JP2005119095A - Image processor, printer, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform reoutput for obtaining an intended output result without an exchange in information between an image processor (printer) and a client. <P>SOLUTION: A network printer 10 alters set contents of a parameter for printing, included in a print job, depending on operating input from an operation input part 108, and creates a script for controlling the client 20 serving as an origin of transmission of the print job, so that the print job can be retransmitted by using the parameter for the printing after alteration. The created script is transmitted to the client 20 serving as the origin of the transmission of the print job, and the client 20 performs the script and alters the contents of the parameter for the printing in accordance with contents described in the script, so as to retransmit the print job. When receiving the print job retransmitted from the client 20, the network printer 10 reprints manuscript data by using the altered parameter for the printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for re-outputting document data and image data.

  In a network to which a printer such as a copying machine is connected in addition to a client such as a personal computer, document data and image data created in the client are transmitted to the printer via the network and printed on printing paper or the like. Further, recent printers are capable of printing a document on papers of various sizes such as A5 to A3, B5, B4, etc., and printing a document on a specified size of paper at an appropriate size. An enlargement / reduction function, a duplex printing function for printing on both sides of a sheet, a color printing function, an n-up function for reducing a plurality of pages of a document on one sheet, and the like. When printing a document using such a printer, the user specifies, on the client, a paper size, an enlargement ratio or a reduction ratio, single-sided printing / double-sided printing, monochrome printing / color printing, n- It is necessary to set various parameters (hereinafter referred to as “printing parameters”) that determine the printing conditions of the document, such as settings related to the up function.

  The setting items for these printing parameters are increasing as the functions of the printer increase. Along with this, there is an increasing number of situations where printing results that are different from the intended printing results are output due to incorrect setting of printing parameters. It is coming. For example, due to an error in the paper size specification, the document is printed on a paper different from the intended size, or when a color document is printed in monochrome, the document is printed in color without forgetting to set it to monochrome printing. And so on.

  For this reason, a print job including document data and printing parameters is stored in the printer even after printing is completed, and when reprinting is performed, the client accesses the printer and the print job stored in the printer is stored. There are printers that can reprint an original without retransmitting the print job from the client by specifying a print job to be reprinted from among the printers and re-setting the print parameters (for example, patents) Reference 1).

JP 2001-080143 A

  By the way, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a print job must be stored in the printer even after printing is finished. However, for example, a print job for printing a color image or a print job for printing an image with a high resolution is compared with a print job for printing a monochrome image, an image with a low resolution, or document data. Therefore, in order to hold a large number of such print jobs even after the printing is completed, it is necessary to provide the printer with a memory having an extremely large storage capacity, which increases the cost of the printer. .

  Also, for example, if the client designates color printing as monochrome printing by mistake, the client converts the color image into a monochrome image, and a print job including the monochrome image is transmitted from the client. And stored in the printer. Therefore, even if a user who desires reprinting operates the client to access the printer, specifies the print job to be reprinted, and changes the print parameter setting from monochrome printing to color printing, the specified print job Since only contains monochrome image data, color printing cannot be performed.

  Furthermore, the user determines whether or not reprinting is performed when he / she goes to the printer and confirms the printing result. In other words, the user goes to the printer to check the printing result, and when the user notices that the printing has failed, returns to the client to reset the printing parameters, and then goes to the printer again to check the reprinting result. . As described above, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user has to reciprocate between the printer and the client when performing reprinting.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object thereof is to perform re-output for obtaining an intended output result without going back and forth between the image processing apparatus (printing apparatus) and the client. Is to do.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives document data and output condition information that defines an output condition of the document data;
Generating means for generating an image of an original based on original data and output condition information received by the receiving means;
Output means for outputting the image generated by the generating means;
Acquisition means for acquiring device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the original data and output condition information, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the output condition information;
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information and output condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Changing means for displaying the output condition information stored in the storage means on the display means, and changing the output condition information in response to an operation input from the operation means;
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by the output condition information changed by the changing unit and the document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit the original data to the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the program created by the creation unit to the communication device.

