JP5071007B2 - Printing apparatus, data processing apparatus for printing apparatus, and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus, and a printing method.

In recent years, with the start of provision of terrestrial digital broadcasting, digital televisions that can receive digital broadcasts and receive various information via radio waves are becoming popular. With the spread of such digital TVs, printers that can be connected to digital TVs via a network and that can print content related to digital broadcasting according to print commands from the digital TV side, A server (adapter) that enables connection between a television and an existing printer has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-72793 A

  Content related to digital broadcasting as described above is generally described in a markup language such as XHTML (eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language) or HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). For documents described in a language such as XHTML, style information such as page layout and print medium size can be further added using a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) language. The content creator can also set the size of the print medium to an arbitrary size that does not generally exist. However, a digital television as an external device serving as a client (control point) for a printer does not transmit XHTML data to the printer side after interpreting CSS. Therefore, if no measures are taken, there is a risk that printing will not be performed as intended by the content creator when printing content related to digital broadcasting in response to a print command from the digital television side. May cause incomplete printing such as cropping of an image.

  Therefore, the printing apparatus, the data processing apparatus for printing apparatus, and the printing method according to the present invention more appropriately print an image based on structured data including at least print image information and style information in response to a print command from an external apparatus. The main purpose is to implement.

  The printing apparatus, the data processing apparatus for printing apparatus, and the printing method of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes:
A printing apparatus having a printing unit capable of printing an image on a print medium and capable of handling a plurality of types of print media, and capable of printing an image on any of the plurality of types of print media,
Data acquisition means for acquiring structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
Designated size obtaining means for obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
A designated size presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not the plurality of types of print media include the acquired print medium having the designated size;
When it is determined by the specified size existence determining means that the plurality of types of print media include a print medium having the specified size, the print medium having the specified size is used for image printing. When the print medium is set as an execution print medium and the print medium having the designated size is not included in the print medium of the specified size by the specified size existence determining unit, the print of the plurality of kinds An execution print medium setting means for setting, as the execution print medium, a print medium having a physically maximum size from the medium;
Print control means for controlling the printing means so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the set execution print medium;
Is provided.

  When printing an image based on structured data including at least print image information and style information on a print medium in accordance with a print command from the external device using the printing device, the data acquisition unit outputs the image from the external device. The structured data is acquired, the designated size obtaining means obtains a designated size that is the size of the print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data, and further, the designated size existence judging means Thus, it is determined whether or not a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing apparatus includes a print medium having a specified size. When it is determined that a plurality of types of print media includes a print medium having a specified size, the print medium having the specified size is used for printing an image by the print medium setting unit for execution. The printing unit is controlled so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the execution print medium. If it is determined that the print media having the specified size are not included in the plurality of types of print media, the execution print medium setting unit sets the physical maximum size from the plurality of types of print media. The printing medium is set as an execution print medium, and the printing unit is controlled so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the execution print medium. Thus, in this printing apparatus, if a plurality of types of print media that can be handled include print media having a specified size, an image based on structured data is structured on the print medium having the specified size. It is possible to print as intended by the creator of the data. In addition, when a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing apparatus does not include a print medium having a specified size, a print medium having a physical maximum size among the plurality of types of print media is not included. Since the print medium is set as an execution print medium, it is possible to suppress incomplete printing such as cropping of an image. Therefore, according to this printing apparatus, it is possible to more appropriately execute image printing based on structured data including at least print image information and style information in accordance with a print command from an external apparatus.

  The printing apparatus may further include a style information priority determination unit that determines whether to prioritize the style information of the structured data, and the execution print medium setting unit includes the style information priority. If it is determined by the degree determination means that the style information should not be prioritized, a predetermined print medium of the plurality of types of print media is set as the execution print medium, and the style information priority is set. If it is determined by the determining means that the style information should be prioritized, it is determined by the specified size existence determining means that the plurality of types of print media include a print medium having the specified size. Then, the print medium having the designated size is set as the execution print medium, and the plurality of types of print media are determined by the designated size existence determination unit. Wherein if the print medium having a specified size are determined to be not within the print medium having the physical maximum size of or may be set as the execution print medium. This makes it possible to limit the chance that the print medium having the physically maximum size is set as the execution print medium when priority is given to the style information of the structured data.

  Further, the execution print medium setting unit determines that the print medium designated by the external device is the execution print medium when the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should not be prioritized. It may be set as As a result, when priority is not given to the style information of the structured data, it is possible to execute printing giving priority to the print medium designated by the external device.

