JP2018013831A - Terminal, system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly start an output in comparison with a configuration making an instruction of a user execute preprocessing decided to be executed by a terminal prior to execution of the output by an output device in a system in which the output device executes the output in accordance with an output instruction from the terminal.SOLUTION: A terminal comprises execution means that, when a predetermined condition about an own terminal is satisfied, executes preprocessing decided to be executed by the own terminal before an output device executes an output in accordance with an output instruction transmitted by the own terminal without waiting for an instruction from users. The predetermined condition about the own terminal is that a predetermined operation is conducted to the own terminal, or the own terminal transition to a predetermined state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal, a system, and a program.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for performing printing using close proximity wireless between an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus. When the information processing apparatus detects that communication by proximity wireless communication with the printing apparatus is possible, and detects that communication by proximity wireless communication is possible, the information processing apparatus displays the information on its own display. Print data in a format that can be printed by a printing apparatus for a document that is present, and the generated print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus using proximity wireless communication. The printing apparatus prints print data received from the information processing apparatus via proximity wireless communication.
Patent Document 2 describes a technique for printing a file in a mobile terminal under the control of a printer. Of the image files in the portable terminal, a file that is not to be printed is set to a state in which the printer cannot be determined as an image file, and a file to be printed is set to a state in which the printer can be determined as an image file. Thus, when the user operates the printer to print the print target file in the portable terminal, when the user operates the printer to check the image file in the portable terminal, the print target file is found as an image file.

JP 2009-251823 A JP2013-12111A

In a system in which an output instruction is transmitted from a terminal to an output device to execute output, the terminal executes a predetermined process, and the output device executes output after the completion of the process. To explain using an example in which the output device is a printing device, the predetermined processing is, for example, an application for printing (for example, converting a document file or an image file into a print instruction described in a page description language) For example, a search for a printing apparatus that can be a transmission destination of a print instruction, and establishment of a connection with a printing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the print instruction. In addition, since the printing apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print instruction may have transitioned to the power saving state, processing for transmitting a return instruction from the power saving state is also executed. Conventionally, the terminal executes these processes according to instructions from the user, and printing is started after the completion of these processes. However, it is desired to reduce the time required to start printing.
According to the present invention, in a system in which an output device executes output in response to an output instruction from a terminal, preprocessing that is determined to be executed at the terminal before execution of output is executed according to an instruction from a user The object is to provide a technique capable of starting output earlier than the configuration.

  The invention according to claim 1 may be executed by the own terminal before the output device executes the output in response to the output instruction transmitted by the own terminal when a predetermined condition regarding the own terminal is satisfied. Provided is a terminal including execution means for executing predetermined preprocessing without waiting for an instruction from a user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the first aspect, the condition is that a predetermined operation is performed on the own terminal.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation on an icon associated with the one output device displayed on the terminal.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation for causing the terminal to display a screen for setting the output device.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation of instructing output without designating a file to be output.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation of bringing the terminal close to the output device.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the sixth aspect, the operation is an operation of starting short-range wireless communication between the output device and the terminal itself.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation of starting a predetermined application.
The invention according to claim 9 is the terminal according to claim 8, wherein the operation is an operation of starting the application without designating a file to be output.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the ninth aspect, the application includes an application that performs at least one of file generation and processing, an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image, and since the last activation. Is an application whose elapsed time is less than a threshold, or an application whose activation frequency is greater than or equal to a threshold.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the second aspect, the operation is an operation of accessing a predetermined web page.
The invention according to claim 12 is the terminal according to claim 11, wherein the web page is a web page for giving a coupon or a web page for displaying a map.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the first aspect, the condition is that the own terminal transitions to a predetermined state.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the thirteenth aspect, the state is a state in which the own terminal approaches the output device within a predetermined range.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the fourteenth aspect, the execution means detects that the own terminal has approached the output device within a predetermined range by the satellite positioning system.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the fourteenth aspect, the execution means detects that the own terminal has approached the output device within a predetermined range by short-range wireless communication.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to the thirteenth aspect, the state is a state in which a printer driver is installed in the own terminal or a state in which the printer driver installed in the own terminal is activated.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the preprocessing extracts candidates for output from a plurality of files of the terminal, and the extracted candidates And accepting selection of an output target from the displayed candidates.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the preprocessing is processing for searching for an output device that can be a transmission destination of an output instruction.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the preprocessing is processing for establishing a connection with an output device that is a transmission destination of an output instruction.
According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the terminal according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the preprocessing is processing for instructing the output device to return from the power saving state.

