Patent Description:
A communication system in which a terminal device, such as a personal computer, allows a user to input print setting information and a communication device, such as a printer, processes a print job based on the input print setting information has been used.

In the communication system, the terminal device obtains information indicating a recording medium held by the communication device (medium information) and displays content corresponding to the obtained medium information in a display unit as print setting information selectable by the user.

<CIT> discloses a multifunction peripheral which transmits information indicating a recording sheet on a sheet feeding tray to an information processing terminal and an information processing terminal which displays a print instruction screen in which the recording sheet information received from the multifunction peripheral is reflected and which accepts an input of a print setting performed by a user on the print instruction screen.

As further prior art there may be mentioned <CIT>, which discloses a printing method, multifunction printing apparatus, and printing system capable of printing, and copying suited to various types of disk media, wherein the system optically scans an image printed on the surface of the first disk medium, and stores image data representing the image in a memory. The system optically scans the state of the surface of the second disk medium and acquires data on the surface state. The system analyzes the acquired data and locates the printable area of the second disk medium. The system copies the image in the located printable area on the basis of the image data stored in the memory.

In general, a recording medium, such as a disk medium, is set in a communication device by a user immediately before printing, and therefore, the recording medium is not held by the communication device when media information is transmitted. Therefore, in the embodiment disclosed in <CIT>, information indicating a recording medium which is not held by the communication device when the medium information is transmitted may not be transmitted to the terminal device as medium information. Accordingly, content corresponding to the information indicating the recording medium which is not held by the communication device at the time of transmission of the medium information may not be selected by the user as print setting information, and therefore, usability may be deteriorated.

The present invention in its first aspect provides a printing device as specified in claim <NUM>.

The present invention in its second aspect provides a method as specified in claim <NUM>.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that modifications and alterations appropriately performed on the embodiment below based on knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention are also included in the invention.

A terminal device and a communication device included in a communication system of this embodiment will be described. Although a personal computer (PC) is illustrated as the terminal device in this embodiment, the terminal device is not limited to a PC. Specifically, a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a personal digital assistance (PDA), a digital camera, or the like may be used as the terminal device. Although an inkjet printer is illustrated as the communication terminal in this embodiment, the communication terminal is not limited to an inkjet printer as long as the communication terminal is capable of transmitting medium information described below to the terminal device. Therefore, the communication device of this embodiment may be a printer employing any one of methods including a toner electrophotographic method and a sublimation method. Although the communication device of this embodiment only has an image forming function, the present invention is not limited to this and the communication device may additionally have a reading device which reads an image on a document so as to function as a copy machine or may additionally have other functions so as to function as a multifunction peripheral. Furthermore, various types of recording medium (a medium to be subjected to recording or a recording sheet) may be used in an image forming process as long as the image forming process may be performed on the recording medium. Examples of the recording medium include white plain paper, photo paper, color paper other than white paper, special paper of a metallic color to which a film or aluminum is pasted, and an overhead projector (OHP) sheet. Furthermore, the communication device may be capable of not only performing printing on a cut sheet which is cut in advance in a predetermined size but also performing printing on a continuous sheet. Furthermore, the communication device may perform not only color recording using a plurality of color recording materials but also monochrome recording only using black (including gray). Moreover, examples of the printing controlled by the communication device may include not only printing of a visible image but also printing of an image which is not visible or difficult to be seen. The examples of the printing may further include printing of a wiring pattern, a physical pattern in fabrication of components, DNA base sequence, and the like. Specifically, various types of device may be used as the communication device as long as the communication device is capable of applying recording material to a recording medium.

First, a configuration of the communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to a block diagram of <FIG>. Although the configuration is described as below in this embodiment, functions are not particularly limited to those described with reference to <FIG>.

The communication system of this embodiment includes a terminal device <NUM> which generates a print job and a communication device <NUM> which receives the print job from the terminal device and executes printing in accordance with the print job.

The terminal device <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a read only memory (ROM) <NUM>, a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is a system controller which controls the entire terminal device <NUM> by executing programs stored in the ROM <NUM> and activating hardware. The CPU <NUM> generates a print job for causing the communication device <NUM> to execute printing.

The ROM <NUM> stores fixed data including control programs to be executed by the CPU <NUM>, data tables, an embedded operating system (OS) program. In this embodiment, the control programs stored in the ROM <NUM> perform software execution control including scheduling, task switching, and an interruption process under control of the embedded OS stored in the ROM <NUM>.

The RAM <NUM> is a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Note that the RAM <NUM> may store data by a primary battery, not illustrated, for data backup. In this case, the RAM <NUM> may store important data including program control variables without volatilization. Furthermore, the RAM <NUM> includes a memory area for storing setting information of the terminal device <NUM>, management data of the terminal device <NUM>, and the like. The RAM <NUM> is also used as a main memory and a work memory of the CPU <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> is a component used for connection to the communication device <NUM> or the like and executes data communication. The communication unit <NUM> is connected to an access point (not illustrated) included in the communication device <NUM>, for example, for the connection to the communication device <NUM>. Since the communication unit <NUM> is connected to the access point included in the communication device <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> may communicate with each other. The communication unit <NUM> may be directly connected to the communication device <NUM> by wireless communication or may be connected to the communication device <NUM> through an external apparatus installed outside the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM>. Examples of the external apparatus include an external access point (an access point <NUM> or the like) installed outside the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> and a device capable of relaying communication, such as an external server. As a wireless communication method, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like may be employed. Note that the communication unit <NUM> may be connected to another device through a wired local area network (LAN), a universal serial bus (USB), or the like instead of the wireless communication method. Furthermore, examples of the external access point include a wireless LAN router.

Note that, in this embodiment, a method for directly connecting the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> to each other without an external apparatus, such as an external access point, is referred to as a "direct connection method". A method for connecting the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> to each other through an external apparatus is referred to as an "infrastructure connection method". In this embodiment, the terminal device <NUM> transmits a print job for causing the communication device <NUM> to perform printing to the communication device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>. The job to be transmitted is not limited to the print job, and may be a scan job which causes the communication device <NUM> to perform scanning, a copy job which causes the communication device <NUM> to perform copying, a setting command for changing a setting of the communication device <NUM>, or the like.

The operation unit <NUM> is an interface for accepting a user input and includes a physical keyboard, buttons, and a touch panel. In this embodiment, the terminal device <NUM> receives an input of setting information required for generation of a print job from a user through the operation unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> is constituted by a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the like, and performs display of data and transmission of a notification indicating a state of the communication device <NUM>. The terminal device <NUM> may include a software keyboard including a numerical input key, a mode setting key, a determination key, a cancelling key, a power source key, and the like on the display unit <NUM> so as to accept a user input through the display unit <NUM>. Specifically, a portion of the display unit <NUM> and a portion of the operation unit <NUM> may be integrated so that screen output and acceptance of a user operation are performed in the same screen.

