JP2003167694A - Print method, print execution program, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print method, a print execution program, and a printer, which enable a user to perform efficient print. <P>SOLUTION: The user uses a mobile terminal 10 to access an information providing server 20. The information providing server 20 provides an electronic mail address given to a printer 41 placed in the vicinity of the mobile terminal 10. The user uses the mobile terminal 10 to transmit an electronic mail including an appended file to the printer 41. The printer 41 records the appended file. Then the printer 41 receives a print execution indication from the user to print the appended file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method, a printing execution program, and a printing apparatus used when printing an electronic file.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, with the development of computer related technology, electronic files in which various kinds of information are digitized are often used. In particular, the user can easily obtain and use various information by using the computer terminal connected to the network. When a user prints an electronic file containing these pieces of information, he or she usually starts an electronic file viewer application (for example, a browser program or an application that creates the electronic file) stored in the user's own computer terminal,
Print. In this case, the application converts the electronic file into print data. The printer executes printing using the print data.

As described above, the user can obtain the printed document by using the printer connected to the computer terminal.

[0004]

However, in an environment where the printer cannot be easily used, such as when going out,
You may wish to obtain printed materials. In addition, a mobile terminal that is normally carried when going out may be limited in data storage capacity or screen size. In such a case, it is difficult to browse desired information freely.

In addition, for example, when printing an electronic file obtained via a network, it is necessary to create print data using a viewer application for the electronic file. If the mobile terminal does not have an application for it, the electronic file cannot be printed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing method, a print execution program, and a printing apparatus that allow a user to perform efficient printing. is there.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 uses a user terminal for requesting printing of an electronic file and a printing device to which an electronic mail address is assigned. A method of printing an electronic file, wherein the printing device receives a print request to which the electronic file is attached from the user terminal at the electronic mail address, based on an attribute of the electronic file. And a printing step of generating and printing the printing data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the first aspect, in the printing method, the printing apparatus calculates a printing fee based on an attribute of the electronic file. It is a gist to have further.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the second aspect, the fee calculation step further includes the step of presenting the printing fee to the user terminal, and the printing step includes the step of: The main point is to execute when confirmation is received from the user terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to any one of the first to third aspects, an electronic mail address is assigned to the printing device for each printing condition, and the printing is performed. In the step, printing conditions are set based on the received e-mail address and printing is performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing method according to the fourth aspect, the charge calculating step calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received electronic mail address. To do.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print execution program for printing an electronic file using a user terminal for requesting printing of an electronic file and a printing device to which an electronic mail address is assigned. The printing device serves as a receiving unit that receives a print request to which an electronic file is attached from the user terminal at the electronic mail address, and a printing unit that generates and prints print data based on the attribute of the electronic file. The idea is to make it work.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the print executing program according to the sixth aspect, the print executing program calculates a print charge of the printing apparatus based on the attribute of the electronic file. The point is to make it function as a means.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the print execution program according to the seventh aspect, the charge calculating means is
The gist of the present invention is to further include means for presenting the printing fee to the user terminal, and the printing means to be executed when a confirmation is received from the user terminal.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the print execution program according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, an electronic mail address is assigned to the printing device for each printing condition, and The gist of the printing means is to set printing conditions based on the received e-mail address and print.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the print execution program according to the ninth aspect, the charge calculating means calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received electronic mail address. And

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, which is assigned an electronic mail address and prints an electronic file for which an electronic file printing request is received from a user terminal, wherein the printing apparatus is the electronic apparatus. It is characterized in that it has a receiving means for receiving a print request to which an electronic file is attached from the user terminal at an email address, and a printing means for generating and printing print data based on the attribute of the electronic file. To do.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the printing apparatus further includes a fee calculation unit that calculates a printing fee based on an attribute of the electronic file. To do.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the charge calculation means further has means for presenting the print charge to the user terminal,
The gist of the printing means is to execute it when confirmation is received from the user terminal.

