Patent Publication Number: US-2015067204-A1

Title: Printing system and control method of printing system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-179290 filed on Aug. 30, 2013. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-179290 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a printing system and a control method of the printing system. 
     2. Related Art 
     Recently, as shown in Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2004-40703, a system in which high function mobile phones called smartphones and information terminals like multiple function mobile terminals called tablet PCs are connected to printing devices such as printers via wireless connections, and printing is performed on the basis of print data transmitted from the information terminals have been well known. 
     As a typical example of the wireless connection, Bluetooth (registered trademark) has been well known. Bluetooth uses radio wave in high frequency of 2.45 GHz as a transmission medium, communicates in 3 Mbps in the maximum transmission speed for a distance of a couple meters away, and can perform data communication efficiently among a plurality of terminals because there is no access point necessary and because the terminals are directly connect. 
     However, Bluetooth needs recognizing communication partners, which is called paring, before the data communication, and connection settings are bothersome for users who are not accustomed and thus use a lot of time and effort to do the data communication by Bluetooth. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is conceived in respect to the above mentioned problems, and has an objective to provide a system which allows an easy connection of a printing device and an information device and in which the information device makes the printing device print. 
     The present invention is conceived to solve at least part of the above mentioned problems, and arrangements, and applied examples can make it possible. 
     A printing system according to a present applied example is a printing system in which a printing device and an information terminal are connected via a communication. The printing system includes a first wired communication unit complying with a plug-and-play, which is configured to communicate with the information terminal by a wired connection, a confirmation unit configured to confirm that the first wired communication unit is communicably connected with the information terminal, and an application determination unit configured to determine an application to be booted at the information terminal and notify the information terminal of an application information with regards to the application being determined, by communicating with the first wired communication unit, when the confirmation unit confirms a connection. The information terminal includes a second wired communication unit complying with the plug-and-play, which is configured to communicate with the printing device in the wired communication, a wireless communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with a node connected via a network, a determination unit configured to acquire the application information notified from the printing device by communicating the second wired communication unit and determine whether or not the application is installed, a node determination unit configured to determine the node at which the application is acquirable when the determination unit judges that the application is not installed, an install unit configured to acquire the application from the node by the wireless communication unit communicating with the node which is determined by the determination unit and install the application, and a boot unit configured to boot the application. 
     With the configuration, when the printing device and the information terminal are connected via the wired communication compatible to the plug-and-play, and the connection is confirmed, the printing device determines the application which is booted at the information terminal and notifies the information terminal, and when the application, and when the application which is notified is not installed, the information terminal acquires from the node which is acquirable via the wireless communication, installs, and boots the application. Thus, in addition to easily connect the printing device and the information terminal, the application which is determined by the printing device is booted for sure by notifying the information terminal of the application which is determined by the printing device, and the information terminal can boot the application for sure that is determined by the printing device, by acquiring from the node, as necessary, and installing. 
     For the printing system according to the above mentioned applied example, the application determination unit is further configured to generate the application information on the basis of a basic software which controls the information terminal. 
     With this configuration, the application information corresponding to the basic software controlling information devices is generated. 
     For the printing system according to the above mentioned applied example, the above mentioned application information includes at least one of string of text information for identifying the application, serial information for identifying a connection destination of the wired connection, and the address information for downloading the application from the node. 
     For the printing system of the above mentioned example, the printing device further includes a selection unit which is configured to select a process for data that is transmitted on the basis of the application booted at the information terminal. 
     With this configuration, the printing device quickly performs setting of the process at the printing device against the sent data by having the selection unit. 
     The printing device according to the above applied example is characterized in that the application information includes identification information by which the printing device is identifiable, and the information terminal includes a second boot unit that is configured to determine the application which is bootable on the basis of the identification information and boot the application. 
     With the configuration, it is easy to boot the application which is bootable on the basis of the printing device. 
     A control method for the printing system according to the present applied example, where the printing device and the information terminal are connected via a wired communication complying with the plug-and-play, includes confirming that the printing device and the information terminal are communicably connected, deciding an application to be booted at the information terminal by the printing device when a connection of the printing device and the information terminal is confirmed, notifying the information terminal by the printing device via the wired communication of an application information with regards to the application, acquiring by the information terminal the information which is notified from the printing device and determining whether or not the application is installed, deciding a node at which the application is acquirable by the information terminal when determining that the application is determined not installed, acquiring the application by the information terminal communicating wirelessly with the node via a network and installing the application being acquired, and booting the application by the information terminal. 