The communication device <NUM> includes a CPU <NUM>, a ROM <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a printing unit <NUM>, a sheet feeding unit <NUM>, a disk medium supply unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, a sheet detection unit <NUM>, a disk medium detection unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is a system controller which controls the entire communication device <NUM> by executing programs stored in the ROM <NUM> and activating hardware.

The ROM <NUM> stores fixed data including control programs to be executed by the CPU <NUM>, data tables, an embedded OS program. In this embodiment, the control programs stored in the ROM <NUM> perform software execution control including scheduling, task switching, and an interruption process under control of the embedded OS stored in the ROM <NUM>.

The RAM <NUM> is constituted by an SR_AM or a DRAM. Note that the RAM <NUM> may store data by a primary battery, not illustrated, for data backup. In this case, the RAM <NUM> may store important data including program control variables without volatilization. Furthermore, the RAM <NUM> includes a memory area for storing setting information of the communication device <NUM>, management data of the communication device <NUM>, and the like. The RAM <NUM> is also used as a main memory and a work memory of the CPU <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> is a component used for connection to the communication device <NUM>, the access point <NUM>, and the like and executes data communication. The communication unit <NUM> has an access point for connection to a device, such as the terminal device <NUM>, as an internal access point of the communication device <NUM>. Note that, when the access point is connected to the communication unit <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM> may directly communicate with the terminal device <NUM> through wireless communication. Note that the communication unit <NUM> may directly communicate with the terminal device <NUM> or may communicate with the terminal device <NUM> through the access point <NUM>. As a wireless communication method, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like may be employed. Note that the communication unit <NUM> may be connected to another apparatus through a wired LAN, a USB, or the like instead of the wireless communication method. Furthermore, the communication unit <NUM> may include hardware functioning as an access point or operate as an access point using software functioning as an access point. In this embodiment, the communication device <NUM> receives various jobs from the terminal device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>.

The printing unit <NUM> executes an image forming process (a printing process) of forming an image on a recording medium, such as a sheet or a disk medium, using recording material, such as ink, in accordance with information stored in the RAM <NUM> or a print job received from the terminal device <NUM> or the like and outputs a result of the printing.

The sheet feeding unit <NUM> holds a recording medium for printing, and supplies the recording medium to the printing unit <NUM> under control of the CPU <NUM>. It is assumed here that the sheet feeding unit <NUM> holds and supplies a recording medium (a sheet in this embodiment) other than a disk medium described below in this embodiment. Furthermore, it is assumed here that the sheet feeding unit <NUM> is an auto sheet feeder (ASF). The sheet feeding unit <NUM> may not be the ASF or may be constituted by a plurality of sheet feeding units.

The disk medium supply unit <NUM> holds a recording medium for printing, and supplies the recording medium to the printing unit <NUM> under control of the CPU <NUM>. The disk medium supply unit <NUM> is holds and supplies a disk-like recording medium capable of storing information in this embodiment. Examples of the disk medium include a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). Although the disk medium supply unit <NUM> has a tray (a disk medium tray) which stores a disk medium in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, a disk medium may be directly set to the communication device <NUM> without using the disk medium tray.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating appearance of the disk medium tray. A user sets and fixes a disk medium to be subjected to printing in a set position <NUM> on a disk medium tray <NUM>. Then the user inserts the disk medium tray <NUM> into the disk medium supply unit <NUM> using a positioning mark <NUM>. Specifically, the user inserts the disk medium tray <NUM> to a position in which a positioning mark, not illustrated, included in the disk medium supply unit <NUM> matches the positioning mark <NUM>. When the disk medium tray <NUM> is appropriately inserted into the disk medium supply unit <NUM>, the communication device <NUM> becomes available for execution of disk medium printing described below.

The operation unit <NUM> is an interface for accepting a user input and is constituted by a physical keyboard, buttons, and a touch panel. In this embodiment, the communication device <NUM> accepts an input of information in a screen displayed in the display unit <NUM>, an instruction for continuance of the printing, and the like from the user through the operation unit <NUM>.

The sheet detection unit <NUM> performs a detection of a sheet held in the sheet feeding unit <NUM> by a general detection method so as to determine whether a sheet is held in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>.

The disk medium detection unit <NUM> performs a detection of a disk medium held in the disk medium supply unit <NUM> by a general detection method so as to determine whether a disk medium is held in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> is constituted by an LED, an LCD, and the like, and performs display of data and transmission of a notification indicating a state of the communication device <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may include a software keyboard including a numerical input key, a mode setting key, a determination key, a cancelling key, a power source key, and the like on the display unit <NUM> so as to accept a user input through the display unit <NUM>. Specifically, a portion of the display unit <NUM> and a portion of the operation unit <NUM> may be integrated so that screen output and acceptance of a user operation are performed in the same screen.

Note that the user may register medium information in the communication device <NUM> through the operation unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>. In the registration of medium information, a medium (a recording medium) set in the communication device <NUM> is registered. When the medium information is registered, the registered information is stored in the RAM <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may recognize a set medium, that is, a medium to be used for printing with reference to the registered information.

The user may perform a setting indicating whether the communication device <NUM> accepts the disk medium printing through the operation unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> (an acceptance setting). Information indicating the setting is stored in the RAM <NUM> similarly to the registration information of the medium information. Furthermore, as will be described below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the user may perform the registration of medium information and the acceptance setting through the terminal device <NUM> without using the operation unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> by using a remote user interface (UI) function. The remote UI function enables a remote operation of the communication device <NUM> by displaying a screen for operating the communication device <NUM> in the terminal device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the communication device <NUM> may execute "disk medium printing" which is a printing method for performing printing on a disk medium and "sheet medium printing" which is a printing method for performing printing on a recording medium other than a disk medium (such as a sheet) in this embodiment. The terminal device <NUM> transmits a print job to cause the communication device <NUM> to execute printing. The print job includes information indicating one of the printing methods to be used in the printing. This information is referred to as "print setting information", for example.

Furthermore, when the number of network supporting apparatuses, such as communication devices and terminal devices, is increased, a communication protocol between the devices in a network, a system of discovery of the devices, a system of installation of the devices, and a specification of a printing service are standardized. Examples of the standardized communication protocol (standard system protocol) include an internet printing protocol (IPP) and a web services on devices (WSD). Furthermore, in addition to the standard system protocol, a communication protocol uniquely developed by a printer vender may be used (non-standard system protocol). In this embodiment, when different protocols are used, different screens are displayed in the terminal device <NUM> in printing and information transmitted and received by the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> has different formats. Note that the print job transmitted from the terminal device <NUM> includes information indicating a used communication protocol, and therefore, the communication device <NUM> which receives the print job may recognize the used communication protocol with reference to the information.

