Printer and control method for printer, and recording medium where program controlling printer is recorded

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to, for example, a technique for a printer that directly accesses a resource existing on a network such as the Internet, downloads the resource, and prints the resource.

【0002】

[Previous technology]

Conventionally, there are network-compatible printers that are connected to a network such as LAN (Local Area Network) and shared by multiple computers. Such a printer passively receives a print request sent from a computer via a network and prints according to the print request.

【0003】

On the other hand, in recent years, the WWW (World Wide Web) has rapidly become widespread on the Internet. In this WWW, a browser on a client computer accesses a Web server according to a URI (Uniform Resorce Identifier) to acquire resources (information resources; for example, a Web page). When the browser acquires this resource, if the resource acquired from the same URI in the past is cached on the hard disk etc., the browser uses the cached resource without accessing the Web server. .. The browser presents the acquired resource on the screen or stores it in a hard disk or the like. The browser converts the acquired resource into a print request as necessary and sends it to the printer.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

As described above, the conventional printer passively receives the print request sent from the computer and prints, and does not actively access the server to acquire the resource.

【0005】

Therefore, when the user prints a resource on the WWW, the user first starts the computer and starts the browser, and by operating this browser, accesses the Web server and acquires the desired resource. Later, it was necessary to send a print request to the browser. Therefore, when printing a resource that is updated regularly on the Web server, it is convenient if the printer can acquire the resource directly from the Web server without going through a computer.

【0006】

By the way, the printer has the memory required to generate print data, but when the resource is acquired directly from the Web server, all the resources are acquired due to the limitation of the capacity of this memory. You will not be able to. Therefore, if an attempt is made to acquire all the resources but the memory cannot be acquired, an error may occur before printing is performed, and communication is wasted. On the other hand, since the user may need only a part of the resource, it is convenient if only a part of the resource can be acquired and printed.

【0007】

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to shorten the time required for acquiring resources from a server and printing them, and to make it possible to efficiently use network resources.

【0008】

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of directly acquiring and printing a resource without going through a computer when acquiring a resource from a server and printing the resource.

【0009】

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of acquiring and printing only necessary parts of data when a printer directly acquires resources from a server and prints.

【0010】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is specified as follows.

【0011】

That is, the present invention makes a first request for acquiring a resource (document), determines the configuration (page layout) of the resource based on the first response to the first request, and makes the determination. A print target page (data acquisition range) is set based on the resource configuration, a second request for acquiring the configuration data in the set print target page is made, and a second request for the second request is made. The printer is characterized in that print data is generated based on a response and printing is performed based on the generated print data.

【0012】

Here, the second request may be made according to the data format of the configuration data. Further, the second request may be made for the configuration data for which it is determined whether or not the data format of the configuration data is printable data, and the data format is determined to be printable data. Further, the second request is a line for a specific frame data in the configuration data when it is determined whether or not the data format of the configuration data is moving image data and it is determined that the configuration data is moving image data. You may be asked.

【0013】

It is desirable not to make a request to acquire the configuration data included in the page that is not set as the print target page. By doing so, it is possible to prevent resources that are not necessary for printing for the time being from continuing to consume the memory inside the printer, and the printer can be configured with less memory.

【0014】

Further, the present invention includes a first request means for making a first request for acquiring a resource from a server, and a configuration means for determining a resource configuration based on a response from the server to the first request. , The setting means for setting the print target page based on the determined resource configuration, the second request means for making the second request for acquiring the configuration data in the set print target page, and the first. The printer is characterized by comprising a means for generating print data based on a second response to the second request and a printing means for printing based on the generated print data.

【0015】

Here, the printer may further include a determination means for determining the data format of the configuration data, and the second requesting means may be configured to make a second request according to the determination by the determination means.

【0016】

Further, the determination means determines whether or not the data format of the configuration data is printable data, and the second requesting means determines the configuration data determined to be printable data by the determination means. It may be configured to make a second request to obtain.

【0017】

Further, the determination means determines whether or not the data format of the configuration data is moving image data, and the second requesting means constitutes the configuration data determined to be moving image data by the determination means. It may be configured to make a second request to acquire specific frame data.

