JP6680153B2 - Printing system, mobile terminal device and printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a mobile terminal device, and a printing device that execute printing with a printing device based on a print job received from the mobile terminal device.

  Conventionally, there is a system called mobile printing in which a print job is transmitted from a mobile terminal device to a printing device to perform printing. In mobile printing, when the remaining charge of the battery of the mobile terminal device is exhausted (“charged”), the print job in the mobile terminal device cannot be transmitted to the printing device, and the printing opportunity is lost. On the other hand, it is conceivable to upload the print job to the server in advance in case the charge of the mobile terminal device is exhausted. However, uploading all print jobs to the server increases the load on the network and server.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that takes into consideration the case where the voltage of the battery of the remote terminal drops. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a remote terminal detects a voltage drop of its own battery, the remote terminal notifies the printing apparatus, transmits the setting information set up to that time to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus receives the setting information. The set information can be reflected on the setting screen and the setting operation can be continued in the printing apparatus.

JP, 2014-187575, A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a countermeasure against the battery power reduction of the remote terminal during the setting operation of the printing device by the remote terminal, and is not a countermeasure against the charge exhaustion of the battery of the mobile terminal device in mobile printing. . That is, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the battery of the mobile terminal device is depleted, the print job generated by the mobile terminal device cannot be printed.

  In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to print a print job instructed from a mobile terminal device to a printing device even when the battery of the mobile terminal device is depleted.

A printing system according to an aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which a portable terminal device capable of instructing printing and a printing device that performs a printing process based on the printing instruction of the portable terminal device are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network System.
The mobile terminal device includes a first communication unit capable of communicating with the printing device and a non-volatile memory that stores mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device, and is magnetically coupled to the printing device. A first near field communication unit capable of communication, a job holding unit holding a print scheduled job, a print scheduled job held in the job holding unit, and mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device are printed. And a job management unit that writes the name of the transmitted print job to the memory while transmitting the job to the apparatus.

According to at least one aspect of the present invention, even when the battery of the mobile terminal device is depleted, by printing the mobile terminal device over the printing device, the print scheduled job transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the printing device in advance is printed. Can be executed.
Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the whole composition of the printing system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the portable terminal device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the control part of the portable terminal device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job designation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a print setting screen. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing a function of a control part of a printing device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of a personal digital assistant management list concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a print scheduled job transmission process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of a print scheduled job. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of print processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission setting process example of the charge residual amount notification request according to the charge residual amount which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print processing when a designated print job is not present in the own apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the job management list which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an example of a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description will be given in the following order. It should be noted that, in each of the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same function or configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
1. First embodiment (example of recording job name of scheduled print job in NFC chip)
2. Second embodiment (an example in which a remaining charge notification request is set according to the remaining charge)
3. Third embodiment (an example in which a mobile terminal device actively transmits a print scheduled job)
4. Fourth embodiment (an example of acquiring a designated print scheduled job from another device)
5. Fifth embodiment (example in which a printing apparatus creates a management list)
6. Other

<1. First Embodiment>
[Print System Configuration]
FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment.

  In the printing system 1 of FIG. 1, a mobile terminal device 2, a printing device 3, a printing device 4, and an access point 5 are connected via a network N so that they can communicate with each other. The network N is a network such as a LAN compliant with a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The mobile terminal device 2 is a portable communication terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The mobile terminal device 2 transmits a print job, which is instructed to be printed by a user's input operation or automatically, to the printing device 3 or 4 via the access point 5 and the network N. The print job is, for example, data generated by the mobile terminal device 2 according to PDL (Page Description Language), and includes output settings and input data (original image data).

  The printing devices 3 and 4 form an image on a sheet based on the received printer job and output it. The printing devices 3 and 4 may be a multi-function peripheral (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of types of functions (printing function, copying function, scanning function, etc.).

[Mobile device]
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the mobile terminal device 2 according to the first embodiment.

  The mobile terminal device 2 includes a control unit 11 as shown in FIG. The control unit 11 is communicably connected to the display unit 15, the operation unit 16, the nonvolatile storage 17, the wireless communication interface 18, the NFC chip 19, the charging control unit 20, and the battery 21 via the bus 14. .

  The control unit 11 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12b for storing programs executed by the CPU 12a, various data, and the like, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU 12a. ) 12c.

  The CPU 12a reads out the program code of software that realizes each function according to the present embodiment from the ROM 12b and executes it. Variables, parameters, etc. generated during the arithmetic processing are temporarily written in the RAM 12c. The control unit 11 may include a processing device such as an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) instead of the CPU 12a.

  The display unit 15 is, for example, a liquid crystal display monitor, and displays the result of processing performed by the control unit 11 and the like. A touch panel, for example, is used as the operation unit 16, and the user can perform predetermined operation input and instructions.

