Printing system, printing apparatus, printing method and program

• US 20030107762A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Koji, Higashizaki, Yohichiroh
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3218 : of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

An information providing server has information on plural printers. The information providing server provides a user of a portable terminal with the information on the plural printers by sending the information on the plural printers to the portable terminal. The portable terminal sends an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached to a printer selected by the user. Each of the plural printers has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned. The printer that has received an e-mail specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating the destination of the e-mail. The printer then prints the file attached to the received e-mail under the specified print condition.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit which receives an e-mail to be sent from an external terminal;

a data generating unit which generates print data for printing a file attached to said e-mail received by said receiving unit; and

a printing unit which prints said file by using said print data generated by said data generating unit.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a memory unit which stores a plurality of application programs for generating said print data, and said data generating unit specifies an application program corresponding to a type of said file and generates said print data using said specified application program.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said printing apparatus has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned,

said printing apparatus further includes a condition specifying unit which specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating a destination of said e-mail received by said receiving unit, and

said printing unit prints said file under said print condition specified by said condition specifying unit.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said printing apparatus further includes:

a charge calculating unit which acquires a charge for printing said file; and

a charge indicating unit which indicates said charge acquired by said charge calculating unit to a sender of said e-mail.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said charge indicating unit indicates said charge to said sender by sending an e-mail indicating said charge.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said printing unit starts printing in response to a print execution instruction from a sender of said e-mail.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said print execution instruction is supplied to said printing unit by an email.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said printing apparatus further includes:

a number issuing unit which issues a receipt number to a sender of said e-mail, and

a number input unit through which said sender inputs said receipt number; and

said printing unit starts printing in response to said sender'"'"'s inputting said receipt number by operating said number input unit.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing apparatus further includes an amount discriminating unit which has a money slot to place money and discriminates an amount of money deposited, and

said printing unit starts printing when said amount of money discriminated by said amount discriminating unit becomes equal to or greater than said charge acquired by said charge calculating unit.

10. A printing apparatus comprising:

a downloader which downloads an object to be printed, stored in an external terminal, from said external terminal; and

a printing unit which prints said object to be printed downloaded by said downloader.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said printing apparatus further includes:

a medium slot to insert a portable recording medium on which data for connecting said printing apparatus to said external terminal is stored, and

a reading unit which reads said data recorded on said portable recording medium inserted into said medium slot; and

said downloader downloads said object to be printed from said external terminal using said data read by said reading unit.

12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said downloader downloads one or more pieces of data stored in said external terminal,

said printing apparatus further includes an index generating unit which generates indexes of said one or more pieces of data downloaded by said downloader, and a display unit which displays an index screen showing said indexes generated by said index generating unit, thereby allowing a user to select said object to be printed, and

said printing unit prints, as said object to be printed, data selected on said index screen by said user.

13. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said one or more pieces of data are one or more e-mails sent to said user,

said printing apparatus further includes a mail extracting unit which extracts an unopened e-mail from said one or more e-mails downloaded by said downloader, and

said display unit displays an index screen showing an index of said e-mail extracted by said mail extracting unit.

14. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a mail sending unit which sends a reply mail corresponding to an e-mail printed by said printing unit.

15. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a statement memory unit which stores data on a plurality of fixed statements,

said display unit displays a statement list screen showing a list of said plurality of fixed statements stored in said statement memory unit, thereby allowing a user to select a fixed statement to be used in said reply mail, and

said mail sending unit prepares said reply mail using said fixed statement selected on said statement list screen by said user.

16. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a statement acquisition unit which acquires reply statement data to be used in said reply mail from an external device, and

said mail sending unit prepares said reply mail using said reply statement data acquired by said statement acquisition unit.

17. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said portable recording medium stores reply statement data to be used in said reply mail,

said reading unit reads said reply statement data from said portable recording medium inserted into the medium slot, and

said mail sending unit prepares said reply mail using said reply statement data read by said reading unit.

18. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said printing apparatus further includes a deleting unit which deletes data of said e-mail downloaded by said downloader.

19. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said downloader acquires storage information indicating names and storage positions of one or more pieces of data, stored in said external terminal, from said external terminal,

said printing apparatus further includes a display unit which displays a data list screen showing a list of data stored in said external terminal using said storage information acquired by said downloader, thereby allowing a user to select an object to be printed, and

said downloader downloads data selected on said data list screen by said user as said object to be printed.

20. A printing system comprising:

one or more printing apparatuses that print a file attached to an e-mail sent from a terminal device which is operated by a user; and

an information providing terminal which has information on said one or more printing apparatuses and provides said user with said information on said one or more printing apparatuses,

said information providing terminal including an apparatus information memory unit which stores said information on said one or more printing apparatuses and a transmitting unit which sends said terminal device that information among pieces of information stored in said apparatus information memory unit which is about a printing apparatus selected by said user, thereby providing said user with said information on said printing apparatus selected by said user.

21. The printing system according to claim 20, wherein said information providing terminal further includes:

a location memory unit which stores location data indicating set-up locations of said one or more printing apparatuses,

a requesting unit which makes a request of said user to provide a desired location to execute printing,

a retrieval unit which retrieves one or more printing apparatuses located near said desired location provided by said user, in accordance with a predetermined rule, by using said location data stored in said location memory unit, and

a location providing unit which provides said user with said one or more printing apparatuses retrieved by said retrieval unit by sending the set-up locations of said one or more printing apparatuses retrieved by said retrieval unit to said terminal device; and

said transmitting unit provides said user with information of a printing apparatus set up at that one of said set-up locations of said one or more printing apparatuses provided by said location providing unit which is selected by said user.

22. The printing system according to claim 21, wherein each of said one or more printing apparatuses has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively is assigned, and

each of said one or more printing apparatuses comprises:

a condition specifying unit which specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating a destination of an e-mail sent from said terminal device, and

a printing unit which prints said file under said print condition specified by said condition specifying unit.

23. A printing method comprising:

a mail sending step of allowing a terminal device operated by a user to send a printing apparatus an e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached;

a receiving step of allowing said printing apparatus to receive said e-mail sent from said external terminal;

a data generating step of allowing said printing apparatus to generate print data for printing a file attached to said received e-mail; and

a printing step of allowing said print apparatus to print said file by using said print data generated in said data generating step.

24. The printing method according to claim 23, wherein said printing apparatus has a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned,

said printing method further includes a condition specifying step of allowing said printing apparatus to specify a print condition from an e-mail address indicating a destination of said e-mail, and

said printing step has a step of allowing said printing apparatus to print said file under said print condition specified in said condition specifying step.

25. A printing method, which is executed by a printing apparatus, comprising:

a downloading step of downloading an object to be printed, stored in an external terminal, from said external terminal; and

a printing step of printing said object to be printed downloaded in said downloading step.

26. The printing method according to claim 25, wherein said printing apparatus has:

a medium slot to insert a portable recording medium on which data for connecting said printing apparatus to said external terminal is stored, and

said printing method further includes a reading step of reading said data recorded on said portable recording medium inserted into said medium slot; and

said downloading step includes a step of downloading data of said object to be printed from said external terminal using said data read in said reading step.

27. A program for allowing a computer connectable to a printer to serve as a printing apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit which receives an e-mail to be sent from an external terminal;

a memory unit which stores a plurality of print conditions to which different e-mail addresses are respectively assigned;

a condition specifying unit which specifies a print condition from an e-mail address indicating a destination of said e-mail received by said receiving unit and memory contents of said memory unit; and

a printing unit which controls said printer to print a file attached to said e-mail received by said receiving unit under said print condition specified by said condition specifying unit.

28. A program for allowing a computer connectable to a printer and a reading apparatus for reading data recorded on a portable recording medium to serve as a printing apparatus comprising:

a reading unit which controls said reading apparatus to read data, which is necessary for downloading an object to be printed from an external terminal, recorded on said portable recording medium;

a downloader which downloads said object to be printed from said external terminal using said data read by said reading unit; and

a printing unit which controls said printer to print said object to be printed downloaded by said downloader.