The present invention also provides a computer,
Generating means for generating an image of a document based on received document data and output condition information defining an output condition of the document data;
Output control means for causing the output means to output the image generated by the generating means;
Acquisition means for acquiring device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the original data and output condition information, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the output condition information;
Storage control means for storing in the storage means the device specifying information, document data specifying information and output condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Changing means for displaying the output condition information stored in the storage means on a display means, and changing the output condition information according to an operation input from the operation means;
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by the output condition information changed by the changing unit and the document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit the original data to be transmitted to the computer;
There is provided a program for causing a program created by the creating means to function as means for transmitting to the communication device.

  According to the present invention, the content of the output condition information is changed in the communication apparatus by the program transmitted from the image processing apparatus (computer) to the communication apparatus, and the document data and the output condition information are retransmitted to the image processing apparatus. .

The present invention also includes a receiving means for receiving a print job including document data and print condition information that defines a print condition for the document data;
Generating means for generating an image of a document based on a print job received by the receiving means;
Printing means for printing the image generated by the generating means;
Device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the print job, document data specifying information for specifying document data included in the print job, and printing included in the print job Acquisition means for acquiring condition information;
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information and printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Changing means for displaying the printing condition information stored in the storage means on the display means and changing the printing condition information in response to an operation input from the operating means;
A program that can be executed in a communication device specified by device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by printing condition information changed by the changing unit and document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit a print job including the original data to be transmitted to the printing device;
There is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a program created by the creation unit to the communication device.

  According to the present invention, according to the program transmitted from the printing apparatus to the communication apparatus, the content of the printing condition information is changed in the communication apparatus, and the print job including the document data and the printing condition information is retransmitted to the printing apparatus. The

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided receiving means for receiving document data and printing condition information that defines printing conditions for the document data;
Device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the document data and printing condition information received by the receiving unit, document data specifying information for specifying the document data, and the printing condition information Obtaining means for obtaining
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information, and printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means in association with each other;
Generating means for generating an image of a document including an image indicating the device specifying information based on the device specifying information, document data, and printing condition information;
Printing means for printing the image generated by the generating means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Reading means for reading an image printed by the printing means;
Identification means for identifying device specifying information from the image read by the reading means;
The printing condition information stored in the storage means in association with the device specifying information identified by the identification means is displayed on the display means, and the printing condition information is changed according to an operation input from the operation means. Change means,
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information, the printing condition information changed by the changing unit, and the document data specifying stored in the storage unit in association with the device specifying information Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit document data specified by information to the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the program created by the creation unit to the communication device.

The present invention also provides a computer,
Apparatus specifying information for specifying a communication apparatus that is a transmission source of received original data and printing condition information that defines printing conditions for the original data, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the printing Acquisition means for acquiring condition information;
Storage control means for associating the device specifying information, the document data specifying information and the printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means with each other and storing them in the storage means;
Generating means for generating an image of a document including an image indicating the device specifying information based on the device specifying information, document data, and printing condition information;
Print control means for causing the printing means to print the image generated by the generation means;
A reading control unit that causes the reading unit to read an image printed by the printing unit;
Identification means for identifying device specifying information from the image read by the reading means;
Changing means for displaying the printing condition information stored in the storage means in association with the device specifying information identified by the identifying means on the display means and changing the printing condition information in response to an operation input from the operating means. When,
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information, the printing condition information changed by the changing unit, and the document data specifying stored in the storage unit in association with the device specifying information Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit document data specified by information to the computer;
A program for causing a program created by the creating means to function as means for transmitting to the communication device is provided.

  According to the present invention, the content transmitted from the image processing apparatus (computer) to the communication apparatus is changed in the communication apparatus, and the document data and the print condition information are retransmitted to the image processing apparatus. .

  According to the present invention, re-output for obtaining an intended output result can be performed without going back and forth between the image processing apparatus (printing apparatus) and the client.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[A. First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a LAN 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a network printer 10 is a printer having a network communication function such as a copying machine or a multifunction machine, and prints a document on a printing medium such as paper or an OHP film based on a print job received from a client 20. The network printer 10 is capable of printing a document on various sizes of paper such as A5 to A3, B5, B4 and the like, and an enlargement / reduction function for printing the document with an appropriate size, It has a single-sided printing function / double-sided printing function, a monochrome printing function / color printing function, an n-up function, and the like.