  The printing apparatus including style information priority determination means further includes automatic setting determination means for determining whether or not automatic setting of a print medium is specified by the style information based on the style information of the structured data. The execution print medium setting means may determine that the style information should be prioritized by the style information priority determination means, and automatic setting of the print medium is designated by the automatic setting determination means. If it is determined, the print medium designated by the external device or the print medium designated by the printing device is set as the execution print medium, and the style information priority determination unit determines the style information. Is determined to be prioritized, and it is determined by the automatic setting determination means that automatic setting of the print medium is not designated. If it is may be used to set the execution print medium in accordance with the determination result of the specified size existence judgment unit.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus may further include size determination means for determining whether or not there is a print medium having a size physically larger than the specified size among the plurality of types of print media. When it is determined by the size determination means that the plurality of types of print media does not include a print medium having the specified size, the print control means determines the plurality of types of print media. If it is determined that there is a print medium having a size physically larger than the specified size, the printing unit is configured to print an image based on the structured data as it is on the execution print medium. And the size determination means determines that there is no print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size among the plurality of types of print media. Long as it may be one image based upon the structured data to control said printing means to be printed on the execution print medium is resized. As a result, even if multiple types of print media that can be handled by the printing device do not contain print media that is physically larger than the specified size, printing can be performed without causing image cropping. It becomes possible to do.

  The printing apparatus may further include size determining means for determining whether or not a print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size exists in the plurality of types of print media. The execution print medium setting means determines that the plurality of types of print media are not included in the plurality of types of print media by the specified size presence / absence determination means. If it is determined that a print medium having a physically larger size than the designated size exists in the print medium, printing having a size immediately above the designated size from among the plurality of types of print media A medium is set as the execution print medium, and the size determination means causes the plurality of types of print media to have a physically larger size than the designated size. If it is determined that the medium is not present, the print medium having the physical maximum size of or may be set as the execution print medium. As a result, when a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing apparatus does not include a print medium having a specified size, an image based on the structured data is printed on a print medium having a size closer to the specified size. Therefore, the print state of the image on the print medium can be made closer to the intention of the creator of the structured data.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus may further include detailed setting determination means for determining the type and print quality of the print medium at the time of printing according to the set type of print medium for execution. Thereby, it becomes possible to make the printing of the image on the set execution print medium more appropriate.

  The structured data is transmitted from a broadcast station to a broadcast receiving device as the external device and transmitted from the broadcast receiving device to the data acquisition unit together with a print command, or from the broadcast receiving device. It may be data acquired from another external device by the data acquisition means according to the print command. In other words, if the printing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a broadcast receiving apparatus as an external apparatus, a plurality of prints that can be handled by the printing apparatus even if the broadcast receiving apparatus cannot interpret the style information of structured data. If the medium contains a print medium with a specified size, an image based on the structured data can be printed on the print medium with the specified size as intended by the creator of the structured data. It becomes. In addition, even when the plurality of types of print media do not include a print medium having a specified size, it is possible to suppress incomplete printing such as cropping of an image. .

  Further, the style information may be described in a CSS language, and the structured data may be data described in any one of markup languages among SGML, HTML, XML, and XHTML.

A data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
A data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus having a printing unit capable of printing an image on a printing medium and connected to a printing apparatus capable of handling a plurality of types of printing media,
Data acquisition means for acquiring structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
Designated size obtaining means for obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
A designated size presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not the plurality of types of print media include the acquired print medium having the designated size;
When it is determined by the specified size existence determining means that the plurality of types of print media include a print medium having the specified size, the print medium having the specified size is used for image printing. When the print medium is set as an execution print medium and the print medium having the designated size is not included in the print medium of the specified size by the specified size existence determining unit, the print of the plurality of kinds An execution print medium setting means for setting, as the execution print medium, a print medium having a physically maximum size from the medium;
Is provided.

  If the external device and the printing device are connected via the data processing device for printing device, even if neither the external device nor the printing device can interpret the style information of the structured data, the printing can be performed. If multiple types of print media that can be handled by the device include print media with a specified size, an image based on structured data for a print medium with a specified size in response to a print command from an external device Can be printed as intended by the creator of the structured data. In addition, if a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing device does not include a print medium having a specified size, the data processing device for the printing device uses the physical maximum of the plurality of types of print media. Since a print medium having a size is set as an execution print medium, it is possible to suppress incomplete printing such as cropping of an image. Therefore, according to this data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus, it is possible to more appropriately execute image printing based on structured data including at least print image information and style information in accordance with a print command from an external apparatus. It becomes.

The printing method according to the present invention includes:
A printing method using a printing apparatus having printing means capable of printing an image on a print medium and capable of handling a plurality of types of print media,
(A) obtaining structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
(B) obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
(C) determining whether or not the plurality of types of print media includes the acquired print medium having the specified size;
(D) If it is determined in step (c) that the plurality of types of print media include a print medium having the specified size, the print medium having the specified size is printed with an image. If it is determined in step (c) that the print media having the specified size are not included in the plurality of types of print media, the plurality of types of print media are set. Setting a print medium having a physically maximum size among the print media as the execution print medium;
(E) controlling the printing means so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the execution print medium set in step (d);
Is included.