【0018】

On the other hand, the invention of the above device can also be grasped as the invention of the method. That is, the present invention makes a first request for acquiring a resource, determines the configuration of the resource based on the first response to the first request, and prints based on the determined resource configuration. The target page is set, a second request for acquiring the configuration data in the set print target page is made, print data is generated based on the second response to the second request, and the generation This is a printer control method characterized in that printing is performed based on the printed data.

【0019】

Further, the present invention can also be grasped as a recording medium in which a program for realizing a predetermined function in a computer is stored. Specifically, the present invention is a recording medium on which a program for controlling a printer is recorded, wherein the program is a first requesting means for making a first request for acquiring data from a server. A configuration means for determining the data configuration based on the response from the server to the first request, a setting means for setting the print target page based on the determined data configuration, and the set print target page. Based on the second request means for making the second request for acquiring the configuration data of the above, the means for generating the print data based on the second response to the second request, and the generated print data. It is a recording medium for recording a program characterized by being provided with a printing means for printing.

【0020】

The recording medium includes, for example, a hard disk (HD), a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, and the like, as well as a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. Further, the printer includes, for example, a control device of a printer including a so-called central processing unit such as a CPU or MPU, and the central processing unit interprets a program to perform a predetermined process.

【0021】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

【0022】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system using a printer according to the present invention. In this embodiment, WWW will be described as an example.

【0023】

As shown in the figure, the printer 1 is connected to the computer 2 by a LAN or the like to form an intranet. Further, the printer 1 is connected to a network 3 such as the Internet via a router or the like (not shown), and is configured to be accessible to the Web server 4. The printer 1 makes a resource (document) transfer request to the Web server 3 by specifying the URL, and the Web server 3 searches the database 5 for the corresponding document according to this transfer request and transfers it to the printer 1. I do.

【0024】

For example, when a URL is given, the printer 1 sends a connection request to the Web server 4 on the network 3 according to the URL, and receives a connection completion response from the Web server 4. The printer 1 sends a resource transfer request to the Web server 4. When the Web server 4 receives this transfer request, it searches the database 5 for the resource and sends the searched resource body to the printer 1. Next, the printer 1 analyzes the sent resource body, extracts the URL of the configuration data (inline data) such as the image data constituting the resource, and sends a transfer request for the configuration data according to this URL. When the Web server 4 receives the transfer request for the configuration data, the Web server 4 similarly searches the database 5 for the configuration data and sends the configuration data to the printer 1. The printer 1 configures resources based on the configuration data, further generates a print image, and prints on a print recording medium such as paper. As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment can acquire resources directly from the Web server 4 on the network and print.

【0025】

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the URL designation unit 21 is for inputting information (for example, URL) for designating the resource in order to acquire the resource from the Web server 4 and print it. The URL specification unit 21 may be configured so that the user can directly enter the URL, or may be configured so that the user can enter the URL by selecting a desired URL from the list of pre-registered URLs. .. Further, it may be configured to be input from the computer 2. The URL specification unit 21 sends the input URL to the request unit 22.

【0026】

The request unit 22 sends a request message (transfer request message) for requesting the transfer (sending) of data (resources and their configuration data) to the Web server 4 indicated by the URL specified by the URL specification unit 21. Generate and send this to the communication unit 23. In the process of receiving the resource, the request unit 22 generates a request message for requesting the transfer of the configuration data in order to acquire the configuration data included in the print target page set by the analysis unit 24, which will be described later.

【0027】

The communication unit 23 physically and / or logically converts the request message sent from the request unit 22 and sends it to the network 3. Further, the communication unit 23 receives the data (including the response message (response message) for the request message) sent from the Web server 4 via the network 3, and physically and / or logically converts the data. And sends it to the analysis unit 24 and also sends it to the cache unit 25 provided with a cache mechanism. When sending a request message, the communication unit 23 inquires the cache unit 25 whether or not the cache unit 25 holds (caches) the data requested to be transferred to the Web server 4. When the cache unit 25 makes a cache error, the communication unit 23 sends a request message to the network 3 and receives the response message. On the other hand, when the cache unit 25 hits the cache, the communication unit 23 sends the data sent from the cache unit 25 as a response message to the analysis unit 24 without sending the request message.