  The client 20 is a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, and has a function of creating document data such as image data and document data. When the original data created in the client 20 is printed from the network printer 10, the user designates the paper size to be printed, sets the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio, designates single-sided printing / double-sided printing, monochrome printing. / Set printing parameters that define various printing conditions, such as color printing designation and n-up function settings. In addition, the client 20 generates a print job including document data and printing parameters, and transmits the print job to the network printer 10.

  The network printer 10 has a function of creating a script that can be executed by the client 20 and that controls the client 20 so as to re-send the print job by changing the contents of the printing parameters. The script is described in a script language such as Perl, VBScript, Java (registered trademark) Script, and the like. The file name of the original data to be retransmitted, the storage location of the original data in the client 20, the application that created the original data It includes information indicating the software name of the software, the storage location of the software in the client 20, the change contents of the printing parameters, and the like. The client 20 executes the script received from the network printer 10, changes the contents of the printing parameters according to the contents described in the script, and retransmits the print job to the network printer 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network printer 10. In the figure, a CPU 101 controls each unit of the network printer 10 by executing various programs stored in a ROM 102 and an HD (hard disk) 110. The ROM 102 stores a program that performs basic control of each unit of the network printer 10. The RAM 103 is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The time measuring unit 104 includes a time measuring chip, and measures the current time (year / month / day / hour / minute / second) and outputs the current time to the CPU 101.

  The scanner unit 105 reads a document and inputs image data. The network communication unit 106 controls communication performed with the client 20 via the LAN 1. The printing unit 107 prints a document on printing paper or the like based on the print job received from the client 20. The operation input unit 108 is a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel pasted on the screen of the liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and outputs operation signals corresponding to these operation contents to the CPU 101. The display unit 109 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and includes a liquid crystal display panel and a drive circuit that performs display control of the liquid crystal display panel.

  The HD 110 stores programs and data for controlling each unit of the network printer 10. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the HD 110 includes a client identification for identifying the client 20 that is the transmission source of the print job for each print job ID assigned to the print job received by the network printer 10. Information (for example, host name and IP address), file name of document data included in this print job, storage location of this document data in the client 20, software name of application software that created document data, this software Information used when creating a script for controlling the client 20 such as the storage location in the client 20 and the setting contents of the printing parameters (hereinafter referred to as “script setting information”), and this print job The contents of the manuscript data contained in And to thumbnails, these print jobs ID, client specific information, and the time information indicating the time when stored in the HD110 association scripts setting information and the thumbnail is stored.

  Note that the time information in FIG. 3 may be the time when the network printer 10 receives the print job. When the MAC address, the serial number of the client 20 or the like is used as client specifying information, a database in which the client specifying information is associated with the communication address of the client 20 specified by the client specifying information is further stored in the HD 110. Has been. Further, the e-mail address of the client 20 may be used as client specifying information.

  Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the printing process 1 executed in the network printer 10. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the script transmission mode is set (step S101). Here, the menu image shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as “display screen”) of the display unit 109, and the CPU 101 receives the “script transmission mode” according to the operation signal from the operation input unit 108. When it is detected that the “button” is pressed, it is determined that the script transmission mode is set (step S101: YES), and the process proceeds to step S111 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is not the script transmission mode (step S101: NO), the CPU 101 determines whether or not a print job is newly received via the network communication unit 106 (step S102). Here, when the client 20 instructs the network printer 10 to print, in addition to the original data and printing parameters, the file name of the original data to be printed, the storage location of the original data in the client 20, the original data A print job including information indicating the software name of the application software that created the information, the storage location of the software in the client 20, and the like is transmitted.