A method for executing printing in accordance with the standard system protocol will now be described. First, the terminal device <NUM> accepts a user operation in a state in which image/document data to be printed is specified and installs a predetermined printer driver (a standard driver) for executing printing by the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the standard system protocol. Thereafter, the terminal device <NUM> transmits a request for transmitting a notification indicating medium information described below to the communication device <NUM> so as to obtain the medium information and display a print setting screen corresponding to the medium information. Subsequently, when accepting an input of a print setting performed by the user so that printing is instructed, the terminal device <NUM> issues a print job based on the image/document data to be printed and the accepted print setting and transmits the print job to the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the standard system protocol. In this way, the printing based on the standard system protocol is executed. Once the standard system driver is installed, the same process is not executed again. Specifically, next printing may be executed in accordance with the standard system protocol when the user activates the installed standard system driver. Note that, in this embodiment, the terminal device <NUM> requests transmission of a notification of medium information every time the standard system driver is activated and performs obtainment of the medium information and display of a print setting screen corresponding to the obtained medium information. This is because the medium information indicates a medium currently held by the communication device <NUM>, and therefore, the medium information may be changed. Note that, in the standard system protocol printing, the communication device <NUM> executes the disk medium printing when "<NUM> × <NUM>" is set as medium size information, "disk" is set as medium type information, and "disk" is set as supply unit information in the received print job. Furthermore, the communication device <NUM> executes the sheet medium printing when content other than "disk" is set as the medium type information and "ASF" is set as the supply unit information in the received print job.

Next, a method for executing printing in accordance with the non-standard system protocol will be described. First, the terminal device <NUM> accepts a user operation in a state in which image/document data to be printed is specified and installs a predetermined printer driver (a non-standard system driver) for executing printing by the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the non-standard system protocol. The non-standard system driver is a printer vender-specific printer driver which is unique to a machine model of the communication device <NUM>. The terminal device <NUM> obtains information indicating a function executable by the communication device <NUM> (functional information) when the non-standard system driver is installed. Then the terminal device <NUM> displays a print setting screen in which an option corresponding to the function executable by the communication device <NUM> may be displayed. Subsequently, when accepting an input of the print setting performed by the user so that printing is instructed, the terminal device <NUM> issues a print job based on the image/document data to be printed and the accepted print setting and transmits the print job to the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the non-standard system protocol. In this way, the printing based on the non-standard system protocol is executed. Once the non-standard system driver is installed and a communication device is selected, the same processes are not executed again. Specifically, next printing may be executed in accordance with the non-standard system protocol when the user activates the installed non-standard system driver. Note that the terminal device <NUM> obtains the functional information when the non-standard system driver is installed in this embodiment. Specifically, the terminal device <NUM> does not obtain the functional information every time the non-standard system driver is activated. This is because the functional information indicates the function executable by the communication device <NUM> as described above, and therefore, it is unlikely that the functional information is changed.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram of a process of registering information indicating a medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM> of the communication device <NUM> (a medium information registration process) performed by the terminal device <NUM> in this embodiment. When the medium information registration process is performed, the communication device <NUM> may recognize the medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. Note that processes to be executed by the devices in this sequence diagram are realized when the CPUs included in the devices read various programs stored in the memories included in the devices into the RAMs included in the devices and execute the programs. The sequence diagram is started in a state in which the terminal device <NUM> activates a browser application and executes the remote UI function. The terminal device <NUM> may execute the remote UI function when an IP address of a communication device to be operated is input to the browser application or when a remote UI function execution button is pressed in a screen displayed by the printer driver.

First, in step S201, a user <NUM> performs an operation for executing the medium information registration process on the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, the user <NUM> performs an operation for displaying a screen corresponding to the medium information registration process (a medium information registration screen) in the display unit <NUM>.

In step S202, the terminal device <NUM> requests information for displaying the medium information registration screen to the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the accepted operation.

In step S203, the communication device <NUM> transmits information for displaying the medium information registration screen stored in the memory, such as the ROM <NUM> or the RAM <NUM>, to the terminal device <NUM>.

In step S204, the terminal device <NUM> displays the medium information registration screen through the browser application in accordance with the information received from the communication device <NUM> in step S203.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the medium information registration screen. A medium information registration screen <NUM> includes a screen title <NUM>, a medium size <NUM>, and a medium type <NUM> displayed thereon. The medium size <NUM> indicates a size of a medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>, and the medium type <NUM> indicates a type of the medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. The user <NUM> may select one of sizes "A4", "<NUM> × <NUM>", "<NUM> × <NUM>", "postcard", "letter", and the like as setting content of the medium size <NUM>. The user <NUM> may select one of types "glossy paper", "mat paper", "silky tone paper", "plain paper", and the like as setting content of the medium type <NUM>. The user <NUM> may arbitrarily change information input in the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> by performing a medium information registration operation described below so as to arbitrarily change medium size information and medium type information to be registered in the communication device <NUM>. A determination button <NUM> is pressed when the input is completed. When the determination button <NUM> is pressed, the terminal device <NUM> records the input information in the RAM <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the medium size of A4 and the medium type of glossy paper have been input in the screen.

In step S205, the user <NUM> performs the medium information registration operation while checking the medium information registration screen <NUM>. The user <NUM> inputs arbitrary information in the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM>, and presses the determination button <NUM> when the input is completed.

In step S206, the terminal device <NUM> transmits the medium information generated based on the medium information registration operation to the communication device <NUM>.

In step S207, the communication device <NUM> stores the received medium information in the memory, such as the RAM <NUM>, so as to register the medium information.

In this way, the user <NUM> may perform the medium information registration process by a remote operation through the terminal device <NUM> using the remote UI function. Furthermore, the user <NUM> may register the medium information in the communication device <NUM> which does not include an operation unit and a display unit, for example, using the remote UI function. The user <NUM> may execute the medium information registration process by directly operating the communication device <NUM> at a time of a setting of a sheet feeding tray, for example, without using the remote UI function.

Furthermore, the user <NUM> may determine whether the disk medium printing described below is to be accepted by the communication device <NUM> by performing the same operation using the remote UI function. Specifically, in step S201, the user <NUM> performs an operation of determining whether the disk medium printing is to be performed on the terminal device <NUM>. By this, a screen for determining whether the disk medium printing is to be accepted (an acceptance setting screen <NUM>) is displayed in the display unit <NUM> in step S204 as illustrated in <FIG>, and therefore, the user <NUM> inputs an arbitrary setting in step S205. Specifically, the user <NUM> inputs a result of the determination as to whether the disk medium printing is to be accepted. In step S206, the terminal device <NUM> transmits setting information based on the input by the user <NUM> to the communication device <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> thereafter determines whether the disk medium printing is to be performed in accordance with the received setting information. By this, the disk medium printing acceptance setting is completed. Note that the setting described above may be applied only to the disk medium printing based on the standard system protocol.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram of a process, performed by the terminal device <NUM>, of causing the communication device <NUM> to execute printing. Note that processes executed by the devices in this sequence diagram are realized when the CPUs included in the devices read various programs stored in the memories included in the devices into the RAMs included in the devices and execute the programs. Note that the communication among the devices is executed in accordance with the standard system protocol in a description below.

