Printing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printing device. A printing device includes: a transmitter; a printing device; a communication interface that performs wireless communication with a plurality of external devices; a storage device; and a controller that performs: registering device information of a specific external device in the storage device; determining whether device information of an external device newly connected to the printing device is registered in the storage device; when it is determined that the device information is not registered, placing a connection to an external device in a pause state; prompting an external device registered in the storage device to confirm whether to release the pause state of an external device; receiving a notification from a registered external device; and releasing the pause state in an external device when the received notification indicates that release of the pause state is allowed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus that performs wireless communication with an external device. Background Art

[0002] A prior art printer that communicates with a plurality of communication devices through wireless communication is known (for example, see JP-A-2018-183901). In this prior art printer, when print data is received from any one of the plurality of communication devices in a state where print processing based on the print data from any one of the plurality of communication devices is not performed, control is performed so that print data is not received from communication devices other than the first communication device that is a transmission source of the print data among the plurality of communication devices until the print processing based on the print data is completed.

[0003] However, when a printer like the related art can be connected to a plurality of external devices by wireless communication, if printing can be performed by unnecessarily connecting to an unspecified external device, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring security. On the contrary, it is difficult for the printing device itself to confirm whether the security of the operation terminal requesting connection to the printing device is ensured, and there is a need for a configuration capable of determining the execution of the requested connection. Summary of the invention

[0004] An illustrative aspect of the present disclosure provides a printing apparatus capable of enhancing security in wireless communication with an operation terminal.

[0005] According to an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including: a conveying unit configured to convey a printing medium; a printing unit configured to form a print on the printing medium; a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a plurality of external devices by mutually identifying a wireless communication method; a storage device storing information; and a controller configured to perform: a device information registration process that registers device information of a specific external device in the storage device; a registration determination process that determines whether device information of an external device newly connected to the printing apparatus via the communication unit is registered in the storage device; a connection suspension process that puts a connection to the one external device in a suspended state in a case where it is determined in the registration determination process that the device information is not registered; a release confirmation process that prompts the external device registered in the storage device to confirm whether to release the suspended state of the one external device in the device information registration process; a permission / prohibition reception process that receives a notification of permission / prohibition of release of the suspended state from the external device corresponding to the release confirmation process; and a suspension release process that releases the suspended state in the one external device based on receiving a notification of release permission of the suspended state in the permission / prohibition reception process.

[0006] The printing apparatus of the present disclosure can be connected to a plurality of external devices by wireless communication via the communication unit. Meanwhile, if the printing apparatus can print by unnecessarily connecting to an unspecified external device, this is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring security.

[0007] Therefore, in the present disclosure, the device information registration process and the registration determination process are performed by the controller. That is, first, in the device information registration process, for example, regarding a specific external device that ensures security such as an external device of an administrator of a printing device, the device information of the specific external device is registered in the storage. The device information includes, for example, access information such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) address, identification information of the external device itself, and the like.

[0008] When an external device re-accesses and connects via the communication unit in the state of registration as described above, it is determined whether the device information of the external device has been registered in the registration determination process. When it is determined that the device information is not registered, the connection with the above new external device temporarily enters a suspended state (connection suspension process).

[0009] After that, the external device that has been registered through the above-mentioned device information registration process (the specific external device for which security is ensured) is prompted to confirm whether the pause state of the new external device can be released (release confirmation process). In response to this, a notification as to whether the pause state can be released is transmitted from the registered external device, and the notification is received by the controller (permission / prohibition reception process). Then, when the notification that the pause state can be released is received, the pause state of the new external device is released. With this configuration, the print processing in the printing apparatus can be performed using the print data transmitted from the external device.

[0010] As described above, in the printing apparatus of the present disclosure, when a connection is made from an unknown external device, the unknown external device temporarily enters a suspended state of connection, and then is confirmed by a specific external device of which security is ensured, and then the suspended state is released and printing can be performed. By this configuration, security can be enhanced compared to a case where printing can be performed by unnecessarily connecting to an unspecified external device.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, security can be enhanced in wireless communication with an operation terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a print processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a print processing system;

[0015] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an administrator terminal access information storage device and a paired terminal access information management table storage device provided in a storage area of ​​an access information storage device;

[0016] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the recorded contents of access to the information storage device by an administrator terminal;

[0017] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the record contents of a paired terminal access information management table storage device;

[0018] Figure 6 The diagram shows the steps of connection permission / disablement confirmation sequence 1 when the administrator terminal is within the communication range, wherein Figure 6 Part (a) is a diagram of the steps before the connection permission / prohibition judgment, and Figure 6 Part (b) is a diagram of the steps after the connection permission / prohibition judgment;

