JP2002014781A - Printing system, printing method, printing device, terminal device, and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a printing system capable of obtaining high-quality print output from a portable terminal device. An IA device (105) is connected to the Internet (103).
When printing the content information obtained via the printer, the UR of the content information is transmitted to the printing apparatus 108 through local communication.
The print instruction is notified by designating L. In response to the print instruction, the printing device 108 specifies the URL for display and notifies the server device 101 of a request for print data via the Internet 103. In response to this request, the server apparatus 101 acquires print data from the specified URL, converts the print data into PML data by the PML conversion unit 109, and
08. Printer 1 that has received PML data
In step 08, the data is converted into print data by the PML printing unit 113 and printing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a method for transferring content such as a print content or a document based on location information such as a URL of data such as a content or a document on a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone or PDA. The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device that provide a service for outputting to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable terminal device (Informat
In order to obtain a printed material from the IA (Ion Appliance, simply referred to as an IA), data such as contents and documents held or displayed on the IA are output directly from the IA to the printer.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional printing system, only data obtained from a small screen and a small capacity memory on the IA device can be printed, and similarly, the printing device is controlled. Since high-performance printer drivers and the like cannot be mounted, high-quality print output cannot be obtained.

[0004] Further, when data such as contents and documents to be printed are not stored in the IA device, it may be necessary to download large-capacity data for printing from a server device on a network. There are problems such as a large burden on line usage fees, communication time, and an increase in power consumption of the portable terminal device.

As described above, when printing from the IA device is impossible, the operator stores the position information such as the URL of the data to be printed and stores it again in a PC or the like that can use the printing device.
Time and effort such as reacquiring the data and printing it was necessary.

On the other hand, in the present application, the present applicant uses an IA to print data such as contents and documents on the Internet obtained by a portable terminal device.
A printing instruction is sent from the device to the printing device, the printing device requests the server device to print the data, and proposes a printing system in which the printing device receives the data converted for printing from the server device and outputs the data. However, in this printing system, the printing device needs to be able to connect to the Internet.

As described above, since there is a restriction on the use that the printing apparatus needs to be able to connect to the Internet, if the printing apparatus cannot connect to the Internet for some reason, Print output could not be obtained. In addition, even when the administrator of the printing apparatus does not want to bear the fee for the connection line from the printing apparatus to the Internet, the print output cannot be obtained.

Further, in the present invention, in the case of the printing system proposed above, the server device that receives a print instruction request from a printing device is usually a server device that holds content information. It is necessary that the holding server device has a conversion means for converting the content information into print data. For this reason, if the server device that holds the content information does not have a conversion unit that converts the content information into print data, the content information cannot be converted into print data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system capable of obtaining a high-quality print output from a portable terminal device as described above, and to provide a communication system for downloading data having a large communication capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device that can reduce the load on the server.

Further, the present invention provides a printing system, a printing method, and a printing method capable of printing detailed and highly accurate data even when the printing apparatus cannot be connected to the Internet.
It is another object to provide a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device.

Further, the present invention provides a printing system, a printing method, and a printing method capable of printing content information even if the server device holding the content information does not have a conversion unit for converting the content information into print data. It is another object to provide a printing device, a terminal device, and a server device.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and In a printing system in which the printing device locally connected to a device performs printing in accordance with a content information print instruction from the terminal device, the terminal device specifies the first position information of the content information and performs the printing. First transmission means for transmitting an instruction to the printing apparatus; and in response to the printing instruction, the printing apparatus specifying second position information based on the first position information to obtain print data Second transmission means for transmitting a request to the server device, and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device prints the mark in accordance with the designated second position information. The use data acquisition, characterized in that a third transmission means for transmitting to the printing apparatus.

When the printing device is not connected to the network, the printing device transmits the print data acquisition request to the server device via the terminal device in response to the print instruction. Fourth transmission means;
In response to the transmission data acquisition request, the server device acquires printing data according to the specified second position information, and transmits the printing data to the printing device via the terminal device. Transmission means.

Further, the printing apparatus is characterized in that it has a printing data generating means for generating data unique to the printing apparatus based on the printing data transmitted from the server apparatus.

[0015] The server device may further include a print data generating unit configured to generate data unique to the printing device from print data acquired based on the designated second position information. Is transmitted to the printing apparatus by the third transmitting means.