  When the CPU 101 has not received a new print job (step S102: NO), the CPU 101 returns to step S101. On the other hand, when the print job has been newly received (step S102: YES), the CPU 101 has received a new print job. Client specifying information for specifying the client 20 that is the transmission source of the print job is extracted from the print job (step S103). Specifically, for example, when using a network print protocol such as LPR (Line PRinter daemon protocol) stipulated in RFC1179, the CPU 101 extracts transmission client information described in a print job control file. To do. If sending host information is described in the header part of the print job, this sending host information may be extracted. Further, when direct communication with the client 20 is performed in order to receive a print job, the client specific information may be acquired by making an inquiry to the client 20 of the other party.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines the script setting information from the print job newly determined to be received in step S102, that is, the file name of the original data included in the print job, the storage location of the original data in the client 20, Information indicating the name of the application software that created the document data, the storage location of the software in the client 20, and the setting contents of the printing parameters is extracted (step S104). Note that the script setting information is not included in the print job, but may be transmitted from the client 20 to the network printer 10 together with the print job as an independent data file. In this case, the CPU 101 extracts script setting information from the data file corresponding to the print job.

  Next, the CPU 101 converts the document data included in the print job determined to be newly received in step S102 into bitmap data (step S105). The conversion process in step S105 will be described in detail. First, the client 20 transmits document data described in a PDL (Page Description Language) format such as PostScript. The CPU 101 performs drawing processing based on the document data in the PDL format and the printing parameters included in the print job, and converts the document data into bitmap data.

  Thereafter, the CPU 101 generates a thumbnail (a reduced image indicating the contents of the document) using the bitmap data of the document data (step S106), and obtains the current time (step S107). In addition, the CPU 101 issues a print job ID to the print job determined to be newly received in step S102 (step S108). Then, the CPU 101 determines the print job ID issued in step S108, the client identification information extracted in step S103, the script setting information extracted in step S104, the thumbnail generated in step S106, and the time information acquired in step S107. Are stored in the HD 110 in association with each other (step S109). Thereafter, the CPU 101 sends the bitmap data converted in step S105 to the printing unit 107, prints the document on the printing paper (step S110), and returns to step S101.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that it is the script transmission mode in step S101 described above, that is, as a result of the user instructing printing from the client 20 going to the network printer 10 and confirming the print contents, a print parameter setting error occurs. When the user notices and operates the touch panel of the network printer 10 to perform reprinting and presses the “script transmission mode” button in the menu screen shown in FIG. 6, first, a list of thumbnails stored in the HD 110 is displayed. It is displayed on the screen (step S111). A screen display example at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, each thumbnail stored in the HD 110 is displayed on the display screen in order from the latest one stored in the HD 110. The user operates the “scroll up” button or the “scroll down” button to search for a thumbnail of the document to be reprinted.

  When the thumbnail of the document to be reprinted is selected by a touch operation (step S112: YES), the CPU 101 highlights the selected thumbnail and then stores the client specifying information stored in association with the thumbnail. Is read from the HD 110 and displayed on the display screen, and the user is requested to confirm the client 20 for retransmitting the print job (step S113). An example of the screen display at this time is as shown in FIG. 8. When the “YES” button is touched in FIG. 8, the CPU 101 requests a script transmission request message from the corresponding client 20 for permission to send a script. Is transmitted (step S114).

  A series of processing started in the client 20 in response to the reception of the script transmission request message will be described later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, but the CPU 101 transmits a transmission permission message indicating that the script transmission is permitted. Is received from the client 20 (step S115: YES), the process proceeds to step S116. On the other hand, the CPU 101 does not receive a transmission permission message when a transmission non-permission message indicating that script transmission is not permitted is received from the client 20 or within a predetermined time after transmitting a script transmission request message. If (step S115: NO), the process returns to step S101.

  When the script transmission is permitted, the CPU 101 reads out the script setting information stored in association with the thumbnail selected in step S112 from the HD 110 and displays it on the display screen (step S116). Prompt the user to change parameters. An example of the screen display at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the display screen includes the software name (Appli) of the application software that created the original data included in the print job selected by the user, and the storage location (path) in the client 20 of this software. -A), the file name (data) of the document data, the storage location (path-d) of the document data in the client 20, and the setting contents of the printing parameters (both sides / one side, paper, color / monochrome, n-up, Page) is displayed.

