JP7704637B2 - Printing device, information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device, an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

Conventionally, inkjet printers have been proposed that receive display language data from an external storage device and switch the display language (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this inkjet printer, the display language can be switched according to the region where the printer is shipped after manufacture.

JP 2005-313332 A

However, after being shipped, information processing devices such as printing devices may be moved to other regions where different language areas are used. When an information processing device is moved and used, maintenance such as changing the settings to appropriate settings for each region may be required. The appropriate settings may be, for example, settings that correspond to differences in supply voltage, or in the case of a printing device, color profiles, paper settings, etc. If appropriate settings are not performed, the information processing device may break down or its functionality (e.g., print quality) may deteriorate.

It is possible to determine that the area in which the information processing device is used has changed based on time information obtained from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server or area information obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System). However, if the information processing device is not connected to an external network and time information cannot be obtained, or area information cannot be obtained from a GPS, it is not possible to determine that the area in which the information processing device is used has changed. In this case, proper settings may not be made, which may result in a breakdown of the information processing device or a deterioration in its functionality (e.g., print quality).

The object of the present invention is to provide a printing device, an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that can easily determine if the area of use has changed and prompt for maintenance.

In one aspect, the printing device includes a language switching unit that switches the display language, a setting change unit that changes the settings, and a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage maintenance to be performed based on the display language switching and the setting change.

According to the above aspect, it is possible to easily determine if the area of use has changed and prompt maintenance.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a maintenance notification process in the first embodiment. 11 is a table showing an example of a display language and language-related settings before and after switching in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance notification screen in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a maintenance notification process in the second embodiment.

Below, a printing device, an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing device 1 according to the first embodiment.

The printing device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a medium supply unit 10, a transport unit 20, a printing unit 30, a medium discharge unit 40, a control unit 50, a memory unit 60, an operation panel 70, and a communication unit 80. The printing device 1 is an example of an information processing device. Although not shown, the printing device 1 may also include a scanner that reads image data from a document.

The media supply unit 10 has a loading platform on which media such as paper is loaded, and supplies the media loaded on this loading platform to the printing unit 30.

The transport unit 20 has, for example, rollers, belts, etc., and transports the medium inside the printing device 1.

The printing unit 30 prints on the medium transported by the transport unit 20. The printing method of the printing unit 30 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, an inkjet printing method or a stencil printing method.

The medium discharge unit 40 has a loading platform on which media is loaded and is exposed to the outside of the printing device 1, and discharges media that has been printed by the printing unit 30 onto the loading platform.

The control unit 50 has, for example, one or more processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) that function as an arithmetic processing device that controls the operation of each part of the printing device 1. This processor functions as a language switching unit 51, a setting change unit 52, and a notification unit 53 by, for example, reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 60 or from a storage medium (non-transient computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the printing device 1.

The language switching unit 51 switches the display language displayed on the display unit 71. For example, the language switching unit 51 switches the character code to another character code stored in the storage unit 60, or another character code acquired from an external device such as a server via the communication unit 80. The character code may be Shift_JIS for Japanese, Unicode (UTF-8) for Chinese, etc.

The setting change unit 52 changes various settings such as the print settings of the printing unit 30, such as the color mode settings, the transport settings of the transport unit 20, and the time settings. The setting change unit 52 performs manual setting changes such as during maintenance based on an input operation by a user (e.g., a general user, a maintenance person, etc.) at the input unit 72, and automatic setting changes associated with updates to the functions of the printing device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the color mode settings are settings such as monochromatic magenta for Japan and monochromatic red for China. This color mode is an example of related settings associated with each language. For example, monochromatic magenta is associated with Japanese, and monochromatic red is associated with Chinese. The display language and the related settings associated with this display language may be stored in the storage unit 60 in a table showing the correspondence.

The notification unit 53 issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings. For example, the notification unit 53 may prompt the user to perform maintenance by displaying a maintenance notification screen 71a on the display unit 71 as shown in FIG. 4, which displays the message "Image adjustment may not be appropriate. Please contact the service provider." The notification unit 53 may issue a notification by audio output, or may issue a notification to an external device such as a user terminal via the communication unit 80. The notification unit 53 may also issue a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance at a predetermined timing based on the start date of use of the printing device 1 stored in the hard disk device of the storage unit 60 (for example, every few years or every few months), a predetermined timing based on the number of prints, or the like. The notification unit 53 may also issue a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings at the above-mentioned predetermined timing, or at the timing of other notifications such as when replacing consumables, and may issue the notification at the same time.

