JP2002169679A - User interface apparatus, image input apparatus, image output control apparatus, and image output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow efficient operations of operating screen and avoid wrong occurrence of jobs on an image output apparatus impossible to output by displaying a common operating screen in a plurality of image output apparatuses having different attributes. SOLUTION: To a network 10, a plurality of printers 16, a server 14 and a scanner 12 are connected. The server 14 generates a signal generating operating screen based on each attribute of the printers 16 which have not gone down among the multiple printers 16 to transmit to the scanner 12. At the scanner 12, image data is inputted, the common operating screen generated based on the signal generating the operating screen is displayed on a display panel. Information designating a printer 16 and information on output forms of images is inputted from the panel to be transmitted to the server 14. The server 14 verifies whether the designated printer 16 has not gone down, if has not, the information on the output forms of the images and the image data transmitted from the scanner 12 is transmitted to the designated printer 16 to output images based on the transmitted information and the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a user interface device, an image input device, an image output management device, and an image output system, and more particularly, to a plurality of printers connected to a network and a scanner for reading an image of a document. , And an image output system comprising a printer server,
The present invention relates to a user interface device applicable to the image output system, an image output management device applicable to the image output system, and an image input device applicable to the image output system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional copying machine reads an image of a document placed on a platen by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and records a latent image on a photosensitive drum using a semiconductor laser.
An image is output by developing a latent image on a photosensitive drum using an electrophotographic process and transferring the developed image onto paper. This copier is provided with a small display panel having a configuration in which a touch panel is superimposed on a display panel formed of a liquid crystal display panel as a user interface. Therefore, the amount of information that can be simultaneously displayed on the display panel and the density of information that can be set are limited. There is a limit to the density of information that can be specified.

[0003]

On the other hand, when a network printer is constructed in which a plurality of printers are connected to a network so that each printer can output an image, a scanner which is a reading device for reading an original and a scanner which is a scanner for reading an original are used. It is assumed that the printer is configured by a printer server that processes received image data as appropriate and transmits the processed image data to a designated printer. This scanner is usually connected to a single network, and has the same function as the image reading function of a copier used alone. For efficient output, the scanner is provided in the copier. It is conceivable that a display panel similar to a display panel as a user interface is provided so that a printer for outputting an image from the display panel and an output format can be specified. However, with the display panel provided in the current scanner, the amount of information that can be displayed simultaneously and the density of the information that can be set are limited, and even if the display panel of a copier used alone is applied as it is. It was not efficient when configuring a network printer.

In general, various types of printers having different attributes such as model, function, maker, and network address are connected on a network, and different output instructions are issued to various printers having different attributes from a specific location. By doing so, there is a demand for more efficient output. However, in order to realize such a system, it is necessary to display operation screens corresponding to various printers on the display panel, and the types of operation screens increase as the types of printers increase. There was a problem that it was difficult to operate well.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to connect the same type of printer to the network in order to make the operation screen displayed on the display panel common. However, even if a printer of the same maker is connected to the network, various output requests are required. In order to respond, it is necessary to connect a black-and-white printer, a color printer, and printers having different resolutions in a mixed manner, and it is difficult to make the operation screen common.