  According to this method, if a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing apparatus includes a print medium having a specified size, the print medium having the specified size is set according to a print command from the external apparatus. On the other hand, an image based on the structured data can be printed as intended by the creator of the structured data. In addition, when a plurality of types of print media that can be handled by the printing apparatus does not include a print medium having a specified size, a print medium having a physical maximum size among the plurality of types of print media is not included. Since the print medium is set as an execution print medium, it is possible to suppress incomplete printing such as cropping of an image. Therefore, according to this method, printing of an image based on structured data including at least print image information and style information can be more appropriately executed in response to a print command from an external device.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a usage state of a printer (multifunction device) 20 and a print adapter (printing device data processing device) 30 as a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 1, the printer 20 is connected to a LAN (wireless LAN) environment constructed using an access point 40 via a print adapter 30, and the digital television is connected to the LAN environment via a wireless adapter 45. 50, and an Internet connection device 60 such as a modem or a router that enables access to the Internet is connected. 1 may be connected to a personal computer (not shown), a network-compatible digital camera, or the like. Needless to say, the LAN environment is not limited to the wireless LAN environment shown in the figure, and may be a wired LAN environment.

  The printer 20 is a multi function peripheral (MFP) having a plurality of device functions. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 20 includes a communication module 21, a print engine 22, a scanner engine 23, a storage 24, and these print engines. 22, a device control unit 25 that controls the scanner engine 23 and the storage 24, an operation panel 27 that includes a viewer 26 and buttons (not shown), a panel control unit 28 that controls the operation panel 27, and the like. The communication module 21 includes a personal computer, a digital camera, a USB interface used for connection to the print adapter 30, a memory card interface used for connection to a memory card (not shown), and the like. The print engine 22 includes a known print mechanism that includes an inkjet print head and forms an image on a print medium based on print data, and a print ASIC. The scanner engine 23 includes an optical line image sensor, a moving mechanism thereof, a scanner ASIC, and the like, and is a well-known one that moves the line image sensor to read the display content of the media placed on the media placement unit. The storage 24 corresponds to the hardware part of the memory card inserted into the card slot of the memory card interface. The device control unit 25 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), controls the print ASIC and the scanner ASIC according to a control program stored in the ROM and the like, and controls data input / output with the storage 24. The process related to image printing by the device control unit 25 includes, for example, a color conversion process for converting printing RGB data into CMYK color system data (CMYK data), and an error diffusion process for the converted CMYK data. The binarization process etc. which are binarized by image processing such as are included. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 20 according to the embodiment can handle a plurality of print media PM1, PM2, PM3,... A6 to A4 plain paper, photo-dedicated paper, postcards, and the like.

  The print adapter 30 includes a communication module 31 including a USB interface used for connection with the printer 20, a wireless LAN interface corresponding to IEEE802.11b / g / a, etc., a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. (not shown). Can be connected to the printer 20. The print adapter 30 includes a print execution module 32, a document analysis module 33, a print setting management module 35, and the like in cooperation with one or both of hardware such as CPU, ROM, and RAM and various programs installed in advance. Built. The print execution module 32 acquires and sets necessary data according to the print command received via the communication module 31. The document analysis module 33 analyzes an XHTML document as structured data received from an external device such as the digital television (broadcast receiving device) 50 or the server 100 connected via the Internet and the Internet connection device 60. The obtained RGB data is stream-transmitted to the printer 20 via a predetermined subsequent module. The document analysis module 33 includes a CSS interpretation unit 34 that analyzes style information described in CSS language included in the XHTML data. The print setting management module 35 is a module for managing image printing by the printer 20. For example, the paper size at the time of image printing, the paper type (types such as plain paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, and inkjet special paper), and print quality (low) Settings such as image quality (fast), normal, high image quality, etc. can be executed.

  The digital television 50 is capable of receiving a terrestrial digital broadcast from a broadcast station and displaying the broadcast content on the display screen 51. In the digital television 50, the print information service provided by the broadcasting station can be used by operating the remote controller 55 to display the digital broadcast screen on the display screen 51 during reception of the terrestrial digital broadcast. Such a print information service enables a user (viewer) to print, for example, a cooking recipe while viewing a cooking program, or to print information on a ryokan or hotel while viewing a travel program. To do.