  As the non-volatile storage 17, for example, a non-volatile memory card driven by SSD (Solid State Drive) is used. In this non-volatile storage 17, a program for operating the control unit 11 may be recorded in addition to the OS (Operating System) and various parameters. For example, the non-volatile storage 17 functions as a print scheduled job holding unit that holds a print scheduled job.

  A NIC (Network Interface Card) or the like is used for the wireless communication interface 18 (an example of a first communication unit), and wirelessly connects to a network N such as a LAN via the access point 5. The wireless communication interface 18 can send and receive various data between the devices via the network N. The access point 5 may be a router having a built-in access point function.

  The NFC chip 19 (an example of the first near field communication unit) is an NFC device (for example, an NFC reader of the printing devices 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 6) that exists within about 10 cm according to the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. 49) and data communication. The NFC chip 19 is a so-called NFC tag. With NFC, it is possible to communicate simply by bringing NFC-compatible devices close to each other. The NFC chip does not require a battery or a power supply, and is characterized in that communication and data rewriting can be performed only by the power generated by electromagnetic induction (magnetic coupling) when the antenna receives an electromagnetic wave from the reader / writer.

  The NFC chip 19 has a non-volatile memory 19m that stores mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device 2. The mobile terminal identification information recorded in the ROM 12b or the non-volatile storage 17 may be read out as necessary and stored in the memory 19m. The mobile terminal identification information may be, for example, the serial number of the mobile phone device 2, the NFC chip 19 or the MAC (Media Access Control address) address of the wireless communication interface 18.

  The charge control unit 20 controls charging / discharging of the battery 21 (secondary battery) that supplies power to each unit, detects the remaining charge amount (voltage), and transmits the control result and the detection result to the control unit 11.

  FIG. 3 shows the functions of the control unit 11 of the mobile terminal device 2 according to the first embodiment. The functions of each unit are realized by the CPU 12a executing the programs stored in the ROM 12b.

  The control unit 11 includes a remaining charge monitoring unit 11a and a job management unit 11b.

  The charge remaining amount monitoring unit 11 a monitors the charge remaining amount of the battery 21 through the charge control unit 20.

  The job management unit 11b transmits the print scheduled job held in the non-volatile storage 17 and the mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device 2 to the printing device 3 or 4, and also transmits the name of the transmitted print scheduled job. Write to memory 19m. In the present embodiment, the job management unit 11b transmits the scheduled print job and the mobile terminal identification information when the remaining charge of the secondary battery detected by the remaining charge monitor 11a is less than or equal to a predetermined amount. To do.

(Print job specification screen)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print job designation screen, FIG. 4A is a first example, and FIG. 4B is a second example.

  On the print job designation screen 30 of FIG. 4A, a data file name 31 of input data and check boxes 32 corresponding to each data file name 31 are displayed. By checking the check box 32, a data file is designated and a print job to be transmitted to the printing apparatus is generated. Although the data file name included in the print job is displayed in this example, the name of the print job may be displayed. The name of the print job may be a data file name, or may be an identifier composed of a character string, a number string, or the like generated based on the time when the job was generated.

  On the print job designation screen 30A of FIG. 4B, an icon 33 indicating a data file and a check box 32 corresponding to each icon 33 are displayed. By checking the check box 32, a data file is designated and a print job to be transmitted to the printing apparatus is generated.

(Print setting screen)
As a means for designating a print job, in addition to individually designating a job (input data), it is also possible to designate an attachment file of a mail received from a designated address. FIG. 5 shows an example of the print setting screen.

  In the print setting screen 35 of FIG. 5, the check box 36 for the text “Print file attached to mail received from specified destination” is checked. Further, the print setting screen 35 is provided with a mail address display field 37 for inputting and displaying the mail address of the destination.

  The print job designated by the means shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5 and the like is managed as a print scheduled job.

  The non-volatile storage 17 may store a print scheduled job table (not shown) corresponding to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5B. The scheduled print job table includes fields of “name of scheduled print job” and “flag”, and turns on the flag of the record including the scheduled print job with a check mark as shown in FIG. 4A.

[Printing device]
FIG. 6 shows a hardware configuration example of the printing devices 3 and 4 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, but the printing apparatus 4 has the same configuration.

  The printing device 3 includes a control unit 41 as shown in FIG. The control unit 41 includes an operation panel P including a display unit 45 and an operation unit 46, a nonvolatile storage 47, a network interface 48, an NFC reader 49, a wireless communication interface 50, a printer controller 51, and a printer engine 52 via the bus 44. They are connected so that they can communicate with each other.