The terminal device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and the terminal device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be different from each other. Specifically, registration of medium information and transmission of a print job may be performed by different terminal devices. Note that this sequence is started after the user <NUM> operates the terminal device <NUM> so as to select image data to be printed by the communication device <NUM>.

In step S501, the user <NUM> performs a print setting screen display operation for displaying a print setting screen in the display unit <NUM> on the terminal device <NUM>.

In step S502, the terminal device <NUM> transmits a medium information transmission request to the communication device <NUM> in accordance with the received print setting screen display operation. This operation is performed since an option of print setting information settable by the user <NUM> is based on medium information received from the communication device <NUM> in the print setting process based on the standard system protocol, for example.

In step S503, the communication device <NUM> performs medium information transmission determination in response to the received medium information transmission request. The medium information transmission determination is a process of specifying medium information to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>. The medium information transmission determination will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of the medium information transmission determination process executed by the communication device <NUM>. The process of this flowchart is realized when the CPU <NUM> reads various programs stored in the memory, such as the ROM <NUM>, into the RAM <NUM> and executes the programs. Furthermore, the process of this flowchart corresponds to the process in step S503, and therefore, is started when the process in step S502 is completed.

In step S601, the CPU <NUM> receives a medium information transmission request from the terminal device <NUM>.

In step S602, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, this determination is made by the CPU <NUM> by determining whether the communication device <NUM> supports the disk medium printing, for example. The determination as to whether the communication device <NUM> supports the disk medium printing is made in accordance with information indicating a mechanism of the communication device <NUM>, destination information, device model information of the communication device <NUM>, and the setting information indicating whether the disk medium printing has been accepted in the acceptance setting described above. The CPU <NUM> determines that the communication device <NUM> supports the disk medium printing if the communication device <NUM> has a mechanism (a disk medium supply unit, for example) or a function which enables execution of the disk medium printing or if the user <NUM> accepts the disk medium printing. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs a process in step S603. On the other hand, the CPU <NUM> determines that the communication device <NUM> does not support the disk medium printing if the communication device <NUM> does not have a mechanism or a function which enables execution of the disk medium printing or if the user <NUM> does not accept the disk medium printing. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs a process in step S604. Note that the CPU <NUM> determines that the communication device <NUM> does not support the disk medium printing if the user <NUM> does not accept the disk medium printing although the communication device <NUM> has a mechanism or a function which enables execution of the disk medium printing. The disk medium information is used to display the setting content of the disk medium printing in a print setting screen <NUM> as an option. Furthermore, the setting content of the disk medium printing is at least one of the medium size information "<NUM> × <NUM>", the medium type information "disk", and the supply unit information "disk" in this embodiment.

In step S603, the CPU <NUM> transmits the sheet medium information and the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM>. Here, in this embodiment, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> irrespective of a result of a determination as to whether a disk medium has been set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>.

In step S604, the CPU <NUM> transmits the sheet medium information to the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> does not transmit the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM>.

When the process in step S603 or step S604 is terminated, the CPU <NUM> performs the process in step S504 and transmits the medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in accordance with transmission content determined in step S603 or step S604.

As described above, in the print setting process using the standard system protocol, for example, an option corresponding to the medium information transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> is displayed in the print setting screen. Furthermore, in the print setting process using the standard system protocol, for example, the communication device <NUM> generally transmits only sheet medium information registered in the medium information registration process, that is, information indicating a medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM> to the terminal device <NUM>. However, in the medium information registration process, information indicating a disk medium may not be registered. This is because a disk medium is barely set in advance in the communication device <NUM> although the medium information registration is performed to cause the communication device <NUM> to recognize a medium which is currently set. Specifically, this is because the communication device <NUM> accepts a setting of a disk medium after receiving a print job corresponding to the disk medium printing due to mechanism restriction. Therefore, in the print setting process using the standard system protocol, the communication device <NUM> may not transmit the disk medium information as medium information to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>. In addition, setting content of the disk medium printing may not be displayed in the print setting screen as an option, and therefore, the communication device <NUM> may not execute the disk medium printing.

Here, the communication device <NUM> of this embodiment transmits, in addition to the information registered in the medium information registration process, the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in the transmission process in step S504. By this, setting content of the disk medium printing may be displayed in a print setting screen <NUM> as an option. Furthermore, the terminal device <NUM> may cause the communication device <NUM> to execute the print job associated with the disk medium printing. Furthermore, the CPU <NUM> transmits the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in accordance with a result of a determination as to whether the communication device <NUM> supports the disk medium printing. When the communication device <NUM> does not support the disk medium printing, for example, the CPU <NUM> does not transmit the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM>. By this, the CPU <NUM> may reduce the number of options displayed in the print setting screen <NUM> and usability in the print setting may be improved.

The determination in step S602 may be performed by determining whether a sheet has been set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. In this case, the CPU <NUM> detects a sheet set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM> using the sheet detection unit <NUM>. When a sheet is detected, the CPU <NUM> determines that a sheet has been set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs a process in step S604. This is because it is highly likely that the disk medium printing is not performed but the sheet medium printing is performed when a sheet is set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. On the other hand, when a sheet is not detected, the CPU <NUM> determines that a sheet has not been set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs a process in step S603. This is because it is likely that any one of the sheet medium printing and the disk medium printing is performed when a sheet is not set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM>.

Furthermore, the determination in step S602 may be performed by determining whether the communication device <NUM> has prepared for the disk medium printing, for example. In this case, the CPU <NUM> determines whether a disk medium has been set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM> using the disk medium detection unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the CPU <NUM> determines whether a cover (an opening and closing member) for opening and closing an insertion slot to which a disk medium or a disk medium tray is inserted in the disk medium supply unit <NUM> is located in an open position for opening the insertion slot. The CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium printing is prepared when it is determined that a disk medium has been set or the cover is located in the open position. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs the process in step S603. When the communication device <NUM> has prepared for the disk medium printing, it is highly likely that the printing using a disk medium is to be performed. On the other hand, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium printing has not been prepared when it is determined that a disk medium has not been set or the cover is located in a close position for closing the insertion slot. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> and performs a process in step S604. When the communication device <NUM> has not prepared for the disk medium printing, it is not likely that the printing using a disk medium is to be performed.