Further, the server device is provided with data conversion means for converting the acquired print data into data in a format interpretable by the printing device.

Further, the data conversion means is provided in a server device different from the server device holding the content information.

Further, the printing apparatus is provided with specifying means for specifying the server device, and notifies the specified server device of the second position information.

Further, the first position information is different from the second position information.

Further, the first position information and the second position information are the same.

Further, the second position information is indicated in the content information designated by the first position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information specified by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information.

Further, the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is HTML data which can be interpreted by the printing data generating means.

Further, the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus is an X which can be interpreted by the print data generating means.
It is characterized by being data in ML format.

Further, the terminal device, the printing device or the server device includes a position information acquiring unit for acquiring position information of content information to be printed.

Further, the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing is completed by local communication.

Further, at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet.

The server device specified by the specifying means is set by the printing device.

Further, the server device specified by the specifying means is set by the terminal device.

The server device specified by the specifying means is set by another server device.

Further, the specifying means specifies the same server device until a new setting is made.

Further, the server device specified at the time of printing by the specifying means is used only once.

A printing method according to a twenty-third aspect uses a network to which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected, and wherein the printing device locally connected to the terminal device is the terminal device. A printing method for performing printing in accordance with a print instruction for content information from the terminal device, wherein the terminal device specifies first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the printing device; In response, the printing device specifies second position information based on the first position information and transmits a print data acquisition request to the server device;
In response to the print data acquisition request, the server device acquires print data in accordance with the designated second position information and transmits the print data to the printing device.

A printing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the printing apparatus is connected to a network together with at least one server device and a terminal device, and performs printing in accordance with a content information print instruction from the locally connected terminal device. A first receiving unit configured to receive the print instruction transmitted from the terminal device by designating first position information of the content information; and, in response to the print instruction, the first position information Transmitting means for transmitting a request for obtaining print data to the server device by designating the second position information based on the second position information, and responding to the request for obtaining the print data in response to the request for obtaining the print data. And second receiving means for receiving the print data acquired in accordance with the position information.

A terminal device according to a twenty-fifth aspect is connected to a network together with at least one server device and a printing device, and instructs the locally connected printing device to print a content information and to perform printing. The apparatus includes a first transmission unit that specifies first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the printing apparatus, and in response to the print instruction, the printing apparatus transmits the first instruction to the first apparatus. A request to acquire print data is transmitted to the server device by designating second position information based on the position information, and in response to the request to acquire print data, the server device responds to the request to acquire the print data. The print data is acquired in accordance with the position information and transmitted to the printing apparatus.

The server device according to the twenty-sixth aspect is connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, and instructs the printing device locally connected to the terminal device to print a content information from the terminal device. A server device for transmitting print data for performing printing, wherein the terminal device specifies first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the printing device, and transmits the print instruction to the print device. In response to the request, the printer receives a request for obtaining print data transmitted by designating second position information based on the first position information from the printing apparatus, and responds to the request for obtainment of print data. Transmitting means for acquiring print data in accordance with the designated second position information and transmitting the data to the printing apparatus.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing method, wherein the portable terminal device issues a print request for the address designated to the printing device, and the printing device prints the address designated from the portable terminal device to the server device. Making a request, transmitting print data corresponding to an address specified to the printing device from the server device, performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device, and printing the print data transmitted from the server device. Sending a print end notification to the mobile terminal device after the end of data printing.

Further, the transmitting of the print data is characterized in that the print data corresponding to the print address derived from the display address designated by the print device is transmitted from the server device.

Further, the method further comprises a step of requesting the server device to display an address designated by the portable terminal device, and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated by the portable terminal device from the server device. Features.

In the printing method according to the thirtieth aspect, when the printing device cannot execute a print request for the specified address to the server, the mobile terminal device issues a print request for the specified address to the server device. Transmitting the print data corresponding to the address designated to the portable terminal device from the server device, transmitting the print data from the portable terminal device to the printing device, and performing printing based on the transmitted print data. And printing a print end notification to the mobile terminal device after printing of the print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device is completed.

A printing method according to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention includes a step of making a request for printing an address designated by the portable terminal device to the printing device, and a printing request of the designated address from the printing device to the access server device. And a step of sending a print request at the designated address from the access server to the server, a step of transmitting data of the designated address from the server to the access server, and converting the transmitted data to print data. Transmitting the converted print data from the access server device to the printing device; performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the access server device; and printing the print data transmitted from the access server device. Sending a print end notification to the mobile terminal device after the end And it features.