The invention described in claim 14 relates to claims 11 to 11.
13. The printing device according to any one of 13 above, wherein the printing device is assigned an e-mail address for each printing condition, and the printing unit sets the printing condition based on the received e-mail address. The main point is to print.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the charge calculating means calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received electronic mail address. To do.

(Operation) According to the invention described in claim 1, 6 or 11, the printing device receives the print request to which the electronic file is attached from the user terminal at the electronic mail address, and sets the attribute in the electronic file. Based on this, print data is generated and printed. Therefore, the user can print a desired electronic file by sending a print request with the electronic file attached using the user terminal. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare an application for printing an electronic file, such as dedicated driver software itself for printing, in the user terminal. Therefore, the printed matter can be efficiently provided to the user of a relatively simple terminal or mobile terminal.

According to the second, seventh or twelfth aspect of the invention, the printing device calculates the printing fee based on the attribute of the electronic file. Therefore, an appropriate fee can be presented or billed to the user based on the attributes of the electronic file.

According to the third, eighth or thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the calculated printing fee is presented to the user terminal, and printing is executed when confirmation is received from the user terminal. For this reason,
Printing can be performed with the user's consent.

According to the invention described in claim 4, 9 or 14, an electronic mail address is assigned to each printing condition in the printing apparatus, and the printing condition is set based on the received electronic mail address and printing is performed. To do. Therefore, the user can easily and efficiently set the printing conditions by using the e-mail address. Further, the printing device can also execute printing under the printing conditions desired by the user based on the received e-mail address.

According to the invention described in claim 5, 10 or 15, the charge for the printing condition is calculated based on the received electronic mail address. Thereby, an appropriate fee can be calculated.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment,
A printing method, a print execution program, and a printing apparatus used when a user prints a document file for which a print request is made via a network at a place where the user is out, etc. will be described. When making a print request, as shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 10 as a user terminal connectable to the Internet I as a network is used.

The mobile terminal 10 has a data communication function for transmitting and receiving electronic mail and for communicating with each server. The mobile terminal 10 contains various programs for executing a data transmission / reception function, a data display function, etc. By executing these programs, the functions as a communication unit and a display unit are realized. Therefore, the mobile terminal 10 includes a control unit (CPU), a memory unit (RAM, ROM, etc.), a display unit 101 for displaying various information, and the like, which are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 41, which is a printing device installed in the information providing server 20 and the store 40, is connected to the Internet I, respectively. In the present embodiment, the document desired by the user is printed by the printer 41. The printer 41 is a printing unit to which an electronic mail address is assigned. For example, "Convenience store XX store" which is a convenience store
In the printer 41 installed in the computer, "print1@xx.com" to "print4" are provided as email addresses.
@Xx. com ”is given.

The printer 41 includes control means (CPU), memory means (RAM, ROM, hard disk, etc.), display means, etc., which are not shown. This printer 41
In addition to the data printing function, a program for realizing the procedure described later such as data transmission / reception is incorporated, and by executing this program, it functions as each unit (reception unit, printing unit, etc.).

This printer 41, as shown in FIG.
Print request data storage unit 42, print condition data storage unit 43
It also has a charge data storage unit 44. As shown in FIG. 2, the print request data storage unit 42 records the print request data 420 regarding the print request received from the user. The print request data 420 is set when the print request is received. In the present embodiment, in the print request data storage unit 42, data regarding a transmission address, a reception address, an attached file, an attached file extension, and a charge is recorded in association with each other for each print request.

Data relating to the electronic mail address of the user who has requested the printing is recorded in this transmission address data area. In the reception address data area, data relating to the address which is the electronic mail address assigned to the printer 41 and which has received the print request is recorded. In the attached file data area, data relating to the electronic file attached to the received print request email is recorded. In the extension data area, data regarding the extension added to the file name of the received attached file is recorded. This extension can identify the application that created the attachment. In the charge data area, data related to the charge for printing the attached file is recorded.

