Print apparatus and control method for obtaining print data when a print instruction is received by audio

• US 10,567,602 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Masao, Saito, Ryohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Yip, Kent
• Application Number:
  US16/030,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20190020776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1231 Device related settings, e.g. IP address, Name, Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A print apparatus registers information of the print apparatus in a server via an external access point based on an instruction provided via an operation screen of the print apparatus, obtains print data when an audio control device receives a print instruction by audio so that the server generates the print data, and executes a print process based on the obtained print data.

Claims

1. A print apparatus that communicates with an audio control device that receives an instruction by audio,

wherein the audio control device executes a first reception process of receiving information on an external access point from a terminal apparatus via a first wireless communication in accordance with Bluetooth and a second reception process of receiving information on the external access point from the terminal apparatus via a second wireless communication different from the first wireless communication,

wherein the print apparatus comprises:

a communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with the external access point, wherein the audio control device connects to the external access point based on information on the external access point received in the first reception process or the second reception process;

at least one memory storing a program;

at least one processor that when executing the program causes the print apparatus to;

cause a server system to register information of the print apparatus based on an instruction provided via an operation screen of the print apparatus, wherein the print apparatus communicates with the server system via the external access point; and

obtain print data, via the external access point, the print data which is generated by the server system based on the audio control device receiving a print instruction by audio; and

a printer engine configured to execute a print process based on the obtained print data.

2. The print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the print apparatus is a MAC address of the print apparatus.

3. The print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

4. The print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print process is executed by using an ink.

5. The print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction by audio includes information on a content to be printed, and

the printer engine executes the print process based on the print data of the content.

6. The print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio control device selectively executes either of the first reception process and the second reception process.

7. A system comprising a print apparatus and a server system,

Wherein the server system comprises:

At least one memory storing a program; and

At least one processor that when executing the program causes the server system to;

generate print data based on an audio control device receiving a print instruction by voice of a user, wherein the audio control device executes a first reception process of receiving information on an external access point from a terminal apparatus via a first wireless communication in accordance with Bluetooth and a second reception process of receiving information on the external access point from the terminal apparatus via a second wireless communication different from the first wireless communication, and

wherein the print apparatus comprises;

a wireless communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with the external access point to which the audio control device establishes wireless connection based on information on the external access point received in the first reception process or the second reception process;

at least one memory storing a program;

at least one processor that when executing the program causes the print apparatus to;

cause a server system to register information of the print apparatus based on an instruction provided via an operation screen of the print apparatus, wherein the print apparatus communicates with the server system via the external access point;

obtain, via the external access point, the print data generated by the server system based on the audio control device receiving the print instruction by voice; and

a printer engine configured to execute a print process based on the obtained print data.

8. The system according to claim 7,

wherein, when a registration item displayed on the terminal apparatus is selected, a selection screen for determining whether a registration process is to be executed is displayed on the operation screen of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when it is determined that the registration process is to be executed, information on the print apparatus is registered in the server system.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the information on the print apparatus is a MAC address of the print apparatus.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second wireless communication is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein a process of obtaining the print data is executed after a notification indicating that generation of the print data is completed is received.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the print apparatus transmits a print completion notification when the print process is completed, and

wherein, when the print completion notification is transmitted, the audio control device issues a notification indicating completion of printing by audio.

13. The system according to claim 7,

wherein the at least one processor that when executing the program causes the print apparatus to:

transmit information on a state of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when the state information is transmitted, the audio control device issues a notification indicating the state of the print apparatus based on the transmitted information by audio.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein, when an inquiry about a state of the print apparatus by voice of a user is received by the audio control device, a notification indicating the state information is issued by audio.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein the operation screen of the print apparatus includes a first item to input user identification information and a second item to input a password.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the print process is executed by using an ink.

17. The system according to claim 7, wherein the audio control device selectively executes either of the first reception process and the second reception process.

