Technical field

The application relates generally to a printing system. Background Power distribution unit comprises a multitude of electrical wires. The electrician needs to mark the wires to enable subsequent identification thereof during service and maintenance. Each wire is identified from a label attached thereto and consisting of several letters and numbers.

Marking is performed by using plastic wire bands which are threaded or pressed around a wire. Since one band always represents one character and the marking of often one-of-a-kind wire identification labels requires several characters, the installer will have to carry along a large supply of bands.

Should it be desirable to mark the wire with a label tag "123R1 ", the installer is forced to use an appropriate installation pin for threading bands with charac- ters 1 , 2, 3, R, 1 and 2, i.e. a total of six bands, around the wire one at a time.

The large number of characters on a label and the inconvenience in threading bands hinder significantly the process of wire marking.

In order to facilitate and expedite the marking exercise, it is possible to employ an appropriate printer, which is not in the vicinity of a power distribution unit, for printing each label in advance on a plastic tubing or adhesive wrapper, which is threaded or glued around the wire at installation site.

Since there are generally a large number of printed labels, the installer will be forced to look for a correct label in case of each wire, which is why the installation and marking work is nevertheless not significantly facilitated or expedited. Summary

It is one objective of the invention to eliminate the prior art problems and to provide a mobile printing system, which enables printing with a portable printer at the worksite by using a mobile communicator and just voice commands - without a manual input of data by way of the mobile communicator's user interface (hands-free) or without eyeing the mobile communicator (eyes-free).

The one objective of the invention is attained with a printing system of claim 1 , a printing method of claim 8, a computer program of claim 9, and a computer program product of claim 10.

One embodiment relates to a printing system, comprising a mobile communicator which is adapted to transmit printable data by means of a short-range communication link to a portable printer for printing. In addition, the mobile communicator is adapted to uphold an observation mode, wherein it is possi- ble to detect in a non-contact manner a user-issued printing command which comprises printable data given only by way of speech, and to acquire the printable data from the detected printing command.

The term "mobile communicator" is used for example in reference to a portable (mobile) device capable of communicating in a telecommunications network for example by means of a radio link. The mobile communicator can be for example a mobile phone, smart phone, palmtop computer, tablet computer and laptop computer.

The term "short-range communication link" is used for example in reference to short-range radio communication, for example Bluetooth communication, and to short-range infrared communication.

The term "portable printer" is used for example in reference to a printer which is mobile - carried along with a user - for example to a heat transfer, thermal, inkjet, LED or laser printer suitable for label printing.

The term "non-contact" is used for example in reference to controlling a mobile communicator without touching it directly, for example with fingers, or indirectly by means of a control element, for example a pointing stick or the like.

One embodiment relates to a printing method, comprising upholding an observation mode, wherein it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner a user- issued printing command which comprises printable data given only by way of speech. In addition, the method comprises acquiring the printable data from the detected printing command and transmitting the printable data by way of a short-range communication link to a portable printer for printing. One embodiment relates to a computer program, executed in computer and comprising an upholding code which is adapted to uphold an observation mode, wherein it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner a user-issued printing command which comprises printable data given only by way of speech. In addition, the computer program comprises an acquisition code which is adapted to acquire the printable data from the detected printing command, and a transmission code which is adapted to transmit the printable data by way of a short-range communication link to a portable printer for printing.

One embodiment relates to a computer program product, comprising a com- puter program which is executed in computer and which comprises an upholding code which is adapted to uphold an observation mode, wherein it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner a user-issued printing command which comprises printable data given only by way of speech. In addition, the computer program comprises an acquisition code which is adapted to acquire the printable data from the detected printing command, and a transmission code which is adapted to transmit the printable data by way of a short-range communication link to a portable printer for printing.