In addition, a monochrome printer and a color printer,
When a job is executed by a plurality of printers having different attributes such as printers having different resolutions, even if a trouble occurs in one printer and printing becomes impossible, the job cannot be transferred to another printer. There's a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a common operation screen can be displayed for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes, so that the operation screen can be operated efficiently. It is another object of the present invention to provide a user interface device, an image input device, an image output management device, and an image output system that prevent a job from being erroneously generated in an image output device that cannot output.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a user interface device according to claim 1 is provided.
On the basis of attribute information of each of a plurality of image output devices connected via a network, an operation screen for selecting only an image output device capable of outputting is displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input device which is connected to a network and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. Equipment and
While connected to the network, check the status of the plurality of image output devices, and generate a signal for generating an operation screen based only on the attribute information of each of the image output devices that can be output among the plurality of image output devices. And an image output management device for transmitting information and an image data relating to an output format of the transmitted image to a designated image output device. An image data input device for inputting image data, and an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating the operation screen are displayed, and information specifying an image output device for outputting the image from the displayed operation screen A display input device for inputting information on an output format of an image output from the designated image output device, and a display input device connected to the network. And transmitting the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network, and generating the operation screen via the network. A transmitting and receiving device for receiving a signal,
It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of image outputs is connected to a network, and outputs an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. Equipment and
Connected to the network, generates and transmits a signal for generating an operation screen based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, and outputs based on the status of the image output device for which confirmation has been requested. An image output management device that transmits information on the output format of the transmitted image and image data to the specified image output device when a possible image output device is specified; An input device, wherein an image data input device for inputting the image data and an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating the operation screen are displayed, and the image is output from the displayed operation screen. A display input device for inputting information for specifying an image output device and information about an output format of an image output from the specified image output device; Along with being connected to the network, a request is made for confirmation of the status of the specified image output device for each predetermined operation of the operation screen, and when an image output device capable of outputting is specified, the status is input from the display input device. A transmission / reception device that transmits information and image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network, and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network. It is characterized by having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output management device which is connected to a network and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. An output device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and an image output device that displays an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen and outputs an image from the displayed operation screen. A display input device for inputting information to be specified and information on an output format of an image to be output from the specified image output device; and information and the image data connected to the network and input from the display input device. The image data input from the input device is transmitted to the image output management device via the network, and And a transmission / reception device for receiving a signal for generating the operation screen via a network, the image output management device being used for an image output system, wherein the status of the plurality of image output devices is connected to the network. And generating and transmitting a signal for generating an operation screen based only on the attribute information of each of the image output devices that can be output among the plurality of image output devices, and outputting the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device. The information on the format and the image data are transmitted to a designated image output device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output management apparatus which is connected to a network and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. An output device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and an image output device that displays an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen and outputs an image from the displayed operation screen. A display input device for inputting information to be specified, and information on an output format of an image to be output from the specified image output device, and based on a status of the image output device connected to the network and requested to be confirmed The information input from the display input device when the image output device capable of output is specified, and the image data input device. And a transmission / reception device for transmitting a signal for generating the operation screen via the network while transmitting the image data input from the MFP to the image output management device via the network. An image output management device, which is connected to the network, generates and transmits a signal for generating an operation screen based on attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, and designates a signal for each predetermined operation of the operation screen Requesting confirmation of the status of the output image output device, and when an image output device capable of output is specified, information on the output format of the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device and the image output device specified with the image data Is transmitted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output management apparatus which is connected to a network and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. An output device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and an image output device that displays an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen and outputs an image from the displayed operation screen. A display input device for inputting information to be specified and information on an output format of an image to be output from the specified image output device; and information and the image data connected to the network and input from the display input device. The image data input from the input device is transmitted to the image output management device via the network, and A transmitting / receiving device for receiving a signal for generating the operation screen through a network, and a status of a plurality of image output devices connected to the network, and an image output capable of being output among the plurality of image output devices. A signal for generating an operation screen is generated and transmitted based only on the attribute information of each device, and information on an output format of an image transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device and the image data are transmitted to a designated image output device. And an image output management device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output management apparatus which is connected to a network and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. An output device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and an image output device that displays an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen and outputs an image from the displayed operation screen. A display input device for inputting information to be specified, and information on an output format of an image to be output from the specified image output device, and based on a status of the image output device connected to the network and requested to be confirmed The information input from the display input device and the image data input device when an image output device capable of output is designated. A transmission / reception device that transmits the image data input from the device to the image output management device via the network, and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network; Generates and transmits a signal for generating an operation screen based on the attribute information of each of the image output devices, and requests confirmation of the status of the image output device specified for each predetermined operation of the operation screen, and outputs an image that can be output. And an image output management device for transmitting information on an output format of an image transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device and the image data to the specified image output device when an output device is specified. .

The user interface device according to the first aspect of the present invention displays, on the basis of attribute information of each of a plurality of image output devices connected via a network, an operation screen on which only an image output device capable of outputting can be selected. Therefore, the attribute of the image output device that cannot be output before the operation screen is generated is not displayed on the operation screen, and it is possible to prevent a job from being erroneously generated in the image output device that cannot output.

[0016] Claims 2, 4, and 6 above
In each of the inventions, a plurality of image output devices, an image output management device, and an image input device including an image data input device, a display input device, and a transmission / reception device are connected to the network. The image output management device checks the status of the plurality of image output devices, generates a signal for generating an operation screen based only on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices that can output, and transmits and receives the signal. Send to
The transmitting / receiving device receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network. Image data is input from the image data input device, and the operation screen generated based on the signal for generating the operation screen is displayed on the display input device. And
Information specifying an image output device that outputs an image from the displayed operation screen and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device are input to the display input device. Information input from the display input device and image data input from the image data input device are transmitted to the image output management device via the network by the transmission / reception device. The image output management device transmits information on the output format of the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device and the image data to the designated image output device. The image output device outputs an image based on image data transmitted via a network and information on an output format of the image.

Thus, a common operation screen can be displayed for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes, and the operation screen can be efficiently operated, and the image output that cannot be output before the operation screen is generated By preventing the attributes of the device from being displayed on the operation screen, it is possible to prevent a job from being erroneously output to an image output device that cannot output.

The third, fifth and seventh aspects of the present invention are described above.
In each of the inventions, a plurality of image output devices, an image output management device, and an image input device including an image data input device, a display input device, and a transmission / reception device are connected to the network. The image output management device generates a signal for generating an operation screen based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, transmits the signal to the transmission / reception device, and the transmission / reception device receives the signal for generating the operation screen via a network. I do. Image data is input from the image data input device, and the operation screen generated based on the signal for generating the operation screen is displayed on the display input device. Then, information specifying an image output device that outputs an image from the displayed operation screen and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device are input to the display input device. The information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device are transmitted and received when an output-capable image output device is specified based on the status of the image output device for which confirmation is requested. The information is transmitted to the image output management device via the network by the device. The image output management device requests the confirmation of the status of the specified image output device for each predetermined operation on the operation screen, and when the image output device capable of outputting is specified, the output format of the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device. And transmits image information and image data to the designated image output device. The image output device outputs an image based on image data transmitted via a network and information on an output format of the image.