【0028】

The analysis unit 24 analyzes the response message sent via the communication unit 23, determines the resource configuration, and sets the print target page based on the resource configuration. That is, the analysis unit 24 determines the page layout of the resource based on the information regarding the size of the data and the information regarding the position of the data included in the response message, and sets the print target page of the resource according to this page layout.

【0029】

The print data generation unit 26 generates print data of the print target page based on the resource configuration analyzed by the analysis unit 24 and the data transferred by the request unit 22 and transmitted from the Web server 4.

【0030】

The print control unit 27 sends out the generated print data while monitoring the processing status of the print engine 28. That is, the printing engine 28 includes, for example, a paper feed mechanism, a print head, and the like, and prints on a printing machine recording medium such as paper. The printing engine 28 is based on various engines used in a page printer that prints in page units such as a laser printer, a serial printer that prints in character units such as an inkjet printer and a thermal transfer printer, and a line printer that prints in line units. It is composed. The print control unit 27 realizes printing by controlling the paper feed mechanism and the printer head of the print engine 28 while sending out print data.

【0031】

FIG. 3 is a diagram for conceptually explaining the operation of the printer according to the present embodiment. The printer according to the present embodiment first determines the configuration of the resource to be printed based on the response to the resource transmission request to the server, and is set while sequentially setting the print target pages according to the configuration of this resource. It is characterized in that it prints by making a transmission request and response of data necessary for printing the page to be printed.

【0032】

That is, when a URL is input to the printer 1, the printer 1 generates a request message according to this URL and requests the Web server 4 to send a resource. The Web server 4 creates a response message containing information on the resource configuration based on the sent request message, and sends this to the requesting printer 1.

【0033】

When the printer 1 receives the response message, it analyzes the response message to determine the resource configuration, and sets the print target page based on the resource configuration. The print target page is set by the layout of the text data and the image data according to the paper size, for example, as shown in FIG. In order to acquire the data of an arbitrary print target page, in the present embodiment, when the data transfer request is made, it is expressed by the offset value from the start data of the resource and the data length as shown in FIG. The printer 1 generates a request message for a request to send partial data of the resource specified by this offset value and the data length, and sends the request message to the Web server 4. The Web server 4 creates a response message including the data requested to be sent based on the sent request message, and sends this to the requesting printer 1.

【0034】

The printer 1 generates print data of the print target page based on the response message and prints. The printer 1 sequentially sets print target pages according to the progress of printing, requests transmission of the set print target page data, receives the data, and prints.

【0035】

In addition, although this figure has been described sequentially in order to conceptually explain the operation of the printer according to the present embodiment, for example, another request and response may be made independently even during printing.

【0036】

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, when a URL is given by the URL specification unit 21, the request unit 21 generates a request message in order to acquire the resource indicated by the URL, and sends the request message to the communication unit 23. The communication unit 23 sends this request message to the network 3 (STEP601), and receives a response message to the request message from the Web server 4 (STEP602). The analysis unit 24 determines the resource configuration based on the response message sent from the Web server 4 (STEP 603). That is, the analysis unit 24 determines the page layout of the resource based on the response message. The request unit 22 sets the print target page to be printed, and repeats the subsequent processing until all the set print target pages are finished (STEP 604 to 607). That is, the request unit 22 generates and sends a request message for a transmission request of the data (configuration data) included in the set print target page (STEP605). When the print data generation unit 26 acquires the configuration data from the Web server 4, the print data generation unit 26 generates print data, and the print control unit 27 controls the print engine 28 to perform printing (STEP 606). Then, the request unit 22 returns to STEP 604 (STEP 607) when all the print target pages have not been acquired / printed.

【0037】

In the present embodiment, each process is sequentially configured and described, but as long as there is no contradiction in the results, the order of the processes may be changed or each process may be configured to be performed in parallel.

【0038】

In addition, the request unit 22 has decided to set the pages to be printed in order from the first page, but it is not necessary to be particular about this. For example, only the page specified by the user may be set as the print target page.

【0039】

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user acquires a resource from a server on the network and prints it, the user can directly acquire and print the resource by the printer, and the computer is started. There is no need to perform complicated operations such as starting a browser.

【0040】

Further, according to the present embodiment, the print target page is set based on the resource configuration, the data of that part is acquired, and the print is performed. Therefore, the printer prints the entire resource in order to perform the print process. There is no need to acquire it once. Therefore, even when resources are acquired directly from the server without going through a computer, it is not necessary to add more memory than necessary.

