Electronic device control system, portable data storage device, data preparation device, electronic device, and operation data management device

• US 7,830,539 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yajima, Shunsuke, Yoshiura, Syoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles; Edward L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kassa; Hilina S
• Application Number:
  US11/131,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3218 of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

When preparing print data by a personal computer, identification data corresponding to the print data is also prepared. The print data is transmitted via a network to a printer, and the identification data is transmitted to a portable phone by wireless, and stored in a memory in the portable phone. When a user approaches the printer carrying the portable phone, the identification data is transmitted to the printer by wireless. The printer carries out image output processing based on the print data corresponding to the received identification data. Thus, in a control system for an electronic device such as an image output device, operation control can be conducted by each print job, and by such operation control, the whole system including an electronic device and data preparation means such as a personal computer can be controlled more efficiently.

Claims

1. A printer control system comprising:

data preparation means for preparing operation data including print data and identification data;

a printer for carrying out processing based on the operation data prepared by said data preparation means; and

portable data storage means for wirelessly receiving the operation data prepared by said data preparation means, said portable data storage means including operation data storage means for storing the operation data,

wherein said portable data storage means wirelessly and automatically transmits the operation data stored in said operation data storage means to said printer when a user having said portable data storage means moves to a vicinity of said printer after the operation data is received from said data preparation means in a vicinity of said data preparation means and stored in said operation data storage means, and

when said printer receives the operation data from said portable data storage means, said printer confirms the content of the operation data thus received and judges whether or not said printer has function means for performing a selected function required to perform an operation based on the print data, before said printer carries out the print processing based on the print data, said selected function being at least one of a color print function, a high-speed printing function, a sorting function, a FAX function, a stapling function and a binding function, and

in a case where said printer does not have said function means, a display section provided in said printer displays a message to the effect that said printer is not suitable for carrying out output processing of the print data, and

further wherein said portable data storage means also stores user management identification data, and transmits the user management identification data to said printer; and

said printer control system limits the performance of an operation by said printer based on the user management identification data received from said portable data storage means.

2. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein said printer includes display means for displaying a judged result of whether or not said printer has the function means.

3. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein:

the user management identification data includes data of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of department identification data identifying the department in which said data preparation means for preparing operation data is installed, user identification data set for each user, and storage means identification data set for each portable data storage means.

4. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein:

the user management identification data is registered in said portable data storage means in advance.

5. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein:

said printer is an image output device, and the operation data is print data.

6. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein:

said data preparation means is a personal computer.

7. The printer control system of claim 1, wherein:

said portable data storage means includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of a portable phone, a portable information processing terminal, and a card-type information recording medium.

8. A data preparation device comprising:

a data preparation section for preparing operation data to control the operation of a printer, the operation data including print data and identification data; and

an operation data transmitting section for transmitting the operation data prepared by said data preparation section to a portable data storage device which includes operation data storage means for storing the operation data and has functions to wirelessly receive the operation data prepared by said data preparation section and to wirelessly and automatically transmit the operation data stored in the operation data storage means to said printer when a user having said portable data storage device moves to a vicinity of said printer after the operation data is received from said data preparation section in a vicinity of said data preparation section and stored in said operation data storage means,

wherein, when said printer receives the operation data from said portable data storage means, said printer confirms the content of the operation data thus received and judges whether or not said printer has function means for performing a selected function required to perform an operation based on the print data, before said printer carries out the processing based on the print data, said selected function being at least one of a color print function, a high-speed printing function, a sorting function, a FAX function, a stapling function and a binding function, and

in a case where said printer does not have said function means, a display section provided in said printer displays a message to the effect that said printer is not suitable for carrying out output processing of the print data, and

further wherein said portable data storage means also stores user management identification data, and transmits the user management identification data to said printer; and

said printer control system limits the performance of an operation by said printer based on the user management identification data received from said portable data storage means.

9. A printer comprising:

a receiving section for receiving operation data from a portable data storage device which includes operation data storage means for storing the operation data and has functions to wirelessly receive the operation data from a data preparation device which prepares the operation data including print data and identification data and to wirelessly and automatically transmit the operation data stored in said operation data storage means to said printer when a user having said portable data storage device moves to a vicinity of said printer after the operation data is received from said data preparation section in a vicinity of said data preparation section and stored in said operation data storage means; and

a judging section for confirming the contents of the operation data received by the receiving section, and for judging whether or not said printer itself has function means for performing a selected function required to perform an operation based on the print data, before said printer carries out a processing based on the print data received by the receiving section, said selected function being at least one of a color print function, a high-speed printing function, a sorting function, a FAX function and a binding function, and

wherein, in a case where said printer does not have said function means, a display section provided in said printer itself displays a message to the effect that said printer is not suitable for carrying out output processing of the print data, and

further wherein said portable data storage means also stores user management identification data, and transmits the user management identification data to said printer; and

said printer control system limits the performance of an operation by said printer based on the user management identification data received from said portable data storage means.