[0019] Fig. 7A and 7B is a sequence diagram illustrating the processing procedure of the connection permission / inhibition confirmation sequence 1 executed by the control circuit of the label printer and the CPU of each operation terminal;

[0020] Figure 8 FIG. 2 shows the steps of connection permission / disablement confirmation sequence 2 when the administrator terminal is out of communication range, wherein Figure 8 Part (a) is a diagram of the steps before the connection permission / prohibition judgment, and Figure 8 Part (b) is a diagram of steps after connection permission / prohibition judgment; and

[0021] Fig.9A and 9B 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating the processing procedure of the connection permission / inhibition confirmation sequence 2 executed by the control circuit of the label printer and the CPU of each operation terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] <Configuration of Print Processing System>

[0024] First, refer to Figure 1 The overall configuration of the print processing system of the present embodiment is described.

[0025] like Figure 1As shown in FIG. 1 , the print processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of operation terminals, here three operation terminals 2A, 2B, and 2C (hereinafter, when the operation terminals 2A, 2B, and 3C are collectively referred to without distinction, the operation terminal is simply referred to as "operation terminal 2") and a label printer 3. The operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are wirelessly connected to each other through an appropriate mutual recognition wireless communication method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark), so that the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 can communicate with each other. The label printer 3 corresponds to an example of a printing device, and the operation terminal 2 corresponds to an example of an external device.

[0026] The operation terminal 2 is a so-called smart phone including an operation button 14 and a touch panel 17, which is a display unit having a display function and capable of being operated by contact. The operation terminal 2 is not limited to a smart phone, and may be a so-called feature phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, etc., and the display unit may not be the touch panel 17.

[0027] The label printer 3 transmits and receives various types of information and instruction signals to and from the operation terminal 2 , and creates a printed label L provided with desired text, images, etc. based on the user's operation of the operation terminal 2 .

[0028] Next, we will refer to Figure 2 The functional configuration of the print processing system 1 is described.

[0029] <Function Configuration>

[0030] like Figure 2 As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the operation terminal 2A includes a CPU 12 , a memory 13 composed of a RAM and a ROM, an operation button 14 , a communication controller 15 , a large-capacity storage device 16 such as a flash memory, and a touch panel 17 .

[0031] For example, in the RAM of the memory 13 , print data that is created by the user appropriately operating the touch panel 17 and corresponds to desired print contents to be written on the print label L is stored.

[0032] The CPU 12 controls the entire operation terminal 2 by executing various programs stored in the memory 13 or the ROM of the large-capacity storage device 16 while using the temporary storage function of the RAM of the memory 13 .

[0033] The communication controller 15 controls communication performed with the label printer 3 .

[0034] The large-capacity storage device 16 is, for example, a main body memory, but is not limited thereto, and may be an appropriate external memory such as an SD memory card.

[0035] exist Figure 2 , although the detailed functions of the operation terminals 2B and 2C are omitted, the operation terminals 2B and 2C have the same detailed functions as the operation terminal 2A.

[0036] The label printer 3 includes a control circuit 201, a display unit 205, an operation unit 206, a communication controller 208, a tape roll holder unit 210, a print head 204, a cutter 207, and a conveying device 209. The control circuit 201 corresponds to an example of a controller described in the claims, the communication controller 208 corresponds to an example of a communication unit described in the claims, the print head 204 corresponds to an example of a printing unit described in the claims, and the conveying device 209 corresponds to an example of a conveying unit described in the claims.

[0037] The control circuit 201 is composed of a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, etc., and includes an access information storage device 201A. The details of the access information storage device 201A will be described later. In the ROM, a processing program for causing the CPU of the control circuit 201 to execute each process of the timing chart illustrated in Figures 7 and 9 described later is stored.

[0038] The communication controller 208 controls communication performed with the communication controller 15 of the operation terminal 2 .

[0039] A tape roll 203 (originally in a spiral shape but illustrated as concentric circles for simplicity) around which the tape 202 can be wound can be attached to and detached from a tape roll holder portion 210 (or an ink cartridge equipped with the tape roll 203 can be attached to and detached from it). The tape 202 corresponds to an example of a print medium described in the claims.

[0040] The conveying device 209 is disposed to face the print head 204 , and conveys the tape 202 fed out from the tape roll 203 .

[0041] The print head 204 performs printing on the tape 202 conveyed by the conveying device 209 based on the print data received from the operation terminal 2 .

[0042] The cutter 207 cuts the tape 202 into a predetermined length to form a printed label L after being subjected to printing.

[0043] The display unit 205 displays various types of information input from the control circuit 201 to the user.