In the print condition data storage section 43, as shown in FIG. 3, print condition data 430 relating to settings for printing is recorded. The print condition data 430 is recorded when an electronic mail address is given to the printer 41 and assigned to the print condition. In this embodiment,
In the print condition data storage unit 43, an electronic mail address assigned to the printer 41 and data related to print conditions executable by the printer 41 are recorded in association with each other. In the e-mail address data area, data relating to the e-mail address assigned corresponding to the printing conditions of this printer is recorded.
In the print condition data area, flags regarding print conditions that the printer 41 can support are recorded. For example, the email address is "print1@xx.com"
For, the printing condition is "color printing, single-sided printing"
Has been assigned. Also, the email address "p
rint2 @ xx. The printing condition “color printing, double-sided printing” is assigned to “com”.

As shown in FIG. 4, the charge data storage unit 44 stores charge data 4 regarding charges for printing.
40 is recorded. This charge data 440 is recorded when a charge is set. In the present embodiment, in the charge data storage unit 44, data relating to the unit charge for each application name and printing condition are recorded in association with each other.

Data relating to the application name is recorded in the application name data area in order to identify the application. In the print condition data area, data relating to a flag for identifying the print condition is recorded. The printing conditions include "color printing, single-sided printing" and "color printing, double-sided printing". In the unit charge data area, data relating to the unit charge when printing is recorded. For example, “10 yen / KByte” is set as the unit charge for “black and white printing, double-sided printing” as the printing condition of the “text” file.

The information providing server 20 is a computer system that provides a service for informing the user of the installation location of the printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing server 20 has a store data storage unit 22 and an address data storage unit 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, the store data storage unit 22 stores store data 220 regarding stores that provide print services. The store data 220 is recorded when a store that can provide a print service is registered. In the present embodiment, the store data storage unit 22
In the table, data related to the address and the store name are recorded in association with each other. In this address data area, as data to identify the place where the printer is installed,
Data about the address is recorded. In the store name data area, data relating to the store name is recorded as data for specifying the service provider in which the printer is installed.

In the address data storage unit 23, as shown in FIG. 6, address data 230 regarding the printer information provided to the user is recorded. The address data 230 is recorded when the printer to which the e-mail address is assigned is installed at a predetermined place and the printing service can be provided. In this embodiment, the address data storage unit 23 stores data relating to a store name, printing conditions, and an electronic mail address in association with each other. In the store name data area, as data for identifying the service provider in which the printer is installed,
Data about the store name is recorded. In the print condition data area, flags regarding print conditions that the printer 41 can support are recorded. In the e-mail address data area, data relating to the e-mail address corresponding to the printing conditions in the printer 41 installed in this store is recorded.

Next, a processing procedure when the user prints a desired document in the system configured as described above will be described. In this case, it is roughly divided into a stage in which the user requests printing and a stage in which the printing is executed.

First, the process at the stage where the user makes a print request will be described with reference to FIG. The user uses the mobile terminal 10 to access the information providing server 20 (S1-1). In this case, the access is made via the Internet I.

When there is an access, the information providing server 2
0 indicates data related to the home page on the mobile terminal 10
To (S1-2). On the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 that has received this data, the display screen 5 shown in FIG.
00 is output (S1-3). The display screen 500 includes a desired place input field 501 for inputting a desired place to receive the printed matter. Further, on the display screen 500,
A send button 502 for sending the data entered in the desired place input field 501 is included. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the current location of the user is “2, XX-cho, Chuo-ku”, and that the user wishes to receive it at a nearby store. Therefore, “Chuo-ku XX Town 2
Enter "chome".

Next, the user presses the send button 502. In this case, the mobile terminal 10 displays the desired place input field 50.
The data input in 1 is transmitted to the information providing server 20 (S1-4). Information providing server 2 that received this data
0 is the store data storage unit 2 based on the received desired location.
The store data 220 recorded in 2 is searched for a store existing near a desired place. And the information providing server 2
0 transmits store information to the mobile terminal 10 (S1-
5). This store information includes data on the address and store name of the store in which the printer is installed.

