Printers, printing systems and programs

Abstract

To provide a technique for, in a printer that performs download printing based on instruction data, enhancing possibility that printing is performed by a printing method corresponding to a user using the printer.SOLUTION: A printer 1 can register a function URL 221 including access information indicating a transmission source of instruction data, accesses a server 3 on the basis of the registered function URL 221 to receive the instruction data from the server 3. In addition, when execution of download printing is instructed in the received instruction data, the printer 1 extracts method information indicating a printing method from the instruction data, and receives a document by downloading the document from a storage 4 in a separation method or a parallel method on the basis of the extracted method information to perform the download printing by causing a printing unit 15 to perform printing based on the received document.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technical field disclosed in this specification relates to a printer, a printing system, and a program, and more particularly to a technology in which a printer accesses a server, receives a document from a storage device in accordance with instruction data stored in the server, and performs printing based on the received document. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, there is known a technology for a printing system including a printer and a server, in which the printer accesses the server, analyzes instruction data sent from the server, and performs processing according to the instruction data. The printer is capable of download printing, which downloads a document from storage and prints it, and when the instruction data includes an instruction to execute download printing, for example, the printer can perform download printing according to the instruction data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-032891 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When performing download printing, there are two possible printing methods: one in which printing starts after the entire document has been downloaded, and one in which printing starts before the entire document has been downloaded, i.e., document download and printing are performed in parallel. However, which printing method is used is usually uniquely determined by the printer design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A printer made to solve this problem is a printer equipped with a communications interface, a printing unit, and a controller, wherein the printer is capable of registering access information indicating a source of instruction data, the instruction data being data instructing a process to be executed by the printer, the process to be executed by the printer including download printing, which involves downloading a document from storage on a network and printing the document, the instruction to execute the download printing being an instruction specifying the document to be downloaded, and further wherein the instruction data can include method information indicating a printing method for the download printing, the printing methods including a first method and a second method different from the first method, the controller accesses a server that is a source of the instruction data based on the registered access information via the communications interface, and executes a reception process to receive the instruction data transmitted from the server, and further wherein the controller, when the instruction data received in the reception process instructs the execution of the download printing, executes a reception process to receive the instruction data transmitted from the server, and a download printing process for receiving a document designated in the instruction to execute the download printing by downloading the document from a predetermined storage designated by the instruction data via the communication interface based on a result of the extraction process, and causing the printing unit to print based on the received document, thereby performing the download printing. Furthermore, in the download printing process, if the method information indicating the first method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed using the first method, and the first method is a method of starting printing based on the received document after completing reception of the entire specified document, and if the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed using the second method, and the second method is a method of starting printing based on the received document before completing reception of the entire specified document, thereby performing reception of the document and printing based on the document in parallel.It is characterized by the following:

[0006] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, the instruction data can include method information indicating the printing method for download printing, and the printer supports at least two printing methods, a first method and a second method, for download printing, and performs download printing according to the printing method indicated in the method information included in the instruction data. Therefore, by the user specifying the printing method in advance in the instruction data, it is expected that download printing will be performed in a printing method that suits the user's purpose and preferences.

[0007] A printing system including the printer, a control method for implementing the functions of the printer, a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are also novel and useful. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The technology disclosed in this specification realizes a technology that increases the flexibility of selecting which printing method to use in a printer that performs download printing based on instruction data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for external function processing. [Diagram 3] 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of instruction data and a display screen. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of instruction data and a display screen. [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of instruction data and a display screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of instruction data. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a download process. [Figure 8]10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a read and print process. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a parallel printing process. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing data flows in a separation method and a parallel method. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing functions other than download printing by the printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] 1, the printing system 100 of the present embodiment includes a printer 1 and a server 3, which are connectable to each other via a network 200. The printing system 100 is an example of an image processing system. The printer 1 can be further connected to a storage 4 via the network 300.

[0011] 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment includes a controller 10 including a CPU 11 and a memory 12. The printer 1 also includes a user interface (hereinafter referred to as "user IF") 13, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 14, and a printing unit 15, which are electrically connected to the controller 10. The CPU 11 may be an example of the controller.

[0012] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the programs read from the memory 12 and based on the user's operations. As shown in Fig. 1, the memory 12 stores various programs and information including an operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS") 21 and an external function program 22. The external function program 22 is an example of a program. The memory 12 is also used as a work area when various processes are executed. A buffer provided in the CPU 11 is also an example of a memory.

[0013] An example of memory 12 is not limited to a ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. built into printer 1, but may be a storage medium that is readable and writable by CPU 11. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, non-transitory media also include recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Non-transitory media are also tangible media. On the other hand, an electrical signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0014] The external function program 22 is a program that acquires instruction data from an external device such as the server 3, and realizes a function by processing based on the acquired instruction data. In the external function program 22, function URLs 221, 222 for each external function are registered in advance by a designer of the printing system 100, etc. The function URLs 221, 222 are information including access information indicating the source of instruction data that starts the execution of each external function. The printer 1 may receive an instruction to register a function URL directly via the user IF 13, for example, or may receive the instruction via a network using an embedded web server. The external function program 22 will be described in detail later.

[0015] The designer of the printing system 100 including the printer 1 and the server 3 can store multiple pieces of instruction data in the server 3 and design the printer 1 to execute a series of processes that combine display of an input screen, download printing, and processes other than download printing. Furthermore, the printer 1 can return parameter information received on the input screen to the server 3, and can transfer the input parameters via the instruction data and reflect the parameters in the series of processes. The designer of the printing system 100 can be, for example, a system administrator of the company that introduced the printer 1, a seller of the printing system 100 including the printer 1, or a designer or service person of the manufacturer or sales dealer of the printer 1.