Thus, a common operation screen can be displayed for a plurality of image output apparatuses having different attributes, and the operation screen can be efficiently operated, and the image output apparatus which cannot output after the operation screen is generated. Image data or the like is not transmitted to the image output device that cannot output data, thereby preventing a job from being generated by mistake.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the print system according to the present embodiment
A scanner 12 serving as an image data input device for inputting image data, a server 14, and printers 16 ₁ , 1 serving as a plurality of image output devices.
6 _2, ··· 16 _n, and a plurality of clients 18 _1, 1
8 _2, which are connected to · · · 18 _n. This image data is stored in, for example, a TIFF (Tagged Image File Form).
at) format. Further, the MFP 10 is connected to the network 10 and has a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 12 displays a scanner section 12A having a CCD for reading an image recorded on a document, a printing operation screen having a plurality of icons, and A display panel 12B functioning as a user interface for inputting data such as a print format (output format) of the printer by contact, a controller 12C for controlling the entire scanner, and a scanner unit 12.
A memory 12 for storing image data and the like read by A
D and an input / output port 12E for inputting and outputting data
The scanner unit 12A, the display panel 12B, the controller 12C, the memory 12D, and the input / output port 12E are interconnected via a bus. The input / output port 12E is connected to the network 10 via a communication control unit 12F that communicates with a device connected to the network via the network.

The user interface for inputting data from the printing operation screen includes a user interface component which is an element of screen information such as an icon, a button, a scroll bar, and a frame, and a printer 1 represented by text data.
The attribute information of the printer 16 is stored in the memory 12D of the scanner, and the attribute information of the printer 16 is stored in the server 14 as described later. The screen information is, for example, HTML (Hypertext Matrix).
keup Language).

As described above, the user interface is separated into the user interface parts and the attribute information, and the data constituting the user interface is transmitted from the server 14 to the scanner 12 by being stored separately in the scanner 12 and the server 14. In this case, the amount of data transmitted from the server 14 to the scanner 12 can be reduced, thereby promptly displaying the user interface on the display panel 1.
2B. Note that the memory 12D also stores a program for a processing routine described later.

It should be noted that the user interface for displaying the print operation screen may generate all information in the server 14 and transmit it to the controller 12 C of the scanner 12 without separately storing the information.

Further, instead of the scanner 12, FDD,
Computerized image data recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM may be read and input, or image data may be input from a facsimile or a database using a personal computer. The image data may be input using mail software installed in the software.

[0026] The printer _{16 1, 16 2, ··· 16} n is,
Since they have substantially the same configuration and differ only in the attributes, one printer will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and the description of the other printers will be omitted. In the following, in the case where each printer is described without particular distinction, the suffix at the end of the reference numeral is omitted, and the printer is referred to as a printer 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 16 records an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, develops the electrostatic latent image using monochrome toner or color toner, and records the developed image on a recording medium. A printer unit 16A for transferring and outputting to paper;
A display panel 16B for displaying the operation screen and operating the printer 16 by touching an icon on the displayed operation screen, a controller 16C for controlling the entire printer 16, and storing received image data and output format data. A printer 16A, a display panel 16B, a controller 16A, a memory 16D in which programs for processing routines to be described later are stored in advance, and an input / output port 16E for inputting and outputting data.
C, the memory 16D, and the input / output port 16E are interconnected via a bus. The input / output port 16E is
It is connected to the network 10 via a communication control unit 16F that communicates with devices connected to the network via the network.

The server 14 has an FD as an external storage device.
A driver 2 that can also write and read data recorded on a D, CD-ROM, CD-RW, or the like
0, a facsimile machine 22, and a database 24 storing attribute information and the like of all printers 16 connected to the network.

As shown in FIG. 4, the server 14 includes a controller 14A for controlling the entire server, a mailer for storing received data, a mailer for transmitting and receiving mail, a program for controlling transmission and reception of the facsimile machine, and a program to be described later. A memory 14B preliminarily storing a processing routine program and the like, a driver 2 composed of a CD-ROM writer, etc.
0, an interface 14C, a drive 14D for driving the facsimile machine 22, a file system 14E connected to the database 24, and an input / output port 14F for inputting / outputting data. The memory 14B, the interface 14C, the driving device 14D, the file system 14E, and the input / output port 14F are interconnected. The input / output port 14E is provided with a communication control unit 14G that communicates with a device connected to the network via the network.
Is connected to the network 10 via the.

The database 24 may be provided with a database server connected to a network separately from the server 14, and connected to this database server.

The clients 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ ,... 18 _n
Are composed of personal computers each having a communication control unit for communicating with devices connected to the network via the network.

A processing routine executed by each controller of the scanner, server, and printer according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. This processing routine is divided into respective routines of attribute information registration processing, operation screen display processing, print instruction processing, and print processing.

[Attribute Information Registration Process] The attribute information registration process is a process of registering the attribute information of the printer 16 connected to the network in the database connected to the server 14.