  In addition, a “change” button is displayed beside each setting item of the printing parameter. By touching this “change” button, the current setting value can be switched to another setting value that can be changed. . For example, when the “change” button beside the printing parameter “double-sided / single-sided” shown in FIG. 9 is touched, the setting value is switched from “single-sided” to “double-sided”. The user touches a “change” button for a setting item whose setting value needs to be changed among the printing parameters, and appropriately changes the setting value.

  When the setting contents of the printing parameters are changed in this way (step S117), and the “Send” button in FIG. 9 is touched, the CPU 101 displays the script setting information including the changed printing parameters. The script for controlling the client 20 to change the contents of the printing parameters and retransmit the print job is created (step S118). The script created in step S118 includes the file name of the original data to be reprinted, the storage location of the original data in the client 20, the software name of the application software that created the original data, and the client 20 in the software. In addition to the information indicating the storage location, information indicating the setting content of the printing parameter changed in step S117 is included.

  Next, the CPU 101 reads the client identification information (communication address of the client 20) stored in association with the thumbnail selected in step S112 from the HD 110, and sends the script created in step S118 to the communication address. (Step S119). Thereafter, when the CPU 101 finishes transmitting the script (step S120: YES), the CPU 101 ends the communication process (step S121) and returns to step S101. Further, the client 20 that has received the script from the network printer 10 executes the script, changes the contents of the printing parameters according to the contents described in the script, and retransmits the print job to the network printer 10. When the network printer 10 receives the print job retransmitted from the client 20, the network printer 10 reprints the document data using the changed printing parameters by the processes shown in steps S101 to S110 described above.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of processing relating to re-transmission of a print job executed in the client 20. This process is executed when a script transmission request message from the network printer 10 is received. As shown in the figure, first, the client 20 transmits input screen information for inputting a user name and password to the network printer 10 that is the transmission source of the script transmission request message (step S201). This input screen information is displayed on the display screen of the network printer 10, and when the user operates the operation input unit 108 to input the user name and password, the information on the user name and password is transmitted from the network printer 10 to the client 20. Is done.

  When the client 20 receives the user name and password from the network printer 10 (step S202: YES), the client 20 collates the received user name and password with the user name and password registered in the memory in the client 20 in advance. User authentication is performed (step S203). As a result, when the received user name and password match the user name and password registered in the memory and the user authentication is OK (step S204: YES), the client 20 transmits the script. A transmission permission message indicating permission is transmitted to the network printer 10 (step S205). On the other hand, when the result of user authentication is not OK (step S204: NO), the client 20 transmits a transmission non-permission message indicating that script transmission is not permitted to the network printer 10, and then returns to step S201. .

  Thereafter, when the client 20 receives a script from the network printer 10 (step S206), the client 20 executes the received script (step S207). By executing this script, the client 20 starts application software that created the original data to be reprinted in accordance with the contents described in the script (step S208), opens an electronic file of the original data to be reprinted, and sets the printing conditions. After calling the setting screen (step S209) and changing the printing parameters (step S210), the print job including the document data and the printing parameters is retransmitted to the network printer 10 (step S211). Then, the client 20 finishes the communication process (step S212), and ends the process shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by transmitting a script from the network printer 10 to the client 20, the setting contents of the printing parameters are changed in the client 20 and the print job is retransmitted to the network printer 10. Therefore, the user can perform reprinting for obtaining the intended print result without going back and forth between the network printer 10 and the client 20. Further, since the thumbnails of the originals that have been printed so far are displayed in a list, and the user selects a thumbnail from among the thumbnails, the client 20 that is the source of the original to be reprinted can be identified. Can be easily specified without making a mistake.