  In the embodiment, the content of the print information service is provided as structured data including print image information described using the XHTML language, and is transmitted to the digital television 50 via radio waves from a broadcasting station, or the server 100 Or via the Internet. When the content of the print information service is transmitted to the digital television 50 via radio waves from a broadcasting station, when the user instructs printing of the content via the remote controller 55, the print command is issued from the digital television 50 as shown in FIG. A request message (CreateJobV2) using HTTP / SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is transmitted to the print adapter 30 via the LAN. When a response is transmitted from the print adapter 30 to the digital television 50, XHTML data is transmitted from the digital television 50 to the print adapter 30. Furthermore, the print adapter 30 acquires data such as photographs and illustrations included in the content of the print information service from the server 100 connected via the Internet as necessary. When the content of the print information service is provided from the server 100 via the Internet, when the user instructs printing of the content via the remote controller 55, the URI information of the server 100 is obtained from the digital television 50 as shown in FIG. A request message (CreateURIJob) as a print command is sent to the print adapter 30 via the LAN. The print adapter 30 transmits a response to the digital television 50 and then acquires XHTML data necessary for printing the content from the server 100 according to the URI information of the request message. Also in this case, the print adapter 30 acquires data such as photographs and illustrations included in the content of the print information service from the server 100 or another server (not shown) as necessary. The XHTML data thus transmitted to the print adapter 30 is analyzed by the document analysis module 33 and converted to RGB data, and the obtained RGB data is stream-transmitted to the subsequent printer 20 for printing.

  Further, in the digital television 50, the layout (1 page / 1 sheet, 2 pages / 1 sheet, panel for printing the contents of the print information service is operated by operating the remote controller 55 in a state where a predetermined setting screen is displayed. Setting value, etc.), printing direction (portrait / landscape, panel setting value, etc.), paper size (A4, B4, panel setting value, etc.), paper type (plain paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, inkjet paper, panel) IN parameters indicating print settings such as setting values) and print quality (low image quality, normal, high image quality, panel setting values, etc.) can be set. The IN parameter is notified to the print adapter 30 by a request message as a print command.

  Here, for documents described in the XHTML language as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, style information such as page layout and print medium size is created by the content creator using the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) language. Is granted. In the example of FIG. 4, the description starting with “@page” indicates the layout size of the document, that is, the optimum paper size for printing the document. Using such a CSS language, the content creator can print The size of the medium can be set to an arbitrary size that does not generally exist, or can be set to a setting value (“AUTO”) in the digital television 50 or the printer 20. However, the digital television set 50 serving as a client (control point) for the printer 20 or the like does not transmit XHTML data to the printer side after interpreting CSS. For this reason, in the embodiment, when printing the content of the print information service in response to the print command from the digital television 50 side, printing as intended by the content creator is performed, or the image is cropped, etc. The print adapter 30 executes the print setting determination routine shown in FIG. Needless to say, the print setting determination routine is executed with the printer 20 and the print adapter 30 powered on.

  Next, the print setting determination routine of FIG. 5 executed by the print adapter 30 will be described in detail. The print setting determination routine is executed by the print setting management module 35 in response to a print setting inquiry from the document analysis module 33 after the print adapter 30 receives a request message (print command) from the digital television 50. Is. At the start of the print setting determination routine, the print setting management module 35 inputs data necessary for determining the print settings such as the CSS designated size and the config information (step S100). The CSS designated size is the paper size designated by the content creator shown in the style information described in the CSS language in the XHTML data, and the document analysis module 33 is the one analyzed and acquired by the CSS interpretation unit 34. To the print setting management module 35. The config information includes a CSS priority flag indicating whether or not priority should be given to print settings such as layout, print orientation, paper size, paper type, print quality, and style information (CSS designated size) of XHTML data. In the embodiment, what is set by the print execution module 32 and transmitted to the document analysis module 33 via a predetermined module (not shown) is given from the document analysis module 33 to the print setting management module 35. Note that when a request message as a print command is transmitted from the digital television 50 to the print adapter 30, the print execution module 32 receives the IN parameter included in the message body (SOAP envelope) of the request message (print command), that is, the digital television 50. The print settings such as the layout, print orientation, paper size, paper type, and print quality set by the user and the panel setting values that are the print settings set by the user at the printer 20 are acquired. The print execution module 32 basically sets the IN parameters set in the digital television 50 as the config information. In this case, the panel setting value is set as config information for the item set as “panel setting value” in the IN parameter. In the embodiment, the style information (CSS designated size) of the XHTML data is basically given priority. Unless the printer 20 specifies that the panel setting value should be given priority, the CSS priority flag is set. Is normally ON (priority for style information).