Note that the CPU <NUM> may execute the determinations described above in combination in step S602. In this case, the CPU <NUM> performs the process in step S604 when it is determined that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted according to all the combined determinations. Then the CPU <NUM> performs the process in step S604 when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted in one of the combined determinations.

In this way, the CPU <NUM> may control the transmission of the disk medium information in accordance with a configuration and a setting state of the communication device <NUM> and states of the sheet feeding unit <NUM> and the disk medium supply unit <NUM>.

Note that the CPU <NUM> may transmit the disk medium information and the sheet medium information every time the medium information transmission request is received from the terminal device <NUM>, and in this case, the medium information transmission determination in step S503 may be omitted. In this case, an option of the disk medium printing is displayed every time in the print setting screen <NUM>, and occurrence of a case where the option of the disk medium printing is not displayed due to an erroneous determination although the user desires to perform the disk medium printing may be suppressed.

Although the information registered in the medium information registration process is transmitted as the medium information transmitted in accordance with the medium information transmission request, the present invention is not limited to this. In a case where the communication device <NUM> has a function of detecting a medium set in the communication device <NUM> itself, for example, the CPU <NUM> may detect a medium set in the communication device <NUM> and transmit information indicating the detected medium. Also in this case, the CPU <NUM> transmits the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> irrespective of a determination as to whether a disk medium has been set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>.

In step S504, the communication device <NUM> transmits the medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in accordance with a result of the medium information transmission determination in step S503. Specifically, the communication device <NUM> transmits only the medium information (the sheet medium information) associated with a medium set in the sheet feeding unit <NUM> to the terminal device <NUM> when it is determined that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted in the medium information transmission determination. Specifically, the communication device <NUM> transmits only information corresponding to content registered in the medium information registration process to the terminal device <NUM>. On the other hand, the communication device <NUM> transmits the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in addition to the sheet medium information when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted in the medium information transmission determination. Note that the communication device <NUM> may transmit only the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> but not transmit the sheet medium information to the terminal device <NUM> when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted in the medium information transmission determination. This is because, in particular, it is highly likely that the sheet medium printing is not performed but the disk medium printing is performed when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted since a disk medium has been set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>. Note that the communication device <NUM> may execute the determinations described above in combination in step S602 and specify three patterns including a pattern in which the disk medium information is not to be transmitted, a pattern in which the disk medium information is to be transmitted, and a pattern in which only the disk medium information is to be transmitted. Specifically, when it is determined that a disk medium has been set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>, for example, it is determined that only the disk medium information is to be transmitted, and otherwise, the determination may be performed as described above. When it is determined that only the disk medium information is to be transmitted, the CPU <NUM> transmits only the disk medium information in step S504.

In step S505, the terminal device <NUM> displays a print setting screen in the display unit <NUM> using the medium information transmitted in step S504.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the print setting screen of this embodiment. The print setting screen is used to input setting information included in a print job to be transmitted in step S507. When receiving the print job, the communication device <NUM> executes printing in accordance with content of the setting information included in the print job (that is, content set using the print setting screen).

The print setting screen <NUM> includes a title <NUM> and setting items <NUM> to <NUM>. The user <NUM> may change or set content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> using the operation unit <NUM>. Options of the content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> correspond to the medium information transmitted in step S504. Specifically, when only the sheet medium information is included in the medium information, the user <NUM> may select content registered in the communication device <NUM> as the setting content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM>. On the other hand, when the sheet medium information and the disk medium information are included in the medium information, the user <NUM> may select content registered in the communication device <NUM> and setting content of the disk medium printing as the setting content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM>.

A medium size <NUM> indicates setting content of a size of a recording medium used in printing executed by the communication device <NUM>. The user <NUM> may select one of sizes "A4", "<NUM> × <NUM>", "<NUM> × <NUM>", "postcard", "letter", and the like as setting content of the medium size <NUM>. A medium type <NUM> indicates setting content of a type of the recording medium used in the printing executed by the communication device <NUM>. The user may select one of types "plain paper", "photo paper", "disk", and the like as setting content of the medium type <NUM>. Note that options of the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> (options in the print setting screen <NUM>) may be different from options of the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> (options in the medium information registration screen). For example, a number of detailed options which is larger than those of the medium type <NUM> may be displayed in the medium type <NUM>. In this case, the communication device <NUM> transmits information obtained by converting the content registered as the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> into content of the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> to the terminal device <NUM> as medium information. Specifically, the communication device <NUM> converts information indicating that "glossy paper" or "mat paper" has been registered as the medium type <NUM> into "photo paper" and transmits the information to the terminal device <NUM>, for example.

A printing side <NUM> indicates a result of a determination as to whether the communication device <NUM> performs single-side printing or double-side printing. The user <NUM> may select "single side" indicating the single-side printing or "double side" indicating the double-side printing as setting content of the printing side <NUM>. Print quality <NUM> indicates setting content of finish of printing to be executed by the communication device <NUM>. The user <NUM> may select quality of printing from among "standard" and "high quality" as the setting content of the print quality <NUM>. A color <NUM> indicates a result of a determination as to whether the communication device <NUM> performs color printing or monochrome printing. The user <NUM> may select a color setting from among "color" and "monochrome" as the setting content of the color <NUM>. A supply unit <NUM> indicates a supply source of a recording medium used in the printing executed by the communication device <NUM>. The user <NUM> may select "ASF" indicating the sheet feeding unit <NUM> or "disk" indicating the disk medium supply unit <NUM> as setting content of the supply unit <NUM>. Note that, when the sheet feeding unit <NUM> includes a plurality of sheet feeding units, the user <NUM> may select any one of the plurality of sheet feeding units. Furthermore, the user <NUM> may select "auto" which is content indicating that the communication device <NUM> automatically selects setting values of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> in a method described below.

As described above, the communication device <NUM> transmits only the information corresponding to content registered in the medium information registration process (the sheet medium information) to the terminal device <NUM> when it is determined that the disk medium information is not to be transmitted in the medium information transmission determination. When the medium size information included in the sheet medium information is "A4" and the medium type information included in the sheet medium information is "photo paper", the user <NUM> may select "A4" as the medium size, "photo paper" as the medium type, and "ASF" as the supply unit. Note that the user <NUM> may select "auto" in each of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> as described above. On the other hand, the communication device <NUM> transmits the disk medium information to the terminal device <NUM> in addition to the sheet medium information when it is determined that the disk medium information is to be transmitted in the medium information transmission determination described below, for example. Therefore, in this case, when the sheet medium information has the content described above, the user <NUM> may select "A4" and "<NUM> × <NUM>" as the medium size, "photo paper" and "disk" as the medium type, and "ASF" and "disk" as the supply unit. Note that the user <NUM> may select "auto" in the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> as described above.