The storage unit 60 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a specific control program is pre-recorded, a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working memory area as necessary when the processor executes various control programs, and a hard disk device.

The operation panel 70 has a display unit 71, which is a display that displays various information, and an input unit 72 that accepts input of various information by a user (e.g., a general user, a maintenance worker, etc.). If the display unit 71 has a touch panel, the display unit 71 also serves as the input unit 72. Note that the maintenance worker may be someone selected from the general users, or may be a specialized maintenance worker.

The communication unit 80 is an interface unit that transmits and receives various information between various devices, such as user terminals, that are connected wirelessly or by wire via the network.

As described above, the information processing device, of which the printing device 1 is an example, switches the display language and changes the settings, and issues a notification encouraging the user to perform maintenance based on the display language switching and setting changes. From the perspective of the method, the information processing method includes a step of switching the display language, a step of changing the settings, and a step of issuing a notification encouraging the user to perform maintenance based on the display language switching and setting changes.

In addition, from the perspective of the program, the program causes a computer (e.g., a computer of an information processing device such as the control unit 50 of the printing device 1) to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of changing settings, and a function of issuing a notification to encourage the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of settings.

The above-mentioned information processing method and program may be performed by a second information processing device that controls a first information processing device such as a printing device (controlling switching of display language, changing settings, etc.). This second information processing device is, for example, a dedicated print control device that controls the first information processing device, or a user terminal such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer that controls the first information processing device. The information processing device in this specification may be the above-mentioned first information processing device, or may be the above-mentioned second information processing device.

Next, the maintenance notification process in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 describes an example in which the notification unit 53 issues a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance not based on a change in the display language and a change in settings, but based on a change in the display language and a change in settings to related settings associated with the display language after the change. That is, the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a setting change to related settings associated with the display language after the change, which is one of the conditions for issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance.

The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the notification unit 53 when a setting change is made by the setting change unit 52 (excluding, for example, setting changes made in conjunction with a maintenance notification).

The notification unit 53 first determines whether the display language has been switched by the language switching unit 51 (step S11). Note that since it is rare for the setting change and the display language change to occur at exactly the same time, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language has been switched within a specified period of time since the setting change. Alternatively, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language has been switched within a specified period of time before the setting change.

In addition, in order to exclude cases where the use of the switched display language and the settings after the setting change is temporary, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the use of the switched display language and the settings after the setting change satisfies the continued use conditions. The continued use conditions are, for example, a specified use period and a specified number of prints (an example of a specified number of uses).

If the notification unit 53 determines that the display language has not been switched (step S11: NO), the process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

If the notification unit 53 determines that the display language has been switched (step S11: YES), it determines whether the setting change is to a related setting associated with the switched display language (step S12).

For example, as described above, if the color mode is changed to a monochrome red for China that is associated with the switched display language (Chinese), the notification unit 53 may determine that the setting is changed to the related setting associated with the switched display language (step S12: YES).

In this case, the notification unit 53, as described above, prompts the user to perform maintenance by displaying a maintenance notification screen 71a on the display unit 71 as shown in Fig. 4, which displays the message "Image adjustment may not be appropriate. Please contact the service provider." (Step S13). When this notification of the maintenance execution is made, and when the change is not to a related setting associated with the switched display language (Step S12: NO), the process shown in Fig. 2 ends.

A user who is prompted to perform maintenance should contact a maintenance technician (service provider), and a specialized maintenance technician will carry out the maintenance. Also, if the user who is prompted to perform maintenance is a maintenance technician selected from among general users, the user can carry out the maintenance themselves.

The notification unit 53 may also notify the user of the maintenance that should be performed in the area after the printer 1 is moved. For example, this maintenance may be the drive voltage of the inkjet head of the printing unit 30, in cases where the supply voltage differs between the areas before and after the printer 1 is moved. The maintenance may also be, for example, color adjustment to suit the area to which the printer 1 is moved (for example, color adjustment using a color profile to express the red color unique to China).