The invention according to claim 22 includes a terminal and an output device including a notification unit that notifies the terminal that a predetermined condition related to the terminal is satisfied, and the terminal satisfies the condition In response to an output instruction transmitted from the terminal, the instruction from the user is determined to be executed by the output terminal before the output apparatus executes the output. A system including execution means for executing without waiting.
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the twenty-second aspect, the condition is that an operation of bringing the terminal close to the output device is performed.
The invention according to claim 24 is the system according to claim 22, wherein the condition is that the terminal approaches the output device within a predetermined range.
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the twenty-second aspect, the condition is that a printer driver installed in the terminal is acquired from the output device.
According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined condition relating to the own terminal is satisfied, the computer executes the computer at the own terminal before executing the output in response to the output instruction transmitted by the own terminal. Provided is a program for functioning as an execution means for executing preprocessing determined to be performed without waiting for an instruction from a user.

According to the invention according to claims 1, 22 and 26, in the system in which the output device executes the output in response to the output instruction from the terminal, it is determined that the output is executed at the terminal before the output is executed. Compared with a configuration in which preprocessing is executed by an instruction from a user, output can be started earlier.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, when predetermined operation is performed with respect to the own terminal, an output can be started early.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, when operation with respect to the icon linked | related with the one output device displayed on the own terminal is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, when operation which displays the screen for setting an output device on an own terminal is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when an operation for instructing output is performed without specifying a file to be output, output can be started quickly.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, 23, when operation which makes an own terminal adjoin to an output device is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, when operation which starts short-distance wireless communication with an output device and an own terminal is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when an operation for starting a predetermined application is performed, output can be started early.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when an operation for starting an application is performed without specifying a file to be output, output can be started quickly.
According to the invention of claim 10, an application that performs at least one of file generation and processing, an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image, an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is less than a threshold, and activation When an operation for starting one of the applications whose frequency is equal to or higher than the threshold is performed, the output can be started early.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 11, when operation which accesses a predetermined web page is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 12, when operation which accesses the web page which gives a coupon or the web page which displays a map is performed, an output can be started early.
According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the own terminal transitions to a predetermined state, output can be started quickly.
According to the fourteenth and twenty-fourth aspects of the present invention, output can be started quickly when the terminal shifts to a state in which it is within a predetermined range with respect to the output device.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 15, an output can be started early using a satellite positioning system.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 16, an output can be started early using short-distance radio | wireless communication.
According to the inventions according to claims 17 and 25, when the printer driver is installed in the own terminal or the printer driver installed in the own terminal is transitioned to the activated state, output can be started early. it can.
According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a process that facilitates specifying a file to be output without an instruction from the user.
According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a process for searching for an output device that can be a transmission destination of an output instruction without an instruction from the user.
According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a process of establishing a connection with an output apparatus that is a destination of an output instruction without an instruction from the user.
According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cause the output device to execute a process for instructing a return from the power saving state without an instruction from the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 1 and a terminal 3. The figure which shows the function structure of the terminal 3. FIG. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs. The figure which shows the example of a display of the candidate of an output target. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the terminal 3 performs.

An example for carrying out the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 1 and the terminal 3. The printing apparatus 1 is an example of an output apparatus according to the present invention, and is an apparatus that prints an image based on print data. The terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook personal computer, or the like.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. The control unit 11 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores firmware that describes the procedure for starting up hardware and an OS (Operating System). The RAM stores data when the CPU executes the calculation. The storage unit 12 includes, for example, a hard disk storage device, and stores an OS, application programs, and the like.

  The communication unit 13 is a communication I / F (Interface) for connecting the printing apparatus 1 to a LAN (Local Area Network). The LAN is provided with a wireless LAN access point, and the communication unit 13 communicates with the communication unit 33 of the terminal 3 described later via the access point.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 14 is, for example, a reader / writer that communicates with a non-contact IC (Integrated Circuit) card provided in the short-range wireless communication unit 34 of the terminal 3. Perform near field communication. The short-range wireless communication unit 14 periodically transmits an inquiry signal. When the user brings the terminal 3 close within a predetermined distance from the printing apparatus 1, the short-range wireless communication unit 34 of the terminal 3 receives the inquiry signal. In response to this reception, short-range wireless communication between the printing apparatus 1 and the terminal 3 is started. The operation for bringing the terminal 3 close within a predetermined distance from the printing apparatus 1 is, for example, an operation of holding the terminal 3 over the printing apparatus 1 (making the terminal 3 close to within a few centimeters) or a number from the printing apparatus 1. The operation of bringing the terminal 3 close within 10 cm to several meters is included.