The mobile terminal 10 that has received this store information
A display screen 510 shown in FIG. 9 is output to the display unit 101 of (S1-6). The display screen 510 includes information on the address and the store name of the store 40 extracted by the information providing server 20. Further, display screen 510 includes a selection button 511 for selecting a store. In addition,
If you want a store other than the one displayed, select "Other". In this embodiment, it is assumed that "convenience store XX store" is selected. Therefore, "Convenience store X
The selection button 511 of “X store” is pressed.

In this case, the mobile terminal 10 transmits the selected store name to the information providing server 20 (S1-
7). The information providing server 20 that has received the store name extracts the address data 230 recorded from the address data storage unit 23 in association with the store name. Then, the information providing server 20 transmits the address information via the Internet I (S1-8). This address information includes
It includes data about printing conditions and email addresses associated with these printing conditions.

The display screen 520 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 which has received the address information.
Is output (S1-9). On this display screen 520,
The printing conditions that can be supported by the printer 41 installed in the selected store and the e-mail address used when printing under the printing conditions are included. Further, the display screen 520
Select button 5 for selecting an email address
21 are included. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that “monochrome printing, single-sided printing” is selected. Therefore, "print
3 @ xx. com ”selection button 521 is pressed.

In this case, the mobile terminal 10 activates the electronic mail program and outputs the display screen 530 for transmitting the electronic mail shown in FIG.
The display screen 530 is a screen for sending an electronic mail, and includes an address field 531 of a destination, a subject field 532, and a content field 533. An e-mail address (here, “print3@xx.com”) selected by the user is input in advance in this address field 531.

Therefore, the user inputs "print" in the subject field 532 as an identifier for requesting printing. In addition, attach the electronic file you want to print to this email. Here, a text document whose document name is "material" is attached. In this case, "txt" is added to the file name as an extension. As a result, the display screen 540 shown in FIG. 12 is output to the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10. Then, the send button 534 is pressed.

As a result, the mobile terminal 10 transmits the electronic mail to the electronic mail address (here, "print3@xx.com") assigned to the printer 41 (S1-10). This electronic mail includes the electronic mail address of the sender (here, the electronic mail address of the mobile terminal 10) and the electronic file to be printed as an attached file.

Printer 41 that received this e-mail
Recognizes that it is a print request based on "print" included in the subject. Therefore, the print request is recorded in the print request data storage unit 42 (S1-11). Specifically, the electronic mail address (sending address) of the sender, the received electronic mail address (reception address), and the attached electronic file (attached file) are recorded. Further, the printer 41 extracts and records the extension of the received attached file.

Next, the printer 41 calculates the fee for printing (S1-12). Here, the application in which this file is created is specified based on the extension of the attached file. Here, the extension is "t
Since "xt" is added, it is understood that the document is a text document. Next, the printing condition is specified based on the reception address recorded in the print request data storage unit 42.
Here, since it is received by "print3@xx.com", it is understood that the printing condition is "monochrome printing, single-sided printing". Then, the printer 41 calculates the capacity of this attached file. Then, the unit charge is extracted from the charge data storage unit 44 based on the specified application or printing condition, and the unit charge is multiplied by the capacity to calculate the charge. For example, for "black and white printing, double-sided printing" of a "text" file, the unit charge is "10 yen / KByt
Since it is "e", it costs 150 yen when the attached file is 15 KByte. Then, the calculated charge is recorded in the charge data area of the print request data 420.

Next, the printer 41 uses the Internet I
The guide information is returned to the transmission address of the mobile terminal 10 via (S1-13). This guidance information includes the charge calculated in step (S1-12).

The mobile terminal 10 that has received this guidance information
The display screen 550 shown in FIG. 13 is output to the display unit 101 (S1-14). On this display screen 550, guidance regarding the location of the store 40 in which the printer 41 is installed (here, "east side of XX post office"), guidance regarding printing charges (here, "150 yen"), etc. included.