If maintenance is not performed even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a notification urging the user to perform maintenance was made, the notification unit 53 may issue another notification urging the user to perform maintenance. Furthermore, if maintenance is not performed despite multiple notifications urging the user to perform maintenance, the notification unit 53 may issue a notification by displaying a warning (such as that image quality cannot be guaranteed) during printing, etc., and if maintenance is not performed even after the warning is displayed, the notification unit 53 may perform printing with limited functions of the printing device 1 (for example, printing at a slower print speed or with a lighter print density). Furthermore, the notification unit 53 may stop the use of the printing device 1. Here, the restriction of functions or the stop of use of the printing device 1 is performed to prevent breakdowns and deterioration of quality.

When the difference in the setting conditions (e.g., the difference in the head drive voltage) that should be performed during maintenance due to a change in region of the printing device 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is preferable to restrict or suspend the functions of the printing device 1 earlier than when the difference is less than the predetermined value. Furthermore, when maintenance is not required, the notification unit 53 may omit the notification process for the execution of maintenance.

In the first embodiment described above, the printing device 1, which is an example of an information processing device, includes a language switching unit 51 that switches the display language, a setting change unit 52 that changes the settings, and a notification unit 53 that issues a notification to encourage maintenance to be performed based on the display language switching and setting change.

The information processing method is an information processing method performed by, for example, an information processing device, and includes a step of switching the display language, a step of changing settings, and a step of issuing a notification to encourage the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the changing of settings. The program also causes a computer (for example, a computer of the information processing device, such as the control unit 50 of the printing device 1) to execute a function of switching the display language, a function of changing settings, and a function of issuing a notification to encourage the execution of maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the changing of settings.

Therefore, based on the fact that the display language has been switched and the settings have been changed, it can be determined that the printing device 1 has been moved to a different region and is being used. This makes it easy to determine that the region of use has changed, even when time information cannot be obtained from an NTP server or region information cannot be obtained from a GPS or the like. Furthermore, because it can be determined that the region of use of the printing device 1 has changed, it is possible to prompt for maintenance that is required in response to the change in the region of use, at an appropriate time and with appropriate content. Thus, according to this first embodiment, it is easy to determine that the region of use has changed, and maintenance can be prompted.

In addition, in this first embodiment, the notification unit 53 issues a notification to encourage maintenance to be performed based on whether the use of the switched display language and the changed settings meet the conditions for continued use. This makes it possible to exclude cases where the switch of display language or the change of settings is temporary, and therefore makes it possible to more accurately determine whether the printing device 1 has been moved to a different area and is being used. This makes it possible to prevent false notifications of maintenance.

In addition, in this first embodiment, the setting change includes a setting change to a related setting (e.g., color mode) associated with the display language, and the notification unit 53 issues a notification to encourage maintenance to be performed based on the display language being switched and the setting change to a related setting (e.g., monochrome red) associated with the switched display language (e.g., Chinese). This makes it possible to exclude cases where setting changes have been made that are unlikely to be related to moving the printing device 1 to a different region, and therefore makes it possible to more accurately determine that the printing device 1 has been moved to a different region and is being used. This makes it possible to prevent false notifications of maintenance.

Second Embodiment
In the second embodiment, the above-mentioned setting change is an example of a time change, and other matters can be similar to those in the first embodiment described above, so only the differences will be described.

Figure 5 is a flowchart for explaining the maintenance notification process in the second embodiment.

The processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed by the notification unit 53 when the time is changed by the setting change unit 52. This time change may be performed by the setting change unit 52 based on a user operation, or may be performed by the setting change unit 52 based on time information obtained from an NTP server. The notification unit 53 may perform the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 only when the time is changed to the time in the region in which the display language is used.

The notification unit 53 first determines whether the display language was changed within a specified period (e.g., several hours or days) after the time was changed, or within a specified period before the time was changed (step S21). Note that the notification unit 53 may determine whether the display language was changed without determining the specified period.

In this second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the notification unit 53 may determine whether the use of the switched display language and the time after the time change meets the continued use conditions.

If the notification unit 53 determines that the display language has not been switched within the specified period (step S21: NO), the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

If the notification unit 53 determines that the display language has been switched within the specified period (step S21: YES), as described above, for example, a maintenance notification screen 71a is displayed on the display unit 71 as shown in FIG. 4, which indicates "Image adjustment may not be appropriate. Please contact the service provider.", thereby urging the user to perform maintenance (step S22). Then, the process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

The second embodiment described above can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above, namely, it can easily determine that the area in which the printing device 1 is used has changed and prompt for maintenance.