  The display unit 15 is a liquid crystal display device, for example, and displays a screen for the user to operate the printing apparatus 1. The accepting unit 16 is a touch panel provided so as to cover the display surface of the display unit 15, for example, and accepts a user operation on the printing apparatus 1. The image forming unit 17 forms an image on a recording medium based on the raster data. The configuration of the image forming unit 17 may be any configuration such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the terminal 3 will be described. The control unit 31 includes an arithmetic device such as a CPU and a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM. The ROM stores firmware that describes hardware and OS startup procedures. The RAM stores data when the CPU executes the calculation. The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and stores an OS, an application program, and the like.

  The communication unit 33 is a communication I / F for connecting the terminal 3 to a wireless LAN access point, and communicates with the communication unit 13 of the printing apparatus 1 via the access point.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 34 is, for example, a non-contact type IC card and a slot for mounting it, and performs short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1. Note that the terminal 3 may include a communication I / F for connecting the terminal 3 to a mobile phone communication network, a speaker, a microphone, a voice processing circuit, and the like for a call.

  The display unit 35 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen for the user to operate the terminal 3. The accepting unit 36 is a touch panel provided so as to cover the display surface of the display unit 35, for example, and accepts operations such as tapping, flicking, and dragging.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the terminal 3. When a predetermined condition regarding the terminal 3 is satisfied, the terminal 3 performs printing (an example of output) by a printing apparatus (an example of an output apparatus) according to a print instruction (an example of an output instruction) transmitted by the terminal 3 And executing means 300 for executing pre-processing that is determined to be executed on the terminal before waiting for an instruction from the user, and extracting candidates for output from a plurality of files of the terminal An extraction unit 301, a display unit 302 that displays the extracted candidates, and a reception unit 303 that receives selection of an output target from the displayed candidates. The extraction unit 301 assigns priorities to a plurality of files, and extracts output target candidates based on the priorities. Hereinafter, specific examples of these functions will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. An application program describing the following processing procedure is installed in the terminal 3, and the control unit 31 executes the following processing according to the application program. First, an outline of the processing will be described.

<Step S001>
The control unit 31 determines whether or not a predetermined condition regarding the own terminal is satisfied. The predetermined condition regarding the own terminal is that a predetermined operation has been performed on the own terminal or that the own terminal has transitioned to a predetermined state. If the predetermined condition is satisfied (step S001: YES), the process of the control unit 31 proceeds to step S002. If the predetermined condition is not satisfied (step S001: NO), the control unit 31 repeats the determination of step S001 after the lapse of the predetermined time. Specific examples of the predetermined conditions will be described later.

<Step S002>
The control unit 31 performs preprocessing. The pre-process is a process that is determined to be executed by the own terminal before the printing apparatus 1 executes printing in accordance with the print instruction transmitted by the own terminal. Although details will be described later, the preprocessing in the present embodiment is processing that supports the specification of a file to be printed.

<Step S003>
The control unit 31 converts the file specified in step S002 into PDL, generates a print instruction, and transmits the generated print instruction to the printing apparatus 1.
The above is the outline of the processing executed by the terminal 3. Next, a specific example of predetermined conditions relating to the own terminal will be described.

(1) Specific examples of conditions A predetermined condition relating to the own terminal is that a predetermined operation has been performed on the own terminal or that the own terminal has transitioned to a predetermined state. .

(1.1) Predetermined operations Specific examples of predetermined operations are shown below. If any of these operations is performed, it is considered that the user of the terminal 3 has an intention to perform printing. In other words, when any of these operations is performed, it is considered that the probability that printing is performed is higher than before the operation is performed.