The user who confirms this guide sends the confirmation result to the printer 41 (S1-15). The confirmation result is transmitted by replying to the email received by the mobile terminal 10.

Next, the processing at the stage of executing printing will be described. The user who arrives at the store 40 receives the mobile terminal 10
To send a print execution instruction to the printer 41 (S
1-16). In this case, the user causes the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 to output the display screen 550 shown in FIG. 13 again. Then, the e-mail is returned from the mobile terminal 10 to the printer 41 again.

The printer 41, which has received the e-mail, prints the attached file (S1-17). Specifically, the printer 41 extracts the attached file associated with the electronic mail address of the user who is the sender, based on the electronic mail address. Next, the printing conditions are set based on the received e-mail address. Here, the email address "print3@xx.co
Since it has been sent to "m", "monochrome printing, single-sided printing" is used as the printing condition. Further, the printer 41 generates print data from the attached file based on the extension of the attached file.

Then, the printer 41 executes printing using this printing data. The user pays the store 40 and receives the printed document. With the above, provision of the printed matter is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In the above embodiment, the print request is made via the Internet I.
Using the mobile terminal 10 connected to. Therefore, the screen of the display unit 101 of the mobile terminal 10 is small,
Even if sufficient information cannot be displayed, printed matter can be easily obtained. Further, even when there is no printer at hand such as when going out, the printed document can be obtained. For example, "Lecture Material" as an attached file,
By recording the electronic files relating to “presentation materials” and “various forms” in the mobile terminal 10, it is possible to obtain the documents required on the go.

In the above embodiment, an electronic mail address is assigned to the printer 41. For this reason,
The user can make a print request or a print execution instruction while directly communicating with the printer 41 by ordinary e-mail. Since many mobile terminals 10 have a function for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, printed matter can be easily provided to the mobile terminals 10.

In the above embodiment, the printer 41 is
Print data is generated from the attached file based on the extension of the attached file. Therefore, the user can execute the application in which the attached file is created on the mobile terminal 10.
You can get printed documents without having to prepare.
Therefore, the storage capacity for the application can be reduced, and the printed document can be efficiently obtained even when using a computer terminal having a relatively small storage capacity.

In the above-described embodiment, the store data 220 regarding the printer information provided to the user is recorded in the store data storage unit 22. This store data storage unit 2
In 2, the data related to the address and the store name are recorded in association with each other. In this address data area, data relating to the address is recorded as data for identifying the place where the printer is installed. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with store information regarding the printers installed in the area desired by the user.

In the above embodiment, the mobile terminal 10
Printing is performed after receiving a print execution instruction from.
If there is no print execution instruction, printing is not performed, so waste of paper can be prevented. Further, it is possible to issue a print execution instruction when it is convenient for the user (here, when the store 40 arrives). Therefore, the printed matter can be provided to the user in good timing.

In the above embodiment, the print execution instruction is
Printer 41 by e-mail using mobile terminal 10
Send to. Based on the user's email address
The attached file associated with the e-mail address is extracted and printed. Therefore, the mobile terminal 10
It is possible to reliably provide a printed matter to a user who owns.

In the above embodiment, the print condition data storage unit 43 stores the electronic mail address assigned to the printer 41 and the data related to the print conditions executable by the printer 41 in association with each other. Therefore, the printer 41 can set the printing conditions based on the address at which the print request is received. Further, the user can select the printing condition by properly using the electronic mail for transmitting the attached file.

The above embodiment may be modified into the following modes. In the above-described embodiment, the printer 41 prints the attached file after receiving the confirmation result and the print execution instruction e-mail from the mobile terminal 10. Alternatively, the attached file may be printed together with the e-mail address of the mobile terminal 10 when the e-mail requesting the printing is received. In this case, the user who arrives at the store 40 obtains the document by providing the clerk with his / her e-mail address. As a result, the user can reduce the print waiting time. In addition, the step (S1-
It is not necessary to transmit the confirmation result of 15) or to issue the print execution instruction of step (S1-16), and it is possible to provide the printed matter while further reducing the communication amount.