A printing method according to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention includes a step of receiving a print request of an address designated from a portable terminal device, a step of issuing a print request of an address designated from the portable terminal device to a server device, Receiving print data corresponding to the address specified from the server device, performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device, and transmitting the print data transmitted from the server device to the portable terminal device after printing is completed. Sending a print end notification.

Further, the step of transmitting the print data is characterized in that the print data corresponding to the print address derived from the display address designated by the print device is transmitted from the server device.

[0045] Further, the method further comprises a step of requesting a display of an address designated by the portable terminal from the server, and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated by the portable terminal from the server. Features.

In a printing method according to a thirty-fifth aspect, when the printing device cannot execute a print request of the specified address to the server, the printing method requests the server device to print the specified address. Receiving print data corresponding to the specified address from the device, transmitting the print data to the printing device, and receiving a print completion notification from the printing device after printing of the print data is completed. It is characterized by having.

In the printing method according to the thirty-sixth aspect, a request is made to the access server device for printing at an address designated by the portable terminal device, and the access server device is designated based on data of the designated address received from the server device. Receiving the print data converted in step (a), printing based on the received print data, and sending a print end notification to the portable terminal device after printing of the received print data is completed. .

[0048]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a printing system, a printing method, a printing device, a terminal device and a server device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment. This printing system uses a portable terminal device (Information
The system has a configuration in which an appliance (hereinafter simply referred to as an IA device) 105, a server device 101, and a printing device 108 are connected via the Internet 103. Server device 1
Reference numeral 01 connects to the Internet 103 and functions as a WEB server, and has a PML conversion unit 109. Upon receiving a request for print data from the printing device 108, the PML conversion unit 109 converts the print data into a PML (Print Mark).
(Up Language) data and send it out.
The PML conversion unit 109 skips the PML conversion when the print data is described in PML in advance.

The IA device 105 is a portable information terminal, a portable telephone, or the like, and is connected to the carrier or provider to which the device belongs via the network 104 via the network 104.
3 is connected. The IA device 105 includes a printing device communication unit 110, and performs network 1 communication such as wireless communication.
06 and can communicate with the printing device 108.

The printing device 108 is a server device communication unit 11
1, an IA communication unit 112 and a PML printing unit 113. The printing device 108 can communicate with the IA device 105 via a network such as wireless communication by the IA communication unit 112. Thus, the IA device 105 and the printing device 108
Are locally connected by a printing device communication unit 110 and an IA communication unit 112.

The printing device 108 is connected to the Internet 103 via the network 107 by the server communication unit 111. The printing device 108 is the server device 1
01 received by requesting print data from
The ML data is printed by the PML printing unit 113.

In the figure, reference numeral 114 denotes a sample of PML data transmitted from the server apparatus 101 to the printing apparatus. PM
L is an XML-based printing data description language that can be transmitted and received in arbitrary line units according to the processing capacity of the printing apparatus. It is described as added data.

The IA device 105 acquires content information from the Internet 103 through the network 104. When printing data (contents / documents) such as contents and documents as acquired content information, the IA device 105
To notify the printing apparatus 108 of the content information.

The printing device 108 receives the content information and the print request by the IA communication unit 112 transmitted from the IA device 105 via the network 106.
The printing device 108 notifies the server device 101 of a content / document request via the network 107 by the server device communication unit 111.

Upon receiving the request from the printing apparatus 108, the server apparatus 101 converts the designated content / document into PML data by the PML conversion unit 109, and transmits the PML data to the printing apparatus 108 via the network 102, the Internet 103, and the network 107. .
Upon receiving the PML data, the printing apparatus 108 converts the data into print data by the PML printing unit 113 and performs printing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a printing operation procedure of the printing system. First, the user operates the IA device 105 to specify data such as content to be displayed on the IA device 105 (S201).

The IA device 105 stores the UR of the designated data.
The location information such as L (hereinafter simply referred to as URL) is transmitted to the server apparatus 101 via the Internet 103 (S2).
02). Then, according to the http protocol, the HTM
The display data described in L or the like is acquired (S203),
The acquired display data is displayed (S204).