(1.1A) Operation for an icon associated with one printing apparatus displayed on the terminal itself An icon associated with each of the printing apparatuses 1 connected to the LAN (hereinafter referred to as a printer icon). It is displayed on the display unit 35 of the terminal 3. The printer icons are grouped into one folder, and all the printer icons are displayed by opening the folder, but a shortcut icon to the printer icon of the printing apparatus set in the terminal 3 as a printing apparatus to be used normally. May be displayed on the desktop. When a printer icon is operated (such as tapping), a transmission state of a print instruction to the printing apparatus, an operation state of the printing apparatus, a screen for setting the printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printing apparatus setting screen), and the like. Is displayed. In step S001, when an operation on the printer icon is detected, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

(1.1B) Operation for displaying a screen for setting a printing apparatus on its own terminal When an operation for selecting a menu for instructing printing in an application displaying a document or an image is performed, a setting screen for the printing apparatus is displayed. Is displayed. The setting screen of the printing apparatus is also displayed by operating the printer icon. When these operations are detected in step S001, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

(1.1C) An operation for instructing printing without specifying a file to be printed Depending on the application, an operation for instructing printing may be accepted without specifying a file to be printed, and the user may be prompted to specify a file subsequently. Some are configured. In step S001, when an operation for instructing printing is detected without specifying a file to be printed, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

(1.1D) Operation for bringing own terminal close to printing device As described above, the short-range wireless communication unit 14 of the printing device 1 periodically transmits an inquiry signal so that the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing device 1. Then, the short-range wireless communication unit 34 of the terminal 3 receives the inquiry signal, and triggered by this reception, short-range wireless communication between the printing apparatus 1 and the terminal 3 is started. In step S001, when an operation for bringing the terminal close to the printing apparatus 1 (in other words, an operation for starting short-distance wireless communication between the printing apparatus 1 and the terminal) is detected, the control unit 31 is determined in advance. Is determined to be satisfied.

(1.1E) An operation for starting a predetermined application The predetermined application is, for example, an application that generates and / or processes a file, an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image, and finally starts An application whose elapsed time has been less than a threshold, an application whose activation frequency is more than a threshold, and the like. An application that performs at least one of file generation and processing and an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image may be registered in advance in the terminal 3 or may be registered in the terminal 3 by the user. The control unit 31 determines and registers an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is less than the threshold and an application whose activation frequency is greater than or equal to the threshold based on the usage history of the application. In step S001, when an operation for starting these applications is detected, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied. Note that it may be determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied when an operation for starting these applications is detected without specifying a file to be printed.

(1.1F) Operation to Access a Predetermined Web Page The predetermined web page is, for example, a web page for giving a coupon, a web page for displaying a map, or the like. These applications may be registered in advance in the terminal, or may be registered in the terminal 3 by the user. In step S001, when an operation to access these web pages is detected, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

(1.2) Predetermined state Specific examples of the predetermined state are shown below. When the terminal 3 transitions to any of these states, it is considered that the user of the terminal 3 has an intention to perform printing. In other words, when the terminal 3 transitions to any of these states, it is considered that the probability that printing is performed is higher than before the transition to the state.

(1.2A) State in which the terminal is close to a predetermined range with respect to the printing apparatus When it is detected in step S001 that the terminal is within the predetermined range with respect to the printing apparatus 1 The control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied. It may be detected by any means that the own terminal approaches the printing device 1 within a predetermined range. For example, the satellite positioning system may detect that the terminal has approached the printing apparatus 1 within a predetermined range. Specifically, the position of the terminal is obtained based on the signal received from the positioning satellite, and if the distance from the position of the printing apparatus 1 stored in advance is equal to or less than the threshold value, the own terminal You may determine with having approached within the predetermined range.

Alternatively, it may be detected by short-range wireless communication that the terminal has approached the printing apparatus 1 within a predetermined range. Specifically, if the short-range wireless communication unit 34 receives an inquiry signal from the printing apparatus 1, it may be determined that the own terminal has approached the printing apparatus 1 within a predetermined range. Alternatively, if a short-range wireless communication connection is established, it may be determined that the terminal has approached the printing apparatus 1 within a predetermined range.
When a plurality of printing apparatuses are installed, the position or identification information of the printing apparatus that the user desires to use is registered in the terminal 3, and only the registered printing apparatus may be the target of this determination.

(1.2B) The printer driver installed in the own terminal or the printer driver installed in the own terminal activated The printer driver installation or activation is a process performed for printing. In step S001, when it is detected that the printer driver is installed in the own terminal or the printer driver installed in the own terminal is activated, the control unit 31 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied. .

(2) Specific Example of Preprocessing Next, a specific example of preprocessing will be described. The preprocessing in the present embodiment is processing that supports the specification of a file to be printed (hereinafter referred to as support processing). The support process is realized by the extraction unit 301, the display unit 302, and the reception unit 303 described above.