     By the method like this, the printing device and the information terminal are connected via the wireless communication and are compatible to the plug-and-play, the printing device notifies the information terminal of the application which is booted at the information terminal when the connection is confirmed, and the information terminal acquires via the wireless communication from the node being acquirable, installs, and boots the application when the application which is notified is not installed. Thus, in addition to easily connecting the print device and the information terminal, the application which printing device decides is booted for sure by notifying the information terminal of the application which the printing device decides, and by the information terminal acquiring from the node, as necessary, and installing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing functional configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing flow of processes of the printing system according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example of a user interface screen displayed on the printing device; 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 C, and  4 C show an example of a user interface screen displayed on the information terminal; and 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of a user interface screen displayed on the information terminal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention are described by referring to the figures. 
     Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing functional configurations of a printing system  50  according to a present embodiment. For the printing system  50 , a printing device  100  and an information terminal  200  are connected via a USB cable  320 . 
     In the present embodiment, an ink-jet type printer which is assumed as the printing device  100 , and a smartphone which is assumed as the information terminal  200  are not limited to them. 
     Also, the printing device  100  and the information terminal  200  are connected by a cable, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) is employed as the wired communication compatible to the plug-and-play which needs manual connection setting and identification, but not limited to this. For example, IEEE 1394 or the like can be employed. 
     The printing system  50  boots an application software (hereinafter application) which is installed on the information terminal  200 , namely which is set to be bootable on the information terminal  200 , transmits photographic images and physical address data which the application administrates to the printing device  100 , and prints on a the print medium in a desired style. 
     Printing Device 
     First, the printing device  100  which constitutes the printing system  50  is described. The printing device  100  includes a control unit  110 , the wired communication unit  120 , a print unit  125 , a display unit  130 , an operation unit  135 , and an image input unit  138 . 
     Also, the control unit  110  includes a connection confirmation unit  112  and a boot application determination unit  114 . 
     By the way, the printing device  100  includes CPU, RAM, ROM and a memory device which are not shown in the figures as hardwares, and the control unit  110  realizes functions as these hardwares and a software which is recorded in the ROM or the memory device work together. 
     The connection confirmation unit  112  confirms that the printing device  100  is communicably connected to other devices via the USB cable  320 . For example, when the wired communication unit  120  is connected to the information terminal  200  via the wired communication unit  235  and the USB cable  320 , the wired communication unit  120  and the wired communication unit  235  do not need a setting process to each other by a user, and establish connection corresponding to a prescribed protocol on the basis of a USB standard, and it is possible to transmit date to each other. 
     The connection confirmation unit  112  confirms that the connection with the information terminal  200  is established, and notifies the boot application determination unit  114  of information indicating that the connection is established. 
     When the fact that the connection is established is notified from the connection confirmation unit  112  to the information terminal  200 , the boot application determination unit  114  determines the application to request booting against the information terminal  200 , generates application information to boot the application which is determined, and transmits the application information which is generated to the information terminal  200 . 
     In the present embodiment, when the connection by the USB is established, the application requesting booting against the information terminal  200  administrates various data such as image data and personal data, and is assumed as the software to transmit the data between the information terminal  200  and the printing device  100 . The application is recorded on the ROM or the like which is preset, and is assumed as one arrangement in which the user sets. Also, the basic software (OS) which controls a system of the information terminal  200  is assumed as iOS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), Windows Phone (registered trademark), or the like, and the application information is different on the basis of the OS. Thus, the boot application determination unit  114  acquires information of the OS of the information terminal  200 , and generates the application information on the basis of the OS of the information terminal  200 . 
     For example, when the OS of the information terminal  200  is Android, the application information includes string of text information to identify application including name of the application, a serial number (serial information) to identify a connection destination in a USB session setting, URL information (address information) to download the application via Internet, and a device name of the printing device  100 . When the OS is not Android, the application information is substantially same as when the OS is Android, the application information is generated in a style to correspond to the OS. 