Thereafter, the user issues a print instruction from the IA device 105 (S205). Thereby, the IA device 10
5 designates the URL of the data displayed by the printing device communication unit 110 and makes a printing request to the printing device 108 (S206).

Upon receiving the print request, the printing device 108
Connects to the server device 101 according to the tp protocol,
The URL of the display data received from the A device 105 is notified to the server device 101 (S207).

Upon receiving the notification, the server apparatus 101 acquires display data based on the URL of the display data, extracts the URL of the print data from the display data, and extracts the print data from the URL of the print data. To get. Further, if the acquired print data is not in the PML format suitable for printing and communication, the PML conversion unit 109 converts the print data into a PML format.
The data is converted into ML data (S208), and the requesting printing apparatus 1
The PML data is transmitted to 08 (S209). If the acquired print data is in a PML format suitable for printing and communication, it is transmitted as it is.

Printer 108 that has received PML data
Interprets the PML data by the PML printing unit 113,
The data is converted into printable data and printed (S210).
When printing is completed, the printing device 108 notifies the IA device 105 of the completion of printing (S211).

As described above, in the printing system according to the first embodiment, when printing is performed from the IA
It is possible to print detailed and high-definition data larger than the data amount obtained from the small screen of the device 105, the small capacity memory, and the small network 106 having the small transmission capacity. In addition, by transmitting print data in a print data description language (PML) in XML format during printing, the communication load between the server apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 108 can be reduced. Therefore, a high-quality print output can be obtained from the terminal device, and the communication load when downloading data having a large communication capacity can be reduced.

Note that, instead of the server device 108 interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the URL for printing in step S208 of FIG.
8 may perform a process of interpreting the URL of the display data to acquire the URL for printing, and may transmit the URL for printing to the server apparatus 101 instead of the URL for display in S207. In this case, the server apparatus 101 skips the process of acquiring the print URL from the display data in S208.

Further, the server device 108 operates in S208 of FIG.
IA device 10 that issues a print instruction instead of interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the print URL
5 performs a process of interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the URL for printing, and performs the process of
A URL for printing may be transmitted instead of the RL. In this case, the server apparatus 101 skips the process of acquiring the print URL from the display data in S208.

When the IA device 105 issues a print instruction in step S205, the IA device 105 may issue a print request by designating the displayed data itself instead of a print request of the print data for the display data. In this case, the server device 10
In step S208, the process of acquiring the URL of the print data from the URL of the display data is skipped in S208, and the process of acquiring the display data is performed.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment. The first
The same components as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the printing device 108 is connected to the Internet 1 for some reason.
03 shows a printout in a case where it cannot be connected to the server device 03 and the server device communication unit 111 cannot be used. At this time, the printing device 108 can communicate with the IA device 105 via the network 106 using the printing device communication unit 110.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a printing operation procedure of the printing system according to the second embodiment. First, the user
The user operates the A device 105 to specify data such as content to be displayed on the IA device 105 (S201).

The IA device 105 transmits location information such as a designated URL (hereinafter simply referred to as a URL) to the Internet 1
The data is transmitted to the server apparatus 101 via the server 03 (S202).
Then, display data is acquired according to the http protocol (S203), and the acquired display data is displayed (S204).

Thereafter, the user issues a print instruction from the IA device 105 (S205). Thereby, the IA device 10
5 designates the URL of the data displayed by the printing device communication unit 110 and notifies the printing device 108 of a print request (S206).

Upon receiving the print request, the printing device 108 determines whether or not the printing device 108 can connect to the Internet (server device 101) (S206A). Apparatus 1
05, and notifies the IA device 105 of the URL of the display data notified from the IA device 105 (S20).
7). The IA device 105 that has been notified from the printing device 108
Is the UR of the display data received from the printing apparatus 108 by connecting to the server apparatus 101 in accordance with the http protocol.
L is notified to the server apparatus 101 (S208).

If it is determined that the printing device 108 can be connected to the Internet (server device 101), the process proceeds to step S207 in FIG. 2, where the printing device 108 is connected to the server device 101 according to the http protocol and received from the printing device 108. The URL of the display data is notified to the server apparatus 101, and the following processing in FIG. 2 is performed.