  After the data input process in step S100, the print setting management module 35 determines whether or not the style information (CSS designated size) in the XHTML data should be prioritized based on the input config information (CSS priority flag) ( Step S110). If it is determined in step S110 that the IN parameter should be prioritized, the print setting management module 35 determines the config information, that is, the paper size, paper type, and print quality set in the digital TV 50 as the current print settings. In step S120, a resize command for the document analysis module 33 is set (step S130), and a paper feed path in the printer 20 is determined (step S140). Then, when the various settings determined in steps S120 to S140 are notified from the print setting management module 35 to the document analysis module 33 (step S150), this routine ends. As described above, when the resize command is set in step S130, the document analysis module 33 resizes the image to fit within the paper size set in step S120 as necessary, based on the XHTML data. Create RGB data. Note that step S130 may be omitted, and the user may be able to select whether to resize the image.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the style information (CSS designated size) should be prioritized, the print setting management module 35 further determines whether or not the CSS designated size is “AUTO” (step S160). If the CSS designated size is “AUTO”, the paper size is determined based on the config information input in step S100 (step S170). That is, in step S170, the config information, that is, the paper size in the IN parameter is set as it is as the paper size for the current printing, and if the paper size in the IN parameter is “panel setting value”, the current “panel setting value” "Is set as the paper size for the current printing. Next, the print setting management module 35 executes a detailed setting determination routine (step S180) for determining detailed settings such as a paper type and print quality other than the paper size based on the paper size and config information set in step S170. After the paper feed path is determined (step S140), the settings determined in steps S140 and S180 are notified to the document analysis module 33 (step S150), and this routine is terminated.

  Here, the description of the print setting determination routine is interrupted, and the detailed setting determination routine in step S180 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, when starting the detailed setting determination routine, the print setting management module 35 inputs the paper size and the print quality in the config information set in step S170 (step S1800), and the input paper. It is checked whether the combination of size, paper type, and print quality is a combination that allows the printer 20 to execute printing (step S1810). That is, in step S1810, the print setting management module 35 includes the combination of paper sizes and the like input in step S1800 in the combination of paper sizes and the like that can be executed in advance and acquired from the printer 20. Check if it is. If it is determined that the combination of the paper size and the like input in step S1800 is a combination that allows the printer 20 to execute printing (step S1820), the paper size and paper type input in step S1800. The print quality is determined as the current print setting as it is (step S1895), and this routine ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the combination of the paper size and the like input in step S1800 is not a combination that allows the printer 20 to execute printing (step S1820), the print setting management module 35 determines the paper input in step S1800. It is checked whether or not there is a combination of paper size and the like that enables execution of printing in the printer 20 when the print quality of the size, paper type, and print quality is changed (step S1830). If it is determined that there is a combination of paper size and the like that enables execution of printing in the printer 20 (step S1840), the print setting management module 35 can execute the print quality input in step S1800. (Step S1850), the paper size and paper type input in step S1800 and the print quality changed in step S1850 are determined as the current print settings (step S1895). This routine is terminated. If it is determined that there is no combination of paper size and the like that enables the printer 20 to execute printing even if the print quality of the paper size, paper type, and print quality input in step S1800 is changed (step S1800). In step S1840, the print setting management module 35 determines a combination of the paper size and the like that enables the printer 20 to execute printing when the paper type of the paper size, paper type, and print quality input in step S1800 is changed. It is checked whether or not it exists (step S1860). If it is determined that there is a combination of paper sizes or the like that enables printing in the printer 20 (step S1870), the print setting management module 35 can execute printing on the paper type input in step S1800. (Step S1880), the paper size and print quality input in step S1800 and the paper type changed in step S1880 are determined as the current print settings (step S1895). End the routine. If a negative determination is made in step S1870, the paper size, paper type, and print quality are predetermined default settings for the printer 20 (in this case, the maximum size A4 that can be handled by the printer 20, normal When the default setting is determined as the current print setting (step S1895), this routine ends.

  Now, the print setting determination routine of FIG. 5 will be described again. If it is determined in step S160 of FIG. 5 that the CSS designated size is not “AUTO”, the paper size is determined by the print setting management module 35 based on the CSS designated size. A paper size setting routine (step S190) is set. The paper size setting routine will be described with reference to FIG. 7. At the start of this routine, the print setting management module 35 inputs the CSS designated size (step S1900), and then the paper width and paper height in the CSS designated size. It is determined whether or not both values are 0 (step S1910). If it is determined that both the paper width and the paper height in the CSS designated size are not 0, the print setting management module 35 selects a paper size that matches the paper width and paper height (step S1920). In this case, if the paper size corresponding to the CSS designated size is a special paper size that does not generally exist, such as 200 mm × 200 mm, in step S 1920, the paper size is set to a “special size” that cannot be handled by the printer 20. The Next, the print setting management module 35 checks whether or not the paper size selected in step S1920 is included in a combination of paper sizes and the like that allow the printer 20 to execute printing (step S1930). ). If the paper size selected in step S1920 is included in the combination of paper sizes and the like that enable execution of the printing, it is determined that printing can be executed (step S1940). When the paper size selected in S1920 is set as the paper size for the current printing (step S1950), this routine ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the paper size selected in step S1920 is not included in the combination of paper sizes and the like that enable printing in the printer 20, and that printing cannot be executed (step S1940). The print setting management module 35 determines whether there are paper sizes that can be handled by the printer 20 that have both a paper width and a paper height larger than the CSS designated size (step S1960). In this case, if a size larger than the CSS designated size is present in the paper size that can be handled by the printer 20, the one immediately above the CSS designated size is set as the paper size for the current printing (step S1970). This routine ends. If it is determined that there is no paper size that can be handled by the printer 20 larger than the CSS designated size (step S1960), the physical size of the paper sizes that can be handled by the printer 20 is determined. When the maximum paper size is set as the paper size for the current printing (step S1980) and a resize command for the document analysis module 33 is further set (step S1990), this routine ends. If it is determined in step S1910 that both the sheet width and the sheet height in the CSS designated size are 0, the processes in steps S1920 and S1930 are skipped, and the processes in and after step S1940 are executed. Will be. Thus, when the paper size is set by the paper setting routine (step S190), detailed settings such as the paper type and print quality other than the paper size are determined based on the set paper size and config information (step S180). When the processes of steps S140 and S150 are executed, the print setting determination routine of FIG. 5 is finished. Even when the resize command is set in step S1990 of FIG. 7, the document analysis module 33 converts the image into XHTML data while resizing the image to fit within the paper size set in step S120 as necessary. Based on this, RGB data is created.