[0044] The operation unit 206 inputs various types of information and instructions to the control circuit 201 through the operation of the user.

[0045] <Management of access information, etc.>

[0046] Here, as described above, the label printer 3 can communicate with a plurality of operation terminals 2 by mutual identification wireless communication via the communication controller 208. In this example, the label printer 3 complies with the above-mentioned Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, and exchanges access information, which is identification information such as the Bluetooth address of each of the plurality of operation terminals 2 that are within the communication range of the label printer 3 at that time, with each operation terminal 2, and the label printer 3 is in a pairing state in which the label printer 3 and the operation terminal 2 can be identified and recognized by each other. The access information corresponds to an example of the device information described in the claims.

[0047] Then, in this state, by the user appropriately operating the operation terminal 2 or the label printer 3, the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 can enter a connection state, in which data transmission / reception by mutual recognition wireless communication is being performed by a known method. The label printer 3 in the example of this embodiment can simultaneously transmit information such as print data to and receive information such as print data from several operation terminals among the plurality of operation terminals 2 in the paired state in the connection state, but the print data transmission / reception process itself can only accept one operation terminal at a time.

[0048] Furthermore, if printing can be performed by unnecessarily connecting to an unspecified operation terminal 2, this is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring security. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation terminals 2 are classified into three types, i.e., an administrator terminal, a registered terminal, and an unregistered terminal, and access information of the administrator terminal, the registered terminal, and the unregistered terminal is managed, thereby ensuring security in wireless communication. The administrator terminal and the registered terminal correspond to an example of specific device information described in the claims.

[0049] For example, Figure 3 As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the administrator terminal access information storage device 201Aa and the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab are provided in the storage area of ​​the access information storage device 201A. It is desirable to provide the access information storage device 201A in a storage area of ​​a flash memory (not particularly illustrated) provided in the control circuit 201 in such a manner that the storage contents of the administrator terminal access information storage device 201Aa and the paired terminal access information management table storage device 210Ab can be maintained even if the power is turned off. The access information storage device 201A corresponds to an example of the storage device described in the claims.

[0050] The administrator terminal access information storage means 201Aa stores only one administrator terminal access information, which is arbitrarily registered and set in advance by the user of the label printer 3 through a separate setting operation process via the display unit 205 and the operation unit 206, and information related thereto. The administrator terminal access information is access information of an administrator terminal owned by an administrator who is one of the users, and the administrator is a user who can be judged whether it is safe from the viewpoint of security even if an unregistered terminal corresponding to the predetermined access information is connected to the label printer 3 through wireless communication.

[0051] For example, Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the administrator terminal access information storage device 201Aa stores the administrator terminal access information ("access ID" in the figure, the same applies below) and the link key and email address corresponding thereto. The link key is key information required when the label printer 3 changes from the paired state with the administrator terminal to the connected state in which data can be transmitted and received in a mutually recognized wireless communication method. The email address is address information used when sending mail to the administrator terminal via a general telephone line or the Internet.

[0052] For example, Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab stores a paired terminal access information management table in which access information (“access ID” in the figure, the same applies below) of a plurality of operation terminals 2 obtained by the label printer 3 by performing pairing in the past and information related to each access information are listed. Because the storage capacity of the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab is limited, the paired terminal access information management table is managed by a so-called first-in-first-out (FIFO), by which the oldest access information is deleted and new access information is sequentially accumulated so as to be re-stored.

[0053] In the paired terminal access information management table of the illustrated example, a plurality of pieces of access information obtained in the past and respective registration flags, link keys, and print data corresponding to the respective pieces of access information are recorded.

[0054] The registration flag is a flag for recording whether the operation terminal 2 of the corresponding access information is registered as a registration terminal, and in the example illustrated in the figure, the state in which the flag is set is indicated by writing a check mark. The registration terminal is an operation terminal 2, which is approved as safe from the point of view of security even if the operation terminal 2 is connected to the label printer 3 through wireless communication according to the judgment of the administrator, and as shown in the illustrated example, a check mark (the content of the mark is "true") is recorded and registered in the corresponding registration flag. Regarding the registration of the registration terminal, any user other than the administrator of the label printer 3 can be arbitrarily registered and set in advance. The relevant information (link key, etc.) corresponding to the access information of the registration terminal registered in this way is excluded from the deletion target by FIFO, etc., and is permanently stored in the paired terminal access information management table.

[0055] On the contrary, in the paired terminal access information management table, an operation terminal 2 corresponding to access information for which a check mark is not recorded in the registration flag (i.e., the flag content is "false") and which remains unregistered is regarded as an unregistered terminal. An unregistered terminal is an operation terminal 2 whose safety has not been confirmed by the judgment of the above-mentioned administrator, and related information (link key, etc.) corresponding to the access information of such an unregistered terminal becomes a deletion target through FIFO, etc. and is deleted in order from the oldest one.