  The control unit 41 includes, for example, a CPU 42a, a ROM 42b for storing programs executed by the CPU 42a, various data, and the like, and a RAM 42c used as a work area of the CPU 42a.

  The CPU 42a reads out the program code of software for realizing each function according to the present embodiment from the ROM 42b and executes it. Variables and parameters generated during the arithmetic processing are temporarily written in the RAM 42c. The control unit 41 may include a processing device such as an MPU instead of the CPU 42a.

  The display unit 45 is, for example, a liquid crystal display monitor, and displays the result of processing performed by the control unit 41 and the like. A touch panel, for example, is used as the operation unit 46, and the user can input a predetermined operation and give an instruction. The operation panel P is configured by the display unit 45 and the operation unit 46 laminated on the display unit 45.

  Examples of the non-volatile storage 47 include an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), flexible disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, and non-volatile memory card. Used. In the non-volatile storage 47, a program for causing the control unit 41 to function may be recorded in addition to the OS (Operating System) and various parameters. For example, the non-volatile storage 47 holds a print scheduled job, a mobile terminal management list, and the like.

  A NIC or the like is used for the network interface 48, and various data can be transmitted and received between each device via the network N such as a LAN. The network N may be, for example, a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11. When the network interface 48 is wirelessly compatible, the network interface 48 can function as the second communication unit.

  The NFC reader 49 (an example of a second proximity communication unit) performs data communication with the NFC chip 19 of the mobile terminal device 2 existing within about 10 cm (second distance) in accordance with the NFC standard. Communication is performed by bringing the mobile terminal device 2 equipped with the NFC chip 19 close to the detection surface of the NFC reader 49 so as to hold it. The NFC reader 49 transmits electromagnetic waves from the antenna to the NFC chip 19 to supply power. Electric power using a commercial power supply is supplied to the NFC reader 49.

  When the NFC reader 49 of the present embodiment detects that the NFC chip 19 of the mobile terminal device 2 exists within a communicable distance with the device, the NFC reader 49 reads the name of the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal from the memory 19m of the NFC chip 19. Read identification information.

  The wireless communication interface 50 (an example of a second communication unit) is, for example, an NIC or the like of the same standard as the wireless communication interface 18, and is used for a predetermined distance (first distance (first distance> second Data communication is performed by connecting to a wireless communication terminal existing within the distance)). The mobile terminal device 2 including the wireless communication interface 18 is an example of a wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication interface 50 transmits a radio wave from an antenna and communicates with a radio communication terminal capable of communicating with a radio wave having a predetermined received radio wave intensity or more.

  The communication method of the wireless communication interface 50 may be Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication in addition to the wireless communication conforming to IEEE 802.11.

  The printer controller 51 causes the printer engine 52 to print an image based on the print job. The printer controller 51 receives a print job from the mobile terminal device 2 via the network interface 48. Then, the printer controller 51 performs rasterization processing (RIP processing) on the input data extracted from the received print job, and generates bitmap data (image forming data). The printer engine 52 performs print processing based on the bitmap data.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functions of the control unit 41 of the printing apparatus 3 according to the first embodiment. The functions of each unit are realized by the CPU 42a executing the programs stored in the ROM 42b.

  The control unit 41 includes a mobile terminal detection unit 41a, a mobile terminal information management unit 41b, and a print target job identification unit 41c.

  The mobile terminal detection unit 41a is within a predetermined distance (first distance) from the printing device 3 based on the received radio wave intensity between the wireless communication interface 50 and the wireless communication interface 18 of the mobile terminal device 2. Detects whether 2 is present. The detection result is notified to the mobile terminal information management unit 41b.

  The mobile terminal information management unit 41b manages information about the mobile terminal device 2. The information regarding the mobile terminal device 2 includes mobile terminal identification information of the mobile terminal device 2, the remaining charge amount, information on whether the mobile terminal device 2 is in the vicinity of the printing device 3 (within a predetermined distance), and the like. The mobile terminal information management unit 41b registers the charge capacity of the battery 21 received from the mobile terminal device 2 in the mobile terminal management list in association with the mobile terminal identification information.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a mobile terminal management list managed by the mobile terminal information management unit 41b.

  The mobile terminal management list 60 has a mobile terminal identification information field 61 and a remaining charge field 62 as record fields. In FIG. 8, the remaining charge amount of the mobile terminal device 2 whose mobile terminal identification information is “keitai01” is 8%. Similarly, the remaining charge amounts of the mobile terminal device 2 whose mobile terminal identification information is “keitai02” and “keitai03” are 72% and 15%, respectively. The% value is a percentage representing the ratio of the remaining charge amount to the total charge capacity of the battery 21.