Here, in the above embodiment, the printer 20 and the print adapter 30 correspond to a printing apparatus, the communication module 31 and the document analysis module 33 correspond to a data acquisition unit, the CSS interpretation unit 34 corresponds to a specified size acquisition unit, The print setting management module 35 corresponds to a specified size existence determination unit and an execution print medium setting unit, and the document analysis module 33 and the device control unit 25 correspond to a print control unit.

  As described above, when the printer 20 and the print adapter 30 of the embodiment are used, XHTML data including print information service contents, that is, print image information and style information, in response to a request message (print command) from the digital television 50. It becomes possible to print an image based on the print medium. That is, when a request message as a print command is issued from the digital television 50, the XHTML data from the digital television 50 or the server 100 is received by the communication module 31 of the print adapter 30, and the XHTML data is given to the document analysis module 33. Then, the CSS interpretation unit 34 of the document analysis module 33 acquires a CSS designated size that is the size of the print medium designated by the style information of the XHTML data, and the print setting management module 35 prints the printer based on the CSS designated size. 20 determines whether a plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3... That can be handled in 20 include print media having a size that matches the CSS designated size (step S190 in FIG. 5, S1930 in FIG. 7). , S1940). When it is determined that the print media PM1, PM2, PM3,... Contain a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size, the print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size prints an image. Is set as the current print medium (execution print medium) to be used in step S1950 in FIG. 7, and then the print engine 22 is controlled so that an image based on the XHTML data is printed on the set print medium. Is done. When it is determined that the print media having a size matching the CSS designated size is not included in the plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3,. It is determined whether there is a print medium having a size physically larger than the CSS designated size in PM3 (step S1960 in FIG. 7). If it is determined that a print medium having a physically larger size than the CSS designated size exists in the print media PM1, PM2, PM3,..., The CSS designated size is selected from the print media PM1, PM2, PM3,. The print medium having the most recent size is set as an execution print medium (step S1970 in FIG. 7), and then the print engine 22 is controlled so that an image based on the XHTML data is printed on the set print medium. The Further, if it is determined that there is no print medium having a size physically larger than the CSS designated size among the print media PM1, PM2, PM3,. The print medium having the maximum size is set as the execution print medium (step S1980 in FIG. 7), and then the print engine 22 is controlled so that an image based on the XHTML data is printed on the set print medium. .

  As described above, when the printer 20 and the print adapter 30 of the embodiment are used, a plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3... That can be handled by the printer 20 include print media having a size that matches the CSS designated size. If so, an image based on the XHTML data can be printed as intended by the content creator on a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size. In the above-described embodiment, even when the plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3,... That can be handled by the printer 20 does not include a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size, the print medium PM1. , PM2, PM3, etc., if a print medium having a physically larger size than the CSS designated size exists, the size immediately above the CSS designated size (of course, it may be the physically maximum size). Is set as an execution print medium. As a result, an image based on XHTML data can be printed on a print medium having a size closer to the CSS designated size, and the print state of the image on the print medium can be made closer to the intention of the content creator. Further, the plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3... That can be handled by the printer 20 does not include a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size, and has a physically larger size than the CSS designated size. When there is no print medium to be held, the print medium having the physically maximum size among the print media PM1, PM2, PM3... Is set as the execution print medium. Incomplete printing can be suppressed from being executed. Therefore, according to the printer 20 and the print adapter 30 of the embodiment, it is possible to more appropriately execute image printing based on XHTML data including print image information and style information.

