4 display unit 5 input unit 6 RAM (related to electronic control device 1 of car) 7 ROM (related to electronic control device 1 of car) 8) Storage device (related to the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle) 8a Storage medium (related to the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle) 9 Communication unit (related to the electronic control unit 1 of the vehicle) 10 PDA 11 CPU (related to the PDA 10) 12 PHS unit 13 Display unit 14a Clock unit 14b Input unit 15 RAM (related to PDA10) 16 ROM (related to PDA10) 17 Storage device (related to PDA10) 17a Storage medium (related to PDA10) 18 Communication unit (related to PDA10) 20 Information service center 21 Communication unit 22 Information search device 22a CPU 22b RAM (PDA 0 according to) related to 22c ROM (PDA 10) according to 22d storage device (PDA 10) according to 22e storage medium (PDA 10) 23 database 24 network 30 printer 40 PHS center 41 radio base station

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal having a document creation function and a communication function, monitoring means for monitoring position information of the portable information terminal, and various stores scattered in a corresponding area and providing a print service of transfer data. An installed printing device, a database for storing information on the position of the printing device, and when document data and a print request created from the mobile information terminal are transmitted, the mobile information terminal Searching the database based on the position information, selecting one or more printing devices that are candidates for a printing place, transmitting information on the store where the selected printing device is installed to the portable information terminal, A service center for printing document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by a printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. Data transfer output system according to claim. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when printing the document data from said portable information terminal, said service center creates password data and transmits said password data to said printing device and said portable information terminal. The data transfer output system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The portable information terminal further has a function of transmitting additional information to the service center, and the service center selects the printing device in consideration of the additional information. Item 3. The data transfer output system according to item 1 or 2. 4. The supplementary information is information on whether the portable information terminal is in a car or not, a part of the printing device is arranged in a gas station, and the portable information terminal is in a car. 4. The data transfer output system according to claim 3, wherein in some cases, the service center selects a printing device installed in a gas station. 5. A portable information terminal having a document creation function, a communication function, a scheduler function, and a clock function; a printing device scattered in a corresponding area and installed in various stores that provide a print service of transfer data; A database storing information relating to the position of the printing apparatus, and when the document data created from the portable information terminal and the print request are transmitted, the database is searched based on the supplementary information transmitted from the portable information terminal. And selecting one or more printing devices as candidates for a printing place, transmitting information on the store where the selected printing device is installed to the portable information terminal, and selecting the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. And a service center for printing the document data transmitted from the portable information terminal by the selected printing device. system. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when printing the document data from said portable information terminal, said service center creates password data and transmits said password data to said printing device and said portable information terminal. The data transfer output system according to claim 5, wherein 7. The supplementary information is information relating to the position of the next scheduled moving place stored in the schedule estimated from the request time of the print request, and the service center prints near the planned moving place. 7. An apparatus is selected.
2. A data transfer output system according to claim 1. 8. A portable information terminal having a document creation function and a communication function, monitoring means for monitoring position information of the portable information terminal, and various stores scattered in a corresponding area and providing a transfer data printing service. An information processing apparatus on a network in which the installed printing apparatus and a database storing information on the position of the printing apparatus are connected by a communication line, wherein the document data and print request created from the portable information terminal are Means for searching the database based on the position information of the portable information terminal from the monitoring means to select one or a plurality of printing apparatuses which are candidates for a printing place, Means for transmitting information about the store in which the printing device is installed to the portable information terminal, and a printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the content of the transmission. Means for printing the document data transmitted from the portable information terminal. 9. A portable information terminal having a document creation function, a communication function, a scheduler function, and a clock function, a printing apparatus scattered in a corresponding area, and installed in various stores that provide a print service of transfer data, An information processing apparatus connected to a database that stores information on the position of the printing apparatus via a communication line, wherein when the document data created by the portable information terminal and a print request are transmitted, Means for searching the database based on the transmitted schedule information and selecting one or a plurality of printing apparatuses as printing location candidates; and transmitting the information on the shop where the selected printing apparatus is installed to the portable information. Means for transmitting to the terminal, and document data transmitted from the portable information terminal to a printing device selected by the portable information terminal based on the transmission content. An information processing apparatus, comprising: means for printing.