  Returning to the explanation of FIG. When the mobile terminal detection unit 41a detects that the mobile terminal device 2 exists within a predetermined distance, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b receives the mobile terminal device 2 via the network interface 48 (or the wireless communication interface 50). To the mobile terminal device 2 for transmitting a remaining charge notification request. When the remaining charge amount of the mobile terminal device 2 notified from the mobile terminal device 2 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, a print scheduled job transmission request is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 2, and the mobile terminal device 2 schedules printing. The job and the mobile terminal identification information are received.

  The print target job specifying unit 41c (an example of a target job specifying unit) specifies a print target job to be printed from print scheduled jobs received from the mobile terminal device 2.

  The print target job identification unit identifies the mobile terminal identified by the name of the print scheduled job displayed on the display unit 45 and the mobile terminal identification information, which is associated with the name of the print scheduled job specified by the operation unit 46. It is determined whether or not the information matches the mobile terminal identification information associated with the print scheduled job received from the mobile terminal device 2 via the NFC reader 49. Then, the print target job specifying unit specifies the designated print-scheduled job as the print target job when the mobile terminal identification information is the same.

[Scheduled job transmission process]
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a print scheduled job transmission process according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the print scheduled job transmission process by the printing device 3 will be described, but the same is true for the printing device 4. Each of the control unit 41 (CPU 42a) of the printing device 3 and the control unit 11 (CPU 12a) of the mobile terminal device 2 executes the programs stored in the ROM 41b and the ROM 12b to execute the sequence of FIG. 9 (and FIG. 11 described later). Is realized.

  First, the mobile terminal detection unit 41a (FIG. 7) of the printing device 3 detects the mobile terminal device 2 existing near the printing device 3 (within the first distance) by the wireless communication interface 50 (S1).

  Next, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b transmits a remaining charge amount notification request to the mobile terminal device 2 (S2).

  The charge remaining amount monitoring unit 11a (FIG. 3) of the mobile terminal device 2 receives the charge remaining amount notification request (S3), and notifies the printing device 3 of the charge remaining amount of the battery 21 and the mobile terminal identification information (S4). .

  Next, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b of the printing apparatus 3 registers the remaining charge amount and mobile terminal identification information notified from the mobile terminal apparatus 2 in the mobile terminal management list 60 (FIG. 6) (S5).

  Next, the portable terminal information management unit 41b compares the remaining charge amount of the portable terminal device 2 notified from the portable terminal device 2 with a threshold value stored in advance in the ROM 42b or the like (S6), and the remaining charge amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value. If there is (NO in S6), the process of this sequence ends.

  On the other hand, when the charge remaining amount is smaller than the threshold value (YES in S6), the mobile terminal information management unit 41b transmits a print scheduled job transmission request to the mobile terminal device 2 (S7).

  Next, when the job management unit 11b of the mobile terminal device 2 receives the print-scheduled job transmission request from the printing device 3, it determines whether or not there is a print-scheduled job to be held (S8). The process of this sequence ends at (NO in S8).

  On the other hand, if there is a print scheduled job (YES in S8), the job management unit 11b extracts the print scheduled job from the print scheduled job table (S9).

  Next, the job management unit 11b adds the portable terminal identification information to the header portion of the print scheduled job (S10), and then transmits the print scheduled job to the printing apparatus 3 (S11).

  Then, the job management unit 11b writes the name of the transmitted print scheduled job in the memory 19m of the NFC chip 19 (S12).

  Here, FIG. 10 shows an example of the data structure of a print scheduled job.

  The print scheduled job 70 includes a header portion 71 and a main body portion 72. The header portion 71 includes mobile terminal identification information 71a and a print scheduled job name (job name) 71b. The job management unit 11b writes the mobile terminal identification information of the mobile terminal device 2 of its own device in the mobile terminal identification information 71a.

  Next, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b of the printing apparatus 3 receives the print scheduled job (and mobile terminal identification information) from the mobile terminal apparatus 2 (S13).

  Then, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b accumulates the print scheduled job in the non-volatile storage 47 or the like (S14). After the processing of step S14 is completed, this sequence is ended.

  The process of comparing the remaining charge amount and the threshold value in step S6 may be omitted.

[Print processing]
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a print processing example according to the first embodiment.

  First, the mobile terminal detection unit 41a (FIG. 7) of the printing device 3 detects that the mobile terminal device 2 is held (or placed) on the detection surface of the NFC reader 49 (S21). At this time, the NFC reader 49 of the printing device 3 emits an electromagnetic wave from the antenna and supplies power to the NFC chip 19 of the mobile terminal device 2.

  The NFC chip 19 (FIG. 3) of the mobile terminal device 2 is activated by being supplied with power from the printing device 3. Then, the NFC chip 19 transmits the name of the transmitted print scheduled job and the portable terminal identification information stored in the memory 19m to the printing device 3 (S22). The process of the mobile terminal device 2 in this sequence ends here.