  In the above-described embodiment, if it is determined that a print medium having a physically larger size than the CSS designated size exists in the plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3,..., An image based on XHTML data is displayed. It is printed on the set print medium as it is. If it is determined that there is no print medium having a physically larger size than the CSS designated size among the plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3..., A resize command is issued by the print setting management module 35. The image is set (step S1990 in FIG. 7), and the image based on the XHTML data is resized and printed on the set print medium (print medium having the physically maximum size). As a result, even if a plurality of types of print media PM1, PM2, PM3... That can be handled by the printer 20 does not include a print medium having a size physically larger than the CSS designated size, Printing can be performed without causing cropping. Note that step S1990 in FIG. 7 may be omitted, and the user may be able to select whether or not to resize the image. In addition, a resize command may be set after step S1970 in FIG. 7, and in this case as well, the user may be able to select whether or not to resize the image.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when it is determined that the style information of the XHTML data should be prioritized (step S110 in FIG. 5) and it is determined that the CSS designation size is not “AUTO”, the CSS in steps S1930 and S1940 The execution print medium is set according to the result of confirming the presence / absence of the designated size or the result of confirming the presence / absence of a paper size larger than the CSS designated size in step S1960 (1950, S1970 or S1980 in FIG. 7). If it is determined that the style information of the XHTML data should be prioritized (step S110 in FIG. 5) and the CSS designated size is determined to be “AUTO”, the config information, that is, the digital television 50 is set. The print medium specified by the IN parameter or the print medium specified by the panel setting value is set as the execution print medium (S170 in FIG. 5). Further, when it is determined that the style information of the XHTML data should not be prioritized (step S110 in FIG. 5), the print medium designated by the config information, that is, the IN parameter basically set in the digital television 50 Is set as an execution print medium (step S120 in FIG. 5). This makes it possible to limit the chance that the print medium having the physically maximum size is finally set as the execution print medium when priority is given to the style information of the XHTML data. Furthermore, when priority is not given to the style information of the XHTML data, it is possible to execute printing giving priority to the print medium designated by the digital television 50 as an external device. In the above embodiment, the type of print medium and the print quality at the time of printing are determined according to the type of print medium for execution set in step S170 or S190 in FIG. 5 (step in FIG. 5). S180, FIG. 6), it is possible to make the printing of the image on the set execution print medium more appropriate.

  If the printer 20 and the digital TV 50 as an external device are connected via the print adapter 30 of the embodiment, both the printer 20 and the digital TV 50 cannot interpret the style information of the XHTML data. However, if a plurality of print media PM1, PM2, PM3... That can be handled by the printer 20 includes a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size, the print is performed in response to a request message from the digital television 50. An image based on XHTML data can be printed on a medium as intended by the content creator. Further, even when the print media PM1, PM2, PM3,... Do not include a print medium having a size that matches the CSS designated size, incomplete printing such as cropping of an image is performed. Can be suppressed. However, it goes without saying that the function of the print adapter 30 may be incorporated in the printer as it is, and even with such a printer, it is possible to more appropriately print an image based on the XHTML data including the print image information and the style information. It becomes possible to execute.

  In the above embodiment, the content of the print information service is described as being described in the XHTML language, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the content of the print information service is described in a markup language other than XHTML, such as SGML, HTML, or XML, the target markup language can be interpreted by the print adapter 30 or the document analysis module 33 of the printer. What is necessary is just to comprise as a thing. In the detailed setting determination routine of FIG. 6, steps S1830 to S1850 may be processing for the paper type, and steps S1860 to S1880 may be processing for print quality. Further, when the printer 20 has a sensor for detecting whether or not a sheet is set in the tray, the closest CSS specified size within the range of the sheet set in the tray in steps S1970 and S1980 in FIG. The upper one may be set as the paper size, or the physically largest may be set as the paper size.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described using examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of printing apparatuses.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the use condition of the printing apparatus by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the acquisition procedure of the structured data by a print adapter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the acquisition procedure of the structured data by a print adapter. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the document described by a XHTML language. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print setting determination routine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a detailed setting determination routine. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a paper size setting routine.

Explanation of symbols

  20 printer, 21 communication module, 22 print engine, 23 scanner engine, 24 storage, 25 device control unit, 26 viewer, 27 operation panel, 28 panel control unit, 30 print adapter, 31 communication module, 32 print execution module, 33 document Analysis module, 34 CSS interpretation unit, 35 print setting management module, 40 access point, 45 wireless adapter, 50 digital TV, 51 display screen, 55 remote control, 60 Internet connection device, 100 server.