In the above embodiment, the mobile terminal 10
Upon receiving the print execution instruction from the printer 41, the printer 41 prints the attached file based on the user's e-mail address. Alternatively, in step (S1-13), the printer 41 may provide the reception number to the user. In this case, the reception number is included in the display screen 550 shown in FIG. Further, the printer 41 is provided with a reception number input section. Then, the user inputs this reception number into the reception number input section of the printer 41. When the receipt number is input, the printer 41 prints the attached file. As a result, it is not necessary to issue a print execution instruction in step (S1-16), and printing can be executed easily while further reducing the communication volume.

In the above embodiment, the user is the store 40
Pay the fee and receive the printed document. Instead of this, the printer 41 may be provided with a reception number or e-mail address input section and a fee input section.
In this case, the user inputs the receipt number given from the printer 41 or his own e-mail address into the printer 41. In that case, the printer 41 identifies the attached file recorded in the print request data storage unit 42 based on the receipt number and the electronic mail address. When the fee is input, the printer 41 prints the attached file. As a result, the printing service can be provided without bothering the staff of the store 40.

In the above embodiment, the display screen 510 includes information about the address of the store and the store name extracted by the information providing server 20. Instead of this address display, or in addition to the address display, information that can specify the location of the store or the printer (for example, a map relating to the store or the printer) may be displayed. In this case, the store data 220 recorded in the store data storage unit 22 includes information for identifying the place.

As a result, the user can more surely know the installation location of the printer 41. Further, the telephone number of the store may be included. This allows the user to make an inquiry to the store.

In the above embodiment, the information providing server 2
Although the print request is made to the electronic mail address of the printer 41 provided from 0, the electronic mail address of the printer 41 which the user grasps in advance may be used. As a result, it is not necessary to perform steps (S1-1) to (S1-9), and the printer 41 desired by the user can be more easily manufactured.
Can print the attachment.

In the above embodiment, the charge is calculated based on the size of the attached file. Instead of this, the charge may be calculated based on the number of printing sheets when printing is performed. In this case, the printer 41 calculates the number of printing sheets based on the printing conditions and the like, and calculates the charge based on the printing conditions and the number of sheets. As a result, it is possible to calculate charges in other charge systems.

In the above embodiment, when printing is requested, “print” is input in the subject field 532. Then, the printer 41 recognizes that it is a print request based on “print” included in the subject. In this case, another identifier may be used as long as the printer 41 can recognize the print request.

In the above-described embodiment, the print request data storage unit 42 records, for each print request, data relating to the transmission address, the reception address, the attached file, the attached file extension, and the charge in association with each other. In addition to this, information such as the number of printing sheets, the number of printed sides, color, and black and white may be recorded. In this case, the printer 4
1 records the print condition specified by the received address, the number of print sheets calculated based on this print condition, and the like in the print request data storage unit 42.

In the above embodiment, the charge is calculated for each print request. Instead of this, a plurality of print requests may be collectively calculated and billed. in this case,
Keep a record of fees for print requests that have printed.
Then, a charge in which predetermined units (for example, daily, weekly, or monthly units) are collected is calculated. Further, information such as the number of sheets of paper, the number of printed sides, color, and black and white may be left as a record of a print request for printing. In this case, each printing fee is calculated at the time of fee settlement, and the total amount is calculated. As a result, it is possible to efficiently settle charges for regular users and companies.

In the above embodiment, when printing is executed, the reply mail to the electronic mail received from the printer 41 is retransmitted. Instead of this, the printer 4
As long as 1 can recognize the print execution instruction, the instruction may be given in another format. For example, when instructing the execution of printing, “GO” is added to the subject and a reply is sent. If the e-mail cannot be sent successfully, the same e-mail may be resent. In this way, by issuing a print execution instruction using a format different from that for transmitting the confirmation result, it is possible to cause the printer 41 to execute printing more reliably.