When the printer 16 is connected to the network 10, an operation panel (not shown) provided on the server 14 or a client 18 connected to the server 14 via the network from a management tool software provided on the server 14 Is operated, attribute information registration processing for registering attribute information of the printer 16 in the server 14 is performed. That is, in the server 14, if it is determined in step 108 shown in FIG. 6 that the attribute information registration processing request is made in accordance with the instruction to the management tool software, the server 14 registers the printer attribute information in the printer 16 in step 109. Is transmitted.

In the printer 16, step 100 in FIG.
It is determined whether or not the registration processing request signal has been received. When the registration processing request signal is received, the attribute information of the printer 16 is transmitted from the printer 16 to the server 14 in step 102.

The server 14 determines whether or not the attribute information transmitted from the printer 16 has been received in step 110, and when the attribute information has been received, in step 112,
By controlling the file system 14E, the attribute information of the printer 16 is registered in the database 24.

When the printer 16 is connected to the network 10, the attribute information may be automatically transmitted from the printer 16 to the server 14, and the attribute information may be automatically registered in the database 24. 14, the attribute information of the printer 16 may be detected, and the detected attribute information may be registered in the database. Also,
By operating the display panel 16 </ b> B provided on the printer 16, the attribute information of the printer 16 can be registered in the server 14. Thus, the attribute information of all the printers 16 connected to the network 10 is registered in the database 24 connected to the server 14.

The attribute information of the printer 16 includes information indicating whether the printer 16 is for monochrome printing or color printing, information indicating whether or not there is a double-sided printing function, and a finisher (such as a stapling function and a punching function). Information indicating whether or not there is, information indicating whether the resolution is high or low, information indicating the size of paper that can be printed, information on the type of fonts provided in each printer, and color maps and color adjustment information specific to color printers Information on output formats such as color characteristic information, information on the installation location of each printer (floor, department, etc. installed in one building, offices installed in different buildings, etc.), IP There is information for identifying the printer, such as network setting information such as an address, and printer name information. There is registered in the database as the attribute information.

[Operation Screen Display Processing] When the scanner 12 is activated, an initial screen shown in FIG. 8 is first displayed on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12, and then a menu screen for service selection shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Is displayed. On this menu screen, as shown in FIG. 9, a service selection button 200 displayed as an icon is displayed.
Clicking on 0A selects the copy (print) service, and clicking on button 200B selects the scanner service.

When the operator presses the button 200A from the menu screen shown in FIG. 9 displayed on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12 and selects the copy service, the output method / storage destination shown in FIG. 10 is specified. Is displayed. This operation screen includes a group display unit 202 for displaying the printers 16 connected to the network 10 in groups registered in advance by an operator's operation, and a setting unit 2 for setting an output method and the like.
04, and a numeric keypad 206.
The setting unit 204 displays selection buttons 205 such as an output method displayed as icons. As an option of the output method, one job is output by one printer without being divided. “No divided output”, and the number of input copies are divided so that the number of output copies of each printer are equal and output to a plurality of printers. "Equal output (equal output)", output the same number of copies from each printer "broadcast output (broadcast output)", specify multiple printers, specify the number of copies for each printer “Specify the number of copies individually (specify the number of copies)” and “best fit (best fit)” that specify the output conditions and select the printer that is most suitable for the conditions. By clicking the selection button 205, one of the output methods can be selected. The operation screen shown in FIG. 10 shows a state in which “broadcast output” in which the same number of copies as the number of input copies are output from each printer is selected as an output method.

When one of the groups of the printer 16 displayed on the group display unit 202 of the operation screen is selected by the operator, it is determined in step 154 in FIG.
In, an operation screen generation request signal for generating a print operation screen is transmitted from the scanner 12 to the server. Alternatively, only information indicating that the group of the printer 16 has been selected may be transmitted from the scanner 12 to the server 14.

As the designation of the printer 16, it is possible to designate one printer 16 or one group, and to simultaneously output prints from each of the printers 16 belonging to the designated group. For example, by operating any of the group buttons 212 displayed as icons in the group display unit 202,
The printer 16 belonging to a predetermined group can be selected.

In the server 14, step 11 in FIG.
If it is determined in step 4 that the operation screen generation request signal transmitted from the scanner 12 has been received, the status of the printer 16 connected to the network 10 is checked in step 116, and the operation screen generation request signal and the registered operation screen generation request signal are registered. Based on the attribute information of the printer 16, attribute information for generating the designated print operation screen of the printer 16 is generated, and the generated attribute information is transmitted to the scanner 12 in step 118.

As the operation screen generation request signal, all the attribute information of the printer 16 connected to the network 10 are displayed, only the attribute information of the printer 16 having the color printing function is displayed, A signal for displaying the attribute information of only the printer 16 can be transmitted.

At this time, if the status of the designated printer 16 is confirmed and the printer 16 is down due to an error such as power-off, paper jam, or no paper stored in the tray, etc. Server 14
Generates attribute information for generating a printing operation screen based only on the attribute information of a printer that can be output so that the attribute information of the down printer 16 is not displayed.