Claims (11)

A printing apparatus having a printing unit capable of printing an image on a print medium and capable of handling a plurality of types of print media, and capable of printing an image on any of the plurality of types of print media,
Data acquisition means for acquiring structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
Designated size obtaining means for obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
A designated size presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not the plurality of types of print media include the acquired print medium having the designated size;
Style information priority determination means for determining whether to prioritize the style information of the structured data;
When the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should not be prioritized, a predetermined print medium of the plurality of types of print media is used as an execution print medium for printing an image. If the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should be prioritized, the specified size existence determination unit determines that the print medium having the specified size is the plurality of types of print media. including a is determined lever, it sets a print medium having the specified size as the execution print medium, with the designated size to the plurality of types of print media by the designated size existence judgment unit lever is determined to be not the print medium, setting a print medium contained in the plurality of types of print media as the execution print medium And the line for the print media setting means,
Print control means for controlling the printing means so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the set execution print medium;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The execution print medium setting unit sets the print medium designated by the external device as the execution print medium when the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should not be prioritized. Printing device to do. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
Automatic setting determination means for determining whether or not automatic setting of a print medium is specified by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
The execution print medium setting means determines that the style information should be prioritized by the style information priority determination means, and that automatic setting of the print medium is determined by the automatic setting determination means. In this case, the print medium designated by the external apparatus or the print medium designated by the printing apparatus should be set as the execution print medium, and the style information priority determination unit should prioritize the style information. When the determination is made and the automatic setting determination unit determines that automatic setting of the print medium is not specified, the printing for setting the execution print medium according to the determination result of the specified size existence determination unit apparatus. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Size determination means for determining whether a print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size exists in the plurality of types of print media;
When the plurality of types of print media are determined not to include a print medium having the specified size by the specified size existence determination unit, the print control unit determines whether the plurality of types of printing are performed by the size determination unit. If it is determined that a print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size exists in the medium, the printing unit is configured to print an image based on the structured data as it is on the execution print medium. If it is determined by the size determination means that there is no print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size among the plurality of types of print media, an image based on the structured data is displayed. A printing apparatus that controls the printing unit to be resized and printed on the execution print medium. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Size determination means for determining whether a print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size exists in the plurality of types of print media;
The execution print medium setting unit determines that the plurality of types of print media do not include a print medium having the specified size by the specified size existence determination unit. If it is determined that there is a print medium having a size physically larger than the specified size among the types of print media, the print medium has a size immediately above the specified size among the plurality of types of print media. If a print medium is set as the execution print medium, and it is determined by the size determination means that there is no print medium having a physically larger size than the specified size among the plurality of types of print media, A printing apparatus that sets the printing medium having the physically maximum size as the execution printing medium. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A printing apparatus further comprising detailed setting determination means for determining the type and print quality of a print medium at the time of printing according to the set type of print medium for execution. The structured data is transmitted from a broadcast station to a broadcast receiving device as the external device and is transmitted from the broadcast receiving device to the data acquisition unit together with a print command, or printed from the broadcast receiving device. printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 6 is a data obtained from other external devices by said data acquisition means in accordance with the command. The style information, the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 described by the CSS language 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the structured data is data described in any one of markup languages among SGML, HTML, XML, and XHTML. A data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus having a printing unit capable of printing an image on a printing medium and connected to a printing apparatus capable of handling a plurality of types of printing media,
Data acquisition means for acquiring structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
Designated size obtaining means for obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
A designated size presence / absence judging means for judging whether or not the plurality of types of print media include the acquired print medium having the designated size;
Style information priority determination means for determining whether to prioritize the style information of the structured data;
When the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should not be prioritized, a predetermined print medium of the plurality of types of print media is used as an execution print medium for printing an image. If the style information priority determination unit determines that the style information should be prioritized, the specified size existence determination unit determines that the print medium having the specified size is the plurality of types of print media. including a is determined lever, it sets a print medium having the specified size as the execution print medium, with the designated size to the plurality of types of print media by the designated size existence judgment unit lever is determined to be not the print medium, setting a print medium contained in the plurality of types of print media as the execution print medium And the line for the print media setting means,
A data processing apparatus for a printing apparatus. A printing method using a printing apparatus having printing means capable of printing an image on a print medium and capable of handling a plurality of types of print media,
(A) obtaining structured data including at least print image information and style information from an external device;
(B) determining whether to prioritize the style information of the structured data;
( C ) obtaining a designated size that is a size of a print medium designated by the style information based on the style information of the structured data;
( D ) determining whether or not the plurality of types of print media includes the acquired print medium having the specified size;
( E ) If it is determined in step (b) that the style information should not be prioritized, an execution print medium that provides a predetermined print medium of the plurality of types of print medium for image printing If it is determined in step (b) that the style information should be prioritized, a print medium having the specified size is included in the plurality of types of print media in step ( d ). and a is determined by lever, it sets a print medium having the specified size as the execution print medium, the print medium having the designated size to the plurality of types of print media in the step (d) included are determined not to lever, and setting a printing medium contained in the plurality of types of print media as the execution print medium,
( F ) controlling the printing means so that an image based on the structured data is printed on the execution print medium set in step ( e );
Including printing method.

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