  Next, the print target job specifying unit 41c of the printing apparatus 3 receives the name of the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal apparatus 2 (S23). Then, the print target job specifying unit 41c displays them in a list on the operation panel P (display unit 45) (S24), and receives the designation of the name of the print scheduled job from the user (S25).

  Next, the print target job specifying unit 41c, based on the name of the designated print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information of the mobile terminal apparatus 2 detected by the NFC reader 49, the print scheduled job stored in the printing apparatus 3. A print scheduled job (hereinafter referred to as "print target job") for which the print processing is to be executed is specified (S26). Here, the print target job specifying unit 41c analyzes the header part 71 of each print scheduled job, and confirms the mobile terminal identification information 71a and the job name 71b.

  Then, the printer controller 51 executes the print process based on the print target job specified by the print target job specifying unit 41c (S27). After this processing is completed, this sequence is ended.

[Effects of First Embodiment]
According to the above-described first embodiment, the mobile terminal device 2 records the name of the print scheduled job in the NFC chip 19 of the mobile terminal device 2 at the same time as the print scheduled job is transmitted. As a result, even when the power supply of the mobile terminal device 2 (battery 21) is turned off or the charge remaining amount required for job transmission is insufficient, the mobile terminal device 2 can be held over the printing device 3 when printing a job. The NFC reader 49 of the printing devices 3 and 4 can acquire the mobile terminal identification information and the name of the scheduled print job held in the NFC chip 19 of the mobile terminal device 2.

  Then, the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 display a list of names of scheduled print jobs on the operation panel P. When the user selects a print scheduled job to be printed, the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 print from the print scheduled jobs stored in the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 using the mobile terminal identification information corresponding to the selected print scheduled job as a keyword. Specify the target job and execute printing. Therefore, the user can send a print scheduled job from the mobile terminal device 2 to the printing devices 3 and 4 and execute printing (mobile printing) without worrying about the charge of the mobile terminal device 2 running out. .

  Further, the load of the network N can be reduced by limiting the timing at which the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 read the scheduled print job from the mobile terminal apparatus 2 when the remaining charge of the mobile terminal apparatus 2 is low (steps S6 and S7). . Further, since it is not necessary to upload all the print scheduled jobs to the server in advance in case the charge of the mobile terminal device 2 is exhausted, it is possible to reduce the load on the server and suppress the pressure on the storage capacity.

<2. Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment is an example in which the printing apparatus 3 sets a first threshold value and a second threshold value as threshold values for determining the remaining charge amount of the mobile terminal device 2 (battery 21).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of transmission setting processing of a charge remaining amount notification request according to the charge remaining amount of the mobile terminal device 2 according to the second embodiment.

  First, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b of the printing device 3 compares the remaining charge amount of the mobile terminal device 2 notified from the mobile terminal device 2 with the first threshold value stored in the ROM 42b or the like (S31). The determination process of step S31 corresponds to the determination process of step S6 of FIG.

  When the remaining charge amount is equal to or more than the first threshold value (NO in S31), the mobile terminal information management unit 41b sets the transmission time of the next remaining charge amount notification request to a time that is more than a predetermined fixed time, The next transmission time and the mobile terminal identification information are registered in the mobile terminal management list 60 (S34). After this processing is completed, the processing of this flowchart is ended.

  Next, when the remaining charge amount is smaller than the first threshold value in step S31 (YES in S31), the mobile terminal information management unit 41b sets the remaining charge amount and the second threshold value (second threshold value <first threshold value). The comparison is made (S32). When the charge remaining amount is smaller than the second threshold value (YES in S32), the mobile terminal information management unit 41b proceeds to the process of step S7 (FIG. 9) and transmits a print scheduled job transmission request to the mobile terminal device 2. To do.

  On the other hand, when the remaining charge amount is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (NO in S32), the mobile terminal information management unit 41b calculates the next transmission time of the remaining charge amount notification request based on the remaining charge amount (S33). ). Then, the next transmission time and the mobile terminal identification information are registered in the mobile terminal management list 60 (S34). After this processing is completed, the processing of this flowchart is ended.

For example, a case where the first threshold of the remaining charge amount is 30% and the second threshold is 10% will be described.
In the case of the mobile terminal device of “keitai01” shown in the mobile terminal management list 60 of FIG. 8, since the remaining charge amount is 8% (<second threshold value), the print scheduled job transmission request is transmitted in step S7. .
In the case of the mobile terminal device of'keitai02 ', since the remaining charge amount is 72% (> first threshold value) (NO in S31), no processing is performed.
In the case of the mobile terminal device of'keitai03 ', the remaining charge amount is 15% (second threshold value <remaining charge amount <first threshold value), so the transmission time of the next charge remaining amount notification request in step 33 is calculated. Be seen.