Other embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the figures Embodiments of the invention will be discussed more precisely in the detailed description of the figures with reference to the accompanying figures, in which fig. 1 shows the principle of the printing system, and

fig. 2 shows the functional units of a mobile communicator used in the printing system. Detailed description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows a printing system 100 working in all languages, comprising a mobile communicator 1 10 of a user 102, for example a smart phone, and a portable printer 130, for example a heat transfer printer, both provided with a feature, for example a Bluetooth feature, which enables a short-range communi- cation link.

The user 102 is for example an electrician with a job of marking for example electrical cables during the installation of an electricity distribution unit. Other objects to be marked in electrical installation can be for example conductors, socket-outlets, terminal boxes, and electromechanical components. Further objects may include components and conductors in the assembly of electrical equipment and automation and telecommunication cabinets. The mobile communicator 1 10 has a printing application 290, which enables the user 102 to issue a printing command 140 to a printer 130 without touching the mobile communicator 1 10 or the actual printer 130.

The application 290 is adapted to uphold in the mobile communicator 1 10 an observation mode enabling it to detect the printing command 140, which is is- sued by the user 102 and which activates a printing program and comprises printable data 142, for example a cable label, given only by way of speech

The application 290 enables trouble-free printing as the user 102 is able to issue the printing command 140 without finger-tapping data input by way of a user interface 256 of the mobile communicator 1 10 and without eyeing the mobile communicator 1 10.

In addition, the system 100 is capable of achieving time and cost saving as it enables the user 102 to perform other jobs, for example making cable connections, concurrently with printing and the user 102 need not switch from the actual assignment in order to perform printing and from printing back to the as- signment.

It is only by way of speech that the user 102 may supply the mobile communicator 1 10 with the printing command 140, whereby the mobile communicator 1 10 uses an integrated microphone 256 to receive the printing command 140 and the application 290 identifies the printing command 140 which contains an activating command and the data 142.

The printing command 140 can be for example in the form of <command> <da- ta 142>. Should the user 102 wish to print a piece of information "Box 1 PR12K" and the printing command 140 comprises an activation command "Make label", he or she shall have to utter "Make label box one p r twelve k". In order to improve identification exactness, the letters can be optionally entered with first names, for example 1 PR125K is uttered as "one Peter Robert one hundred twenty-five Kevin" The system 100 speeds up feeding of the data 142 as the user 102 need not by means of the user interface 256 of the printer 130 inconveniently and frus- tratingly select printable characters from among hundreds of characters.

Alternatively, the mobile communicator 1 10 can be outfitted with at least one motion detector, whereby the user 102 can issue an activation command for example with a hand movement. The mobile communicator 1 10 identifies the movement and prepares to receive the data 142 given by the user 102 in the form of speech.

If the mobile communicator 1 10 has connected therewith for example a wire- less Bluetooth or wired headset 258, the mobile communicator 1 10 will be able to receive the verbally expressed printing command 140, which includes the data 142, by means of the headset 258.

Depending on the intended use and the number of words to be recognized, the speech recognition of the system 100 can be executed either in the mobile communicator 1 10 and/or in at least one network element 106. If speech recognition can be carried out both in the mobile communicator 1 10 and in at least one network element 106, the application 290 shall choose the recognition which is more exact of the two.

In identification effected in the mobile communicator 1 10, the application 290 with a speech recognition feature shall record (tape) from the received printing command 140 at least the data 142, and after the recording is concluded, shall identify the data 142 from the printing command 140.

In identification external of the mobile communicator 1 10, said mobile communicator 1 10 shall transmit a taped printing command 140 over at least one tel- ecommunication network 104, for example a mobile phone network and/or the internet, to the network element 106 for identification as shown in the figure. Having received the printing command 140, the network element 106 identifies the data 142 therefrom and transmits the identified data 142 over the telecommunication network 104 back to the smart phone 1 10. The at least one network element 106 comprises at least one server computer, which may include a processor unit, which comprises at least one processor and which is used to execute instructions defined for example by the user 102 or some application program and to process data. In addition, the network el- ement 106 may include a memory unit comprising at least one memory for recording and storing for example instructions and application programs.