[0016] The memory 12 is further provided with a download buffer (hereinafter referred to as "DL buffer") 23 and a RIP buffer 24. The DL buffer 23 is a buffer that temporarily stores data downloaded from an external device. The DL buffer 23 is an example of a first buffer. The RIP buffer 24 is a buffer that temporarily stores data to be printed and that is the subject of rasterization processing. The RIP buffer 24 is an example of a second buffer. The DL buffer 23 and the RIP buffer 24 are each a storage area of ​​a predetermined size.

[0017] The user IF 13 is, for example, a touch panel, and includes hardware for displaying a screen for notifying the user of information and hardware for accepting operations by the user. Note that the user IF 13 may be a combination of a display and an operation unit such as a button.

[0018] The communication IF 14 includes a configuration connectable to the network 200 and the network 300, and includes hardware for communicating with the server 3 via the network 200, and hardware for communicating with the storage 4 via the network 300. The communication standards of the communication IF 14 are Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), USB, etc. The printer 1 may be provided with a plurality of communication IFs 14 compatible with a plurality of communication standards. The network 200 and the network 300 may be a local network connected to the printer 1, or may be the Internet. The network 200 and the network 300 may be the same network.

[0019] The printing unit 15 includes a configuration for printing an image based on image data onto a printing medium such as a sheet. The image forming method of the printing unit 15 is, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printing unit 15 may be configured to be capable of color printing or may be configured to perform only monochrome printing.

[0020] 1, the server 3 has a function of storing one or more pieces of instruction data 31, 32, 33, etc., and transmitting designated instruction data based on a transmission instruction from the printer 1, etc. The instruction data in this embodiment is information that can be analyzed by the external function program 22 of the printer 1, and is, for example, an xml file prepared by the designer of the printing system 100, etc. Details of the instruction data will be described later.

[0021] The storage 4 stores various documents for download printing, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Each document is data to be printed prepared by a designer of the printing system 100, such as data showing various application forms, various report forms, operation manuals for various devices, and terms of use. The documents are not limited to documents, but may also be photographs, images, and charts. Each document stored in the storage 4 is data for printing generated by a printer driver corresponding to the printer 1, for example. The storage 4 may be part of the same device as the server 3.

[0022] Next, the procedure of external function processing executed by the external function program 22 of the printer 1 based on a user instruction will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 2. The external function processing is executed by the CPU 11 of the printer 1 when an instruction to start execution of the external function program 22 is received from the user via the user IF 13, for example.

[0023] The following processes basically indicate the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions written in the program. That is, processes such as "judgment," "extraction," "selection," "calculation," "decision," "identification," "acquisition," "reception," and "control" in the following description represent the processes of the CPU 11. The processes by the CPU 11 also include hardware control using the API of the OS. In this specification, the description of the OS is omitted and the operation of each program is described. That is, in the following description, a description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may also refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of the OS." In addition, the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions written in the program may be described in abbreviated terms. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU 11." In addition, the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions written in the program may be described in abbreviated terms such as "performed by program A."

[0024] Note that "obtaining" is used as a concept that does not require a request. In other words, the process of receiving data without the CPU 11 making a request is also included in the concept of "the CPU obtaining data." In addition, "data" in this specification is represented as a bit string that can be read by a computer. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats is treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. In addition, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts that indicate outputting information indicating a request or information indicating an instruction to the other party. In addition, information indicating a request or information indicating an instruction is also simply referred to as "request" and "instruction."

[0025] Furthermore, the process by CPU 11 to determine whether information A indicates event B may be conceptually described as "determining whether event B is determined from information A." The process by CPU 11 to determine whether information A indicates event B or event C may be conceptually described as "determining whether event B or event C is determined from information A."

[0026] In the external function process, the CPU 11 reads out the function URL from the memory 12 (S101), accesses the server 3 using the acquired function URL, and receives a predetermined xml file, which is instruction data (S102). S102 is an example of a receiving process. An instruction to start the execution of the external function process by a user operation via the user IF 13 is an example of an access instruction that instructs access to the server 3. For example, a seller of the printing system 100, a designer or service person of the manufacturer or sales dealer of the printer 1, may store a plurality of instruction data for making the printer 1 execute a series of processes in the server 3. Then, for example, a system administrator of the company that introduced the printer 1 may store information indicating the instruction data to be accessed first in the series of processes to be used in the function URL of the printer 1. Alternatively, the seller of the printing system 100, etc. may store information indicating the predetermined instruction data in the function URL of the printer 1 in advance.

[0027] In the printer 1 of this embodiment, access information for starting execution of the download print function, for example, "http: / / www.server-c.com / downloadprint_top.xml" is registered in the function URL 221. When a user's instruction to execute the download print function as an external function is accepted, the CPU 11 reads out the function URL 221 in S101.

[0028] The instruction data includes display instruction data for instructing a screen display and action instruction data for instructing an action. The CPU 11 analyzes the received instruction data and judges whether the instruction data is display instruction data or action instruction data (S103). Specifically, the CPU 11 <display>The instruction data including the tag is determined to be display instruction data, <command> The instruction data including the tag is determined to be operation instruction data. The instruction data 31 that the printer 1 first receives by the function URL 221 is, for example, display instruction data instructing the display of a selection screen for selecting the type of data to be printed, as shown in part in Fig. 3(A). The names and values ​​of various tags are not limited to the examples in the figures, and may be any as long as they can be analyzed by the external function program 22 that analyzes the instruction data.