  The difference between the remaining charge amount of 15% and the second threshold value of 10% is 5%. If it is assumed that the charge capacity decreases by 2.5% per hour, the remaining charge amount reaches the second threshold value of 10% after 2 hours. Therefore, the timing at which the next scheduled print job transmission request is transmitted is set to a time that is two hours after the current time or slightly before that (transmission setting time). The mobile terminal information management unit 41b registers this transmission setting time in the mobile terminal management list 60.

  Further, for example, when the remaining charge is 15%, the print scheduled job transmission request is set to be transmitted one hour later.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the transmission time (transmission timing) of the charge remaining amount notification request is set according to the charge remaining amount of the mobile terminal device 2. As a result, it is possible to save the power consumption of the mobile terminal device 2 without transmitting an unnecessary charge remaining amount notification request until the remaining charge amount reaches the second threshold value.

<3. Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment is an example in which the mobile terminal device 2 actively transmits a print scheduled job according to the remaining charge of the battery 21.

  The job management unit 11b of the mobile terminal device 2 calculates the amount of power required to transmit the scheduled print job. The amount of electric power required to transmit the print-scheduled job increases as the size of the input data for executing printing increases. Next, the job management unit 11b performs a calculation for subtracting the remaining charge amount of the battery 21 from the power amount, and compares the calculated value (difference value) with the threshold value. When the calculated value is smaller than the threshold value, the job management unit 11b attaches the portable terminal identification information to the header portion of the print scheduled job and sends the print scheduled job to the printing devices 3 and 4.

  According to the above-described third embodiment, the mobile terminal device 2 actively transmits the print scheduled job according to the remaining charge of the battery 21. In the first and second embodiments, the printing device 3 transmits the remaining charge amount notification request only when it recognizes that the mobile terminal device 2 exists nearby. According to the present embodiment, a print scheduled job can be transmitted (push transmission) to the printing devices 3 and 4 without waiting for a print transmission job transmission request from the printing devices 3 and 4. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the chance that the remaining charge amount of the battery 21 is lost before the scheduled print job is transmitted to the printing devices 3 and 4.

<4. Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment is an example in which print processing is performed when a designated print job does not exist in the own apparatus.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of print processing in the case where the designated print scheduled job does not exist in the own apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the print target job specifying unit 41c of the printing apparatus 3 displays a list of names of print scheduled jobs transmitted from the mobile terminal device 2 and mobile terminal identification information on the operation panel P (display unit 45) so that the user can print the print scheduled jobs. The designation of the name is accepted (S41). This process corresponds to the process of step S25.

  Next, the print target job specifying unit 41c, based on the name of the designated print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information of the mobile terminal apparatus 2 detected by the NFC reader 49, the print scheduled job stored in the printing apparatus 3. The print target job is searched from (S42). This process corresponds to the process of step S26.

  Here, the print target job specifying unit 41c determines whether or not there is a print target job in the printing apparatus 3 which is the own device (S43), and when the own device has the print target job (YES in S43). The print processing is executed based on the print target job of the own device (S46). After this processing is completed, this sequence is ended.

  On the other hand, when there is no print target job in the own device (NO in S43), the print target job specifying unit 41c connects the job transfer request with the name of the scheduled print job and the mobile terminal identification information as parameters to the network N. It is transmitted (broadcast transmission) to the other printing device (printing device 4 in the example of FIG. 1). At this time, the job transfer request transmitted by the printing device 3 includes “printing device identification information” for identifying the printing device 3 from the plurality of printing devices connected to the network N. Note that all the printing devices connected to the network N may be the transmission targets of the job transfer request, or may be limited to some printing devices (S44).

  Upon receiving the job transfer request from the printing apparatus 3, the printing apparatus 4 searches the own apparatus for a corresponding print scheduled job, and transfers the relevant print scheduled job to the printing apparatus 3 via the network N. The print target job specifying unit 41c of the printing apparatus 3 receives the print scheduled job transferred from the printing apparatus 4 (S45).

  Then, the print target job specifying unit 41c of the printing device 3 confirms that the scheduled print job received from the printing device 4 is the print target job, and instructs the printer controller 51 to print the print target job. As a result, the printer engine 52 executes print processing based on the print target job (S46). After this processing is completed, this flowchart is ended.

  According to the above-described fourth embodiment, even when a plurality of printing devices are connected via a network and the printing device that received the data of the print-scheduled job and the printing device that the user wants to print are different, Printing can be executed by the printing device that the user wants to print.