     The print unit  125  includes a print engine, a medium transferring device, or the like each of which is omitted in the figures. In the present embodiment, the image data of the a print target is assumed to be transmitted from the application of the information terminal  200  via the wired communication unit  120 , but also assumed in a style in which the image input unit  138  displays in the print unit images read from a memory card, and the user designates the image of the print target by operating the operation unit  135 . 
     When the print unit  125  starts a print process, print paper (not shown in the figures) configured on a prescribed position is led to a printing position by a medium transferring device, a carriage (now shown in the figures) which the print engine includes and is movable back-and-forth moves back-and-forth in a main scanning direction, and ink as a droplet is ejected on the basis of the image data against the print paper from a recording head (not shown in the figures) corresponding to a position to which the carriage is moved. Further, the print paper is intermittently led in a downstream direction in corresponding to moving back-and-forth in the main scanning direction, and an area of the print paper to which the ink is ejected is moved in series. 
     Information Terminal 
     Next, the information terminal  200  which constitutes the printing system  50  is described. The information terminal  200  includes the control unit  210 , a wireless communication unit  230 , the wired communication unit  235 , the display unit  240 , the operation unit  245 , and recording unit  250 . 
     The wireless communication unit  230  can access to a desired node, for example a server  310 , via a network  300  such as Internet by connecting to a public communication network via a wireless communication which uses radio wave used in cellphones. The wireless communication is not limited to a communication system which is used for the cellphones, such as 3G or 4G, and can be wireless LAN, Bluetooth, WiMax (registered trademark), or optical communication such as infrared light. 
     Also, the control unit  210  includes an application existence determination unit  214 , a download site determination unit  216 , an install unit  218 , and an application boot unit  220 . 
     The information terminal  200  includes CPU, RAM, ROM and the like each of which is not shown as hardware, and the control unit  210  realizes functions by these hardwares and a software which is recorded on ROM or the like working together. 
     The application existence determination unit  214  extracts the application name by analyzing the application information which is sent from the printing device  100 , and determines whether or not the application corresponding to the application name being extracted has been installed in the information terminal  200 . 
     When the application is determined being not installed at the application existence determination unit  214 , the download site determination unit  216  determines an access destination to download the application. In the present embodiment, when access destination information (URL information) to download the application from the server  310  or the like, which is connected to the network  300 , to download the application, the URL information being relevant is extracted from application information. The URL information is assumed being in an arrangement in which a website at which the application is acquirable is indicated. Also, the URL information is not included in the application information, and it is assumed being in an arrangement in which a portal site to download the application on the basis of an OS of the information terminal  200  is indicated. The download site determination unit  216  corresponds to the node determination unit. 
     The install unit  218  accesses the web site which the download site determination unit  216  determines, downloads the application from the server  310  which is prescribed to correspond to the website, and installs to boot at the information terminal  200 . In this case, the install unit  218  renders the display unit  240  a screen which is requested by corresponding to the OS of the information terminal  200 , and implements the installation on the basis of operation by the user on the operation unit  245 . 
     The application boot unit  220  boots the application which corresponds to the application name of the application information, and provides the user of a service function which the booted application has. When the application has been installed in the information terminal  200  and when the wired communication unit  120  of the printing device  100  and the wired communication unit  235  of the information terminal  200  are connected via the USB cable  320 , the application boot unit  220  is rendered to boot the application. Needless to say, it is fine to leave on the user of determining whether or not to boot. 
     The present embodiment assumes that the application is a photo print application or an address administrating application. The photo application displays on the display unit  240  a photograph recorded in the recording unit  250  or the like, and has a function of transferring image data of the photograph which is instructed by the user operating the operation unit  245  to the printing device  100 . 
     Also, the address administrating application displays an address list which the user administrates on the display unit  240 , and has a function of transferring data of the address list instructed by the user operating the operation unit  245  to the printing device  100 . 
     Here, the photo print application the address administrating application are described by referring to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C. The application boot unit  220  renders the display unit  240  display a user interface screen  260 A which is shown in  FIG. 4A  as the display unit  240  displays, and the user can select an application to boot. For example, when the user pushes a photo button  262 , the photo print application is started, and the user interface screen  260 B of the photo print application which is shown in  FIG. 4B  is displayed on the display unit  240 . 