Note that setting items settable in the print setting screen <NUM> and content selectable in the setting items are not particularly restricted. In a case where the communication device <NUM> does not support the double-side printing, for example, only "single side" may be set in the printing side <NUM>, and therefore, the printing side <NUM> may not be displayed or only "single side" may be in selectable state. Setting items only having "auto" as options of content may not be displayed. Furthermore, layout of the print setting screen <NUM> is not particularly restricted. For example, the title <NUM> may not be displayed. Furthermore, some of the items may be determined in conjunction with one another. When "disk" is selected as the medium type, for example, "<NUM> × <NUM>" may be automatically selected or options other than "<NUM> × <NUM>" may not be selectable.

Furthermore, the setting content of the medium size <NUM> and the medium type <NUM> may be automatically determined by the terminal device <NUM> in accordance with the medium information obtained from the communication device <NUM> in step S504, and therefore, may not be displayed in the print setting screen <NUM>. By this, a user operation of inputting the print setting information may be simplified.

The process in step S505 may be skipped depending on specification of a print application installed in the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, display of the print setting screen <NUM> may be omitted. This is because, in a use case where content of setting items is fixed, the user may not change or set the content of the setting items.

In step S506, the user <NUM> inputs the print setting information through the print setting screen <NUM> displayed in step S505 and instructs execution of printing.

In step S507, the terminal device <NUM> transmits the print setting information corresponding to the content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> input in step S506 and the print job including image data selected by the user <NUM> to the communication device <NUM>.

In step S508, the communication device <NUM> executes printing in accordance with the content of the print job received from the terminal device <NUM>. This process will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to <FIG>.

Note that, although the communication device <NUM> executes the medium information transmission in step S504 in this embodiment, a timing when the medium information transmission is performed is not limited to this. For example, the medium information transmission may be performed when the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM> are connected to each other through the communication unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM> for the first time.

<FIG> is a flowchart of the print process executed by the communication device <NUM> according to this embodiment. The process of this flowchart is realized when the CPU <NUM> reads various programs stored in the memory, such as the ROM <NUM>, into the RAM <NUM> and executes the programs. Furthermore, the process of this flowchart corresponds to the process in step S508, and therefore, is started when the process in step S507 is completed.

In step S801, the CPU <NUM> receives a print job from the terminal device <NUM>.

In step S802, the CPU <NUM> analyzes the received print job. In this embodiment, the print job includes the print setting information corresponding to the content of the setting items <NUM> to <NUM> set through the print setting screen <NUM> and image data. Therefore, the CPU <NUM> specifically obtains the print setting information and the image data included in the print job.

In step S803, the CPU <NUM> specifies a printing method employed when printing is performed based on the print job in accordance with the print setting information obtained by the analysis performed in step S802. In a case where the medium size is "A4" and the medium type is "photo paper", for example, content of the items does not correspond to settings of the disk medium printing, and therefore, the CPU <NUM> specifies the sheet medium printing to be performed on A4 photo paper.

However, information indicating one of the setting items may not be included in the print setting information depending on an OS installed in the terminal device <NUM>, a model of the terminal device <NUM>, or an application which instructs printing, for example. Furthermore, "<NUM> × <NUM>" is set as the medium size for execution of the disk medium printing as described above. A square sheet having the size "<NUM> × <NUM>" may also be used in the sheet medium printing. Specifically, in a case where the print setting information includes medium size information "<NUM> × <NUM>" but does not include the medium type information or the supply unit information, for example, any one of the disk medium printing and the sheet medium printing may be specified. Therefore, in a case where the print setting information includes specific information (the medium size information "<NUM> × <NUM>" in this embodiment), a process of specifying a printing method is executed in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the process of specifying a printing method will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The CPU <NUM> makes the determination using a table in which a printing method to be used, the medium type information, and the supply unit information are associated with one another (hereinafter, referred to as an "association table").

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the association table used when the medium size information included in the print setting information indicates "<NUM> × <NUM>". In this embodiment, "non/auto", "disk", and "plain paper/photo paper" are set as items of a medium type <NUM>. Furthermore, "non/auto", "disk" indicating the disk medium supply unit <NUM>, and "ASF" indicating the sheet feeding unit <NUM> are set as items of a supply unit <NUM>. Note that "non" indicates an item to be referred to when the print setting information does not include the medium type information or the supply unit information. The CPU <NUM> specifies one of printing methods described in the table illustrated in <FIG> in accordance with the medium type information and the supply unit information included in the obtained print setting information.

Furthermore, "disk medium printing" and "sheet medium printing" are included in the table of <FIG> as printing methods. In the disk medium printing, printing is performed on a disk medium, and therefore, "disk" is selected as the medium type and "disk" is selected as the supply unit in the print setting. Therefore, in a case where the medium type information included in the print setting information indicates "disk" and the supply unit information indicates "disk", the CPU <NUM> specifies the disk medium printing as a printing method with reference to a pattern <NUM> in the table of <FIG>. Furthermore, in the sheet medium printing, printing is performed on a recording medium (such as a sheet) other than a disk medium, and therefore, "plain paper/photo paper" is selected as the medium type and "ASF" is selected as the supply unit. Therefore, in a case where the medium type information included in the print setting information indicates "plain paper/photo paper" and the supply unit information indicates "ASF", the CPU <NUM> specifies the sheet medium printing as a printing method with reference to a pattern <NUM>.

Furthermore, when one of the medium type information and the supply unit information indicates "non/auto", the CPU <NUM> specifies a printing method corresponding to the other of the information. Specifically, when the other of the information indicates "disk", the CPU <NUM> specifies the disk medium printing as a printing method with reference to a pattern <NUM> or a pattern <NUM>. Furthermore, when the other of the information indicates "plain paper/photo paper" or "ASF", the CPU <NUM> specifies the sheet medium printing as a printing method with reference to a pattern <NUM> or a pattern <NUM>.

Furthermore, when both of the medium type information and the supply unit information indicate "non/auto", the CPU <NUM> specifies the process of determining a printing method with reference to a pattern <NUM>. In the process of determining a printing method, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the sheet feeding unit <NUM> holds a sheet using the sheet detection unit <NUM>. When the determination is affirmative, the CPU <NUM> sets content corresponding to the medium information of the communication device <NUM> registered in step S207 as the medium type, determines "ASF" as the supply unit information, and therefore, specifies the sheet medium printing. On the other hand, when the determination is negative, the CPU <NUM> determines "disk" as the medium type and "disk" as the supply unit information in a printing method, and specifies the disk medium printing as a printing method. Note that the CPU <NUM> may determine whether the disk medium supply unit <NUM> holds a disk medium using the disk medium detection unit <NUM> and specify a printing method in accordance with a result of the determination.