The network element 106 may further include a data transfer unit, by means of which it transmits and receives information over the telecommunication net- work 104, for example a mobile phone network and/or the internet, and a user interface unit for inputting and/or displaying information.

The network element 106 may have its memory unit provided with an application controlling operation of the data transfer unit, an application controlling operation of the user interface unit, and an application intended for controlling the printing process and containing a speech recognition application (speech recognition component).

It is in the speech recognition component that a printing command 140 is received, printable data 142 is identified and the identified data 142 is transmitted to the mobile communicator 1 10. In practice, the recognition engine is the same as in the mobile communicator 1 10 but has been set up with slightly different parameters. The setups provide more precise identification exactness and at the same time there is constructed an application programming interface (API), which enables a subsequent use of other recognition engines.

After acquiring the data 142 by conducting either local or external speech recognition, the application shall repeat the data 142 to the user 102 as a voice message 170 by means of the integrated speaker 256 or headset microphone 258. The voice message 170 is implemented in concise vocabularies by repeating a recording that matches each word or in more extensive vocabularies from the text by means of speech synthesis. If the user 102 detects from a voice message 170 repeated by the application 290 that the speech recognition has been erroneous or he/she has issued incorrect data 142, the user 102 has a chance to revise the printing command 140 by issuing a correction command 184, which contains revised data 142. The application 290 carries out speech recognition from the correction com- mand 184 the same way as from the original printing command 140.

The correction command 184 can be in the form of <correctioncommand> <da- ta 142>. Should the user 102 wish to revise a piece of information "Box 1 PR12K" and the correction activating command is "Revise", he/she shall have to say "Revise box one p r twelve k".

If the user 102 detects from a voice message 170 that the data 142 to be identified has been identified correctly, he/she supplies by way of speech the smart phone 1 10 with a confirmation command 180, which comprises quantity data 182 for printouts 90.

The confirmation command 180 can be for example in the form of <confirma- tioncommand> <quantitydata>. If the user 102 wishes to confirm a printout, the confirmation activating command is "Print", and if the desired number of printouts 190 is 5, he/she shall utter "Print five". If no quantity data 182 is uttered, the application 290 shall conclude that the number of printable printouts 190 is one.

The mobile communicator 1 10 receives the confirmation command 180 of the user 102 and the application 290 identifies the quantity data 182 therefrom. Al- ternatively, the confirmation command 180 can be transmitted over the telecommunication network 104 to the network element 106 for identification.

After receiving the quantity data 182 by executing either local or external speech recognition, the mobile communicator 1 10 transmits the printable data 142 and the printout quantity data 182 over a short-range communication link 120 to the printer 130 for printing.

The printer 130, which can be provided for example with connecting means for connecting to mains current or with a battery for improving mobility, prints a number of printouts 190 consistent with the quantity data 182, for example label printouts, on which is printed the data 142 given by the user 102. After printing, the application 290 accumulates information from conducted printing, updates printing and the like statistics, and proceeds to wait in the observation mode for the next printing command 140 issued by the user 102.

The system 100 compiles statistics on information, for example improvement of identification exactness, for commercial purposes and the adaptivity of speech recognition. The accumulated information is uploaded over the telecommunication network 104 onto the network element 106, in which a more extensive analysis of the information takes place. The system 100 is applicable for example to continuous (rolled) printing materials, from which is cut off a printout 190 after the printing or which optionally comprise a roll of cut-to-shape labels.

The material for printouts 190 can be for example adhesive paper, self- adhesive plastic label or heat shrink tubing, depending on the employed printer 130.

The system 100 is suitable not only for electrical installations but also for all industrial, healthcare and service sectors, as well as for office and domestic use. Typical industrial uses include installation and assembly work that requires identification of products, components and conductors. In healthcare, the use is for example marking blood, urine, and the like samples. In addition, the system 100 is useful in warehouses and retail stores for the marking of packages and products.