     Also, when the user pushes an address button  264 , the address administrating application is stated, and the user interface screen  260 C of the address administrating application, as shown in  FIG. 4C , is displayed on the display unit  240 . The button for each individual person which is displayed on the user interface screen  260 C is related to individual attribute data such as a corresponding individual name, address, telephone number, date of birth, and the like. 
     Also, the application boot unit  220  displays the user interface screen  260  which is shown in  FIG. 5  as the display unit  240  displays, and the user can select the application to boot. Here, a launcher button  266  of a support application (in this case Epson iPrint) which supports to correspond to a device name (identification information) of the printing device  100  which is received by the information terminal  200  when the printing device  100  and the information terminal  200  are connected is displayed on the user interface screen  260 . The launcher button  266  is equivalent to the second boot unit. 
     When the application corresponding to the information terminal  200  is not installed, and the user pushes the launcher button  266 , it proceeds to the download site and is possible to download the desired application. 
     Resource data (for example, image data, the URL information to download, corresponding device name) of the launcher button  266  to be displayed are assumed to be an arrangement in which the information terminal  200  has beforehand. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a part of a flow of a control method of the printing system  50 . First, when the printing device  100  and the information terminal  200  are connected in wired connection via the USB cable  320 , the printing device  100  and the information terminal  200  perform a connection process to be connected (step S 60 , step S 70 ). 
     Next, the printing device  100  confirms establishment of the connection with the information terminal  200  &lt;a confirmation step&gt;, and decides the application to boot at the information terminal  200  (step S 62 ) &lt;a decision step&gt;. 
     Next, the printing device  100  generates the application information on the basis of the decided application, and transmits the generated application information to the information terminal  200  (step S 64 ) &lt;a notification step&gt;. The information terminal  200  receives the application information which is transmitted from the printing device  100  (step S 72 ), and confirms an installation state of the application on the basis of the received application information (step S 74 ) &lt;a determination step&gt;. 
     Here, when the information terminal  200  determines that the application has been installed (YES at step S 76 ), it proceeds to step S 86 . 
     On the other hand, when the information terminal  200  determines that the application has not been installed (No at step S 76 ), the website from which the application is downloaded is decided (step S 78 ) &lt;node decision step&gt;. 
     Next, the information terminal  200  is connected to the website wirelessly (step S 80 ), and downloads the application from the server  310  of the connection destination (step S 82 ). 
     Next, the information terminal  200  installs the downloaded application (step S 84 ) &lt;an installation step&gt;, and it proceeds to step S 86 . 
     At step S 86 , the information terminal  200  boots the application &lt;a booting step&gt;, and determines image data to be printed on the basis of an operation of the user against the booted application (step S 88 ). 
     Next, the information terminal  200  transmits the image data which is decided to the printing device  100  (step S 90 ). 
     The printing device  100  receives the image data transmitted from the information terminal  200  (step S 92 ), and prints the image on the basis of the received image data (step S 94 ). It can be assumed that the received image data is not printed immediately and saved in the printing device  100 . For example, when a user interface screen  150  as shown in  FIG. 3  is displayed on the display unit  130 , and when the user pushes the button  152  to print, the image is printed. On the other hand, when the user pushes a button  154  to save, the image is saved in a recording unit (not shown in the figures) of the printing device  100  without being printed. 
     According to the embodiments described above, there are effects below. 
     (1) Because the information terminal  200  and the printing device  100  are connected to each other on the basis of the USB standard which corresponds to the plug-and-play, the data communication between them connecting by the USB cable  320 , and the user, after connecting, transmits the image to print to the printing device  100  by operating the information terminal  200  without the connection setting, and can print the desired image which is from the printing device  100 . Thus, it is possible to quickly print the desired image on the information terminal  200 . 
     (2) Because the information terminal  200  and the printing device  100  are connected in wired connection, it is possible to prevent data between them from leaking to outside, and retain the data secret. 
     (3) In a case in which the connection between the information terminal  200  and the printing device  100  is ended, there is no need for any connection ending process, and it is possible to end easily the established printing system  50 . 
     Each of the configurations and any combination thereof in the embodiments are examples, and it is possible to add, omit, exchange, and change the configurations is possible as long as it is within the idea of the present invention. Also, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but only by the scope of the claims. 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.