Print content transmission device, print device, and print system

• US 7,697,152 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hisatomi, Kenji, Murata, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore; David K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milia; Mark R
• Application Number:
  US10/541,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20060120786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.2, 358/1.6, 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 715/205, 715/233, 715/234, 715/277
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1246 by handling markup languages, e.g. XSL, XML, HTML
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera

Abstract

In a print system, without requiring a standardized command indicating use of a thumbnail image, and without causing an abnormal operation, a print content transmission device directs a print device to use the thumbnail image, wherein print content is described using XML format, and a direction command is described using XML format in the print content. Specifically, in a step S201, a processing control unit (111) proceeds to a step S202 in the case where there is input from a user I/F unit. In the step S202, a unique information addition unit (104) judges whether or not the thumbnail image should be used for printing. In the case where it is judged that the thumbnail image should be used (S202: Yes), the unique information addition unit (104) directs a print content generation unit (108) to add, to the print content, a direction to use the thumbnail image (step S203).

Claims

1. A print content transmission device that transmits print content to a print device, the print content transmission device comprising:

a content procurement unit configured for at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language;

a feature identification unit operable to identify a feature of the print content;

an addition unit operable to describe the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and to add the definition statement to the print content; and

a transmission unit operable to transmit the print content including the added definition statement to the print device,

wherein said feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed,

wherein, when said feature identification unit judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used,

wherein said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using the uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and

wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device.

2. The print content transmission device according to claim 1, wherein said feature identification unit is operable to judge that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used when the print content includes an index sheet.

3. The print content transmission device according to claim 1,

wherein said feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not a print size is described in the print content when an image is printed, and

wherein, when it is judged that the print size is not described in the print content, said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate a number of horizontal and vertical pixels.

4. The print content transmission device according to claim 1,

wherein said feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content displayed on a screen or print specific content, and

wherein said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate whether or not the print content is content displayed on the screen or print specific content.

5. The print content transmission device according to claim 1,

wherein said feature identification unit is operable to identify a kind of the print content, and

wherein said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate the kind of the print content.

6. The print content transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

7. A print device for receiving print content from a print content transmission device including (i) a content procurement unit configured for at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language, (ii) a feature identification unit operable to identify a feature of the print content, (iii) an addition unit operable to describe the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and to add the definition statement to the print content, and (iv) a transmission unit operable to transmit the print content including the added definition statement to the print device, wherein the feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed, wherein, when the feature identification unit judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used, wherein the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using the uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device, said print device comprising:

a reception unit operable to receive the print content described using the predetermined markup language;

an extraction unit operable to extract, from the received print content, the definition statement including the uniquely defined tag; and

a print unit operable to generate print image data based on the extracted definition statement, and to execute printing using the print image data.

8. The print device according to claim 7,

wherein the extracted definition statement includes a tag indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used based on the definition statement, and

wherein said print unit is operable to generate print image data using the thumbnail image data based on the definition statement.

9. The print device according to claim 8, further comprising an obtainment unit operable to obtain only the thumbnail image data from the print content,

wherein said print unit is operable to generate print image data using the obtained thumbnail image data.

10. The print device according to claim 7,

wherein the extracted definition statement indicates a number of horizontal and vertical pixels of an image, and

wherein said print unit is operable to read, from the definition statement, and determine a horizontal and vertical size of an image to be printed when generating the print image data.

11. The print device according to claim 7, wherein said print unit is operable to generate print image data using a same generation algorithm as an algorithm used for a screen display.

12. The print device according to claim 11, wherein said print unit is operable to generate the print image data using an algorithm, by which a size of a “

textarea”

element display area is prioritized over a size of “

textarea”

element details.

13. The print device according to claim 11, wherein said print unit is operable to generate the print image data using a generation algorithm, by which a size of “

textarea”

element details is prioritized over a size of a “

textarea”

element display area.