[0056] In the print data, the print data most recently received from the operation terminal 2 corresponding to the access information or the storage area of ​​the print data is recorded, and in the illustrated example, the top address of the area for storing print contents in the ROM of the control circuit 201 is recorded.

[0057] <Confirmation of connection permission / prohibition of unregistered terminals via label printer>

[0058] Hereinafter, a specific sequence of connection permission / disable confirmation for unregistered terminals by the label printer 3 according to this embodiment will be described. Here, regarding connection permission / disable confirmation, two sequences are appropriately used depending on whether the administrator terminal is within the communication range R of the label printer 3.

[0059] <When the administrator terminal is within the communication range: Sequence 1>

[0060] For example, Figure 6 As illustrated in the figure, when the administrator terminal is within the communication range R of the label printer 3, the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1 is performed in the following steps. In the example illustrated in the figure, the operation terminal 2A is illustrated as the administrator terminal 2A, the operation terminal 2B is illustrated as the registered terminal 2B, and the operation terminal 2C is illustrated as the unregistered terminal 2C (this also applies hereinafter).

[0061] First, in Figure 6 In the left part (a), when the predetermined operation terminal 2 transmits a connection request (print request) to the label printer 3 to print the print data, the link key is exchanged and the connection state is temporarily established, and the operation terminal 2 also transmits the print data together with the access information (I: connection request (print request)). The label printer 3 that receives this connection request identifies whether the access information of the transmission source of the print data is the access information of the registered terminal 2B (or the administrator terminal 2A) or the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C by checking the access information with the paired terminal access information management table. Although not specifically illustrated here, when the transmission source of the connection request can be identified as the registered terminal 2B, it is only necessary to print the received print data as it is and continue the connection state, and it is unnecessary to execute the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence. The operation terminal 2 for identification as described above corresponds to an example of an external device described in the claims.

[0062] On the other hand, when the transmission source of the connection request is identified as the unregistered terminal 2C, the label printer 3 temporarily stops the connection state while storing the received print data, and then transmits a connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification together with the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C to the administrator terminal 2A within the communication range R to prompt the permission / prohibition judgment of the connection (II: connection permission / prohibition confirmation). The state of stopping the connection state as described above corresponds to an example of a suspended state of the connection described in the claims, and the connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification corresponds to an example of a confirmation request notification described in the claims. At this time, the label printer 3 replies to the unregistered terminal 2C as the transmission source of the connection request with a confirmation notification indicating that the connection permission / prohibition is being confirmed (III: confirmation notification being executed).

[0063] Then, the administrator who has received the connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification determines whether to permit the connection by referring to the access information, and Figure 6 As shown in the right part (b), a connection permission / prohibition response reflecting its judgment content is transmitted from the administrator terminal 2A to the label printer 3 (IV: connection permission / prohibition response). This connection permission / prohibition response corresponds to an example of a notification of permission / prohibition of the release of the pause state described in the claims. The label printer 3 that has received the connection permission / prohibition response transmits a connection permission / prohibition notification (V: connection permission / prohibition notification) indicating the same content as its judgment content to the unregistered terminal 2C, and then performs registration and printing of the unregistered terminal 2C according to the content of the judgment content.

[0064] Specifically, when the judgment content of the connection permission / inhibition response is the content of allowing the connection, the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C is registered in the paired terminal access information management table (a check mark is recorded in the corresponding registration mark), and the received print data is printed to create a print label L. The connection permission / inhibition response having the content of allowing the connection as described above corresponds to an example of the notification of the release of the permission of the pause state described in the claims. When the judgment content of the connection permission / inhibition response is the content of rejecting the connection, the connection permission / inhibition confirmation sequence 1 ends without performing registration or printing.

[0065] <About OS of the operating terminal applicable to this embodiment>

[0066] For example, when the operation terminal 2 is a smartphone, there are various types of operating systems (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "OS"), and the connection mode with the label printer 3 through wireless communication may differ depending on the OS. For example, when the OS is iOS (registered trademark), a link key is exchanged between the label printer 3 and the operation terminal 2, and then the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are further connected to each other so that message data can be transmitted and received, thereby achieving the above-mentioned connection state. The above-mentioned iOS corresponds to an example of the first OS described in the claims.

[0067] In the case of this type of OS, the connection state is basically maintained even after transmission and reception of print data, etc. in the connection state with the label printer 3. Therefore, even if the connection state with the unregistered terminal 2C is temporarily established, it is desirable to stop the connection state on the label printer 3 side after the connection state is temporarily established until a connection permission / prohibition response having a judgment content of allowing the connection is received from the administrator terminal 2A.