18. A method performed by a print apparatus and a server system, the method comprising:

at the server system;

generating print data based on an audio control device receiving a print instruction by voice of a user, wherein the audio control device executes a first reception process of receiving information on an external access point from a terminal apparatus via a first wireless communication in accordance with Bluetooth and a second reception process of receiving information on the external access point from the terminal apparatus via a second wireless communication different from the first wireless communication, and

at the print apparatus;

performing wireless communication with the external access point to which the audio control device establishes wireless connection based on information on the external access point received in the first reception process or the second reception process;

causing a server system to register information of the print apparatus based on an instruction provided via an operation screen of the print apparatus, wherein the print apparatus communicates with the server system via the external access point;

obtaining, via the external access point, the print data generated by the server system based on the audio control device receiving the print instruction by voice; and

executing a print process based on the obtained print data.

19. The method according to claim 18,

wherein, when a registration item displayed on the terminal apparatus is selected, a selection screen for determining whether a registration process is to be executed is displayed on the operation screen of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when it is determined that the registration process is to be executed, information on the print apparatus is registered in the server system.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the information on the print apparatus is a MAC address of the print apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second wireless communication is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard series.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising executing a process of obtaining the print data after receiving a notification indicating that generation of the print data is completed.

23. The method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting, at the print apparatus, a print completion notification when the print process is completed, and

wherein, when the print completion notification is transmitted, issuing, via the audio control device, a notification indicating completion of printing by audio.

24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting, at the print apparatus, information on a state of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when the information on a state is transmitted, issuing via the audio control device a notification indicating the state of the print apparatus based on the transmitted information by audio.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein, when an inquiry about a state of the print apparatus by voice of a user is received by the audio control device, a notification indicating the state information is issued by audio.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the operation screen of the print apparatus includes a first item to input user identification information and a second item to input a password.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein the print process is executed by using an ink.

28. The method according to claim 18, further comprising selectively executing, via the audio control device, either of the first reception process and the second reception process.

29. A system comprising a print apparatus and an apparatus,

wherein the apparatus comprises:

at least one memory storing a program; and

at least one processor that when executing the program causes the apparatus to;

obtain contents data based on an audio control device receiving a print instruction by voice of a user, wherein the audio control device executes a reception process of receiving information on an external access point from a terminal apparatus via a communication in accordance with Bluetooth, and

wherein the print apparatus comprises;

a wireless communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with the external access point to which the audio control device establishes wireless connection based on information on the external access point received in the reception process;

at least one memory storing a program;

at least one processor that when executing the program causes the print apparatus to;

transmit information on the print apparatus based on an instruction provided via an operation screen of the print apparatus;

obtain, via the external access point, the print data based on the content data obtained by the apparatus based on the audio control device receiving the print instruction by voice after the information on the print apparatus is transmitted; and

a printer engine configured to execute a print process based on the obtained print data.

30. The system according to claim 29,

wherein, when a registration item displayed on the terminal apparatus is selected, a selection screen for determining whether a registration process is to be executed is displayed on the operation screen of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when it is determined that the registration process is to be executed, information on the print apparatus is transmitted to a server system via the external access point.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein the information on the print apparatus is a MAC address of the print apparatus.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein the audio control device executes the reception process of receiving the information on the external access point from the terminal apparatus via the communication in accordance with Bluetooth as a first reception process and a second reception process of receiving the information on the external access point from the terminal apparatus via communication accordance with IEEE 802.11 standard series.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the audio control device selectively executes either of the first reception process and the second reception process.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein a process of obtaining the print data is executed after a notification indicating that generation of the print data is completed is received.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the print apparatus transmits a print completion notification when the print process is completed, and

wherein, when the print completion notification is transmitted, the audio control device issues a notification indicating completion of printing by audio.

36. The system according to claim 29, wherein the at least one processor that when executing the program causes the print apparatus to transmit information on a state of the print apparatus, and

wherein, when the state information is transmitted, the audio control device issues a notification indicating the state of the print apparatus based on the transmitted information by audio.

37. The system according to claim 29, wherein, when an inquiry about a state of the print apparatus by voice of a user is received by the audio control device, a notification indicating the state information is issued by audio.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein the operation screen of the print apparatus includes a first item to input user identification information and a second item to input a password.

39. The system according to claim 29, wherein the print process is executed by using an ink.