[0029] When it is determined that the received instruction data is display instruction data (S103: display instruction), the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to display a display screen based on the instruction data (S104). When the instruction data 31 shown in Fig. 3(A) is received by an instruction to execute download printing, the CPU 11 causes the user IF 13 to display a selection screen 51 including a selection button 511 for selecting "Manual" and a selection button 512 for selecting "Application Form", as shown in Fig. 3(B), for example. The selection screen 51 is an example of an input screen, and S104 is an example of a display process.

[0030] Furthermore, the CPU 11 waits until it accepts a selection operation from the user via the user IF 13 on the displayed selection screen, for example, the selection screen 51 (S105). If it is determined that the selection operation from the user has been accepted (S105: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the user's selection is a target for a reply instruction (S106).

[0031] The display instruction data includes a display instruction and a reply instruction. The reply instruction is an instruction to reply to the server 3 with parameters indicating at least one of the document to be printed and the print settings based on the user's input accepted on the displayed screen. The instruction data 31 shown in Fig. 3(A) is instruction data that does not include a reply instruction, and the CPU 11 determines that the user's input accepted on the selection screen 51 is not the target of a reply instruction.

[0032] If it is determined that the command data is not the target of a reply command (S106: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether the command data being processed includes information for requesting transmission of the next command data (S108). <nexturl>It is determined whether or not the tag is included. The next instruction data is instruction data received after processing the instruction data currently being processed. The instruction data 31 shown in FIG. 3(A) includes the following: <nexturl>The tag information includes a URL for requesting the next instruction data. The URL may include information indicating the server 3. Note that "http" shown in the instruction data in FIG. 3 may be changed to "https."

[0033] When it is determined that the information for requesting transmission of the next instruction data is included (S108: YES), the CPU 11 <nexturl>The URL, which is the tag information, is acquired (S109). Then, the CPU 11 returns to S102 and uses the acquired URL to request the server 3 to transmit the next instruction data.

[0034] For example, based on the user's input received on the selection screen 51 shown in FIG. 3B, the CPU 11 extracts information indicating the selected button as information indicating the operation content. For example, when "Manual" is operated, the CPU 11 extracts "1", which is a value corresponding to "Manual", from the instruction data. Then, for example, the CPU 11 transmits HTML data including information indicating the operation content to the server 3 using the acquired URL, and the server 3 transmits the next instruction data corresponding to the selected button based on the received HTML data. Alternatively, the CPU 11 may create a URL in which information indicating the operation content is added as a parameter to the acquired URL, and request the server 3 for the resource indicated by the created URL. Note that the operation screen that receives the user's input is not limited to a screen that receives the selection of a button, and may be a screen that receives the input of text. In this case, the CPU 11 may treat the input text itself as information indicating the operation content.

[0035] In this embodiment, the instruction data received after the instruction data 31 is display instruction data for instructing the display of a selection screen for specifically accepting the designation of data to be printed, based on the type of data to be printed accepted on the selection screen 51. Specifically, when the selection button 511 is selected, the CPU 11 receives the instruction data 32 shown in Fig. 4(A) in S102, and displays the selection screen 52 shown in Fig. 4(B) in S104. In other words, when "Manual" is selected as the type of data to be printed, the printer 1 further accepts the selection of data to be printed from either "Terms of Use" or "Operation Manual".

[0036] Furthermore, when the selection button 512 is selected, the CPU 11 receives the instruction data 33 shown in Fig. 5(A) in S102, and displays the selection screen 53 shown in Fig. 5(B) in S104. In other words, when the "application form" is selected as the type of data to be printed, the printer 1 further accepts the selection of the data to be printed from either the "user registration application" or the "change notification application." The selection screens 52 and 53 are examples of selection screens for selecting the data to be printed for download printing.

[0037] When the selection of data to be printed is accepted on the selection screen 52 or the selection screen 53, the CPU 11 acquires the next URL based on the accepted selection result, and returns to S102 to again receive instruction data from the server 3. Note that in this embodiment, due to limitations in the size of the user IF 13 of the printer 1, an example of a two-stage selection screen that accepts a selection from two options is shown, but it is also possible to display four options as data to be printed from the beginning and accept the user's selection.

[0038] An example of the instruction data received in S102 for the third time is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6(A) is an example of the instruction data 34 when "Operation Manual" is selected on the selection screen 52. FIG. 6(B) is an example of the instruction data 35 when "User Registration Application" is selected on the selection screen 53. The instruction data 34 and the instruction data 35 are, <command> The download print instruction data includes an item that specifies the document to be downloaded by its file name. For example, the instruction data 34 and the instruction data 35 shown in FIG. 6 each include the document to be printed as follows: <path>The file name is specified by the tag.

[0039] The designer of the printing system 100 can prepare display instruction data that not only accepts the selection of the document to be downloaded, but also the selection of print settings, such as the number of copies to be printed, the selection of double-sided or single-sided printing, and the selection of color or monochrome printing. The display instruction data that accepts the selection of print settings includes a reply instruction to return the accepted selection result to the server 3. If the received display instruction data includes a reply instruction, the CPU 11 determines in S106 that the data is the subject of the reply instruction (S106: YES), and returns information on print settings, such as the number of copies to be printed, to the server 3 based on the user's input (S107). S107 is an example of a reply process.