[0068] On the other hand, when the OS is, for example, Android (registered trademark), after the pairing state is achieved by exchanging a link key between the label printer 3 and the operation terminal 2, when a print instruction is issued by the label printer 3, the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are connected to each other so that data can be transmitted and received, and the pairing state is changed to the connection state. Then, when the printing corresponding to the print instruction ends, the connection state in which data can be transmitted and received is forcibly released, and the pairing state is restored. The above-mentioned Android corresponds to an example of the second OS described in the claims.

[0069] In the case of this type of OS, the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 automatically enter the disconnected state after transmitting and receiving the print data, and there is no need to reconnect, but it is desirable that the label printer 3 of this embodiment voluntarily enters the disconnected state at this timing.

[0070] As described above, in the connection confirmation sequence of the label printer 3 of the present embodiment, it is desirable to switch the content and order of each control process in detail according to the type of OS of the operation terminal 2 for the target object.

[0071] <Control process of connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1>

[0072] Reference Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The sequence diagram of FIG. 1 describes the control process executed by the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 and the CPU 12 of each operation terminal 2 to realize the above-mentioned connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1. When it is detected in advance that the administrator terminal 2A is within the communication range R of the label printer 3, the execution Fig. 7A and 7B The processing shown Fig. 7A and Figure 7B 2 is a sequence diagram of the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1 shown in FIG.

[0073] First, in step MS105, the CPU 12 of the unregistered terminal 2C exchanges access information and link keys with the label printer 3, and transmits print data to the label printer 3 to perform pairing, connection request, and print request. As described above, the details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0074] Next, in step LS110, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 determines whether the access information of the operation terminal 2 as the transmission source of the connection request is registered. The process of step LS110 corresponds to an example of the registration determination processing described in the claims. When it is determined that the access information has been registered, the determination is satisfied ("Yes" in LS110), and the control process enters step LS155 described later.

[0075] On the other hand, when it is determined that the access information is not registered, the determination is not satisfied (NO in LS110 ), and the control process proceeds to step LS115 .

[0076] In step LS115, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 transmits a connection permission / inhibition confirmation notification together with the unregistered access information to the administrator terminal 2A. The process of step LS115 corresponds to an example of the release confirmation processing and the first notification transmission processing described in the claims.

[0077] Next, in step LS120, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 transmits a confirmation notification indicating that permission / prohibition of connection is being confirmed to the unregistered terminal 2C. With this configuration, the user of the unregistered terminal 2C can grasp that permission / prohibition of connection is being confirmed. The process of this step LS120 corresponds to an example of the second notification transmission process described in the claims.

[0078] Next, in step LS125, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 temporarily stops the connection state with the unregistered terminal 2C. As described above, the details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C. The process of step LS125 corresponds to an example of the connection suspension process described in the claims.

[0079] During this period, the administrator refers to the access information to judge whether to allow the connection, and operates the administrator terminal 2A to input its judgment content. With this configuration, in step KS130, the CPU 12 of the administrator terminal 2A transmits a connection permission / prohibition response reflecting its judgment content to the label printer 3. The process in which the label printer 3 receives the connection permission / prohibition at this time corresponds to an example of the permission / prohibition reception process described in the claims.

[0080] Next, in step LS135, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 transmits a connection permission / prohibition notification corresponding to the judgment content of the connection permission / prohibition response received in step KS130 to the unregistered terminal 2C. With this configuration, the user of the unregistered terminal 2C can grasp the judgment content on whether to allow the connection.

[0081] Next, in step LS140, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 determines whether the connection is allowed as the judgment content of the connection permission / prohibition response received in step KS130. When it is determined that the connection is not allowed as the judgment content, the determination is not satisfied ("No" in LS140), the print data is erased, the connection state is completely ended, and the sequence ends. The details at this time and the order of the control process are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0082] On the other hand, when it is determined that the connection is permitted as the judgment content of the received connection permission / inhibition response, the determination is satisfied (YES in LS140 ), and the control process proceeds to step LS145 .

[0083] In step LS145, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 records a check mark in the registration flag corresponding to the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C in the paired terminal access information management table and registers the access information. The process of step LS145 corresponds to an example of the device information registration process and the erasure disable process described in the claims.

[0084] Next, the control process enters step LS150, and the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 resumes the connection state stopped in step LS125. The details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above. The process of this step LS150 corresponds to an example of the pause liquid release process described in the claims.