Fig. 2 shows functional units for a mobile communicator 210. The mobile communicator 210 comprises a processor unit 250, including at least one processor and used for executing instructions defined for example by the user 102 or some application program and for processing data.

The mobile communicator 210 has a memory unit 252, comprising at least one memory and used for recording and storing for example instructions and appli- cation programs.

The mobile communicator 210 further includes a data transfer unit 254 by means of which the mobile communicator 210 transmits and receives information over a mobile phone network and/or the internet, and a Bluetooth/infrared unit 255 by means of which the mobile communicator transmits and/or receives information over a Bluetooth and/or infrared communication link.

In addition, the mobile communicator 210 includes a user interface unit 256, comprising not only an integrated microphone/speaker unit but also at least one of the following: a keyboard, at least one function key, a display, a touch- pad, a touch screen, and at least one motion detector. The mobile communicator 210 may further include a wireless or wired headset 258 connectable therewith. The memory unit 252 comprises an application 294 controlling operation of the data transfer unit 254, an application 295 controlling operation of the Bluetooth/infrared unit 255, an application 296 controlling operation of the user interface unit 256, and an application (computer program) 290, which is intended for controlling the printing and which may include a speech recognition application should the mobile communicator 210 be adapted to perform speech recognition locally. In addition, the memory unit 252 may comprise an application 298 intended for controlling the headset 258.

The memory unit 252 and the application 290, jointly with the processor unit 250, are adapted to enable the mobile communicator 210, by means of the user interface 256, to at least uphold an observation mode, wherein it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner a printing command 140, which is issued by the user 102 and which comprises printable data 142 given only by way of speech. In addition, the memory unit 252 and the application 290, jointly with the processor unit 250, are adapted to enable the mobile communicator 210 to acquire the printable data 142 from the detected printing command 140 and to transmit the same by means of the Bluetooth/infrared unit 255 over a short- range communication link 120 to the printer 130 for printing.

The application 290, which does not require a continuous telecommunication link for its operation, enables the implementation of printing by means of the mobile communicator 210 and the printer 130 when it is executed in the mobile communicator 210. It comprises an upholding code, which is adapted to uphold, by means of the user interface 256, an observation mode, wherein it is possible to detect in a non-contact manner a printing command 140, which is issued by the user 102 and which comprises printable data 142 given only by way of speech. In addition, the application 290 comprises an acquisition code which is adapted to acquire the printable data 142 from the printing command 140 detected at least by means of the processor unit 250, and a transmission code which is adapted by means of the Bluetooth/infrared unit 255 to transmit the printable data 142 over a short-range communication link 120 to the printer 130 for printing.

When set in the observation mode, the application 290 is continuously listening to the microphone or headset 258 of the user interface unit 256. Upon detecting speech, the speech recognition application of the application 290 identifies whether the question is about a printing command 140 or something else. If the question is about a printing command 140, the application 290 starts recording the speech. Recording is stopped once the conclusion of speech is detected.

The application 290 also enables the user 102 to correct and/or input the print- able data 142 by way of the user interface 256, as well as to transmit the data 142 to the printer 130. The application 290 enables an optional language to be set, for example type, use of punctuation marks and font size, and printer- specific definitions for the printer 130.

In addition, the application 290 compiles statistics about conducted speech recognitions and printings, identification exactness and other information. It is further possible for the user 102, by means of the application 290, to conveniently order for example printing material (label rolls) or printing cassettes.

The application 290 can be a computer program product, which comprises a data transfer medium readable with the mobile communicator (computer) 210, for example a CD disc or USB flash drive provided with a computer program code intended to be executed with the mobile communicator 210.

The foregoing are just a few embodiments of the invention. The principle according to the invention can naturally be modified within the scope of protection defined by the claims, regarding for example implementation details as well as fields of use.