<5. Fifth Embodiment>
The fifth embodiment is an example of creating a job management list in which the names of print scheduled jobs and the mobile terminal identification information are associated with each other in the printing apparatuses 3 and 4.

  The job management unit 11b of the mobile terminal device 2 receives the print scheduled job transmission request from the printing devices 3 and 4, and when transmitting the print scheduled job, even if the mobile terminal identification information is transmitted separately from the print scheduled job. Good. In this case, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b of the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 separately receives the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information, and creates a job management list that associates the print scheduled job with the mobile terminal identification information.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a job management list according to the fifth embodiment.

  The mobile terminal management list 80 has a print field 81 and a mobile terminal identification information field 82 as fields of a record. In the example of FIG. 14, the mobile terminal identification information “keitai01” corresponds to the mobile terminal device 2, and “AAA” (FIGS. 4A and 4B) is registered as the print scheduled job.

  According to the fifth embodiment described above, when the mobile terminal device 2 transmits the print scheduled job, it is not necessary to write the mobile terminal identification information in the header portion of the print scheduled job. Therefore, the processing load of the control unit 11 of the mobile terminal device 2 is reduced and the processing speed is increased.

  The mobile terminal information management unit 41b of the printing apparatuses 3 and 4 may separately receive the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information, and write the mobile terminal identification information in the header section of the print scheduled job in the printing apparatus.

<6. Others>
In each of the above-described embodiments, the mobile terminal detection unit 41a of the printing devices 3 and 4 uses a global positioning system (GPS) to provide a predetermined distance (first distance) from the printing devices 3 and 4. You may make it detect whether the portable terminal device 2 exists within the distance.

  Further, although two printing devices are connected to the printing system 1 of FIG. 1, it goes without saying that the number of printing devices may be three or more.

  Further, from the viewpoint of security and securing of resources, it is desirable that the portable terminal information management unit 41b of the printing apparatus deletes the data of the print scheduled job for which the print processing has been executed from the print scheduled jobs accumulated in the printing apparatus. At this time, if the corresponding print scheduled job is stored across a plurality of printing apparatuses, the print scheduled jobs stored in other printing apparatuses are also deleted.

  Further, the mobile terminal information management unit 41b may delete the print-scheduled job for which a certain period has elapsed after storing the data of the print-scheduled job.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various other application examples and modifications can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims. is there.

  For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the device and the system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the configurations described. . Further, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. Further, it is possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, or replace other configurations with respect to a part of the configurations of the respective embodiments.

  Further, the above-described respective configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Further, each of the above-described configurations, functions and the like may be realized by software by a processor interpreting and executing a program for realizing each function. Information such as a program, a table, and a file that realizes each function can be stored in a recording device such as a memory, a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, and a DVD.

  Further, the control lines and information lines are shown as being considered necessary for explanation, and not all control lines and information lines are shown in the product. In reality, it may be considered that almost all the configurations are connected to each other.

  In addition, in the present specification, the processing steps describing the time-series processing are not limited to the processing performed in the time-series according to the described order, but are not necessarily performed in the time-series, and may be performed in parallel or individually. It also includes processing executed by the above (for example, parallel processing or processing by an object).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... Portable terminal device, 3, 4 ... Printing device, 5 ... Access point, 11 ... Control part, 11a ... Charge remaining amount monitoring part, 11b ... Job management part, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Operation Part, 17 ... Nonvolatile storage, 18 ... Wireless communication interface (first communication unit), 19 ... NFC chip (first proximity communication unit), 19m ... Memory, 21 ... Battery (secondary battery), 41 ... Control 41a ... Mobile terminal detection unit, 41b ... Mobile terminal information management unit, 41c ... Print target job specifying unit, 45 ... Display unit, 46 ... Operation unit, 47 ... Nonvolatile storage, 48 ... Network interface, 49 ... NFC reader (Second proximity communication unit), 50 ... Wireless communication interface (second communication unit), 60 ... Mobile terminal management list, 70 ... Printing schedule Job, 80 ... Job management list, P ... Operation panel

Claims (12)