[0085] Next, the control process enters step LS155, and the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 prints the print data received in step MS105 to create a print label L. In this way, by using the print data received before the connection is stopped, the trouble of retransmitting and receiving the print data after the connection is restored can be saved, and the work is simplified. Then, the sequence ends.

[0086] <When the administrator terminal is out of communication range: Sequence 2>

[0087] Next, if Figure 8 As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a connection permission / inhibition confirmation sequence 2 executed when the administrator terminal 2A is not within the communication range R of the label printer 3 will be described.

[0088] First, in Figure 8 In the left part (a), when the unregistered terminal 2C transmits a connection request (print request) to the label printer 3, the link key is exchanged and a connection state is temporarily established, and the operation terminal 2 also transmits the print data together with the access information (I: connection request (print request)). When it is identified that the transmission source is the unregistered terminal 2C, the label printer 3 that receives the connection request temporarily stops the connection state while saving the print data, and then prints the email address of the administrator terminal 2A as the confirmation destination information (II: confirmation destination printing). As for the print content of the confirmation destination information, the email address recorded in the administrator terminal access information storage device 201Aa can be printed as is in character representation, or as illustrated in the figure, the print content can be converted into a QR code (registered trademark) and printed. The above-mentioned email address corresponds to an example of access information for a specific external device described in the claims.

[0089] The user of the unregistered terminal 2C causes the unregistered terminal 2C to recognize the e-mail address of the printed confirmation destination information (III: confirmation destination recognition), and based on the e-mail address, an e-mail prompting the administrator to determine whether to allow the connection is sent together with the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C as a connection permission / prohibition confirmation notice (IV: connection permission / prohibition confirmation). At this time, the e-mail can be transmitted via a general telephone line (not particularly shown) or a separate communication network.

[0090] Then, the administrator who has received the e-mail of the connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification determines whether to permit the connection by referring to the access information, and Figure 8 As illustrated in the right part (b) of , a connection permission / prohibition response (V: connection permission / prohibition response) reflecting the judgment content thereof is transmitted from the administrator terminal 2A to the label printer 3. The label printer 3 which has received the connection permission / prohibition response transmits a connection permission / prohibition notification indicating the same content as its judgment content to the unregistered terminal 2C (VI: connection permission / prohibition notification), and then performs registration and printing of the unregistered terminal 2C according to the judgment content. The connection permission / prohibition notification in the case of the judgment content indicating that the connection is permitted corresponds to an example of a notification indicating that printing is possible described in the claims.

[0091] <Control process of connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 2>

[0092] Reference Fig.9A and Fig. 9B The control process executed by the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 and the CPU 12 of each operation terminal 2 to implement the above-mentioned connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 2 is described as a sequence diagram. When it is detected in advance that the administrator terminal 2A is not within the communication range R of the label printer 3, the execution Fig.9A and Fig. 9B 2 is a sequence diagram of the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 2 shown in FIG.

[0093] First, in step MS205, the CPU 12 of the unregistered terminal 2C exchanges access information and link keys with the label printer 3, and transmits print data to the label printer 3 to perform pairing, connection request, and print request. The details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0094] Next, in step LS210, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 determines whether the access information of the operation terminal 2 which is the transmission source of the connection request has been registered. When it is determined that the access information has been registered, the determination is satisfied ("Yes" in LS210), and the control process enters step LS260 described later.

[0095] On the other hand, when it is determined that the access information is not registered, the determination is not satisfied (NO in LS210 ), and the control process proceeds to step LS215 .

[0096] In step LS215, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 temporarily stops the connection state with the unregistered terminal 2C. As described above, the details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0097] Next, the control process proceeds to step LS220, and the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 prints the e-mail address of the administrator terminal 2A as the confirmation destination information. The process of step LS220 corresponds to an example of the access information printing process described in the claims.

[0098] Next, the control process proceeds to step MS225, and the CPU 12 of the unregistered terminal 2C recognizes the e-mail address printed in step LS220.

[0099] Next, the control process enters step MS230, and the CPU 12 of the unregistered terminal 2C transmits a connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification for prompting permission / prohibition determination of connection together with the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C to the administrator terminal 2A by email based on the email address identified in step MS225.

[0100] Then, the administrator refers to the access information to determine whether to allow the connection, and operates the administrator terminal 2A to input its determination content. With this configuration, in step KS235, the CPU 12 of the administrator terminal 2A transmits a connection permission / inhibition response reflecting the determination content to the label printer 3.

[0101] Next, in step LS240, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 transmits a connection permission / prohibition notification corresponding to the judgment content of the connection permission / prohibition response received in step KS235 to the unregistered terminal 2C. With this configuration, the user of the unregistered terminal 2C can grasp the judgment content of the connection permission / prohibition. The process of this step LS240 in the case of transmitting a connection permission / prohibition notification indicating the judgment content of allowing the connection corresponds to an example of the third notification transmission processing described in the claims.