When the attribute information is transmitted from the server 14 to the scanner 12 and it is determined in step 158 in FIG. 7 that the attribute information has been received from the server 14, the scanner 1
2 combines the attribute information represented by the text data for generating the received print operation screen with the user interface components indicating the image information such as the buttons stored in the memory 12D and printing the image shown in FIG. A print operation screen is generated, and the print operation screen generated in step 160 is displayed on the display panel 12B as a user interface. The print operation screen is displayed on the group display unit 202 described above.
A parameter setting unit 20 for setting output parameters indicating an image data output format such as a paper size and a scaling ratio;
8 and the ten-key unit 206. The parameter setting unit 208 displays a parameter selection button 210 displayed as an icon.

When the operator operates the displayed print operation screen and issues a screen change instruction of the print operation screen, the operation shown in FIG.
From step 162 to steps 164 and 166, and from step 114 to steps 120 and 12 in FIG.
Proceeding to 2, the operation screen changing process is performed. In this operation screen changing process, as described in steps 156 to 160 in FIG. 7 and steps 114 to 118 in FIG.
In response to the operation of the second display panel 12B, a new operation screen generation request signal is transmitted to the server 14, and the server 14 generates attribute information for generating a new printing operation screen, and generates the attribute information. Sent. Therefore, the display of the printing operation screen is changed according to the operation using the printing operation screen on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12.

The operation screen changing process will be described in further detail. The group of the printer 16 displayed on the group display section 202 of the print operation screen by operating the print operation screen shown in FIG. Is selected, a printer 16 belonging to the group is designated, and an operation screen generation request signal for setting an output instruction to a printer belonging to the designated group is transmitted. The product is calculated, attribute information common to each group is selected, and the common attribute information is transmitted to the scanner 12. As a result, a printing operation screen for displaying the group of the printers 16 and the attribute information common to this group is newly generated and displayed.

When registering a plurality of printers 16 as one group, an operator selects attribute information indicating a function to be grouped, and generates an operation screen generation request signal for displaying the printer 16 having the attribute information. Is transmitted to the server 14, all the printers 16 having the selected attribute are displayed, and the operator selects the printers 16 to be grouped from the screen, and
By giving a grouping instruction to 4, grouping can be performed.

On the screen shown in FIG. 10, the operator selects the “do not split output” button to output one job without splitting it as an output method, and displays one of the groups of the printer 16 displayed on the group display section 202. When one is selected, a list (not shown) of the printers 16 belonging to the selected group is displayed. Alternatively, a list (not shown) of the single printers 16 that are not grouped may be displayed on the group display unit 202. From this printer list, individual printers 16
Is selected, the attribute information of the printer 16 selected in the server 14 is selected and transmitted to the scanner 12,
A print operation screen for displaying the attribute information of the selected printer 16 is generated and displayed on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12.

As the output method, when the attribute information of the printer 16 to be output, that is, the output condition is designated and the display (best fit) of the printer 16 that is most suitable for the condition is selected, the server 14 selects the output destination as the output destination. The logical sum of the attribute information of the printers 16 belonging to the selected group is calculated, the attribute information of the printer 16 based on the calculation result is transmitted to the scanner 12, and the scanner 12 generates a print operation screen and displays it on the display panel 12B. I do. This screen allows the operator to list all attribute information that can be selected.

When "specify the number of copies" is selected as the output method and one of the groups of printers 16 displayed on the group display section 202 is selected, the number of copies is displayed for each printer 16 belonging to the selected group. The individual copy number designation screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. The operator can set the number of output copies for each printer from the individual copy number designation screen. Then, a printing operation screen is displayed for each printer 16 to output.

[Print instruction processing] The operator checks the attribute information of the printer 16 on the print operation screen shown in FIG. 11, and then outputs the output parameters indicating the image data output format such as paper size and enlargement / reduction ratio from the print operation screen. Is set, and a print instruction is issued.

For example, a predetermined parameter can be set by operating any of the parameter buttons 214 displayed as icons in the parameter setting section 208. And finally the start button 21
By operating 6, the image reading is started.

In step 162 of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not a predetermined button has been operated.
Then, it is determined whether or not any of the start buttons 216 has been operated. If it is determined that any of the buttons has been operated, at step 168, it is determined whether or not printing by the designated printer 16 is possible. A printable confirmation signal is transmitted to the server.

When a printable confirmation signal is transmitted from the scanner 12 to the server 14 and it is determined in step 124 in FIG. 6 that the printable confirmation signal has been received, the status of the printer 16 specified in step 126 is confirmed.
If it is determined in step 128 that printing is possible from this status, a printing enable signal is sent to the scanner 12 in step 132.
Send to On the other hand, when it is determined in step 128 that printing is not possible, a printing disable signal is transmitted to the scanner 12 in step 130.