The server apparatus 101 having received the notification acquires display data based on the URL of the display data, extracts the URL of the print data from the display data, and extracts the print data from the URL of the print data. To get. Further, if the acquired print data is not in the PML format suitable for printing and communication, the PML conversion unit 109 converts the print data into a PML format.
The data is converted into ML data (S209), and the
The ML data is transmitted (S210). The IA device 105 that has received the PML data transmits the P
The ML data is transmitted to the printing device 108 (S211).
It should be noted that the acquired print data is a P which is suitable for printing and communication.
If it is in the ML format, it is transmitted as it is.

Printer 108 that has received PML data
Interprets the PML data by the PML printing unit 113,
The data is converted into printable data and printed (S212).
When the printing is completed, the printing device 108 notifies the IA device 105 of the completion of the printing (S213).

As described above, in the second embodiment, detailed and highly accurate data can be printed even when the printing apparatus 108 cannot be connected to the Internet 103.

As in the first embodiment, instead of the server device 108 interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the print URL in step S209 in FIG.
Upon receiving the print request, the printing device 108 displays the UR of the display data.
In step S2, a process of acquiring the print URL by interpreting L is performed.
At 07, a print URL may be transmitted to the IA device 105 instead of the display URL. In this case, the server apparatus 101 converts the display URL into the print URL in S209.
Skip the process of acquiring.

Further, the server device 108 executes S209 of FIG.
IA device 10 that issues a print instruction instead of interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the print URL
5 performs a process of interpreting the URL of the display data and acquiring the URL for printing, and performs steps S206, S207, and S208.
Alternatively, the print URL may be transmitted instead of the display URL. In this case, the server apparatus 101 skips the process of acquiring the print URL from the display data in S209.

Further, in the IA device 105, instead of the print request of the display data for the display data in the print instruction in S205, the print request may be made by designating the displayed data itself. In this case, the server 101
In step 209, the URL of the print data is converted to the URL of the print data.
The process of acquiring L is skipped, and the process of acquiring display data is performed.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted, and different configurations will be described. That is, in the third embodiment, the access server device 121 is connected to the Internet 103. The PML conversion unit 109 is a server device 1
01, and is provided in the access server device 121. Further, the printing device 108 is provided with an access server specifying unit 120.

The IA device 105 acquires the content information through the network 104. To print the acquired content information (content / document),
The IA device 105 notifies the printing device 108 of the content information by the printing device communication unit 110.

The printing device 108 receives content information and a print request (instruction) from the IA device 105 via the network 106 via the IA communication unit 112. The printing device 108 issues a transmission request for content information by the server device communication unit 111 and the network 107 to the server device having the address specified by the access server specifying unit 120, that is, the access server device 121.

The access server device 121 having received the request from the printing device 108 acquires data from the server device 101 holding the content information via the network 102, the Internet 103 and the network 122, and converts the data into PML data by the PML conversion unit 109. After the conversion, the data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 108 through the network 122, the Internet 103, and the network 107. Printer 108 that has received the PML data
Is converted into printing data by the PML printing unit 113 and printing is performed.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the content information can be printed even if the server device that holds the content information does not have a conversion unit that converts the content information into print data.

In the above embodiment, the PML conversion unit 109 is provided in the access server device 121, but the PML conversion unit 109 is provided in a server device different from the access server device 121.
A conversion unit may be provided.

Further, content information (content / document) may be provided in the same server device as access server device 121.

Further, the setting of the address of the server device for the access server specifying unit 120 may be performed not only by the printing device but also by the IA device, or may be performed by another server device.

The access server specifying unit 120 may specify the same server device until a new address is set, or may use the server device specified at the time of printing only once.

The above is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions described in the claims or the configurations of the embodiments are not limited thereto. Any configuration can be applied as long as it has the function that it has.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printing system in which each device is connected via the Internet has been described, but an intranet or another network may be used instead of the Internet.

Further, in the above embodiment, the PML conversion unit is provided in the server device. However, the PML conversion unit may be provided in the printing device. In this case, data such as contents and documents are transmitted from the server device to the printing device. Is transmitted as it is, and the printing apparatus converts data such as contents and documents into PML data and prints it.

Further, the server device may have a print data generation unit for generating the PML data converted by the PML conversion unit into data unique to the printing device. By transmitting to the apparatus, the processing on the printing apparatus side can be reduced.