In the above embodiment, the control unit (CPU) provided in the printer 41 executes the program for executing the data transmitting / receiving function and the like. Instead of this,
The control means may be provided in another housing. For example, the program may be recorded in a computer terminal connected to the printer 41, and this computer terminal may control the printer 41.

In the above embodiment, the printer 41 is used as the printing means, but a facsimile terminal or a copying machine connected to the Internet I may be used. In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 / information providing server 20, the mobile terminal 10 / printer 41, the document server 30 / printer 41, and the like are connected via the Internet I, but a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network ( You may connect using WAN).

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the printer 41 installed in the store 40 requests printing at the place where the user is out, but for example, when printing is performed by the printer 41 in the company using the intranet. , There is no need to guide the store or charge. Therefore, steps (S1-1) to (S1-9) and (S1-11) to (S1)
Part or all of (-16) may be omitted. That is, sending an e-mail with an attached file (S1-10)
Causes the printer 41 to execute printing (S1-1).
7). In this case, printing can be executed more easily.

[0078]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The user can easily and efficiently print a desired electronic file using the user terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of data recorded in a print request data storage unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of data recorded in a print condition data storage unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of data recorded in a charge data storage unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of data recorded in a store data storage unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of data recorded in an address data storage unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a processing procedure of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output to the display unit of the mobile terminal.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a display screen output on the display unit of the mobile terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Mobile terminal as user terminal, 41 ... Printer as printing device.

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Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method for printing an electronic file using a user terminal for requesting a print request for an electronic file and a printing device to which an electronic mail address is assigned, wherein the printing device uses the electronic mail address. A printing method, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a print request to which an electronic file is attached from the user terminal, and a printing step of generating and printing print data based on an attribute of the electronic file. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing method further comprises a charge calculation step of calculating a print charge based on an attribute of the electronic file by the printing device. 3. The charge calculation step further comprises the step of presenting the printing charge to the user terminal, and the printing step is executed when a confirmation is received from the user terminal. The printing method according to Item 2. 4. An electronic mail address is assigned to each printing condition in the printing device, and in the printing step, printing conditions are set based on the received electronic mail address and printing is performed. The printing method according to claim 1. 5. The charge calculation step calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received e-mail address.
The printing method described in. 6. A print execution program for printing an electronic file using a user terminal requesting a print request for an electronic file and a printing device to which an electronic mail address is assigned, wherein the printing device is the electronic mail. Print execution characterized by functioning as a receiving unit that receives a print request to which an electronic file is attached from the user terminal at an address, and a printing unit that generates and prints print data based on the attribute of the electronic file program. 7. The print execution program according to claim 6, wherein the print execution program causes the printing apparatus to further function as a charge calculation unit that calculates a print charge based on an attribute of the electronic file. . 8. The charge calculation means further comprises means for presenting the print charge to the user terminal, and the print means executes when a confirmation is received from the user terminal. The print execution program according to Item 7. 9. An electronic mail address is assigned to each printing condition in the printing device, and the printing means sets printing conditions based on the received electronic mail address and prints. The print execution program according to any one of claims 6 to 8. 10. The charge calculation means calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received e-mail address.
The print execution program described in. 11. An email address is assigned,
A printing device, which receives an electronic file print request from a user terminal, prints an electronic file, wherein the printing device receives a print request to which an electronic file is attached from the user terminal at the electronic mail address. A printing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit and a printing unit that generates and prints print data based on an attribute of the electronic file. 12. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a charge calculation unit that calculates a print charge based on an attribute of the electronic file.
The printing apparatus according to 1. 13. The charge calculation means further comprises means for presenting the print charge to the user terminal, and the print means is executed when a confirmation is received from the user terminal. Item 13. The printing device according to item 12. 14. An electronic mail address is assigned to each printing condition in the printing device, and the printing means sets printing conditions based on the received electronic mail address and prints. The printing device according to claim 11. 15. The charge calculation means calculates a charge for the printing condition based on the received e-mail address.
The printing device according to item 4.