Furthermore, in a case where information indicating a medium type indicates "disk" and information indicating the supply unit indicates "ASF", the CPU <NUM> performs the process of determining a printing method described above with reference to a pattern <NUM>. Furthermore, also in a case where information indicating a medium type indicates "plain paper/photo paper" and information indicating the supply unit indicates "disk", the CPU <NUM> similarly performs the process of determining a printing method described above with reference to a pattern <NUM>. This is because, since the information indicating the medium type and the information indicating the supply unit do not match each other, one of the disk medium printing and the sheet medium printing to be employed is not uniquely specified. Note that, in the case where the information indicating the medium type and the information indicating the supply unit do not match each other as the cases of the patterns <NUM> and <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> may determine that an error has occurred and terminate the job without executing the process of determining a printing method. Alternatively, one of the printing methods to be preferentially specified may be set in advance, and the one of the printing methods may be specified in accordance with the setting.

With this configuration, even in a case where the medium size information included in the print setting information received from the terminal device <NUM> may be used in both of the disk medium printing and the sheet medium printing, a printing method may be specified in accordance with the medium type information and the supply unit information.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, even in a case where any one of information indicating the setting items is not obtained, such as the medium type information or the supply unit information, or in a case where "auto" is set, a printing method may be specified in accordance with a result of a detection performed by the sheet detection unit <NUM>.

Furthermore, even in a case where set content is not appropriate due to an input error of the user <NUM>, a printing method may be specified in accordance with a result of the detection performed by the sheet detection unit <NUM> or the disk medium detection unit <NUM>.

Subsequently, in step S804, the CPU <NUM> performs printing in accordance with the printing method specified in step S803. Specifically, when specifying the disk medium printing, first, the CPU <NUM> displays a screen for prompting the user <NUM> to set a disk medium in the disk medium supply unit <NUM> in the display unit <NUM>. When a disk medium is set by the user, the printing based on the print job is performed on the disk medium supplied from the disk medium supply unit <NUM>. Furthermore, when the sheet medium printing is specified, the CPU <NUM> performs printing based on the print job on a recording medium supplied from the sheet feeding unit <NUM>.

In step S805, the CPU <NUM> determines whether an error occurs in the printing performed by the communication device <NUM>. When the determination is negative, the CPU <NUM> proceeds to step S806 where it is determined whether printing is completed. When the determination is negative in step S806, the process in step S805 is performed again, whereas when the determination is affirmative, the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the determination is affirmative in step S805, the CPU <NUM> proceeds to step S807 where it is determined whether an error which is not supported by the terminal device <NUM> has occurred. A process of determining an error notification will be described below in detail. When the determination is affirmative in step S807, the CPU <NUM> proceeds to step S808. The CPU <NUM> displays a screen indicating that an error has occurred (an error notification screen) during the printing in the display unit <NUM> of the communication device <NUM> but does not display the error notification screen in the display unit <NUM> of the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, the CPU <NUM> does not transmit information indicating that an error has occurred during the printing to the terminal device <NUM>.

On the other hand, when the determination is negative in step S807, the CPU <NUM> proceeds to step S809 where the CPU <NUM> displays the error notification screen in both of the display unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>. Note that, in this case, the CPU <NUM> transmits the information indicating that an error has occurred during the printing to the terminal device <NUM> so that the information is displayed in the display unit <NUM>. Note that not only the information indicating that an error has occurred during the printing but also an operation method for cancelling the generated error may be displayed in the error notification screen displayed in step S808 and step S809.

Subsequently, the CPU <NUM> accepts a user operation of cancelling the generated error in step S810. The operation of cancelling the generated error corresponds to an operation of exchanging ink if the generated error indicates shortage of ink. The operation of cancelling the generated error corresponds to an operation of supplying a recording medium corresponding to the printing method specified in step S803 if the generated error indicates shortage of sheet or absence of disk. If the error is cancelled, the CPU <NUM> restarts the printing which has been interrupted due to the occurrence of the error and performs the process in step S805 again.

Here, the process of determining an error notification in step S807 will be described in detail. The error which is not supported by the terminal device <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "unsupported error") indicates an error unique to the disk medium printing, for example. This is because, in a case where communication between the devices is performed in accordance with the standard system protocol, even if an error unique to the disk medium printing is transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>, a screen for the error unique to the disk medium printing may not be displayed in the terminal device <NUM>. A reason that the screen for the error unique to the disk medium printing may not be displayed in the terminal device <NUM> will be described below.

Examples of the error unique to the disk medium printing include a "disk absence error", a "tray absence error", and a "tray discharging error". The "disk absence error" indicates a state in which the disk medium supply unit <NUM> does not hold a disk medium. The "tray absence error" indicates a state in which a disk medium tray has not been inserted into the disk medium supply unit <NUM>. The "tray discharging error" indicates a state in which a tray may not be discharged since the cover of the insertion slot of the tray is closed. Note that examples of an error which is not unique to the disk medium printing include a "sheet shortage error" indicating a state in which the sheet feeding unit <NUM> does not hold a medium and an "ink shortage error" indicating a state in which the communication device <NUM> is short of ink.

Specifically, the CPU <NUM> determines whether a printing method employed in the printing currently performed is the disk medium printing in step S807. The CPU <NUM> performs the determination in accordance with the type of the printing method specified in step S803 and various information (such as the supply unit information and the medium type information) included in the received print setting information. When determining that the printing method employed in the current printing is not the disk medium printing, the CPU <NUM> determines that the error which currently occurs is not unsupported error. On the other hand, when determining that the printing method employed in the current printing is the disk medium printing, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the current error is the error unique to the disk medium printing. The CPU <NUM> performs the determination in accordance with error list information stored in the ROM <NUM> of the communication device <NUM>. When determining that the current error is not the error unique to the disk medium printing, the CPU <NUM> determines that the current error is not unsupported error. On the other hand, when determining that the current error is the error unique to the disk medium printing, the CPU <NUM> determines that the current error is unsupported error.

After the process in step S807, the CPU <NUM> displays the error notification screen in the display unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> in accordance with a result of the determination in step S807 as described above.

The reason that the error notification screen is not displayed in the display unit <NUM> when the generated error is the unsupported error will now be described.

To display the error notification screen in the display unit <NUM>, information indicating that an unsupported error has occurred during the printing is required to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>. However, the terminal device <NUM> does not support display of the screen for notification of information indicating that an unsupported error has occurred, and therefore, the terminal device <NUM> may not display the error notification screen even if receiving the information. Specifically, in the case where the generated error is an unsupported error, the information indicating that the unsupported error has occurred during the printing is transmitted in vain. Therefore, as described above, since the display unit <NUM> does not display the error notification screen when the unsupported error has occurred, the information indicating that the unsupported error has occurred is not transmitted in vain.