【0041】

[Second Embodiment] The printer according to this embodiment acquires resources from a Web server, determines whether or not the resources can be acquired in a batch when printing, and collectively. When it is determined that the page cannot be acquired, the print target page is sequentially set, and the acquisition and printing are performed, as in the above embodiment.

【0042】

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the same function realization means as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

【0043】

The storage unit 71 temporarily stores the data sent from the communication unit 23, and holds the print data generated by the print data generation unit 26.

【0044】

The analysis unit 72 analyzes the response message sent via the communication unit 23, determines the resource configuration, and sets the print target page based on the resource configuration. The analysis unit 62 further compares the size of the resource to be acquired with the free space of the storage unit 71 required for receiving and printing the resource, and determines whether or not the resource can be acquired in a batch. ..

【0045】

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the printer according to the present embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 differs from the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 in that the batch acquisition determination process in STEP 804 is performed. That is, as shown in the figure, when a URL is given by the URL specification unit 21, the request unit 21 generates a request message in order to acquire the resource indicated by the URL, and sends the request message to the communication unit 23. The communication unit 23 sends this request message to the network 3 (STEP801), and receives a response message to the request message from the Web server 4 (STEP802). The analysis unit 72 determines the resource configuration based on the response message sent from the Web server 4 (STEP 803). The analysis unit 72 further compares the size of the resource to be acquired with the free space of the storage unit 71 required for receiving and printing the resource, and determines whether or not the resource can be acquired in a batch. (STEP804). When the analysis unit 72 determines that the batch acquisition is not possible, the request unit 22 sets the print target page to be printed (STEP805), and requests transmission of data (configuration data) included in the print target page. Generate and send a request message for (STEP806). When the print data generation unit 26 acquires the configuration data from the Web server 4, it generates print data based on the configuration data, and prints under the control of the print control unit 27 (STEP 807). Then, the request unit 22 determines whether or not all the print pages have been acquired / printed according to the resource configuration (STEP808), and if there is a page that has not been printed yet, returns to STEP805.

【0046】

On the other hand, in STEP 804, when it is determined by the analysis unit 72 that the batch acquisition can be performed, the request unit 22 generates a request message for the batch acquisition, and the communication unit 23 sends this (STEP 809). When the print data generation unit 26 acquires the data transmitted from the Web server 4, it generates print data based on the data, and prints under the control of the print control unit 27 (STEP 810).

【0047】

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the following effects can be further obtained.

【0048】

That is, according to the present embodiment, the memory capacity of the printer is compared with the data size of the resource to determine whether or not the resource can be collectively acquired. Therefore, the memory usage status inside the printer, etc. It will be possible to appropriately acquire resources and print according to the requirements.

【0049】

[Third Embodiment] The printer according to the present embodiment is characterized in that, when acquiring data included in a page to be printed, a transfer request is made only for printable data, and acquisition and printing are performed. That is, the resource is generally composed of text data and image data, but some resources may be composed by embedding audio data. Since the printer cannot print the audio data, even if it is acquired, communication is wasted. Therefore, only printable data is acquired to improve the processing efficiency.

【0050】

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing details of the analysis unit of the printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the analysis unit 91 determines the format of the data included in the resource configuration unit 911 that determines the resource configuration, the print target page setting unit 912 that sets the print target page from the resource configuration, and the print target page. It is composed of a data discriminating unit 913 for discriminating.

【0051】

The resource configuration unit 911 determines the resource configuration (page layout) based on the response message sent from the Web server 4, and sends this to the print target page setting unit 912. In this case, the resource configuration unit 911 queries the data determination unit 912 for the data format of the configuration data constituting the resource, and performs layout according to the result.

【0052】

As shown in FIG. 10, the data determination unit 912 stores information on whether or not the data is printable for each data format in association with each other. The data judgment unit 812 responds to the data format inquiry from the resource configuration unit 911 whether or not it has printable data, and if it is in the video data format, sets the conditions for the transfer request. give away. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, options are given to the gif format and the png format, and it is further determined whether or not these data are moving image data. In the case of moving image data, a condition is given so that only a specific frame (for example, the first frame) is transferred from a plurality of frames constituting the moving image data.