(2.1) First Specific Example FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. The first embodiment is an example in which priority is given mainly based on file date and time information. The control unit 31 of the terminal 3 executes the following processing according to the application program installed in the terminal 3.

<Step S101>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.

<Step S102>
The control unit 31 extracts printable files and displays them as thumbnails (an example of the extraction unit 301 and the display unit 302). Specifically, it is as follows.
First, the control unit 31 extracts a printable file. For example, the control unit 31 extracts a file that can be displayed or printed, such as a document file such as pdf or an image file such as jpg. On the other hand, exe files and music files are not extracted.

  Next, the control unit 31 gives priority to the plurality of files based on the date and time information of the plurality of files. For example, the control unit 31 gives a higher priority as the date and time when the terminal processed the file is newer. This date / time information is, for example, the date and time when the terminal downloaded the file.

  Next, the control unit 31 displays thumbnails arranged in the determined direction in order from the file with the highest priority. The number of files to be displayed depends on the size of the display surface of the terminal 3, but from the viewpoint of visibility, for example, in the case of a smartphone, the number is about 10 or less. Note that it is desirable to display thumbnails because the file to be printed may not be specified by the file name alone, but it is also possible to display only the file name.

<Step S103>
The control unit 31 receives selection of a file to be printed (an example of a receiving unit 303).

Note that the first embodiment may be modified as follows.
The date and time information may be the date and time when the terminal received or transmitted the mail with the file attached. In that case, the control unit 31 may give a lower priority to the file attached to the unread mail than the file attached to the read mail among the files attached to the received mail.
The date / time information may be the date / time when the terminal created the file. In that case, the control part 31 may give a higher priority to the file updated after creation than the file not updated after creation among the created files.
The date information may be the date and time when the file was last viewed.

(2.2) Second Specific Example FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. The second embodiment is an example in which priority is given mainly based on the file type.
<Step S201>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.

<Step S202>
The control unit 31 displays an icon indicating the file type. Specifically, it is as follows.
First, the control unit 31 classifies printable files into types such as downloaded files, photographed photos, emails, and mail attachment files.

Next, the control unit 31 gives priority to the plurality of files based on the types of the plurality of files. For example, the control unit 31 assigns a higher priority to a type of file that is more likely to be printed. The file with high possibility of printing is, for example, a document file, and the control unit 31 gives a higher priority to the document file than other types of files. The document file is, for example, a file with extensions txt, doc, and pdf, and the control unit 31 gives a higher priority to files with these extensions than files with other extensions.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of candidates for output. The control unit 31 displays the icons of the types with the highest priority in order in the determined direction, and accepts selection of the type of file to be printed.

<Step S203>
The control unit 31 displays the thumbnails arranged in the determined direction in order from the file with the highest priority (see FIG. 6).
<Step S204>
The control unit 31 receives selection of a file to be printed.

Note that the second embodiment may be modified as follows.
The control unit 31 may give the image file a higher priority than other types of files. In that case, for example, the control unit 31 may give a higher priority to the photo image file than the other image files. The photo image file is, for example, a file with an extension of jpg, bmp, or tiff, and the control unit 31 may give higher priority to these extension files than files with other extensions. .

Further, the control unit 31 may give a lower priority to a file of a type that is less likely to be printed. For example, the control unit 31 may give a lower priority than a document file and a still image file to a file that is neither a document file nor a still image file. Specifically, the control unit 31 may give a lower priority to a file having an extension that does not belong to a document or a still image than a file having an extension that belongs to a document or a still image. More specifically, the control unit 31 may give lower priority to the execution file, the audio file, the moving image file, and the compressed file than the other files.
Further, the control unit 31 may assign a lower priority to the monochrome photo file than the color photo file.

(2.3) Third Specific Example FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. The third embodiment is an example in which only a download file is targeted, but the procedure differs depending on whether the download file storage folder is one or more.

(A) When there is one download file storage folder <Step S301>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.
<Step S302>
The control unit 31 displays the thumbnails of the files in the download file storage folder, arranged in order from the file with the highest priority in the determined direction.
<Step S303>
The control unit 31 receives selection of a file to be printed.

(B) When there are a plurality of download file storage folders <Step S401>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.
<Step S402>
The control unit 31 displays icons indicating a plurality of download file storage folders. The control unit 31 accepts selection of an icon for a download file storage folder to be printed.
<Step S403>
The control unit 31 displays the thumbnails of the files in the selected download file storage folder, arranged in order from the file with the highest priority in the determined direction (see FIG. 6).
<Step S404>
The control unit 31 receives selection of a file to be printed.

