Data output system, output control terminal, program to be applied to output control terminal, and data output method

• US 7,415,280 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fukui, Yoshiki, Taniguchi, Shinya, Kitada, Naruhide
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRPOUR, NAGHMEH
• Application Number:
  US10/057,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,394 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/404.2, 455/407, 455/408, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• 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 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a data output system which can control a printer in accordance with the position of a user without providing a mobile terminal and the printer with special devices, which can reduce the processing load on the mobile terminal, which can ensure the convenience of the user when using the printer, and which avoids inconvenience as a result of incorrect settings by the user. The invention can include a print control terminal that obtains mobile terminal position information from a relay station. When the distance between the mobile terminal position specified by the obtained mobile terminal position information and the printer position specified by printer position information from a storage device is less than a predetermined value, a print command and corresponding print data are transmitted to a printer PR in response to a request from a mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A data output system for establishing a connection between an output terminal that outputs data and a position management terminal that generates mobile terminal position information for specifying the position of a mobile terminal on the basis of a communication state between the mobile terminal and a base station so that the data output system can communicate with the output terminal and the position management terminal, and the data output system outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal using the output terminal,

the mobile terminal position information being obtained from the position management terminal, and

data output control of the output terminal being performed based on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the obtained mobile terminal position information and an output terminal position specified by output terminal position information for specifying the position of the output terminal.

2. A data output system for establishing a connection between an output terminal that outputs data and an output control terminal that performs data output control of the output terminal for communication with each other, for establishing a connection between the output control terminal and a position management terminal that generates mobile terminal position information for specifying the position of a mobile terminal on the basis of a communication state between the mobile terminal and a base station for communication with each other, and for outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal using the output terminal,

the output control terminal including:

a storage device that stores output terminal position information for specifying the position of the output terminal; and

a position information obtaining device that obtains the mobile terminal position information from the position management terminal; and

the data output control of the output terminal being performed based on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the mobile terminal position information obtained by the position information obtaining device and the output terminal position specified by the output terminal position information in the storage device.

3. A data output system according to claim 2, the output control terminal transmitting a data output request to the output terminal when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position.

4. A data output system according to claim 2, the output control terminal transmitting a data output request to the output terminal when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position and when a predetermined period of time has passed since the mobile terminal position became within the predetermined range.

5. A data output system according to claim 2, the data output system establishing a connection between the output control terminal and the mobile terminal for communication with each other,

the output control terminal including a control command storage device that stores a specific control command for controlling a specific function of the output terminal,

when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position, the output control terminal transmits a list from which the specific control command is selectable to the mobile terminal, and

when the output control terminal receives the selection of the specific control command, the output control terminal transmits the specific control command in the control command storage device to the output terminal.

6. A data output system according to claim 5, the output control terminal transmitting the list from which the specific control command is selectable to the mobile terminal when a distance between the output terminal position and the mobile terminal position is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

7. A data output system according to claim 5, wherein, when the output control terminal receives a registration request for registering the output terminal from the mobile terminal, the output control terminal transmits a transmission request for transmitting a control command list to the output terminal corresponding to the registration request,

when the output control terminal receives the control command list in response to the transmission of the transmission request, the output control terminal registers the mobile terminal position information obtained by the position information obtaining device as the output terminal position information in the storage device, and registers the received control command list in the control command storage device so that the control command list corresponds to the output terminal position information, and

when the output terminal receives the transmission request for transmitting the control command list, the output terminal transmits the control command list, including the specific control command, to the output control terminal.

8. A data output system according to claim 5, the output control terminal transmitting a response request to the output terminal,

when the output control terminal receives no response in response to the output request, the output control terminal reads from the storage device the output terminal position information for the output terminal which transmits no response,

based on the mobile terminal position information obtained by the position information obtaining device, the output control terminal searches for the mobile terminal which is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position specified by the read output terminal position information,

the output control terminal transmits to the detected mobile terminal a presence confirmation request for confirming the presence of the output terminal which transmits no response, and

when the output control terminal receives no presence confirmation in response to the presence confirmation request, the output control terminal clears the registration of the output terminal which transmits no response.

