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

• US 7,756,530 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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; Melody
• Application Number:
  US12/176,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 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: 455/456.2
• 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 outputting data from an output terminal based on a request from a mobile terminal, the system comprising:

a position management terminal that provides position information of the mobile terminal;

a user terminal, different from the mobile terminal, that transmits identification information specifying the mobile terminal and data to be output by the output terminal;

an output control terminal, different from the user terminal, the mobile terminal, and the output terminal, that stores the identification information specifying the mobile terminal, the data to be output, position information of the output terminal, and the position information of the mobile terminal provided by the position management terminal, and that transmits the data to be output to the output terminal based on a request that is output from the mobile terminal, and on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal and the output terminal, wherein

a user of the mobile terminal inputs a command to the mobile terminal to output the request to the output control terminal.

2. The data output system of claim 1, the output terminal outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal.

3. The data output system of claim 1, the position management terminal generating the position information of each of the mobile terminal and the output terminal on the basis of a communication state between the output terminal and the mobile terminal.

4. The data output system of claim 1, the output control terminal including a storage device that stores registration information corresponding to the output terminal, including output terminal position information.

5. The data output system of claim 1, the output control terminal transmitting data to the output terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal.

6. The data output system of claim 1, the output control terminal transmitting data to the output terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal and a predetermined period of time has passed since the mobile terminal entered the predetermined range.

7. The data output system of claim 4, the output control terminal storing a specific command for controlling the output terminal, the specific command being selected by the mobile terminal from a command control list transmitted by the output control terminal to the mobile terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal.

8. The data output system of claim 7, the output control terminal transmitting the command control list to the mobile terminal under the condition that a distance between the output terminal and the mobile terminal is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

9. The data output system of claim 4, the output control terminal receiving a registration request for registering the output terminal from the mobile terminal, transmitting a request for a command control list from the output terminal, receiving the command control list from the output terminal and storing the command control list with the corresponding output terminal position information in the storage device.

10. The data output system of claim 4, the output control terminal receiving no response to transmitted data to the output terminal and clearing the registration information of the output terminal in the storage device.

11. A method for outputting data from an output terminal based on a request from a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

obtaining position information of the mobile terminal and the output terminal by a position management terminal;

transmitting from a user terminal, different from the mobile terminal, identification information specifying the mobile terminal and data to be output by the output terminal;

storing in an output control terminal, different from the user terminal, the mobile terminal, and the output terminal, the identification information specifying the mobile terminal, the data to be output, position information of the output terminal, and the position information of the mobile terminal obtained by the position management terminal;

transmitting the data to be output to the output terminal from the output control terminal based on a request that is output from the mobile terminal, and on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal and the output terminal,

a user of the mobile terminal inputting a command to the mobile terminal to output the request to the output control terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting data requested by a user of the mobile terminal from the output terminal.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating the position information of each of the mobile terminal and the output terminal by the position management terminal based on a communication state between the output terminal and the mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing registration information corresponding to the output terminal in a storage device, including the output terminal position information.

15. The method of claim 11, the transmitting data to the output terminal with an output control terminal further comprising transmitting data to the output terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting data to the output terminal with an output control terminal further includes transmitting data to the output terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal and a predetermined period of time has passed since the mobile terminal entered the predetermined range.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing a specific command for controlling the output terminal in the registration information, the specific command being selected by the mobile terminal from a command control list transmitted by the output control terminal to the mobile terminal under the condition that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of the output terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the command control list to the mobile terminal under the condition that the distance between the output terminal and the mobile terminal is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a registration request for registering the output terminal from the mobile terminal, transmitting a request for a command control list from the output terminal, receiving the command control list from the output terminal and storing the command control list with the corresponding output terminal position information in the storage device.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising clearing the registration information of the output terminal in the storage device under the condition that no response to transmitted data to the output terminal has been received.

21. A storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function of outputting data from an output terminal based on a request from a mobile terminal, the instructions directing carrying out:

obtaining position information of the mobile terminal and the output terminal by a position management terminal;

transmitting from a user terminal, different from the mobile terminal, identification information specifying the mobile terminal and data to be output by the output terminal;

storing in an output control terminal, different from the user terminal, the mobile terminal, and the output terminal, the identification information specifying the mobile terminal, the data to be output, position information of the output terminal, and the position information of the mobile terminal obtained by the position management terminal; and

transmitting the data to be output to the output terminal from the output control terminal based on a request that is output from the mobile terminal, and on a positional relationship between the mobile terminal and the output terminal, wherein

a user of the mobile terminal inputs a command to the mobile terminal to output the request to the output control terminal.