(2.4) Fourth Specific Example FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. The fourth embodiment is an example of automatically selecting a printable file last downloaded or a printable file accessed last.
<Step S501>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.
<Step S502>
The control unit 31 automatically selects either the last downloaded printable file or the last accessed printable file.

<Step S503>
The control unit 31 displays a preview of the selected file. The user performs a predetermined operation when printing a file on which a preview is displayed. This operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches a button such as OK or a preview display area.

(2.5) Fifth Specific Example FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the terminal 3. The fifth embodiment is an example in which files to be extracted as print targets are limited by date. Even users who are not familiar with device operations and file formats can print from the date if they remember the date of the target file (the date the photo was taken, the date the email was received, or the date range). File candidates are extracted.
<Step S601>
When the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the terminal 3 starts short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 1.
<Step S602>
The control unit 31 accepts designation of a date or a date range of a file to be printed.

<Step S603>
The control unit 31 displays the type of printable file corresponding to the specified date or date range. Specifically, the icon indicating the category is displayed by classifying the downloaded file, the photographed photo, the mail, the mail attachment file, and the like. The user selects an icon of the type to be printed.
<Step S604>
The control unit 31 displays the thumbnails of the selected type of files arranged in order from the file with the highest priority (see FIG. 6).
<Step S605>
The control unit 31 receives selection of a file to be printed.

The above is the operation of the embodiment. In the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition related to the own terminal is satisfied, the printing apparatus is determined to be executed by the own terminal before executing printing according to the print instruction transmitted by the own terminal. The preprocessing is performed without waiting for an instruction from the user. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, printing is started earlier than the configuration in which the preprocessing is executed according to an instruction from the user.
Also, the present embodiment is configured to extract output target candidates from a plurality of files of the terminal, display the extracted candidates, and accept selection of output targets from the displayed candidates. Yes. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to execute processing for facilitating specification of a file to be output without an instruction from the user.

The above embodiment may be modified as in the following modified example.
<Modification 1>
The present invention includes a terminal and an output device including a notification unit that notifies the terminal that a predetermined condition related to the terminal is satisfied, and the terminal outputs that the condition is satisfied In response to an output instruction transmitted from the terminal, the output apparatus does not wait for an instruction from the user to execute a process that is determined to be performed by the terminal before the output is performed. It can also be specified as a system having execution means for executing.

  In this system, the predetermined condition regarding the terminal is, for example, that an operation for bringing the terminal close to the output device has been performed, or that the terminal has approached the output device within a predetermined range. is there. Specifically, if the terminal 3 responds to an inquiry signal transmitted from the printing apparatus 1 (an example of an output apparatus) and a short-distance wireless communication connection between the printing apparatus 1 and the terminal 3 is established, printing is performed. The control unit 11 of the device 1 notifies the terminal 3 by short-range wireless communication that a predetermined condition regarding the terminal 3 is satisfied.

  Alternatively, the predetermined condition regarding the terminal is that the printer driver installed in the terminal is acquired from the output device. Specifically, a printer driver is stored in the storage unit 12 of the printing apparatus 1, and the control unit 11 reads the printer driver from the storage unit 12 and transmits it to the terminal 3 in response to a request from the terminal 3. If this process is performed, the control part 11 will notify the terminal 3 by near field communication that the predetermined conditions regarding the terminal 3 were satisfy | filled. The transmitted printer driver is installed in the terminal 3.

<Modification 2>
As a pre-process instead of the support process exemplified in the above-described embodiment, the terminal may be configured to perform the following process.
For example, as preprocessing, the terminal may be configured to perform processing (search processing) for searching for an output device that can be a transmission destination of the output instruction. Specifically, an electronic device connected to the wireless LAN to which the terminal 3 is connected is detected, and the operating printing apparatus 1 is extracted from the detected electronic device.
Alternatively, as preprocessing, the terminal may be configured to perform processing (establishment processing) for establishing a connection with the output device that is the destination of the output instruction. The connection is established according to the procedure shown in the description of the short-range wireless communication.

  Alternatively, as preprocessing, the terminal may be configured to perform processing (instruction processing) that instructs the output device to return from the power saving state. In the case where there is a means for detecting that the output device to which the output instruction is transmitted is in the power saving state, the instruction processing may be performed only when the output device is in the power saving state. Further, the instruction process may be performed regardless of whether or not the output device is in a power saving state.