【0053】

The print target page setting unit 913 sets the print target page according to the resource configuration, and notifies the request unit 22 together with the determination result of the data determination unit 912.

【0054】

Next, the processing of the printer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is an improvement of STEP605 shown in Fig. 6.

【0055】

As shown in the figure, the analysis unit 91 selects configuration data from the configuration data group constituting the resource (STEP 1101). The analysis unit 91 refers to the data format of the selected configuration data (STEP 1102) and determines whether or not it is printable data (STEP 1103). When the analysis unit 91 determines that the data is printable, the analysis unit 91 further determines whether or not the constituent data is moving image data (STEP 1104). When the analysis unit 91 determines that the data is not moving image data, the request unit 22 generates a request message for acquiring the configuration data, and the transmission unit 23 transmits this to the Web server 4 (STEP 1105).

【0056】

On the other hand, when the analysis unit 91 determines that the data is moving image data, the data constituting the moving image data (for example, data for one frame) is specified by the offset value and the data length (STEP 1106). The requesting unit generates a request message for acquiring the specified partial data, and the transmitting unit 23 sends this to the Web server 4 (STEP 1105).

【0057】

The analysis unit 91 determines whether or not there is configuration data that has not been selected (STEP1107), and if it determines that there is configuration data that has not yet been selected, returns to STEP1101 and repeats the above process.

【0058】

In the present embodiment, when the analysis unit 91 determines the resource configuration, it is configured to determine the data format, but this is not particularly particular. For example, the request unit 22 may be configured to determine the data format when generating a request message for a data transfer request.

【0059】

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the data transfer request is made, the format of the data is determined and the transfer request is made only for the printable data. Therefore, the data that cannot be printed by the printer is transmitted from the server. It will not be sent. Therefore, the time required for resource acquisition and printing can be shortened, and network resources can be used efficiently.

【0060】

Also, when the data format is moving image data, only the data necessary for printing (for example, one frame) is requested to be transferred, so similarly, the time to acquire resources and print can be shortened. And it will be possible to use network resources efficiently.

【0061】

[Other Embodiments] In the cache unit 25 shown in the above embodiment, attribute information may be used as an eviction algorithm for cached data. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a cache retention period is given according to the type of data. In the figure, a longer cache retention period is set for download fonts and large image data than other data. This cache retention period is set according to the data size and the frequency of data usage. The cache storage unit 25 expels the data whose cache retention period has expired from the cache according to the evacuation algorithm, and caches new data.

【0062】

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the large-sized data and the frequently used data are cached for a longer period of time, no communication load is generated for acquiring the data. Therefore, the time required for resource acquisition and printing can be shortened, and network resources can be used efficiently.

【0063】

[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, when a resource is acquired from a server and printed, the resource can be directly acquired by a printer and printed without going through a computer. Therefore, the user does not need to perform complicated operations such as starting the computer and starting the browser.

【0064】

Further, according to the present invention, since only the necessary part of the data is acquired from the server and printed, the time required for resource acquisition and printing can be shortened, and the network resources can be made efficient. It will be possible to use it as a target.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

Schematic block diagram of a printing system using the printer according to the present invention [Figure 2]

Functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment [Fig. 3]

The figure for conceptually explaining the operation of the printer which concerns on 1st Embodiment [Fig. 4]

Diagram for explaining the page to be printed [Fig. 5]

Diagram showing an example of how to specify the data to be acquired [Fig. 6]

Flow chart showing printer processing according to the first embodiment [Fig. 7]

Functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printer according to the second embodiment [Fig. 8]

Flow chart showing printer processing according to the second embodiment [Fig. 9]

Functional block diagram showing details of the analysis unit of the printer according to the third embodiment [Fig. 10]

Diagram showing an example of data format [Fig. 11]

Flow chart showing printer processing according to the third embodiment [Fig. 12]

Diagram to illustrate an example of a cache [Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Printer 2 ... computer 3 ... network 4 ... server 5 ... database 21 ... URL specification part 22 ... Request Department 23 ... Communication Department 24 ... Analysis Department 25 ... cache section 26 ... Print data generator 27 ... Print control unit 28 ... printing engine