Printing system

Abstract

To provide a technique for increasing printing speed without cost.SOLUTION: A printer that receives a printing request from a terminal includes: a specification information transmission unit which transmits, to the terminal, specification information indicating specifications of the printer; a print control data receiving unit which receives, from the terminal, print image data indicating an image to be printed, and print control data derived by the terminal for printing the print image data; and a printing unit which performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, a control method, a program, and a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In printing processing performed by a printing apparatus such as a thermal printer, print data is transmitted from an application on a host terminal that requests printing (hereinafter may be referred to as "app"). When the printing apparatus receives the print data, firmware of the printing apparatus (hereinafter may be referred to as "FW") derives control details for printing (such as motor acceleration / deceleration control and head energization control) in accordance with the print data and the state of the printing apparatus. Printing processing is performed based on the derived control details.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Literature 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, control details during printing are derived by the FW of the printing apparatus. However, along with the demand for higher printing speeds, it is necessary to reduce the time required to derive the control details. In addition, calculation of the motor speed derived in motor acceleration / deceleration control and calculation of energization pulses in head energization control are becoming more complex. To address these issues, it is necessary to use an expensive Central Processing Unit (CPU) with high processing performance, which causes a significant cost increase.

[0005] Furthermore, thermal printers inherently have a background of extremely scarce hardware resources. For example, the operating frequency of the CPU is about 100 MHz, and the size of Random Access Memory (RAM) is also about 2 megabytes.

[0006] Given these circumstances, even with efforts to improve the processing performance of thermal printers within reasonable costs, the improvements were limited, making it difficult to achieve sufficient processing performance.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a technology that enables high-speed printing without incurring additional costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) In view of the above-mentioned problems, a printing system according to one aspect of the present invention is a printing system including a printing device and a terminal that requests printing from the printing device, wherein the printing device comprises a specification information transmission unit that transmits specification information indicating the specifications of the printing device to the terminal, a status information transmission unit that transmits status information indicating the status of the printing device to the terminal, a print control data receiving unit that receives print image data indicating an image to be printed and print control data derived by the terminal for printing the print image data from the terminal, and a printing unit that performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data, wherein the terminal comprises a specification information receiving unit that receives the specification information, a status information receiving unit that receives the status information, a derivation unit that derives the print control data based on the specification information, the status information and the print image data, and a data transmission unit that transmits the print image data and the print control data to the printing device.

[0009] (2) In a printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal includes a specific control data transmission unit that transmits specific control data indicating specific control content for performing specific processing determined based on the specification information and user settings, the printing device includes a specific control data receiving unit that receives the specific control data, and the printing unit performs the specific processing based on the specific control data.

[0010] (3) In a printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the status information transmission unit transmits the state of the printing device before printing and the state of the printing device during printing.

[0011] (4) In a printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the printing device stores the print image data and the print control data in a ring buffer.

[0012] (5) In view of the above-mentioned problems, a control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a printing system including a printing device and a terminal that requests printing from the printing device, wherein the printing device transmits specification information indicating the specifications of the printing device to the terminal, transmits status information indicating the status of the printing device to the terminal, receives print image data indicating an image to be printed and print control data derived by the terminal to print the print image data from the terminal, performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data, the terminal receives the specification information, receives the status information, derives the print control data based on the specification information, the status information and the print image data, and transmits the print image data and the print control data to the printing device.

[0013] (6) In view of the above-mentioned problems, a program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a printing device to function as a first computer and a terminal to function as a second computer in a printing system including a printing device and a terminal that requests printing from the printing device, wherein the first computer functions as a specification information transmission unit that transmits specification information indicating the specifications of the printing device to the terminal, a status information transmission unit that transmits status information indicating the status of the printing device to the terminal, a print control data receiving unit that receives print image data indicating an image to be printed and print control data derived by the terminal for printing the print image data from the terminal, and a printing unit that performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data, and the second computer functions as a specification information receiving unit that receives the specification information, a status information receiving unit that receives the status information, a derivation unit that derives the print control data based on the specification information, the status information and the print image data, and a data transmission unit that transmits the print image data and the print control data to the printing device.