Further, although only the terminal device has acquired the position information of the content information to be printed, the present invention is not limited to the terminal device, and any of the server device and the printing device may acquire the position information.

The network to which the server device, the IA device, and the printing device are connected includes, in addition to the Internet,
Multiple intranets such as ANs may intervene. The IA device and the printing device only need to be connected by local communication, and can be connected by wireless communication, infrared light communication, a cable, or the like.

[0094]

According to the present invention, when printing is performed from a terminal device, a detailed and high-definition image can be obtained more than the amount of data obtained through a small screen, a small memory, and a small network line with a small transmission capacity. Data can be printed. Also, by transmitting print data in a print data description language in XML format when printing, the communication load between the server device and the printing device can be reduced. In this way, high quality print output can be obtained from the terminal device,
The communication load when downloading data with a large communication capacity can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, detailed and highly accurate data can be printed even when the printing apparatus is not connected to the Internet.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to print content information even if the server device holding the content information does not have a conversion means for converting the content information into print data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation procedure of the printing system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation procedure of a printing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 server device 102, 104, 107 network 103 Internet 105 portable terminal device (IA device) 108 printing device 109 PML conversion unit 110 printing device communication unit 111 server device communication unit 112 IA communication unit 113 PML printing unit 121 access server device 120 access Server identification section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Eiichi Takagi, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Shinji Fukunaga 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Non-corporation (72) Inventor Masahiko Takaku 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toru Kimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ08 HK04 HN05 HN15 HQ07 HQ17 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB05 EE04

Claims (36)