9. A data output system according to claim 2, the output terminal being a printer.

10. A data output system according to claim 2, the output terminal being a projector.

11. An output control terminal for establishing a connection between a position management terminal and an output terminal in a data output system as set forth in claim 2 for communication with the position management terminal and the output terminal, comprising:

a storage device that stores output terminal position information for specifying the position of the output terminal; and

a position information obtaining device that obtains mobile terminal position information from the position management terminal;

data output control of the output terminal being performed on the basis of the positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the mobile terminal position information obtained by the position information obtaining device and the output terminal position specified by the output terminal position information in the storage device.

12. A program to be applied to output control terminal as recited in claim 11, the program making a computer execute processing in which data output control is performed based on the positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the mobile terminal position information obtained by the position information obtaining device and the output terminal position specified by the output terminal position information in the storage device.

13. A data output method, comprising:

establishing a connection between an output terminal that outputs data and a position management terminal that generates mobile terminal position information for specifying the position of a mobile terminal based on a communication state between the mobile terminal and a base station so that the data output system can communicate with the output terminal and the position management terminal, and

outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal using the output terminal,

the mobile terminal position information being obtained from the position management terminal, and

data output control of the output terminal being performed based on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the obtained mobile terminal position information and an output terminal position specified by output terminal position information for specifying the position of the output terminal.

14. A data output method, comprising:

establishing a connection between an output terminal that outputs data and an output control terminal that performs data output control of the output terminal for communication with each other, for establishing a connection between the output control terminal and a position management terminal for generating mobile terminal position information for specifying the position of a mobile terminal on the basis of a communication state between the mobile terminal and a base station so that they can communicate with each other, and

outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal using the output terminal,

the output control terminal performing the steps of;

storing output terminal position information for specifying the position of the output terminal; and

obtaining the mobile terminal position information from the position management terminal; and

the data output control of the output terminal being performed based on the positional relationship between the mobile terminal position specified by the obtained mobile terminal position information and the output terminal position specified by the stored output terminal position information.

15. A data output method according to claim 14, the output control terminal transmitting a data output request to the output terminal when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position.

16. A data output system according to claim 14, the output control terminal transmitting a data output request to the output terminal when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position and when a predetermined period of time has passed since the mobile terminal position became within the predetermined range.

17. A data output method according to claim 14, the data output method establishing a connection between the output control terminal and the mobile terminal for communication with each other,

the output control terminal stores a specific control command for controlling a specific function of the output terminal, and

when the mobile terminal position is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position, the output control terminal transmits a list from which the specific control command is selectable to the mobile terminal, and

when the output control terminal receives the selection of the specific control command, the output control terminal transmits the stored specific control command to the output terminal.

18. A data output method according to claim 17, the output control terminal transmitting the list from which the specific control command is selectable to the mobile terminal when a distance between the output terminal position and the mobile terminal position is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

19. A data output method according to claim 17, wherein, when the output control terminal receives a registration request for registering the output terminal from the mobile terminal, the output control terminal transmits a transmission request for transmitting a control command list to the output terminal corresponding to the registration request,

when the output control terminal receives the control command list in response to the transmission of the transmission request, the output control terminal registers the obtained mobile terminal position information as the output terminal position information, and registers the received control command list so that the control command list corresponds to the output terminal position information, and

when the output terminal receives the transmission request for transmitting the control command list, the output terminal transmits the control command list including the specific control command to the output control terminal.

20. A data output method according to claim 17, the output control terminal transmitting a response request to the output terminal,

when the output control terminal receives no response in response to the output request, the output control terminal reads the stored output terminal position information for the output terminal which transmits no response,

based on the obtained mobile terminal position information, the output control terminal searches for the mobile terminal which is within a predetermined range based on the output terminal position specified by the read output terminal position information,

the output control terminal transmits to the detected mobile terminal a presence confirmation request for confirming the presence of the output terminal which transmits no response, and

when the output control terminal receives no presence confirmation in response to the presence confirmation request, the output control terminal clears the registration of the output terminal which transmits no response.