[0102] Next, in step LS245, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 determines whether the connection is allowed as the judgment content of the connection permission / prohibition response received in step KS235. When it is determined that the connection is not allowed as the judgment content, the determination is not satisfied ("No" in LS245), the print data is erased, the connection state is completely ended, and the sequence ends. As described above, the detailed content at this time and the order of the control process are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0103] On the other hand, when the connection is permitted as the judgment content of the received connection permission / inhibition response, the determination is satisfied (YES in LS245), and the control process proceeds to step LS250.

[0104] In step LS250, the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 records a check mark in the registration flag corresponding to the access information of the unregistered terminal 2C in the paired terminal access information management table, and registers the access information.

[0105] Next, the control process proceeds to step LS255, and the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 resumes the connection state stopped in step LS215. The details and the order of the control process at this time are appropriately processed according to the type of OS of the unregistered terminal 2C as described above.

[0106] Next, the control process goes to step LS260, and the control circuit 201 of the label printer 3 prints the print data received in step MS105 to create a printed label L. Then, this sequence ends.

[0107] <Advantages>

[0108] As described above, in the present embodiment, when a connection is made from an unknown operation terminal 2, a suspended state of the connection (connection stop) is temporarily established, and then confirmation is made by the administrator terminal 2A for which security is ensured, and then the suspended state is released and printing can be performed. With this configuration, security can be enhanced compared to a case where printing is enabled by unnecessarily connecting to an unspecified operation terminal 2. As a result, security in wireless communication with the operation terminal 2 can be enhanced.

[0109] In particular, in the present embodiment, in the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1, through the process of step LS115, a connection permission / prohibition confirmation notification as to whether the stop state of the connection of the unregistered terminal 2C can be released is transmitted to the administrator terminal 2A connected to the label printer 3.

[0110] With this configuration, when the registered administrator terminal 2A is connected to the label printer 3, the administrator who is the user of the administrator terminal 2A can be notified of the connection from the unknown operation terminal 2 to the label printer 3. In addition, the administrator can be allowed to determine whether printing can be performed using print data from the unknown operation terminal 2.

[0111] In particular, in the present embodiment, in the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 1, during step LS120, the unregistered terminal 2C is notified of the confirmation notification being executed for transmitting the connection permission / prohibition notification to the administrator terminal 2A. With this configuration, the user of the unregistered terminal 2C reconnected to the label printer 3 can be notified that the label printer 3 is waiting for obtaining printing permission.

[0112] In particular, in the present embodiment, the operating system of the operation terminal 2 is iOS (registered trademark) or Android (registered trademark). In iOS (registered trademark), the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are connected to each other by exchanging a link key between the label printer 3 and the operation terminal 2 and realizing a data transmission / reception state between the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3. In Android (registered trademark), the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are connected to each other by exchanging a link key between the label printer 3 and the operation terminal 2 and realizing a pairing state, and the operation terminal 2 and the label printer 3 are transformed to a data transmission / reception state when the operation terminal 2 issues a print instruction after the connection, and the data transmission / reception state is released and the pairing state is restored when the printing corresponding to the print instruction is ended after the transformation to the data transmission / reception state. Then, in the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab, the link key when the link key is exchanged with the operation terminal 2 is stored, and in addition, in the process of step LS145, the link key of the registered terminal 2B registered and stored in the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab is made inerasable.

[0113] In the label printer 3 of the present embodiment, when connecting using each OS of iOS (registered trademark) or Android (registered trademark), a link key is exchanged with the operation terminal 2, and the link key is sequentially stored in the paired terminal access information management table storage device 201Ab. Generally, the number of link keys stored in this way is limited, and when the number of link keys exceeds the upper limit, the oldest link key is deleted in order.

[0114] In this case, in the present embodiment, by recording a check mark in the registration mark, the link key of the registered registration terminal 2B is made inerasable. With this configuration, the link key of the registration terminal 2B can be deleted from the deletion target, and therefore, when a connection is made from an unknown operation terminal 2, the fact thereof can be surely notified to the administrator of the administrator terminal 2A.

[0115] Specifically, in the present embodiment, in the connection permission / inhibition confirmation sequence 2 , the transfer device 209 and the print head 204 are controlled in the process of step LS220 , and the e-mail address of the administrator terminal 2A is formed on the tape 202 .

[0116] With this configuration, when the administrator terminal 2A is not connected to the label printer 3 (printing permission from the administrator of the administrator terminal 2A cannot be obtained as it is), a user of the unregistered terminal 2C can access (transmit an email to) the administrator terminal 2A based on the email address (or its QR code (registered trademark)) formed on the tape 202, and obtain printing permission for printing using the print data from the unregistered terminal 2C.