14. The print device according to claim 7, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

15. A print system comprising:

a print device; and

a print content transmission device that transmits print content to said print device,

wherein said print content transmission device includes;

a content procurement unit configured for at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language;

a feature identification unit operable to identify a feature of the print content;

an addition unit operable to describe the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and to add the definition statement to the print content; and

a transmission unit operable to transmit the print content including the added definition statement to the print device,

wherein said feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed,

wherein, when said feature identification unit judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used,

wherein said addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using a uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content,

wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device, and

wherein said print device includes;

a reception unit operable to receive the print content from said print content transmission device;

an extraction unit operable to extract, from the received print content, the definition statement including the uniquely defined tag; and

a print unit operable to generate print image data based on the extracted definition statement, and to execute printing using the print image data.

16. The print system according to claim 15, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

17. A print content transmission method for transmitting print content to a print device, said print content transmission method comprising:

a content procurement step of at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language;

a feature identification step of identifying a feature of the print content;

an addition step of describing the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and adding the definition statement to the print content; and

a transmission step of transmitting the print content including the added definition statement to the print device,

wherein said feature identification step judges whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed,

wherein, when said feature identification step judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, said addition step adds, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used,

wherein said addition step adds, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using a uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and

wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition step and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition step and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device.

18. The print content transmission method according to claim 17, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

19. A print method for receiving print content from a print content transmission device including (i) a content procurement unit configured for at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language, (ii) a feature identification unit operable to identify a feature of the print content, (iii) an addition unit operable to describe the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and to add the definition statement to the print content, and (iv) a transmission unit operable to transmit the print content including the added definition statement to a print device, wherein the feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed, wherein, when the feature identification unit judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used, wherein the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using a uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device, said printing method comprising:

a reception step of receiving the print content described using the predetermined markup language;

an extraction step of extracting, from the received print content, the definition statement including the uniquely defined tag; and

a print step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition statement, and executing printing using the print image data.

20. The print method according to claim 19, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

21. A computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program causing a print content transmission device to transmit print content to a print device, and the program causing the print content transmission device to execute a method comprising:

a content procurement step of at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language;

a feature identification step of identifying a feature of the print content;

an addition step of describing the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and adding the definition statement to the print content; and

a transmission step of transmitting the print content including the added definition statement to the print device,

wherein said feature identification step judges whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed,

wherein, when said feature identification step judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, said addition step adds, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used,

wherein said addition step adds, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using a uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and

wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition step and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by said addition step and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device.

22. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

23. A computer-readable storage medium having a program for a print device stored thereon, the print device for receiving print content from a print content transmission device including (i) a content procurement unit configured for at least one of obtaining print content and generating the print content, the print content being described using a predetermined markup language, (ii) a feature identification unit operable to identify a feature of the print content, (iii) an addition unit operable to describe the identified feature as a definition statement that includes a uniquely defined tag that can be handled in the markup language and that indicates whether thumbnail image data should be printed with the print content, and to add the definition statement to the print content, and (iv) a transmission unit operable to transmit the print content including the added definition statement to the print device, wherein the feature identification unit is operable to judge whether or not the print content is content for which thumbnail image data should be used when the print content is printed, wherein, when the feature identification unit judges that the print content is content for which the thumbnail image data should be used, the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement to indicate that the thumbnail image data should be used, wherein the addition unit is operable to add, to the print content, the definition statement indicating that the thumbnail image data should be used, the definition statement being added to the print content using a uniquely defined tag and a uniquely defined definition statement in which the uniquely defined tag is used, the uniquely defined tag and the uniquely defined definition statement together forming the definition statement and being in conformance with a specification of a same markup language as the markup language used to describe the print content, and wherein the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, is ignored by another print device because the definition statement, which is added to the print content by the addition unit and indicates that the thumbnail image data should be used, cannot be interpreted by the another print device, the program causing the print device to execute a method comprising:

a reception step of receiving the print content described using the predetermined markup language;

an extraction step of extracting, from the received print content, the definition statement including the uniquely defined tag; and

a print step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition statement, and executing printing using the print image data.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the markup language is an Extensible Markup Language (XML).