[0040] When the server 3 receives the print setting information and the instruction to send the next instruction data, the server 3 edits the instruction data that is instructed to be sent based on the received information, and sends the edited instruction data to the printer 1. For example, when the server 3 receives information indicating that the number of copies to be printed is 2, the server 3 changes the following in the instruction data 34 or 35 shown in FIG. <collate>The printer creates instruction data in which the tag value is replaced with "2" indicating two copies, and sends the data to the printer 1. The printer 1 analyzes the received instruction data and <collate>The number of copies to be printed can be obtained by the tag value.

[0041] When it is determined that the received instruction data is operation instruction data (S103: Operation instruction), the CPU 11 determines whether the instructed operation is download printing (S110). <downloadprint>The instruction data includes a tag, and the CPU 11 determines that the instruction data is instruction data for instructing download printing.

[0042] If it is determined that the instruction data is for instructing download printing (S110: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not method information is included in the instruction data (S111). Method information is information that indicates a printing method in download printing, and includes a separate method in which printing starts after all downloading of the document is complete, and a parallel method in which printing starts before all downloading of the document is complete, and downloading and printing are performed in parallel. The separate method is an example of the first method, and the parallel method is an example of the second method.

[0043] In the separate method, printing does not start until the download is complete, so the timing to start printing may be delayed, but the print progress speed is fast after printing has started. On the other hand, in the parallel method, printing starts even if the download is not complete, so the timing to start printing is fast, but there is a possibility that the print progress will be delayed after printing has started, for example, because the printer 1 is waiting for the download. The printer 1 of this embodiment is capable of performing both separate download printing and parallel download printing.

[0044] For example, in the instruction data 34 and 35 shown in FIG. <parallelprocessing>The value of the tag is the method information. The CPU 11 analyzes the instruction data and <parallelprocessing>The CPU 11 attempts to extract the presence or absence of a tag and its value. S111 is an example of an extraction process. In this embodiment, the CPU 11 performs the following on the basis of the extraction result: <parallelprocessing>If the tag value is "true", it is determined that the data specifies the separation method. <parallelprocessing>If the tag value is "false", it is determined that the instruction data specifies the parallel method.

[0045] The method information is incorporated in advance into the instruction data by, for example, a designer of the printing system 100. For example, for a document with a small number of pages, the time required for downloading is not so long, so the separate method, which has a fast printing progress speed, tends to be suitable. On the other hand, for a document with a large number of pages, the time required for downloading to be completed may be long, so the parallel method, which starts printing early, tends to be suitable.

[0046] Furthermore, a designer or the like who creates the instruction data may determine which method is to be adopted for which document, according to the preference of a user who instructs execution of download printing. Furthermore, the method information may be the subject of the aforementioned return instruction, and the selection of the user who executes download printing may be accepted. For example, a design may be made such that operation instruction data incorporating the method information of the method selected by the user is transmitted by further adding display instruction data for displaying a selection screen including a "parallel" button and a "separate" button for selecting method information, and returning parameters based on the user's selection to the server 3.

[0047] When it is determined that the instruction data includes the method information (S111: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the method specified by the method information is the separation method or the parallel method (S112). When it is determined that the method is the separation method (S112: separation), the CPU 11 first executes a download process (S115), and then executes a read and print process (S116). The combination of the download process and the read and print process is an example of a download print process that performs download printing in the first method.

[0048] In this embodiment, the printer 1 has the separation method as the default printing method. That is, even if the CPU 11 determines that the instruction data does not include method information (S111: NO), it executes S115 and S116. The default printing method may be the parallel method, and in this case, if the CPU 11 determines NO in S111, it proceeds to S118.

[0049] The procedure of the download process in the separation method will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 7. The download process is a process of downloading a document from the storage 4 and storing it in a temporary file. The temporary file is a file for temporarily saving the downloaded data.

[0050] In the download process, the CPU 11 creates a temporary file in the memory 12 (S201), connects to the storage 4, and opens the document to be printed (S202). Next, the CPU 11 downloads the document to be printed in units of the size of the DL buffer 23 (see FIG. 1) (S205), and writes the downloaded data to the temporary file created in S201 (S206).

[0051] Then, CPU 11 judges whether or not the download of the entire document to be printed is completed (S207). For example, if the size of the data downloaded in S205 is smaller than the size of DL buffer 23, CPU 11 judges that the download is completed, and if the size of the data downloaded is equal to the size of DL buffer 23, CPU 11 judges that the download may not be completed yet.

[0052] If it is determined that the download is not complete (S207: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S205 to perform further downloading and writing to the temporary file. If it is determined that the download is complete (S207: YES), the CPU 11 closes the document in the storage 4 (S208). Then, the CPU 11 closes the temporary file (S209), ends the download process, and returns to the external function process.

[0053] 2, after the download process (S115) is completed, the CPU 11 executes a read and print process (S116). The procedure of the read and print process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0054] In the read and print process, the CPU 11 opens the temporary file that was created and written in the download process described above (S301). The CPU 11 reads data from the temporary file and writes it to the RIP buffer 24 (S302). For example, based on the free space in the RIP buffer 24, the CPU 11 attempts to read data equivalent to the free space from the temporary file and write it to the RIP buffer 24.

[0055] The data written to the RIP buffer 24 is sequentially rasterized by the RIP processing unit which performs RIP processing (S304), and the generated print data is passed to the printing unit 15. S304 is an example of raster processing. The printing unit 15 executes printing based on the received print data (S305). The RIP processing unit deletes from the RIP buffer 24 the data for which RIP processing has been completed.

[0056] The CPU 11 judges whether or not reading of all data stored in the temporary file is completed (S311). For example, if the size of the data that was actually read from the temporary file in S302 is smaller than the free space, the CPU 11 judges that reading of all data is completed. If it is determined that reading is not completed (S311: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S302 and continues reading of the temporary file.