<Modification 3>
In the above embodiment, various methods have been exemplified for assigning priorities in the extraction of output target candidates, but two or more methods may be combined. Moreover, you may combine the following modifications with the method shown by said embodiment.

<Modification 4>
This modification is an example in which priority is given mainly based on an application associated with a file.
The control unit 31 may give priority to the plurality of files based on the applications associated with the plurality of files.
For example, the control unit 31 assigns a higher priority to a file associated with an application having a high print possibility. Specifically, the control unit 31 gives a higher priority to a file associated with an application that performs at least one of file generation and processing than a file associated with an application that does not generate or process a file. May be. Alternatively, the control unit 31 may give a higher priority to a file associated with an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image than a file associated with an application that does not handle a document and a still image. Alternatively, a file associated with an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is less than a threshold is a file associated with an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is greater than or equal to the threshold. May also be given higher priority. Or the control part 31 may give a higher priority to the file linked | related with the application whose starting frequency is more than a threshold value than the file linked | related with the application whose starting frequency is less than a threshold value.

  Further, the control unit 31 may assign a lower priority to a file associated with an application with a low print possibility. Specifically, the control unit 31 gives a lower priority to a file associated with an application that does not generate and process a file than a file associated with an application that performs at least one of file generation and processing. May be. Alternatively, the control unit 31 may give a lower priority to a file associated with an application that does not handle documents and still images than a file associated with an application that handles at least one of documents and still images. Alternatively, a file associated with an application whose elapsed time since the last activation of the control unit 31 is equal to or greater than the threshold is a file associated with an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is less than the threshold. May be given a lower priority. Or the control part 31 may give a lower priority to the file linked | related with the application whose starting frequency is less than a threshold value than the file linked | related with the application whose starting frequency is more than a threshold value.

<Modification 5>
This modification is an example in which priority is given mainly based on the state of the terminal.
The control unit 31 may give priority to a plurality of files based on the state of the terminal itself. For example, the control unit 31 may give priorities to a plurality of files based on the attitude of the terminal itself. Specifically, the control unit 31 sets the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the terminal and the longitudinal direction of the file image to a file in which the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the terminal is the same as the longitudinal direction of the file image. May be given higher priority than files that are not in the same direction. Here, the longitudinal direction is the direction in which the long side extends when the display surface or image is rectangular.

  Alternatively, the control unit 31 adds the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the terminal and the longitudinal direction of the application image to a file associated with the application in which the longitudinal direction of the display surface of the terminal is the same as the longitudinal direction of the application image. A higher priority may be given to a file associated with an application whose direction is not the same direction. Here, the application image is, for example, a window displayed when the application is executed.

  Moreover, the control part 31 may give a priority to several files based on the application currently performed with an own terminal. For example, the control unit 31 may give a higher priority to a file related to the application being executed on the own terminal than a file not related to the application being executed on the own terminal.

  Moreover, the control part 31 may give a priority to several files based on the login state of an own terminal. For example, the control unit 31 may give priority to the file associated with the user who has logged in to the terminal by the above method.

<Modification 6>
Depending on the OS, an application may be provided in which a file is integrated and stored with an application related to the file. In this case, the control unit 31 may extract an application related to a printable file as an output target candidate. In this case, the control unit 31 may refer to the activation history of the application and give a higher priority as the date and time of activation is newer.

<Modification 7>
There is a case where a mail application is provided in which an electronic mail is stored integrally with a mail application. In this case, the user may start the mail application and select and output an output target mail or attached file.

<Modification 8>
In the case of an email application in which the email is stored in the cloud storage, the user starts the email application, selects an email to be output or an attached file, downloads the selected email or attached file to the terminal 3 and outputs it. May be. After output, it is desirable to delete the downloaded mail attached file, but it may be left as it is.

<Modification 9>
When the file is an application stored in the cloud storage, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the application is being used from the activation history, extracts the application being used, and displays the type of the application. Also good. The user selects and starts an output target application from the displayed type, selects a print target candidate from a file stored in the cloud storage, downloads the selected candidate to the terminal, and outputs it. Good. After output, it is desirable to delete the downloaded file, but it may be left as it is.