In addition, in this second embodiment, the setting change includes a time change, and the notification unit 53 issues a notification urging the user to perform maintenance based on the fact that the period between the display language change and the time change is within a specified period. This makes it possible to exclude cases where the period between the display language change and the time change is long and the relevance is low, and therefore makes it possible to more accurately determine whether the printing device 1 has been moved to a different region and is being used. This makes it possible to prevent false notifications of maintenance.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, all the components shown in the embodiment can be appropriately combined. Of course, various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention described in the claims of the original application of this application is described below.

[Appendix 1]
a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage a user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings.

[Appendix 2]
The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit issues a notification to encourage the user to perform the maintenance based on whether the use of the display language after the switch and the settings after the setting change satisfies a condition for continued use.

[Appendix 3]
The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language,
The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the notification unit issues a notification encouraging the user to perform the maintenance based on a change in the display language and a change in the related settings associated with the display language after the change.

[Appendix 4]
The setting change includes a time change,
4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit issues a notification urging the user to perform maintenance based on whether the period between the switching of the display language and the change of the time is within a specified period.

[Appendix 5]
a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage a user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings.

[Appendix 6]
A step of switching the display language;
A step of changing the settings;
and issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change in the settings.

[Appendix 7]
A function to switch the display language,
The ability to change settings,
and a function of issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change in the settings.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Printing device 10 Medium supply unit 20 Transport unit 30 Print unit 40 Medium discharge unit 50 Control unit 51 Language switching unit 52 Setting change unit 53 Notification unit 60 Storage unit 70 Operation panel 71 Display unit 71a Maintenance notification screen 72 Input unit 80 Communication unit

Claims (12)

a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the setting ,
The notification unit issues a notification to encourage the user to perform the maintenance based on whether or not the use of the display language after the change and the settings after the change in settings satisfies a continuous use condition, which is a specified use period or a specified number of prints.
A printing device comprising : a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
Equipped with
The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language,
The notification unit issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on a change in the display language and a change in the related settings associated with the display language after the change. a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
Equipped with
The setting change includes a time change,
The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit issues a notification urging the user to perform maintenance on the basis that a period between the switching of the display language and the change of the time is within a specified period. a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the setting ,
The notification unit issues a notification to encourage the user to perform the maintenance based on whether or not use of the display language after the change and the settings after the change in settings satisfies a continuous use condition, which is a specified use period or a specified number of uses.
23. An information processing apparatus comprising: a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
Equipped with
The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language,
The notification unit issues a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the change in the display language and the change in the related setting associated with the display language after the change.
23. An information processing apparatus comprising: a language switching unit for switching the display language;
A setting change unit for changing settings;
a notification unit that issues a notification to encourage the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
Equipped with
The setting change includes a time change,
The notification unit issues a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the change of the time is within a specified period.
23. An information processing apparatus comprising: A step of switching the display language;
A step of changing the settings;
and issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings .
The step of notifying includes notifying the user to perform the maintenance based on whether or not the use of the display language after the change and the settings after the change in settings satisfies a continuous use condition, which is a specified use period or a specified number of uses.
23. An information processing method comprising: A step of switching the display language;
A step of changing the settings;
a step of notifying the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
Including,
The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language,
The step of notifying includes performing a notification to prompt the user to perform the maintenance based on the change in the display language and the change in the related setting associated with the display language after the change.
23. An information processing method comprising: A step of switching the display language;
A step of changing the settings;
and issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the setting,
The setting change includes a time change,
The step of issuing a notification includes issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the change of the time is within a specified period.
23. An information processing method comprising: A function to switch the display language,
The ability to change settings,
a function of issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the setting,
The function of notifying is to notify the user to perform the maintenance based on whether the use of the display language after the change and the settings after the change in settings satisfies a continuous use condition, which is a specified use period or a specified number of uses.
A program characterized by : A function to switch the display language,
The ability to change settings,
a function of issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
A program for causing a computer to execute the following:
The setting change includes a setting change of a related setting associated with the display language,
The function of notifying is to notify the user to perform the maintenance based on the change in the display language and the change in the related settings associated with the display language after the change.
A program characterized by: A function to switch the display language,
The ability to change settings,
a function of issuing a notification to prompt the user to perform maintenance based on the switching of the display language and the change of the settings;
A program for causing a computer to execute the following:
The setting change includes a time change,
The function of notifying is to notify the user to perform the maintenance based on the fact that the period between the switching of the display language and the change of the time is within a specified period.
A program characterized by:

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