If the unsupported error is the disk absence error, when receiving the information indicating that the disk absence error has occurred, the terminal device <NUM> may mistakenly recognize that the sheet shortage error has occurred depending on specification of the installed OS. Furthermore, it is assumed that the same error information (the information indicating that the medium absence error has occurred) is transmitted also in a case where the communication device <NUM> does not distinguish the disk absence error and the sheet shortage error from each other and one of the errors occurs, for example. Also in this case, the terminal device <NUM> may mistakenly recognize that the sheet shortage error has occurred depending on the specification of the installed OS although the disk absence error has occurred.

Note that a method for cancelling the error unique to the disk medium printing is different from a method for cancelling an error which has occurred during the sheet medium printing, and therefore, a screen of the method for cancelling the error unique to the disk medium printing is different from a screen of the method for cancelling an error which has occurred during the sheet medium printing. Therefore, if the terminal device <NUM> mistakenly recognizes that the sheet shortage error has occurred although the disk absence error has occurred, the display unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> display different error notification screens. Accordingly, as described above, since the display unit <NUM> does not display the error notification screen when the generated error is an unsupported error, an appropriate screen is displayed only in the display unit <NUM>, and therefore, confusion of the user may be suppressed.

Furthermore, in general, only one disk medium may be set in the disk medium supply unit <NUM>. Therefore, in a case where the disk medium printing is successively performed, it may be determined that the medium absence error has occurred when the communication device <NUM> intends to execute printing on a second disk medium onwards after printing on a first disk medium is completed. In this embodiment, the error notification screen is not displayed in the terminal device <NUM> even if an error occurs during the disk medium printing, and therefore, transmission of notification of the medium absence error transmitted when the disk medium printing is successively performed may be suppressed. Note that, in this embodiment, the error notification screen is displayed only in the communication device <NUM> during the disk medium printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the error notification screen for notification of the medium absence error may not be displayed also in the communication device <NUM>. In this case, instead of the error notification screen for the notification of the medium absence error, a screen for prompting the user to newly set a disk medium may be displayed.

Note that the CPU <NUM> may change an error notification method depending on a determination as to whether the communication between the devices is executed in accordance with the standard system protocol or the non-standard system protocol supported by the communication device <NUM>. In this case, after the process in step S805, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the communication between the devices is executed in accordance with the standard system protocol or the non-standard system protocol supported by the communication device <NUM>. When determining that the communication between the devices is executed in accordance with the standard system protocol, the CPU <NUM> executes the process in step S807 onwards. On the other hand, when determining that the communication between the devices is executed in accordance with the non-standard system protocol supported by the communication device <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> displays the error notification screen in both of the display unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>. Specifically, information indicating that an error has occurred in the communication device <NUM> is transmitted to the terminal device <NUM>. This is because, in the case where the communication between the devices is executed in accordance with the non-standard system protocol supported by the communication device <NUM>, the terminal device <NUM> may recognize the error notification information and display screens corresponding to individual errors. Specifically, this is because a screen indicating the error cancelling method may be displayed even in the case where the generated error is the error unique to the disk medium printing.

With this configuration, usability of the disk medium printing through the terminal device <NUM> may be improved.

Note that the communication system of this embodiment may include a server which relays the communication between the terminal device <NUM> and the communication device <NUM>, and the server may perform the medium information transmission determination, the printing method specifying process, and the error notification determination process. In this case, the server may obtain information required for the processes and the determination from the communication device <NUM> and the terminal device <NUM>.

Note that, although it is determined whether the disk medium information is to be transmitted to the terminal device <NUM> in the medium information transmission determination in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the medium information to be subjected to the medium information transmission determination may be information indicating another medium instead of the disk medium information as long as the medium information may not be registered in the disk medium information registration process.

Although the printing method specifying process is executed by the communication device <NUM> in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the printing method specifying process may be executed by the terminal device <NUM> when the print setting information is input by the user, for example. In this case, if information indicating a result of detection by the sheet detection unit <NUM> or the disk medium detection unit <NUM> is required for the printing method specifying process, the terminal device <NUM> obtains the information from the communication device <NUM> where appropriate. When the specifying of the printing method is completed, the terminal device <NUM> transmits information indicating the specified printing method to the communication device <NUM>.

Although only an option of medium information, that is, information indicating a medium held by the communication device <NUM>, is displayed in the print setting screen <NUM> in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the terminal device <NUM> may obtain information indicating a function of the communication device <NUM> (functional information) from the communication device <NUM> and display an option of the functional information in addition to the option of the medium information in the print setting screen <NUM>. In the printing based on the standard system protocol, the terminal device <NUM> may not display an option of the functional information in the print setting screen <NUM> depending on a type of the OS installed in the terminal device <NUM>. Specifically, the terminal device <NUM> may display only the option of the medium information. In this embodiment, to display an option associated with the disk medium printing in the print setting screen <NUM>, medium information corresponding to the disk medium printing is transmitted instead of the functional information corresponding to the disk medium printing. By this, an option associated with the disk medium printing may be displayed also in the terminal device <NUM> described above.

The foregoing embodiment may be realized by executing the following process. Specifically, software (programs) which realizes the functions of the foregoing embodiment is supplied to a system or an apparatus through a network or various storage media, and a computer (a CPU or an MPU) of the system or the apparatus reads and executes the programs. The programs may be executed by one computer or executed by a plurality of computers operating in combination. Furthermore, all the processes are not to be realize and some of or all the processes described above may be realized by hardware, such as ASIC. Furthermore, only one CPU may execute a plurality of processes or a plurality of CPUs may perform the processes in combination where appropriate.

According to the present invention, usability in the print setting operation may be improved.

Claim 1:
A printing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first holding unit (<NUM>) configured to hold a first recording medium (<NUM>) that is disk-like and capable of storing information;
a second holding unit (<NUM>) configured to hold a second recording medium that is different from the first recording medium; and
at least one processor (<NUM>), wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform operations comprising:
performing printing on the first recording medium or the second recording medium based on a print job received from a terminal device (<NUM>),
characterised by
in a case that a first error being unique to at least one of the first holding unit and the first recording medium occurs in the printing device after receiving the print job, not performing processing for causing the terminal device to perform notification regarding the first error and
performing processing for causing a display (<NUM>) of the printing device to display a notification screen regarding the first error, and
in a case that a second error that is different from the first error occurs in the printing device after receiving the print job,
performing processing for causing the terminal device to perform notification regarding the second error, performing processing for causing the display (<NUM>) of the printing device to display a notification screen regarding the second error, wherein the first error is not supported by the terminal device and the second error is supported by the terminal device.