<Modification 10>
The functions exemplified in the above-described embodiments and modifications are functions assuming a user who is not familiar with the operation of the terminal. Therefore, when the user brings the terminal 3 close to the printing apparatus 1, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the terminal is in the settings and specifications for the user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the terminal 3. The control unit 31 may execute the above processing when the settings and specifications are correct. In addition, the user may be allowed to determine whether or not to execute the above processing.

<Modification 11>
In the above-described embodiment, an example of a printing apparatus is shown as an example of an output apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied when the output apparatus is an electronic device other than the printing apparatus. For example, the output device may be a device that transmits data in response to an instruction from a terminal. The output device may be a device that transfers data received from the outside in response to an instruction from the terminal. The output device may be a device that displays an image in response to an instruction from the terminal.

<Modification 12>
In the above embodiment, the example in which the extraction unit 301 is provided in the terminal 3 has been described, but the function of the extraction unit 301 may be configured to be realized by an external device. For example, for a file stored in a cloud storage, the cloud server may extract candidates for output.
Moreover, a part or all of the above functions may be implemented in the terminal 3 by a hardware circuit. Further, an application that realizes the above function may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. In addition, this application may be provided by a telecommunication line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Short-range wireless communication part, 15 ... Display part, 16 ... Reception part, 17 ... Image formation part, 3 ... Terminal, 31 ... Control unit, 32 ... storage unit, 33 ... communication unit, 34 ... short-range wireless communication unit, 35 ... display unit, 36 ... reception unit, 300 ... execution unit, 301 ... extraction unit, 302 ... display unit, 303 ... reception unit

Claims (26)

  When a predetermined condition regarding the own terminal is satisfied, the user performs preprocessing that is determined to be executed by the own terminal before the output device executes output in accordance with the output instruction transmitted by the own terminal. A terminal comprising execution means for executing without waiting for an instruction from the terminal.   The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the condition is that a predetermined operation is performed on the terminal itself.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation on an icon associated with the one output device displayed on the terminal.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation for displaying a screen for setting the output device on the terminal itself.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation of instructing output without specifying a file to be output.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation of bringing the terminal close to the output device.   The terminal according to claim 6, wherein the operation is an operation of starting short-range wireless communication between the output device and the terminal itself.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation of starting a predetermined application.   The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the operation is an operation of starting the application without specifying a file to be output.   The application includes an application that performs at least one of file generation and processing, an application that handles at least one of a document and a still image, an application whose elapsed time since the last activation is less than a threshold, and an activation frequency that is greater than or equal to the threshold The terminal according to claim 9, which is one of applications.   The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the operation is an operation of accessing a predetermined web page.   The terminal according to claim 11, wherein the web page is a web page that gives a coupon or a web page that displays a map.   The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the condition is that the terminal has transitioned to a predetermined state.   The terminal according to claim 13, wherein the state is a state in which the own terminal approaches the output device within a predetermined range.   The terminal according to claim 14, wherein the execution unit detects, by a satellite positioning system, that the terminal has approached the output device within a predetermined range.   The terminal according to claim 14, wherein the execution means detects that the terminal has approached the output device within a predetermined range by short-range wireless communication.   The terminal according to claim 13, wherein the state is a state in which a printer driver is installed in the terminal, or a state in which the printer driver installed in the terminal is activated.   The pre-processing is processing for extracting a candidate for an output target from a plurality of files of the terminal, displaying the extracted candidate, and receiving selection of an output target from the displayed candidate. The terminal according to any one of 17.   The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the preprocessing is processing for searching for an output device that can be a transmission destination of an output instruction.   The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pre-processing is processing for establishing a connection with an output device that is a transmission destination of an output instruction.   The terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the preprocessing is processing for instructing an output device to return from a power saving state. A terminal,
An output device comprising notification means for notifying the terminal that a predetermined condition related to the terminal is satisfied,
When the terminal is notified from the output device that the condition is satisfied, the terminal may execute the output before executing the output according to the output instruction transmitted by the terminal. A system comprising execution means for executing a predetermined process without waiting for an instruction from a user.   The system according to claim 22, wherein the condition is that an operation of bringing the terminal close to the output device is performed.   23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the condition is that the terminal approaches a predetermined range with respect to the output device.   The system according to claim 22, wherein the condition is that a printer driver installed in the terminal is acquired from the output device. Computer
When a predetermined condition regarding the own terminal is satisfied, the user performs preprocessing that is determined to be executed by the own terminal before the output device executes output in accordance with the output instruction transmitted by the own terminal. A program that functions as an execution means to execute without waiting for an instruction from.

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