[0117] In particular, in this embodiment, in the connection permission / prohibition confirmation sequence 2, during step LS240, when a connection permission / prohibition response having content allowing connection is received, a connection permission / prohibition notification indicating that printing is possible is issued to the unregistered terminal 2C.

[0118] With this configuration, the user of the unregistered terminal 2C can be notified of obtaining print permission from the administrator of the administrator terminal 2A, and printing can be performed using print data from the unregistered terminal 2C.

[0119] If print data has been received from the unregistered terminal 2C when the connection permission / prohibition notification having the content of allowing the connection as described above is transmitted, the connection permission / prohibition notification including the content of confirming “Do you want to print the previous print data?” may be transmitted. Then, the label printer 3 can determine whether to execute the printing of the print data according to the reply content from the unregistered terminal 2C.

[0120] If the print data has not been received, a connection permission / inhibition notification including a content requesting "Connection is allowed. Please transmit the print data." may be transmitted. Then, the label printer 3 may receive and print the print data from the unregistered terminal 2C.

[0121] In the above description, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The arrows illustrated in each of indicate an example of a signal flow and do not limit the signal flow direction.

[0122] The sequence diagrams illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 are not intended to limit the present invention to the processes illustrated in the above-described sequence flows, and processes may be added or deleted, or their order may be changed without departing from the scope and technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0123] In addition to the above-described matters, the method according to the above-described embodiment and each modification may be appropriately combined and used.

[0124] In addition, although not illustrated one by one, various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey a printing medium; a printing unit configured to form prints on the print medium; a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a plurality of external devices by mutually recognizing a wireless communication method; a storage device storing information; as well as A controller configured to perform: Device information registration processing: registering device information of a specific external device in the storage device; Registration determination processing: determining whether the device information of an external device newly connected to the printing device via the communication unit is registered in the storage device; Connection suspension processing: when it is determined in the registration determination processing that the device information is not registered, placing the connection to the one external device in a suspended state; Release confirmation processing: in the device information registration processing, prompting the external device registered in the storage device to confirm whether to release the pause state of the one external device; a permission / prohibition receiving process of receiving a notification of permission / prohibition of release of the pause state from the external device corresponding to the release confirmation process; as well as A pause release process of releasing the pause state in the one external device based on receiving a notification of release permission of the pause state in the permission / prohibition reception process.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein: The release confirmation process includes a first notification transmission process: A confirmation request notification as to whether to release the pause state of the one external device is transmitted to the specific external device connected to the printing apparatus via the communication unit.

3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein: The controller is further configured to perform a second notification transmission process: The one external device is notified that the first notification transmission process is being performed for the specific external device.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, in, The operating system of the external device is one of the following: a first OS in which the external device and the printing apparatus are connected to each other by exchanging a link key between the printing apparatus and the external device to achieve a data transmission / reception state between the external device and the printing apparatus; as well as a second OS in which the external device and the printing apparatus are connected to each other to achieve a paired state by exchanging a link key between the printing apparatus and the external device, in a case where a print instruction is issued by the external device after the connection, the external device and the printing apparatus make a transition to a data transmission / reception state, and in a case where printing corresponding to the print instruction is ended after the transition, the data transmission / reception state is released and the paired state is restored, wherein when exchanging the link key with the external device, the storage device stores the link key, and The controller is further configured to perform an erasure disable process: making the link key of the registered external device stored in the storage device non-erasable.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, in, The operating system of the external device is one of the following: a first OS in which the external device and the printing apparatus are connected to each other by exchanging a link key between the printing apparatus and the external device to achieve a data transmission / reception state between the external device and the printing apparatus; as well as a second OS in which the external device and the printing apparatus are connected to each other to achieve a paired state by exchanging a link key between the printing apparatus and the external device, in a case where a print instruction is issued by the external device after the connection, the external device and the printing apparatus make a transition to a data transmission / reception state, and in a case where printing corresponding to the print instruction is ended after the transition, the data transmission / reception state is released and the paired state is restored, wherein when exchanging the link key with the external device, the storage device stores the link key, and The controller is further configured to perform an erasure disable process: making the link key of the registered external device stored in the storage device non-erasable.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein: The release confirmation process includes access information printing process: The conveying unit and the printing unit are controlled to form access information of the specific external device on the printing medium.

7. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The controller is further configured to perform a third notification transmission process: In a case where the notification received in the permission / prohibition reception process indicates permission of release of the pause state, notification that printing is enabled is performed on the one external device.

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