[0057] If it is determined that all data has been read (S311: YES), the CPU 11 closes the temporary file (S312) and deletes the temporary file (S313). After that, the CPU 11 ends the read and print process and returns to the external function process.

[0058] Returning to the explanation of the external function processing in Fig. 2, if it is determined that the instruction data includes method information specifying the parallel method (S112: parallel), the CPU 11 determines whether the specified document to be printed is a document in a specific format (S118). In order to properly execute download printing in the parallel method, the format must be such that rasterization can be properly performed based on the data of the downloaded portion of the document even if downloading of the entire document is not completed. The specific format is a format in which rasterization can be started by analyzing the beginning portion of the document.

[0059] If it is determined that the document is not in a specific format (S118: NO), the CPU 11 decides to adopt the separation method and proceeds to S115. For example, in a PDF document, print parameters may be added to the end of the document. PDF is a format in which rasterization cannot begin until the end of the document has been analyzed, and is not a specific format. Note that in the case of a document other than a specific format, the printer 1 may not subject the document to download printing and may abort the process.

[0060] On the other hand, if the instruction data specifies the parallel method and it is determined that the data to be printed is a document in a specific format (S118: YES), the CPU 11 executes parallel printing processing (S119). A document in a specific format is, for example, a document generated by a printer driver corresponding to the printer 1, and is a document in a format such as PCL, PCLXL, or PS. The parallel printing processing is an example of a download printing processing that performs download printing in the second method.

[0061] The procedure of the parallel printing process will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 9. In the parallel printing process, the CPU 11 connects to the storage 4 and opens the document to be printed (S401). S401 is the same process as S202 of the download process shown in Fig. 7. Next, the CPU 11 acquires the free space in the RIP buffer 24 (S402). Then, the CPU 11 judges whether the free space is larger than a predetermined size (S403). The predetermined size is a fixed value determined in advance based on the download speed and the printing speed of the printing unit 15.

[0062] When it is determined that the free space size is not larger than the predetermined size (S403: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S402 and again obtains the free space size of the RIP buffer 24. The free space size of the RIP buffer 24 gradually increases as data that has been rasterized by the RIP processor is deleted.

[0063] If it is determined that the free space is larger than the predetermined size (S403: YES), the CPU 11 downloads the document from the storage 4 up to the predetermined size, and writes it to the RIP buffer 24 (S405). Note that instead of writing directly to the RIP buffer 24, the received document may be written temporarily to the DL buffer 23, and then immediately transferred from the DL buffer 23 to the RIP buffer 24.

[0064] When the data is written to the RIP buffer 24, it is rasterized by the RIP processor (S406), and the print unit 15 prints the data based on the generated print data (S407). S406 is the same process as S304 of the read and print process shown in Fig. 8, and is an example of raster processing.

[0065] CPU 11 determines whether or not all of the documents to be printed have been downloaded (S411). For example, if the size of the data downloaded in S405 is smaller than a predetermined size, CPU 11 determines that the download is complete, and if the size of the data downloaded is equal to the predetermined size, CPU 11 determines that the download may not be complete. If it determines that the download is not complete (S411: NO), CPU 11 returns to S402 and performs further downloading and printing.

[0066] If it is determined that the download is complete (S411: YES), the CPU 11 closes the document in the storage 4 (S412). Then, the CPU 11 ends the parallel printing process and returns to the external function process. If data remains in the RIP buffer 24, the RIP processor continues to execute the process.

[0067] The difference in data flow between the separate method and the parallel method will be explained using Fig. 10. In the separate method, as shown in Fig. 10(A), data downloaded from storage 4 by the download processing unit is temporarily stored in DL buffer 23 and written to a temporary file by the file writing processing unit. Furthermore, the data in the temporary file is read by the file reading processing unit, written to RIP buffer 24, rasterized by the RIP processing unit, and then passed to printing unit 15. The upper part of Fig. 10(A) shows the data flow due to the download processing shown in Fig. 7, and the lower part shows the data flow due to the read and print processing shown in Fig. 8.

[0068] In the separation method, the size of the temporary file gradually increases due to downloading, and the free space in the memory 12 of the printer 1 decreases. The printer 1 monitors the free space in the memory 12, and when the free space in the memory 12 becomes less than a predetermined threshold, it may start the execution of the read and print process without waiting for the download process to end. In other words, when the memory is close to being full, the printer 1 starts reading and printing from the beginning of the temporary file being written even before the entire document has been downloaded, and deletes the data of the part that has been printed. In this case, the CPU 11 executes the download process and the read and print process in parallel. The set of the download process and the read and print process executed in parallel is an example of download printing in the second method.

[0069] On the other hand, in the parallel method, as shown in Fig. 10(B), data downloaded from the storage 4 by the download processing unit is written to the RIP buffer 24, rasterized by the RIP processing unit, and then passed to the print unit 15. Fig. 10(B) shows the data flow in the parallel printing process shown in Fig. 9. The read speed by the file read processing unit is often faster than the download speed by the download processing unit. Therefore, as described above, it is highly likely that printing of the first page will start sooner in the parallel method, and the print speed after printing has started is highly likely to be faster in the separate method.

[0070] Returning to the description of the external function processing in FIG. 2, after the read-out printing processing in S116 or after the parallel printing processing in S119, the CPU 11 proceeds to S108 and determines whether the instruction data being executed further includes information on the next URL. If the CPU 11 determines that the received instruction data is operation instruction data and not download printing instruction data (S110: NO), the CPU 11 executes processing based on the instruction data (S120). S120 is an example of a predetermined image processing. After S120, the CPU 11 proceeds to S108.