[0014] (7) In view of the above-mentioned problems, a printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that receives a request for printing from a terminal, comprising: a specification information transmission unit that transmits specification information indicating the specifications of the printing apparatus to the terminal; a status information transmission unit that transmits status information indicating the status of the printing apparatus to the terminal; a print control data receiving unit that receives print image data indicating an image to be printed and print control data derived by the terminal in order to print the print image data from the terminal; and a printing unit that performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing an example of a printing system configuration. [Figure 2] The functional configuration of the terminal is a block diagram. [Figure 3] This is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of a printing device. [Figure 4]It is a diagram showing the contents of various types of data. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a structural example of printer specification data. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing a structural example of prescribed mechanical operation setting data. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing a structural example of pre-printing printer status data. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing a structural example of in-printing printer status data. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing a structural example of each control parameter data. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a structural example of each control parameter data for three dot lines. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing the processing flow of a printing apparatus. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart showing the flow of firmware startup processing. [Figure 13] It is a flowchart showing the flow of reception processing. [Figure 14] It is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart showing the processing flow of a terminal. [Figure 16] It is a flowchart showing the flow of print application startup processing. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart showing the flow of transmission processing. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, specific configuration examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 10 includes a printing apparatus 100 and a terminal 200 that requests the printing apparatus to perform printing. In FIG. 1, a smartphone is used as an example of the terminal 200, but any terminal capable of requesting the printing apparatus to perform printing (such as a PC (Personal Computer)) may be used.

[0017] Next, the functional configuration of terminal 200 and printing device 100 will be described. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of terminal 200. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of printing device 100. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the various data described in Figures 2 and 3. Hereafter, the block diagrams of terminal 200 and printing device 100 will be described with reference to Figure 4. In the following description, "application" may be simply referred to as "app". Also, "printer" as used in the following description is synonymous with "printing device". Furthermore, "printing" and "printing" are also synonymous.

[0018] In Figure 2, terminal 200 consists of a UI (User Interface) 210, a user application 220, a printer control application 230, and a data transmission / reception unit 240. The user application 220 and the printer control application 230 are implemented by software, including a computing unit, storage device, display device, and operating device. The computing unit is hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The storage device is volatile or non-volatile storage, such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), or flash memory. The UI 210 is an LCD or OLED (Electro-Luminescence) display. The operating device is a touch panel or hard keys. The user application 220 and the printer control application 230 are sometimes collectively referred to as the "printing application."

[0019] In this embodiment, the data transmission / reception unit 240 communicates with the printing device 100. Various protocols such as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® are used for communication. The UI 210 accepts user operations via the touch panel or the like, and displays various information to the user via the display. In this embodiment, the UI 210 accepts operations such as setting mechanical control settings, specifying print content, and issuing print commands. Specifying print content is the specification of an image to be printed by the printing device 100. The print command is an instruction to start printing the image specified by the print content specification. The mechanical control setting data set by the mechanical control settings is a group of setting data that the user performs for the printing process, as shown in Figure 4. Examples of mechanical control setting data include print density, print speed, and thermal paper settings. Individual settings may also be provided as mechanical control setting data, such as increasing density only for the ruled line printing section, slow printing only for the ladder barcode printing section, and partial gradation printing only for the image printing section.

[0020] The user application 220 consists of a user application startup control unit 221, a print image creation unit 222, and a print start control unit 223. The user application startup control unit 221 receives mechanical control settings from the UI 210 and transmits them to the printer control application 230. The print image creation unit 222 creates print image data indicating the image to be printed to the printing device 100, as specified by the print content specification, and notifies the print start control unit 223. When the print start control unit 223 receives a print instruction, it transmits print information to the printer control application 230. The print information includes information such as that the print instruction has been received and information that identifies the print image data.

[0021] The printer control application 230 consists of a printer application startup control unit 231 and a print data transmission control unit 232. The printer application startup control unit 231 receives printer specification data from the printing device 100, holds it, and transmits it to the print data transmission control unit 232. This printer specification data is an example of specification information that shows the specifications of the printing device. As shown in Figure 3, the printer specification data is a group of data that shows the specifications necessary for calculating various parameters that are data for controlling printing in the printing device 100. Examples of printer specification data include the model name, motor phase control, motor step control, maximum printing speed, acceleration table, deceleration method, energy control parameters, power supply specifications, head temperature rise characteristics, error control method, and data expansion buffer information.