A printing system in which a portable terminal device capable of printing instructions and a printing device which performs a printing process based on a printing instruction of the portable terminal device are connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other,
The portable terminal device,
A first communication unit capable of communicating with the printing device;
A first proximity communication unit that has a non-volatile memory that stores mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device, and that is capable of communicating with the printing device by magnetic coupling;
A job holding unit that holds jobs to be printed,
Job management that transmits the print scheduled job held in the job holding unit and mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device to the printing apparatus, and writes the name of the transmitted print scheduled job in the memory And a printing system. The mobile terminal device is a secondary battery,
And a charge remaining amount monitoring unit for monitoring the charge remaining amount of the secondary battery,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the job management unit transmits the print-scheduled job when the remaining charge of the secondary battery detected by the remaining charge monitor is less than or equal to a predetermined amount. The printing device is
A second communication unit that communicates with the first communication unit of the mobile terminal device;
A second near field communication unit capable of performing magnetic coupling communication with the first near field communication unit of the mobile terminal device;
A mobile terminal detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal device exists within a predetermined distance from the own device by the second communication unit;
A mobile terminal information management unit that manages information about the mobile terminal device;
The mobile terminal information management unit, when the mobile terminal detection unit detects that the mobile terminal device is present within a predetermined distance, transmits the mobile terminal device to the mobile terminal device via the second communication unit. When the remaining charge amount notification request of the terminal device is transmitted and the remaining charge amount of the portable terminal device received from the portable terminal device is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, a print scheduled job transmission request is transmitted to the portable terminal device. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information are received from the mobile terminal device. The job management unit of the mobile terminal device calculates an amount of power required to transmit the print scheduled job, performs a calculation to subtract the remaining charge amount from the amount of power, and compares the calculated value with a threshold value,
The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the print scheduled job is transmitted according to a comparison result. The printing device is
A display unit for displaying a list of names of the print-scheduled jobs received from the mobile terminal device via the second communication unit;
An operation unit that accepts user input operations,
A target job specifying unit that specifies a print target job to be printed from among the print scheduled jobs received from the portable terminal device;
Further comprising a printer engine for executing the print target job,
The second near field communication unit of the printing apparatus, when detecting that the first near field communication unit of the mobile terminal device exists within a communicable range with the own device, the first near field communication unit. Reading the name of the scheduled print job and the mobile terminal identification information from the memory,
The target job identification unit is associated with the print scheduled job name specified by the operation unit from the list of the print scheduled job name and the mobile terminal identification information displayed on the display unit. When the mobile terminal identification information and the mobile terminal identification information associated with the print scheduled job received from the mobile terminal device via the second near field communication unit match, the designated print scheduled job The printing system according to claim 3, wherein is specified as the print target job. The target job identification unit receives the mobile terminal identification information associated with the name of the print scheduled job specified by the operation unit, and the mobile terminal device via the second near field communication unit. When the mobile terminal identification information associated with the print scheduled job does not match,
A job transfer request including the name of the scheduled print job and the mobile terminal identification information is transmitted to another printing apparatus connected to the network,
Receiving a print scheduled job corresponding to the name of the specified print scheduled job and the portable terminal identification information from the other printing device,
The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the received print scheduled job is specified as the print target job. The mobile terminal information management unit of the printing device sets a transmission timing of the charge remaining amount notification request to the mobile terminal device according to the charge remaining amount of the secondary battery notified from the mobile terminal device. Item 7. The printing system according to item 3, 5 or 6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the job management unit of the mobile terminal device writes the name of the print-scheduled job in a header portion of the print-scheduled job to be transmitted. The printing system according to claim 3 , wherein the mobile terminal information management unit of the printing apparatus writes the mobile terminal identification information in a header portion of the received print scheduled job. The portable terminal information managing unit of the printing apparatus, according to claim 3, 5 or 7 for generating the job management list linked with the name of the print schedule job received and said portable terminal identification information Printing system. A communication unit capable of communicating with the printing device;
A proximity communication unit having a non-volatile memory for storing mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device itself, and capable of communicating with the printing device by magnetic coupling,
A job holding unit that holds jobs to be printed,
A mobile terminal device comprising: a job management unit that transmits the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification information held in the job holding unit to the printing apparatus, and writes the name of the transmitted print scheduled job in the memory. . A communication unit that communicates with the mobile terminal device;
A near field communication unit capable of magnetically communicating with the mobile terminal device;
A mobile terminal detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal device exists within a predetermined distance from the own device by the communication unit,
A mobile terminal information management unit that manages information about the mobile terminal device;
A display unit that displays a list of names of print scheduled jobs received from the mobile terminal device via the communication unit;
An operation unit that accepts user input operations,
A target job specifying unit that specifies a print target job to be printed from among the print scheduled jobs received from the portable terminal device;
Further comprising a printer engine for executing the print target job,
When the near field communication unit detects that the mobile terminal device exists within a communicable distance with the own device, the name of the print scheduled job and the mobile terminal identification are stored in the memory of the near field communication unit included in the mobile terminal device. Read the information,
The target job specifying unit is associated with the print scheduled job name specified by the operation unit from the list of the print scheduled job names and the mobile terminal identification information displayed on the display unit, When the mobile terminal identification information for identifying the mobile terminal device and the mobile terminal identification information associated with the print scheduled job received from the mobile terminal device via the near field communication unit match, A printing apparatus that specifies the specified print scheduled job as the print target job.