[0071] The external functions executable by the printer 1 are not limited to the download print function. For example, if the printer 1 has a document reading function in addition to the print function, it may have a scan upload function as an external function. In this case, the designer of the printing system 100 prepares instruction data for implementing the scan upload function in the server 3 and registers access information for the instruction data as a function URL. The printer 1 also executes appropriate processing in S120 for external functions other than the download print function based on the received instruction data.

[0072] If it is determined that the received instruction data includes information about the next URL (S108: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the next instruction data from the server 3 based on the information about the next URL, as described above. If it is determined that the next URL information is not included (S108: NO), the CPU 11 ends the external function processing.

[0073] The printer 1 of this embodiment may be triggered to execute the download print function by other means than a user instruction. In addition to a function URL 221 including access information for accessing the server 3 by a user instruction, a function URL 222 including access information and an access condition may be registered in the external function program 22 of the printer 1. Specifically, a set of access information indicating operation instruction data and an access condition such as a fixed time once a day or once a week, or a specified time after the power is turned on is registered in the function URL 222. The fixed time is an example of timing information, and the condition for the fixed time to arrive is an example of a first access condition.

[0074] When the function URL 222 is registered and the printer 1 determines that the access conditions included in the function URL 222 are satisfied, the printer 1 receives instruction data from the server 3 using the access information. If the received instruction data is operation instruction data instructing the execution of download printing, even when the execution of the external function program 22 is started based on the function URL 222, the printer 1 executes download printing in the separate mode or parallel mode based on the mode information, as described above.

[0075] By accepting and registering the timing to access the server 3, i.e., the timing to receive instruction data and start download printing, the printer 1 can automatically start download printing. On the other hand, if the server 3 is accessed based on a user instruction from the user IF 13, download printing can be performed at a timing of the user's choice.

[0076] Furthermore, the printer 1 of this embodiment may be capable of executing functions based on pre-installed programs, in addition to the functions based on the external function program 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, if the printer 1 is equipped with a direct printing program 25 and a received printing program 26, the printer 1 can realize the direct printing function and the received printing function.

[0077] The direct printing function is a function for reading and printing a document from an external storage device connected to the printer 1. For example, when a USB memory 6 is attached to the printer 1, the printer 1 accepts an instruction to print the document 61 stored in the USB memory 6. The USB memory 6 is an example of a memory connected to the printer 1. When the USB memory 6 is attached to the printer 1 and an instruction to execute direct printing is accepted, the printer 1 first obtains the entire document 61 from the USB memory 6 and temporarily stores it in a temporary file, as in the separation method described above. The printer 1 then executes printing by reading data from the temporary file and writing it to the RIP buffer 24. Since the reception of the document 61 is practically complete, it is preferable to process direct printing as a separation method.

[0078] The reception and printing function is a function that receives print data from an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") 7 via the communication IF 14 and performs printing based on the received print data. The PC 7 has a printer driver 71 corresponding to the printer 1, and generates print data using the printer driver 71 based on, for example, a user's instruction, and transmits the generated print data to the printer 1. The PC 7 is an example of an information processing device. When the printer 1 accepts an instruction to receive print data from the PC 7 or the like, it receives print data from the PC 7 and writes the received data into the RIP buffer 24, similar to the parallel method described above, and performs reception of the print data and rasterization and printing in parallel. In reception and printing, since it is sometimes unknown when the reception of the document will be completed, it is preferable to perform the parallel method of receiving the document and printing in parallel.

[0079] As described above in detail, the printer 1 of this embodiment is capable of performing download printing, which downloads a document and prints based on the downloaded document, based on instruction data received from the server 3. The printer 1 supports at least two printing methods for download printing, a separate method and a parallel method, and the instruction data stored in the server 3 can include method information indicating the printing method for download printing. The printer 1 then performs download printing according to the printing method indicated in the method information included in the instruction data. This is expected to enable download printing to be performed using a printing method that suits the purpose and preferences of the user.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the instruction data can include information for designating the separation method or the parallel method, the designer of the printing system 100 can select in advance a printing method suitable for the data to be printed.

[0081] It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, the technology disclosed in this specification can be naturally improved and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the printer is not limited to a printer with a single function, but can be a multifunction machine, a copier, a fax machine, or any other device that has a printing function and a communication function via a network.

[0082] In the present embodiment, one document is designated as the print target of the download print as the operation instruction data, but multiple documents may be designated in one operation instruction data. <path>Operation instruction data including a tag may be prepared. In this case, if the parallel method is specified, the printer 1 may download and print one document in the parallel method, and then download and print the next document in the parallel method. If the separation method is specified or if no printing method is specified, the printer 1 may start printing after downloading all specified documents, or may start printing from the document that has been downloaded once downloading of at least one of the specified documents is complete.

[0083] In addition, the display screens illustrated in the present specification are merely examples, and the layout of each button and the text contained therein are not limited to those illustrated in the figures. For example, there may be display instruction data that displays a selection screen from which multiple documents can be selected. When multiple documents are selected on the selection screen, the printer 1 may send a transmission instruction including multiple parameters to the server 3, or may send a transmission instruction for each document in sequence to the server 3.

[0084] In addition, the printer 1 of the present embodiment accepts the selection of the document to be downloaded by the user's input after accepting the download print execution instruction as the execution instruction of the external function program 22, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the designer of the printing system 100 may store in advance in the memory 12 a function URL indicating operation instruction data for downloading and printing a specific document. In this case, the printer 1 accepts a download print instruction including a document specification in advance as the execution instruction of the external function program 22, and therefore executes the download print without displaying the selection screen of FIG. 3 or the like.