[0022] The printer application startup control unit 231 receives the mechanical control setting data described above, holds the mechanical control setting data, and transmits it to the print data transmission control unit 232. Furthermore, the printer application startup control unit 231 creates predefined mechanical operation setting data and transmits the created predefined mechanical operation setting data to the printing device 100. The predefined mechanical operation setting data is a group of data that indicates the operation method of a process that can be specified in advance, and is an example of specific control data that indicates specific control content for performing a specific process determined based on the printer specification data and the mechanical control setting data. Examples of predefined mechanical operation setting data include the operation method when an error occurs (deceleration method, whether or not to reprint after clearing the error, etc.), the feed operation method, and the backlash absorption step. As a result, when an error occurs, the printing device 100 switches from mechanical control using each control parameter to the operation when an error occurs. Note that the printing device 100 may also operate according to the predefined mechanical operation settings for operations in which mechanical control parameters can be specified in advance, such as feed and backlash.

[0023] The print data transmission control unit 232 receives print information from the user application 220 and holds the received print image data. The print data transmission control unit 232 also derives control parameter data based on the printer specification data, the pre-print printer status data (described later), the mechanical control setting data, and the print image data, and transmits it to the printing device 100. Each set of control parameter data is a group of mechanical control parameter data for one form and is an example of print control data. Each set of control parameter data consists of the following parameters for each dot line. Examples of parameters include motor pulse width, division method, head pulse width (per division), and control method (history control, gradation control, pulse chopping specification).

[0024] The print data transmission control unit 232 receives pre-print printer status data from the printing device 100 and stores this data. The pre-print printer status data is a set of data indicating the state of the printer at the start of printing, and is an example of state information that changes depending on the state of the printing device. Examples of pre-print printer status data include power supply voltage, head temperature, ambient temperature, and elapsed time since the end of the previous print job. The pre-print printer status data is used as the initial value at the start of printer operation in the derivation of the control parameter data described above. The print data transmission control unit 232 derives each control parameter during printing other than the initial value by performing a simulation.

[0025] The print data transmission control unit 232 holds printer print data. This printer print data is a single data set that combines the print image data and the control parameters, and is transmitted to the printing device 100. The print data transmission control unit 232 receives printer status data during printing from the printing device 100 and holds this printer status data. The printer status data during printing is a group of data that indicates the status of the printer during printing. Examples of printer status data include power supply voltage, head temperature, and information on whether or not an error has occurred. The printer status data during printing may also be used to correct the held printer specification data.

[0026] The printer application startup control unit 231 described above is an example of a specification information receiving unit. The print data transmission control unit 232 is an example of a status information receiving unit, a derivation unit, and a data transmission unit.

[0027] Next, we will explain the functional configuration of the printing device 100 using Figure 3. In Figure 3, the printing device 100 consists of a data transmission / reception unit 110, a storage unit 120, a firmware (FW) 130, and a printer mechanism 140. The data transmission / reception unit 110 and the FW 130 are implemented by hardware such as an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit is hardware such as a CPU, ASIC, or FPGA.

[0028] In this embodiment, the data transmission / reception unit 110 communicates with the terminal 200. Various protocols such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are used for communication, as described above. The storage unit 120 consists of a flash memory 121 and an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 122. The flash memory 121 stores and updates internal printer specification data by the FW 121. The internal printer specification data is data managed by the FW 130 in the printing device 100, which is the source of the aforementioned printer specification data. The SDRAM 122 stores specified mechanical operation setting data and printer print data by the FW 130.

[0029] The FW130 consists of a startup processing unit 131, a printer status acquisition and transmission processing unit 132, a command analysis unit 133, and a print execution processing unit 134. The startup processing unit 131 receives predefined mechanical operation setting data from the terminal 200 and stores the predefined mechanical operation setting data in the SDRAM 122. The startup processing unit 131 reads the printer specification data stored in the flash memory 121 and transmits it to the terminal 200 as printer specification data.

[0030] The printer status acquisition and transmission processing unit 132 acquires pre-print printer status data from the printer mechanism 140 and transmits it to the terminal 200 as pre-print printer status data. The printer status acquisition and transmission processing unit 132 also acquires in-print printer status data from the printer mechanism 140 and transmits it to the terminal 200 as in-print printer status data.