[Claims] At least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected to a network, and the printing device locally connected to the terminal device prints according to a content information print instruction from the terminal device. A first transmission unit that specifies the first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the printing apparatus; and a terminal that performs the printing in response to the print instruction. A second transmission unit configured to specify second position information based on the first position information and transmit a print data acquisition request to the server device; and respond to the print data acquisition request. And a third transmission unit for acquiring the print data in accordance with the designated second position information and transmitting the acquired print data to the printing apparatus. Printing system. 2. When the printing device is not connected to the network, the printing device transmits the print data acquisition request to the server device via the terminal device in response to the print instruction. A fourth transmission unit, and in response to the transmission data acquisition request, the server device acquires the printing data according to the designated second position information, and acquires the printing data via the terminal device. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a fifth transmission unit configured to transmit to the apparatus. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing data generating unit configured to generate data unique to the printing apparatus based on the printing data transmitted from the server apparatus. 2. The printing system according to 2. 4. The server device according to claim 2, wherein
A print data generation unit for generating data unique to the printing apparatus from printing data acquired based on the position information of the printing apparatus, and transmitting the generated data to the printing apparatus by the third transmission unit. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 5. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a data conversion unit configured to convert the acquired print data into data in a format that can be interpreted by the printing device.
Or the printing system according to 2. 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein said data conversion means is provided in a server device different from a server device holding said content information. 7. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device includes a specifying unit that specifies the server device, and notifies the specified server device of the second position information.
7. The printing system according to 2, 5, or 6. 8. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information is different from the second position information. 9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first position information and the second position information are the same. 10. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the second position information is indicated in content information specified by the first position information. . 11. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus is content information specified by the first position information or the second position information. system. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is different from the content information specified by the first position information or the second position information. Printing system. 13. The printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is HT interpretable by the printing data generating means.
4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the data is in ML format. 14. The printing data transmitted to the printing apparatus is an XM interpretable by the printing data generating means.
The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the data is in L format. 15. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device, the printing device, or the server device includes a position information obtaining unit that obtains position information of content information to be printed. system. 16. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing device notifies the terminal device that printing has been completed by local communication. 17. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the network is the Internet or an intranet. 18. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the server device specified by the specifying unit is set by the printing device. 19. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the server device specified by the specifying unit is set by the terminal device. 20. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the server device specified by the specifying unit is set by another server device. 21. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the specifying means specifies the same server device until a new setting is made.
The printing system as described. 22. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the server device specified at the time of printing by the specifying unit is used only once. 23. Using a network to which at least one server device, a terminal device, and a printing device are connected, the printing device locally connected to the terminal device transmits a content information print instruction from the terminal device. Therefore, in a printing method for performing printing, the terminal device specifies first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the printing device; and in response to the printing instruction, the printing device Transmitting a print data acquisition request to the server device by designating second position information based on the first position information; and in response to the print data acquisition request, the server device Acquiring printing data in accordance with the designated second position information and transmitting the data to the printing apparatus. 24. A printing apparatus which is connected to a network together with at least one server apparatus and a terminal apparatus and performs printing in accordance with a print instruction of content information from the locally connected terminal apparatus, wherein First receiving means for receiving the print instruction transmitted by designating first position information of information; and responding to the print instruction, receiving second position information based on the first position information. A transmitting unit that transmits a request to acquire the print data to the server device by specifying the request, and a request to acquire the print data is acquired from the server device in accordance with the designated second position information in response to the request to acquire the print data. A printing apparatus comprising: a second receiving unit that receives printing data. 25. A terminal device which is connected to a network together with at least one server device and a printing device, and instructs the locally connected printing device to perform printing by instructing printing of content information, and A first transmission unit that transmits the print instruction to the printing device by designating the first position information, and in response to the print instruction, the printing device performs a second transmission based on the first position information. A request for obtaining print data is transmitted to the server device by designating the position information, and in response to the request for obtaining print data, the server device prints the print data in accordance with the specified second position information. A terminal device that acquires the information and transmits it to the printing device. 26. A printing apparatus which is connected to a network together with a terminal device and a printing device, and causes the printing device locally connected to the terminal device to perform printing in accordance with a content information print instruction from the terminal device. A server device for transmitting data, wherein the terminal device specifies the first position information of the content information and transmits the print instruction to the print device, and in response to the print instruction, Receiving means for receiving the print data acquisition request transmitted by designating the second position information based on the first position information; and receiving the print data acquisition request in response to the print data acquisition request. A transmission unit for acquiring print data in accordance with the position information and transmitting the print data to the printing apparatus. 27. A step of making a print request from a portable terminal device to an address designated to a printing device, a step of making a print request from a printing device to a server device to an address designated by the portable terminal device, Transmitting print data corresponding to an address specified to the printing device from the server, performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device, and completing the printing of the print data transmitted from the server device. And providing a print end notification to the user. 28. The step of transmitting the print data,
28. The printing method according to claim 27, wherein the server transmits print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address designated to the print device. 29. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of: a request for display of an address specified by the portable terminal device to the server device; and a step of transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated to the portable terminal device by the server device. The printing method according to claim 27, characterized in that: 30. When the printing device cannot execute a print request of the specified address to the server, the mobile device requests the server to print the specified address. Transmitting print data corresponding to an address designated to the device; transmitting print data from the portable terminal device to the printing device; performing printing based on the transmitted print data; and transmitting from the portable terminal device Sending a print end notification to the mobile terminal device after printing the selected print data. 31. A step of making a print request of an address specified from a portable terminal device to a printing device; a step of making a print request of a specified address from a printing device to an access server device; Sending a print request of an address specified to the device; transmitting data of the specified address from the server device to the access server device; converting the transmitted data into print data; Transmitting the converted print data to the printing device; performing printing based on the print data transmitted from the access server device; and ending printing on the mobile terminal device after the printing of the print data transmitted from the access server device is completed. Performing a notification. 32. A step of receiving a print request of an address designated from a portable terminal device, a step of making a print request of an address designated from the portable terminal device to a server device, and an address designated by the server device. Receiving print data corresponding to the above, printing based on the print data transmitted from the server device, and performing a print completion notification to the portable terminal device after printing of the print data transmitted from the server device is completed. A printing method comprising: 33. The step of transmitting the print data,
33. The printing method according to claim 32, wherein the server device transmits print data corresponding to a print address derived from a display address designated to the print device. 34. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of: requesting the server device to display an address designated by the portable terminal device; and transmitting display data corresponding to the address designated by the portable terminal device from the server device. 33. The printing method according to claim 32, wherein: 35. When the printing device cannot execute a print request of the designated address to the server, the printing device issues a print request of the designated address to the server device; Receiving print data to be printed, transmitting the print data to the printing device, and receiving a print completion notification from the printing device after printing of the print data is completed. Method. 36. A step of requesting the access server device to print a designated address from the portable terminal device, and receiving print data converted by the access server device from the designated address data received from the server device. Performing printing based on the received print data, and sending a print completion notification to the portable terminal device after the printing of the received print data is completed.