[0085] Also, in this embodiment, the sizes of the DL buffer 23 and the RIP buffer 24 are fixed, but the size of each buffer may be variable. Also, in this embodiment, the printer 1 is capable of returning parameters to the server 3, but it may not be able to return them. Also, in this embodiment, the printer 1 starts a read print process when the free space of the memory 12 becomes low during a separation-type download process, but it may interrupt the process as an error. Also, in this embodiment, the print method is predetermined for direct printing and received printing, but it may be selectable. Also, in this embodiment, it is possible to register a function URL 222 specifying an access condition, but it may not be possible. In other words, the execution instruction for download printing may be received only by a user's operation.

[0086] In addition, in any of the flowcharts disclosed in the embodiments, the order of execution of multiple processes in any of the steps can be arbitrarily changed or the processes can be executed in parallel as long as no contradiction occurs in the process content.

[0087] The processes disclosed in the embodiments may be executed by a single CPU, multiple CPUs, hardware such as ASIC, or a combination of these. The processes disclosed in the embodiments may be realized in various forms, such as a recording medium having a program for executing the processes recorded thereon, or a method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1. Printer 3 Server 4. Storage 6. USB memory 7 PC 11 CPU 12. Memory 13 User Interface 14 Communication Interface 15 Printing unit 100 Printing System 200, 300 Network< / path> < / parallelprocessing> < / parallelprocessing> < / parallelprocessing> < / parallelprocessing> < / downloadprint> < / collate> < / collate> < / path> < / nexturl> < / nexturl> < / nexturl> < / display>

Claims

1. A communication interface; A printing unit; A controller; A printer comprising: The printer includes: access information indicating a sender of instruction data can be registered, the instruction data being data instructing the printer to execute a process, the process being performed by the printer including download printing, which downloads a document from a storage device on a network and prints the document, the instruction to execute the download printing being an instruction specifying the document to be downloaded, and the instruction data can further include method information indicating a printing method for the download printing, the printing method including a first method and a second method different from the first method, The controller: accessing a server that is a transmission source of the instruction data based on the registered access information via the communication interface, and executing a reception process to receive the instruction data transmitted from the server; The controller further comprises: When the instruction data received in the reception process instructs execution of the download printing, an extraction process for extracting the method information from the instruction data; a download printing process that receives a document designated in the download printing execution instruction by downloading the document from a predetermined storage designated by the instruction data via the communication interface based on an extraction result in the extraction process, and performs the download printing by having the printing unit print based on the received document; Run Furthermore, in the download printing process, When the method information indicating the first method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the first method, and the first method is a method of starting printing based on a received document after completing reception of the entire specified document, When the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the second method, and the second method is a method in which printing based on a received portion of a specified document is started before the entire reception of the document is completed, and reception of the document and printing based on the document are performed in parallel. A printer characterized by:

2. 2. The printer according to claim 1, the instruction to execute download printing is an instruction specifying a document to be downloaded by a file name, The controller: In the download printing process, when the download printing is performed using the first method, printing based on the received documents is started after completion of reception of all documents with file names specified in the instruction to execute the download printing, and when the download printing is performed using the second method, printing based on the received documents is started before completion of reception of all documents with file names specified in the instruction to execute the download printing, so that reception of the documents and printing based on the documents are performed in parallel. A printer characterized by:

3. 3. The printer according to claim 1, The printer includes: An access condition for accessing the server can be registered; The controller: when the registered access condition is satisfied, reading the registered access information and executing the reception process using the read access information. A printer characterized by:

4. 4. The printer according to claim 3, The printer includes: Timing information indicating a timing to access the server can be registered, and the registrable access conditions include a first access condition that the timing indicated in the registered timing information has been reached; The controller: when the timing indicated in the registered timing information comes while the first access condition is registered, reading the registered access information and executing the reception process using the read access information. A printer characterized by:

5. 5. The printer according to claim 1, The printer includes: a user interface, and capable of receiving an input of an access instruction for accessing the server via the user interface; The controller: when the access instruction is input, reading out the registered access information, and executing the reception process using the read out access information. A printer characterized by:

6. 6. The printer according to claim 1, the printer includes a user interface; The controller: When the instruction data received in the receiving process does not instruct the execution of the download printing but instructs the display of an input screen that accepts input using the user interface, a display process is executed to display the input screen on the user interface, the input received on the input screen includes an input of a reception instruction for instructing reception of next instruction data, the reception instruction is associated with the access information indicating a transmission source of the next instruction data, In response to the input of the reception instruction, the reception process is executed using the access information of the next instruction data; The controller further comprises: When the instruction data received in the receiving process does not instruct execution of the download printing, does not instruct display of the input screen, and instructs execution of a predetermined image processing different from the download printing, the predetermined image processing is executed; When the instruction data received in the receiving process instructs execution of the download printing, the extracting process and the download printing process are executed; Furthermore, in the download printing process, When the method information indicating the first method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the first method. When the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the second method. A printer characterized by:

7. 7. The printer according to claim 6, The instruction data for instructing the display of the input screen may include an instruction to execute a reply process for inputting parameters indicating at least one of a document to be printed and print settings via the input screen and replying to the input parameters, The controller: When the instruction data received in the receiving process does not instruct the execution of the download printing, instructs the display of the input screen, and further instructs the execution of the reply process, executing the display process for displaying the input screen on the user interface, the input accepted on the input screen including an input of the reception instruction for instructing reception of next instruction data and an input of the parameter, the reception instruction being associated with the access information indicating a transmission source of the next instruction data; In response to the input of the receiving instruction, the receiving process is executed using the access information of the next instruction data, and in the receiving process executed in response to the input of the receiving instruction, when accessing the server based on the access information, the reply process is executed to reply to the server with the input parameters, and after the reply process, the instruction data transmitted from the server may include the parameters returned by the reply process; In the download printing process, receiving the document specified in the instruction to execute the download print in accordance with the parameters indicating the document to be printed, and if the parameters indicating print settings are included, causing the printing unit to print based on the document in accordance with the parameters, thereby performing the download print; Furthermore, in the download printing process, When the method information indicating the first method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the first method. When the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the second method. A printer characterized by:

8. 8. The printer according to claim 1, The printer includes: A direct printing method for reading a document stored in a memory connected to the printer and printing the read document; receiving, via the communication interface, print data generated by a printer driver installed in an information processing device connected via the communication interface, and printing a document indicated in the received print data; The controller: The direct printing is performed in the first method; The received data is printed in the second method. A printer characterized by:

9. 8. The printer according to claim 1, The printer includes: a first buffer for temporarily storing the received document and a second buffer for use in generating print data; The controller: When a document is input to the second buffer, a raster process is executed to rasterize the document input to the second buffer to generate the print data, and the printing unit performs printing based on the print data generated by the raster process; The controller further comprises: In the first method, a received document is input to the first buffer, and after the entire reception of one document specified in the instruction to execute the download print is completed, the document input to the first buffer is input to the second buffer, thereby starting the execution of the raster process; In the second method, the execution of the raster process is started by inputting the received documents into the second buffer before the reception of all the documents is completed. A printer characterized by:

10. 10. The printer according to claim 9, The printer includes: A direct printing method for reading a document stored in a memory connected to the printer and printing the read document; receiving, via the communication interface, print data generated by a printer driver installed in an information processing device connected via the communication interface, and printing a document indicated in the received print data; The controller: In the direct printing, the document read from the memory is input to the second buffer, thereby starting the execution of the raster process; In the receiving and printing, before completing reception of the print data from the information processing device, the received print data is input to the second buffer, thereby starting execution of the raster processing, and inputting the received print data to the second buffer, the raster processing, and printing based on the print data are performed in parallel. A printer characterized by:

11. 11. The printer according to claim 1, In the download printing process, When the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process and the document specified in the instruction to execute the download printing is in a specific format, the download printing is performed in the second method, and the specific format includes a format of the document created by a printer driver; when the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process and the document specified in the instruction to execute the download printing is not in the specific format, the download printing is not executed in the second method. A printer characterized by:

12. 12. The printer according to claim 1, In the download printing process, if the free space of a memory for storing the received document becomes less than a threshold value after the download printing is started in the first method, the download printing is continued by switching to the second method. A printer characterized by:

13. 13. The printer according to claim 1, Either the first method or the second method is registered as a default printing method in the printer, In the download printing process, If the method information is not extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed using the registered default printing method. A printer characterized by:

14. A printing system including a printer and a server, The printer includes: access information indicating a sender of instruction data can be registered, the instruction data being data instructing the printer to execute a process, the process being performed by the printer including download printing, which downloads a document from a storage device on a network and prints the document, the instruction to execute the download printing being an instruction specifying the document to be downloaded, and the instruction data can further include method information indicating a printing method for the download printing, the printing method including a first method and a second method different from the first method, The printer further comprises: requesting the server to transmit the instruction data based on the registered access information; The server, When a transmission of the instruction data is requested from the printer, the instruction data is transmitted to the printer; The printer includes: When the instruction data received from the server instructs execution of the download printing, extracting the method information from the instruction data, and based on the extraction result, receiving a document designated in the instruction to execute the download print from a predetermined storage device designated by the instruction data, and performing printing based on the received document, thereby executing a download print process to execute the download print; Furthermore, in the download printing process, When the method information indicating the first method is extracted, the download printing is performed in the first method, and the first method is a method of starting printing based on a specified one document after completing reception of the entire document; When the method information indicating the second method is extracted, the download printing is performed in the second method, and the second method is a method in which printing based on a received portion of a specified document is started before the entire reception of the document is completed, and reception of the document and printing based on the document are performed in parallel. A printing system comprising:

15. A printer capable of registering access information indicating a source of instruction data, the instruction data being data instructing the printer to execute a process, the process being executed by the printer including download printing, which downloads a document from a storage device on a network and prints the document, the instruction to execute the download printing being an instruction specifying a document to be downloaded, and the instruction data can further include method information indicating a printing method for the download printing, the printing methods including a first method and a second method different from the first method, the printer having a controller; accessing a server that is a source of the instruction data based on the registered access information via a communication interface of the printer, and executing a reception process to receive the instruction data transmitted from the server; The controller further comprises: When the instruction data received in the reception process instructs execution of the download printing, an extraction process for extracting the method information from the instruction data; a download printing process that receives a document designated in the download printing execution instruction by downloading the document from a predetermined storage designated by the instruction data via the communication interface based on an extraction result in the extraction process, and performs the download printing by having a printing unit of the printer print based on the received document; Run the command, Furthermore, in the download printing process, When the method information indicating the first method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the first method, and the first method is a method of starting printing based on a specified document after completing reception of the entire document; When the method information indicating the second method is extracted in the extraction process, the download printing is performed in the second method, and the second method is a method in which printing based on a received portion of a specified document is started before the entire reception of the document is completed, and reception of the document and printing based on the document are performed in parallel. A program characterized by:

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