[0031] The command analysis unit 133 receives printer print data from the terminal 200 and stores the printer print data in the SDRAM 122. Upon receiving the printer print data, the command analysis unit 133 requests the print execution processing unit 134 to start the print process. When the print execution processing unit 134 receives a request from the command analysis unit 133 to start the print process, it reads the printer print data and specified mechanical operation setting data stored in the SDRAM 122 and controls the printer mechanism 140. The printer mechanism 140 consists of various mechanisms for printing, such as a thermal head for printing on thermal paper and a stepping motor for transporting the thermal paper.

[0032] As described above, the print execution processing unit 134 reads the printer print data and specified mechanical operation setting data stored in the SDRAM 122 and performs print control according to each control parameter included in the printer print data. Therefore, since it is not necessary to derive each control parameter, a high-performance CPU is not required, and the deriving time is not required, making it possible to increase the printing speed without incurring additional costs.

[0033] Next, we will explain some examples of the data structure described above. Figure 5 shows an example of the structure of printer specification data. Note that the example in Figure 5 uses the XML (Extensible Markup Language) format.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, printer specification data includes the model name, motor data, thermal head data, power supply data, and control data. Motor data includes information on motor phase control, motor step control, maximum speed, acceleration table, and deceleration control. Thermal head data includes information on print energy (E0, dE), head resistance, and temperature. Power supply information includes data on power supply voltage, maximum current, and peak current. Control data includes information on default error control, buffer size, and buffer size.

[0035] Figure 6 shows an example of the structure of the standard mechanical operation setting data. Note that the example in Figure 6 uses the XML format. As shown in Figure 6, the standard mechanical operation setting data includes data indicating the control content during error, feed, and backlash. In the case of Figure 6, the data indicates that the default control will be used in all cases of error, feed, and backlash.

[0036] Figure 7 shows an example of the structure of pre-print printer status data. Note that the example in Figure 7 uses the XML format. As shown in Figure 7, the pre-print printer status data includes data indicating the power supply voltage, head temperature, ambient temperature, and elapsed time since the last print job.

[0037] Figure 8 shows an example of the structure of printer status data during printing. Note that the example in Figure 8 uses the XML format. As shown in Figure 8, the printer status data during printing includes data indicating the power supply voltage, head temperature, ambient temperature, and elapsed time since the last print, for each head line that has changed from the first dot line onwards.

[0038] Figure 9 shows an example of the structure of each control parameter data. The control parameter data shown in Figure 9 represents the data when parameter data for each dot line is transmitted in string format for the number of dot lines to be printed. The control parameter data shown in Figure 9 includes motor pulse width, control method, number of divisions, head data end position (division 1), head pulse width, head data end position (division 2), and head pulse width. In the case of Figure 9, since one line of the thermal head is divided into two and applied, the end position and head pulse width of the first division and the end position and head pulse width of the second division are included.

[0039] Figure 10 shows an example of the structure of each control parameter data for 3 dot lines. The string data "3707,n,2,28,320,72,345,2291,n,3,18,260,39,254,72,277,1769,n,1,72,241" can be divided into 1 dot line sections as follows. Note that "n" indicates that the control method is normal (control without history, gradation, or pulse chopping). "3707,n,2,28,320,72,345" "2291,n,3,18,260,39,254,72,277" "1769,n,1,72,241"

[0040] Figure 10 shows that the motor pulse widths for each control parameter from the 1st dot line to the 3rd dot line are 3707us, 2291us, and 1769us. The control method for all three dot lines is normal. The number of divisions for the 1st dot line to the 3rd dot line is 2, 3, and 1. The head pulse width for the 1st dot line is 320us and 345us. The head pulse width for the 2nd dot line is 260us, 254us, and 277us. The head pulse width for the 3rd dot line is 241us.

[0041] Next, the processing flow of the printing device 100 and the terminal 200 will be explained using a flowchart. Figure 11 is a flowchart of the processing flow of the printing device 100. In Figure 11, when the printing device 100 starts up, such as when powered on or reset, it first performs a firmware startup process (step S101), then a reception process (step S102), then a printing process (step S103), and then another reception process (step S102). Thus, from the firmware startup process onward, the processing flow consists of repeatedly receiving and printing.

[0042] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the firmware startup process (step S101). In Figure 12, the printer 100 reads the printer specification data from the flash memory 121 or acquires the printer specification data using a self-diagnostic function, etc. (step S201). Next, the printer 100 waits for a connection with the terminal 200 (step S202). When the terminal 200 is connected (step S202: YES), the printer 100 sends the printer specification data to the terminal 200 (step S203).