In the scanner 12, step 170 in FIG.
In, it is determined whether a print enable signal has been received,
If a print enable signal is received, the next step 17
In step 6, it is determined whether or not the start button has been operated by the operator to instruct image reading (scan start). If it is determined in step 176 that the start button has been pressed, in step 178, the scanner unit 12A is controlled to read an image recorded on the set document and store it as digitized image data in the memory 12D of the scanner. . In step 180, the output format input from the operation screen and the image data read from the scanner unit 12A are transmitted to the server 14. Step 176
If the start button is not operated, that is, if the parameter button is operated, the process returns to step 162 and waits until the next button is operated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 170 that the print disable signal has been input, step 172
In step 174, error information indicating that output cannot be performed in correspondence with the selected printer is displayed, and the designation of the printer is returned to the default state. In step 174, the operator is instructed to redesignate the printer 16. When the operator operates the display panel 12B to re-designate the printer 16 to be output, the process proceeds from step 162 to step 168 in the same manner as described above, and printability confirmation for confirming whether or not printing is possible on the server 14 is performed. Send a signal, step 17
If it is determined at 0 that the print enable signal has been received, and if it is determined at step 176 that the start button has been operated, the output format and image data are transmitted to the server 14 at step 178.

When a plurality of printers are designated by the group button, if at least one printer is down, the server 14 transmits a print disable signal in step 130 of FIG. Therefore, when the scanner 12 receives the print disable signal, it is possible to take measures other than displaying error information indicating that the output cannot be performed from the selected printer. For example, when a printer that is down and another printer are selected, the down printer is displayed, and warning information indicating that the job is transferred and output from a printer other than the down printer is displayed. May be displayed, and the setting of parameters such as the number of output copies may be returned to the default state, and an instruction may be issued to reset the parameters. If you can't transfer a job from a printer that is down to another printer,
Error information indicating that the processing cannot be continued may be displayed, and the designation of the printer and the setting of the parameters may be returned to the default state, and an instruction may be given to redesignate the printer and reset the parameters. If all of the designated printers are down, error information indicating that output from the selected printer cannot be performed is displayed, the designation of the printer is returned to the default state, and a redesignation of the printer is instructed. Not get.

When only a printer that is already down when the print operation screen is generated is selected, or when the printer that is already down and the other printers are generated when the print operation screen is generated. If selected, error information indicating that output cannot be performed from the selected printer is displayed, the printer specification is returned to the default state, the operation screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed again, and an instruction to re-designate the printer is issued. I do. When a printer that is already down and another printer are selected when the print operation screen is generated, the down printer 16 is displayed,
Warning information indicating that the print operation screen has been generated by a printer other than the printer 16 that is down may be displayed. Alternatively, the printer 16 that is down without displaying the printer 16 that is down may be displayed. May not be specified.

When grouping as described above, a plurality of printers 16 having different functions as attributes are provided.
May be set in advance so that they belong to the same group, and based on the same image data, the printed matter is output from each of the printer 16 having the color output function and the printer 16 having the monochrome output function. In this case, by specifying output such as one copy output from the printer 16 having the color output function and the remaining copy output from the printer 16 having the black-and-white output function, it is possible to compare the output in the case of outputting all colors. Cost can be reduced.

The number of output copies may be specified according to the size (for example, one copy for A4 and the remaining number for B4), or the number of output copies may be specified according to the recording surface (for example, for both sides). The number of output copies may be specified according to the presence or absence of a finisher (for example, 1 copy, the number of copies remaining on one side) (for example, 1 copy with a stapler, and the remaining copy without a stapler).

Further, one job is transferred to a plurality of printers 16.
In the case of instructing to execute the job, the jobs of the respective printers 16 are independently positioned in the lower layer of one job, and the operation of the upper layer job (start, stop, restart, change, delete, etc.)
Thus, the upper-layer job and all lower-layer jobs can be executed in the same manner. The lower-layer jobs may be operated independently to be executed independently.

[Printing Process] In step 134 of FIG. 6, the process returns to step 124 until the server 14 determines that the output format and the image data (job) from the scanner 12 have been received, and the print enable confirmation signal is received. If it is determined that the output format and the image data have been received by the server 14, the printer 16 designated to execute the job in step 136.
Is checked, and it is determined from the status checked in step 138 whether printing is possible. If an error occurs in the printer 16 designated for printing and printing is not possible,
In step 130, a print disable signal is transmitted to the scanner 12. As a result, the scanner 12 determines in step 180 that the print disable signal has been received after the output format and image data transmission, and as described above, the operator
Printer 1 instructed by the operation screen to re-designate, and the operator operates display panel 12B to output
When redesignation 6 is performed, the print enable signal is received, and when the start of scanning is instructed, the image is read, and the output format and the image data are transmitted to the server 14 again. Until it is determined in step 182 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the flow returns to step 180 to repeatedly determine whether or not a print disable signal has been received.

Even if the printer 16 is re-designated after the output format and the image data are transmitted from the scanner 12 to the server 14, the output format and the image data are normally not changed because the output format and the image data are not normally changed. The output format and the image data already transmitted to the server 14 may be used without being transmitted to the server 14. If the output format has to be changed due to re-designation of the printer 16, only the output format may be transmitted and changed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 138 that printing is possible, the image data output format signal indicating the paper size, the number of copies, and the like, and the input from the scanner 12 are input to the printer 16 designated for printing by the server 14 in step 140. The transmitted image data is transmitted via the network 10.