[0043] Next, the printing device 100 waits to receive the specified mechanical operation setting data transmitted from the terminal 200 (step S204). When the specified mechanical operation setting data is received (step S204: YES), the printing device 100 stores the received specified mechanical operation setting data in the SDRAM 122 (step S205) and terminates the process.

[0044] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reception process (step S102). In Figure 13, the printer 100 waits to receive a pre-print printer status request from the terminal 200, which requests pre-print printer status data (step S301). When the pre-print printer status request is received (step S301: YES), the printer 100 obtains the pre-print printer status data from the printer mechanism 140 and sends it to the terminal 200 (step S302).

[0045] Next, the printing device 100 waits to receive printer print data transmitted from the terminal 200 (step S303). When printer print data is received (step S303: YES), the printing device 100 stores the received printer print data in the SDRAM 122 (step S304) and terminates processing. At this time, the print execution processing unit 134 is requested to start the print process. Alternatively, a ring buffer may be provided in the SDRAM 122, and the printer print data may be stored in the ring buffer. That is, print image data and print control data may be stored in the ring buffer. By using a ring buffer, buffer management becomes easier, and past print data is overwritten, so a buffer can be provided within the limits of limited resources.

[0046] Figure 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process (step S103). In Figure 14, the printing device 100 performs printing control for one dot line according to the printer print data stored in step S304 (step S401). For example, with the control parameter data shown in Figure 10, the control is first performed according to "3707, n, 2, 28, 320, 72, 345". As described above, each control parameter data is derived by the terminal 200. Therefore, the printing device 100 only needs to perform printing control. Thus, there is no need to derive each control parameter, and since no deriving time is required, it is possible to increase the printing speed without incurring additional costs.

[0047] The printing device 100 obtains printer status data during printing from the printer mechanism 140 (step S402). The printing device 100 determines whether printing is complete or not (step S402). If printing is not complete (step S403: NO), the printing device 100 returns to step S401 to perform printing control for the next dot line.

[0048] If printing is complete (step S403: YES), the printer 100 determines whether it has received a printer status request from the terminal 200 requesting printer status data while printing (step S404). If the printer status request is not received (step S404: NO), the printer 100 terminates processing. If the printer status request is received (step S404: YES), the printer 100 sends the printer status data acquired in step S402 to the terminal 200 (step S405) and terminates processing.

[0049] Next, we will explain the processing flow of terminal 200. Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of terminal 200. In Figure 15, when terminal 200 starts up, such as when terminal 200 is started up or when the print application is started, terminal 200 first performs the print application start process (step S501), then performs the transmission process in response to user operations (step S502), and then performs the transmission process again in response to user operations (step S502). Thus, from the print application start process onward, the processing flow involves repeating the transmission process in response to user operations.

[0050] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print application startup process (step S501). In Figure 16, terminal 200 acquires mechanical control setting data (step S601). Here, as described above, mechanical control setting data acquired by the user through the UI 210 to configure mechanical control settings, or mechanical control setting data that has been set and retained through previous operations, is acquired.

[0051] Terminal 200 waits for connection to the printer 100 (step S602). When the printer 100 is connected (step S602: YES), terminal 200 waits for reception of printer specification data (step S603). When terminal 200 receives the printer specification data (step S603: YES), it holds the received printer specification data (step S604). Terminal 200 creates standard mechanical operation setting data based on the printer specification data and mechanical control setting data (step S605). Terminal 200 sends the created standard mechanical operation setting data to the printer 100 (step S606) and terminates the process.

[0052] Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the transmission process (step S502). In Figure 17, terminal 200 creates print image data that indicates an image to be printed by the printing device 100 (step S701). Terminal 200 sends a pre-print printer status request (step S702). Terminal 200 waits to receive pre-print printer status data (step S703). Upon receiving the pre-print printer status data (step S703: YES), terminal 200 derives each control parameter based on the printer specification data, the pre-print printer status data, the mechanical control setting data, and the print image data (step S704).

[0053] Terminal 200 transmits print control data to the printing device 100 (step S705). Subsequently, terminal 200 transmits a printer status request during printing (step S706). This printer status request during printing does not necessarily have to be transmitted; for example, it may be transmitted at a frequency equal to one of multiple transmission processes. Terminal 200 waits to receive printer status data during printing (step S707). Upon receiving printer status data during printing (step S707: YES), terminal 200 updates the printer specification data based on the printer status data during printing (step S708) and terminates the process.