When the printer 16 determines in step 104 of FIG. 5 that the output format and the image data transmitted from the server 14 have been received, the printer 16 outputs the image based on the image data in the output format designated in step 106. Is formed on the recording paper, and the recording paper on which the image is formed is output.

As described above, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, if a printer goes down before the operation screen is generated, the attributes of the downed printer are not displayed on the operation screen, and the downed printer is displayed. By displaying the attribute, the attribute of the downed printer is not displayed on the operation screen, and the downed printer is not displayed and cannot be specified, so that a job is not erroneously generated in the downed printer.
Also, every time a predetermined button is operated on the operation screen, the presence or absence of a downed printer is checked, and image data and the like are not transmitted to the downed printer by displaying the downed printer. Jobs do not occur.

Also, since the scanner is provided with an operation screen having a plurality of icons, and a display panel functioning as a user interface for inputting data such as a print format of the printer by touching the displayed icons is provided. When inputting image data with a scanner, by first instructing the operation screen displayed on this display panel to operate a normal copier, first set output parameters and then press the start button. It is possible to automatically perform processing from reading of a document to printing.

Since the attribute information of the printer connected to the network is registered in the database of the server, the attribute information of the printer connected to the network can be extracted from the scanner. Note that the attribute information of the printer connected to the network can be similarly extracted from a client other than the scanner.

Further, in the server, an operation screen is generated based on an operation screen generation request signal for displaying the attribute information of all or some of the printers connected to the network, and the attribute information of the printer connected to the network. Since the text data to be generated is generated and transmitted to the scanner, the scanner generates an operation screen based on the transmitted text data and the like, and displays the generated operation screen on the display panel as a user interface. A common operation screen can be displayed for a plurality of printers having attributes, and this operation screen can be operated efficiently.

Also, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which the scanner generates an operation screen based on the transmitted text data and the like and displays the generated operation screen on the display panel as a user interface.
Providing a user interface on the client or MFP,
It can also be operated from a client or MFP. For example, when a multifunction device is connected to the print system of the present embodiment, the multifunction device normally operates as a single multifunction device, and when the “network copy mode” is instructed, the multifunction device is connected to the user interface device or the image input device. Alternatively, it may be configured to operate as an image output device. Normally, the multifunction peripheral operates as a multifunction peripheral that displays its own user interface screen on the display panel and operates independently.
When an instruction to move to the MFP is issued, a request to obtain information for generating a user interface screen is issued to the server connected via the network, and the multifunction device is operated based on the information transmitted from the server. The display panel displays a user interface screen that allows the user to specify settings and output formats for other devices connected via the network. From this screen, select the output destination printer, set the output format, give a network copy start instruction, and let the image reading section of the MFP read the original, and the read image and output destination printer and output format It is also possible to send information about the server to the server and print it.

In the present embodiment, the process from reading the document to printing is automatically performed only by pressing the start button after setting the output parameters first so as to operate a normal copying machine. Although the configuration is made as described below, the stored image can be printed out by instructing reprinting after reading and storing the image from the scanner by the scan service as described below.

When storing the image recorded on the original, the user selects a scan service by pressing the "scanner" button 200B on the menu screen shown in FIG. 9, sets the original on the scanner section 12A, and presses the start button. Push. As a result, it is determined that there is an image reading instruction, and the scanner unit 12A is controlled to read the image recorded on the document. The read image data is stored in the memory 12D of the scanner as digitized image data. In this case, for example, a printer having a color output function (color printer) and a printer having a monochrome output function (black and white printer) are connected so that image data to be used by a printer having a higher function can be obtained. In this case, the image is read so that image data for a color printer is obtained, and if a high-resolution printer and a low-resolution printer are connected, image data for a high-resolution printer is obtained. Is preferred.

When the image data is input from an external storage device in which the image data is stored in advance, the above-described image reading processing is unnecessary, and the image data read from the external storage device using a reading device (not shown) is used. May be stored in the memory 12D as common image data by one operation.

Next, when printing an image stored by the scan service, a reprint service is selected by pressing a "reprint" button 200C on the menu screen shown in FIG. In the reprint service, a desired image can be re-output from the image stored in the memory 12D of the scanner by performing a process similar to the process described in the above [Print instruction process].

In this embodiment, the image read by the scanner is temporarily stored in the memory 1 of the scanner 12.
The image data is stored in 2D, transmitted from the memory 12D to the server 14 when output to the printer 16, and transmitted to each printer 16. 14 and may be configured to be transmitted to each printer 16 when outputting to the printer 16. Further, the image read by the scanner may be temporarily stored in the memory 12D of the scanner 12, and may be directly transmitted from the memory 12D to the printer at the time of printing without passing through the server 14.

Further, the image read by the scan service is temporarily stored in the memory 12D of the scanner 12, and information indicating the storage location of the image is transmitted to the server 14 or the printer 16 so that the image can be output from the printer 16. Alternatively, the server 14 or the printer 16 may read out an image based on information indicating a storage location of the image.