[0054] The above-described embodiment makes it possible to increase the printing speed without incurring additional costs. Furthermore, by having the printer 100 store the operation method when an error occurs (deceleration method, whether or not to reprint to clear the error, etc.), the feed operation method, and the backlash absorption step as predefined mechanical operation setting data, the printer 100 can switch from mechanical control using each control parameter to the operation when an error occurs without querying the terminal 200. The printer 100 may also notify the printer control application 230 as log data, such as where and what kind of error caused the stop when an error occurs. In this case, the printer control application 230 may use the log data to avoid errors when reprinting. In addition, the printer control application 230 may have a mechanism to receive information on density and streaking entered by the user in the user application 220 and adjust the parameters accordingly.

[0055] Furthermore, the printer 100 can respond to dynamic state changes by transmitting the state of the printer 100 before printing (printer state data before printing) and the state of the printer 100 during printing (printer state data during printing). In addition, a printer control application 230 is provided as the SDK for the printer 100, and third parties may create user applications. In this case, since all control parameters of the printer 100 are derived by the printer control application 230, third parties can create user applications without being aware of the control parameters of the printer 100.

[0056] In the embodiments described above, the printer specification data may consist only of data that can identify the printing device 100, such as the model name of the printing device 100. In this case, the terminal 200 may, for example, store printer specification data in advance for each model name of the printing device 100 and retrieve the printer specification data from there. Alternatively, the printer specification data may be stored in the cloud for each model name, and the terminal 200 may retrieve it from the cloud.

[0057] The program for executing the processing of the printing device 100 described above may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include, for example, portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks and SSDs (Solid State Drives) built into computer systems. The image processing program may also be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0058] The functions of the printing apparatus 100 in the above-described embodiment may be implemented using a computer. In that case, the functions may be implemented by recording a program for implementing these functions on a computer-readable recording medium, loading the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system, and executing it. Here, "computer system" includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Moreover, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include those that dynamically hold programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs via networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, and those that hold programs for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside a computer system that acts as a server or client in such cases. Furthermore, the above-mentioned program may only implement a part of the functions described above, and may also be able to implement the above-mentioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system.

[0059] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Printing Systems 100 Printing equipment 110 Data transmission / reception unit 120 Storage section 121 Flash Memory 131 Startup Processing Unit 132 Printer status acquisition and transmission processing unit 133 Command Analysis Unit 134 Print execution processing unit 134 and print execution processing unit 140 Printer Mechanism 200 terminals 221 User application launch control unit 222 Print Image Creation Department 223 Print Start Control Unit 223 and print start control unit 230 Printer Control Applications 231 Printer application startup control unit 232 Print Data Transmission Control Unit 240 Data transmission / reception unit

Claims

1. A printing system comprising a printing device that prints on thermal paper using a thermal head, and a terminal that requests printing from the printing device, The aforementioned printing apparatus, A specification information transmission unit that transmits specification information indicating the specifications of the printing device to the terminal, A status information transmission unit that transmits status information indicating the state of the printing device before and during printing to the terminal, A print control data receiving unit receives print image data indicating the image to be printed and print control data derived by the terminal for printing the print image data from the terminal. A printing unit that performs printing based on the print image data and the print control data, Equipped with, The aforementioned terminal is A specification information receiving unit that receives the aforementioned specification information, A status information receiving unit that receives the aforementioned status information, A derivation unit that derives the print control data based on the specification information, the status information, and the print image data, A data transmission unit that transmits the print image data and the print control data to the printing device, A printing system equipped with this system.

2. The terminal includes a specific control data transmission unit that transmits specific control data indicating specific control content for performing specific processing determined based on the specification information and user settings. The printing apparatus includes a specific control data receiving unit that receives the specific control data, The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit performs the specific processing based on the specific control data.

3. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the status information transmission unit transmits the status of the printing device before printing and the status of the printing device during printing.

4. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing apparatus comprises a storage unit for storing the print image data and the print control data.

5. A CPU that operates the specification information transmission unit, the status information transmission unit, the print control data reception unit, the storage unit, and the print unit, The printing system according to claim 4, comprising:

6. The printing system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the printing apparatus stores the print image data and the print control data in the ring buffer of the storage unit.

Images