In the above description, an example in which an image is output to a printer has been described. Alternatively, the information may be output as e-mail to another device (for example, a mobile phone) connected via a network.

[0080]

According to the present invention, a common operation screen is displayed for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes,
It is possible to efficiently operate the operation screen and to prevent a job from being erroneously generated in an image output apparatus that cannot output data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a scanner according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a server according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed by the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed by a server according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed by the scanner according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an initial screen displayed on the display panel when the scanner is activated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a menu screen for selecting a service.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation screen for specifying an output method / storage destination.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a printing operation screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an individual copy number designation screen for designating the number of output copies for each printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Network 12 Scanner 14 Server 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ ,... 16 _n Printer 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ ,... 18 _n Client 20 Driver 22 Facsimile Machine 24 Database 30 MFP

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihide Yoshimura 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ08 HK04 HK11 HN05 HN15 HN26 HP01 HP06 HQ03 HQ14 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB04 BB09 CC05 EE04 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA29 AB23 AC05 AF14 BA00 5E501 AC25 BA05 CA10 CB13

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A user interface device for displaying an operation screen on which only an image output device capable of outputting can be selected based on attribute information of each of a plurality of image output devices connected via a network. 2. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and a plurality of image output devices connected to the network. In addition, the status of the plurality of image output devices is checked, and a signal for generating an operation screen is generated and transmitted based on only the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices that can be output, and transmitted. And an image output management device for transmitting image information and image data to the designated image output device, the image input device being used for an image output system comprising: Image data input device, and an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating the operation screen is displayed, and the displayed operation screen is displayed. A display input device for inputting information specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the device, and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device; and a display input device connected to the network, Transmitting and receiving information input from a device and image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network, and receiving a signal for generating the operation screen via the network An image input device comprising: a device; 3. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and connected to the network. In addition, an image output device capable of generating and transmitting a signal for generating an operation screen based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, and confirming the status of the image output device for which confirmation is requested, An image output management device for transmitting information and an image data of the output format of the transmitted image to the specified image output device when specified, an image input device used for an image output system comprising: An image data input device for inputting the image data, and an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating the operation screen are displayed. A display input device for inputting information that specifies an image output device that outputs the image from the displayed operation screen, and information about an output format of the image that is output from the specified image output device; and a connection to the network. And requesting confirmation of the status of the specified image output device for each predetermined operation of the operation screen, and when an image output device capable of outputting is specified, the information input from the display input device and the information A transmission / reception device that transmits image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network, and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network. apparatus. 4. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. Data input device for displaying, an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen, information specifying an image output device for outputting an image from the displayed operation screen, and the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information about an output format of an image to be output from, and connected to the network, the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device. The image is transmitted to the image output management device via a network, and the operation screen is generated via the network. A transmission / reception device for receiving a signal to be transmitted, and an image output management device for use in an image output system, comprising: a plurality of image output devices connected to the network; A signal for generating an operation screen is generated and transmitted based only on the attribute information of each of the image output devices that can be output among the devices, and information on an output format of the image transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device and the image data are designated. Image output management device for transmitting to the output image output device. 5. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. Data input device for displaying, an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen, information specifying an image output device for outputting an image from the displayed operation screen, and the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information on an output format of an image to be output from the device, and a status of the image output device which is connected to the network and which is requested to be confirmed, and an image output device capable of outputting is designated. The information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device when the A transmission / reception device that transmits to the image output management device via a work, and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network, and an image output management device used for an image output system comprising: While being connected to the network, a signal for generating an operation screen is generated and transmitted based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output apparatuses, and the status of the image output apparatus specified for each predetermined operation of the operation screen is displayed. An image output management device for requesting confirmation and transmitting information on an output format of an image transmitted from the transmission / reception device and the image data to the specified image output device when an image output device capable of outputting is designated. 6. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. Data input device for displaying, an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen, information specifying an image output device for outputting an image from the displayed operation screen, and the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information about an output format of an image to be output from, and connected to the network, the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device. The image is transmitted to the image output management device via a network, and the operation screen is generated via the network. A transmitting / receiving device that receives a signal to be transmitted, while being connected to the network, checking the status of the plurality of image output devices, and based on only the attribute information of each of the image output devices that can be output among the plurality of image output devices. An image output management device that generates and transmits a signal for generating an operation screen, and transmits information on an output format of the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device and the image data to a designated image output device. Image output system. 7. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. Data input device for displaying, an operation screen generated based on a signal for generating an operation screen, information specifying an image output device for outputting an image from the displayed operation screen, and the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information on an output format of an image to be output from the device, and a status of the image output device which is connected to the network and which is requested to be confirmed, and an image output device capable of outputting is designated. The information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device when the A transmitting / receiving device that transmits to the image output management device via the work and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network; and attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices connected to the network. When a signal for generating an operation screen is generated and transmitted on the basis of a request for confirmation of the status of the image output apparatus specified for each predetermined operation of the operation screen, and an image output apparatus capable of outputting is specified An image output management device for transmitting information on an output format of an image transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device and the image data to a designated image output device.