[B. Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, in this embodiment, the same code | symbol is used for the part which is common in 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. The network printer 10 according to this embodiment prints client specific information together with a document on a print sheet, reads an image of a document desired to be reprinted by the scanner unit 105, identifies the client specific information from the read image, and transmits a script. The point which specifies the client 20 ahead differs from the network printer 10 in 1st Embodiment. Further, the network printer 10 according to the present embodiment does not need to perform processing related to thumbnails, and the print job ID, client identification information, script setting information, and time information are stored in the HD 110 in association with each other.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the printing process 2 executed in the network printer 10 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the same step numbers are used for the steps for performing the processes common to the printing process 1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) described in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, first, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the script transmission mode is set (step S101). If the script transmission mode is set, the process proceeds to step S307 shown in FIG. On the other hand, if it is not the script transmission mode, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a new print job has been received (step S102). If no new print job has been received, the CPU 101 returns to step S101. If a new print job has been received, the CPU 101 extracts client specifying information from the print job (step S103) and script setting information (step S104). Next, the CPU 101 converts the document data included in the print job determined to be newly received in step S102 into bitmap data (step S105).

  Thereafter, the CPU 101 obtains the current time (step S301), and issues a print job ID to the print job determined to be newly received in step S102 (step S302). The CPU 101 stores the print job ID issued in step S302, the client identification information extracted in step S103, the script setting information extracted in step S104, and the time information acquired in step S301 in association with each other in the HD 110. (Step S303).

  Next, the CPU 101 generates bitmap data indicating the client specifying information extracted in step S103 (step S304). Here, the bitmap data indicating the client identification information is, for example, character string bitmap data indicating the client identification information or barcode bitmap data indicating the client identification information. Then, the CPU 101 synthesizes the bitmap data of the client specifying information generated in step S304 with the bitmap data of the document converted in step S105 (step S305).

  When combining bitmap data, it is preferable to place a bitmap image of client specific information in a margin of a printed document such as a header or footer so that the client specific information does not interfere with the document. Further, it is preferable to specify a color that is difficult to recognize visually, such as yellow, as the print color of the client specific information so that the client specific information does not stand out in the printed document. In addition, when a specific wavelength of light is applied to a part that appears to have nothing drawn on it, a “watermark” technology that makes an image or character string appear will not be recognized by humans even by viewing the document. The client specifying information may be printed on a print sheet as a hidden character string that can be identified when the network printer 10 scans this document.

  Next, the CPU 101 sends the bitmap data combined in step S305 to the printing unit 107, prints the document and client identification information on the printing paper (step S306), and then returns to step S101.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 101 determines in step S101 shown in FIG. 11 that the script transmission mode is set, that is, as a result of checking the print content by the user who has instructed printing from the client 20 goes to the network printer 10, the print parameter When the user notices a setting mistake and operates the touch panel of the network printer 10 and presses the “script transmission mode” button, first, as shown in FIG. 13, an image prompting the scanner to read a print document desired to be reprinted is displayed. It is displayed on the screen (step S307).

  In response to this screen display, when the user places any page of the printed document that he wants to reprint on the auto sheet feeder or platen glass and touches the “scan” button, the image data of this printed document is displayed. It is read by the scanner unit 105 (step S308). The CPU 101 identifies client specific information from the read image data (step S309), displays the client specific information on the display screen as shown in FIG. 8, and confirms the client 20 to retransmit the print job. Is obtained from the user (step S113). When the user performs a touch operation on the “YES” button, the CPU 101 transmits a script transmission request message to the corresponding client 20 (step S114).

  Thereafter, when the CPU 101 receives a transmission permission message from the client 20 (step S115: YES), the script setting information stored in association with the thumbnail selected in step S112 is read from the HD 110 and shown in FIG. Displayed on the display screen (step S116), and prompts the user to change the printing parameters. When the setting contents of the printing parameters are changed (step S117) and the “Send” button is touched, the CPU 101 uses the script setting information including the changed printing parameters to set the printing parameters. A script for controlling the client 20 to change the contents and retransmit the print job is created (step S118).

  Next, the CPU 101 reads the client identification information (communication address of the client 20) stored in association with the thumbnail selected in step S112 from the HD 110, and sends the script created in step S118 to the communication address. (Step S119). Then, when the CPU 101 finishes sending the script (step S120: YES), the CPU 101 ends the communication process (step S121) and returns to step S101. The operation of the client 20 associated with the reception of the script is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 10 in the first embodiment. That is, the client 20 executes the script received from the network printer 10, changes the contents of the printing parameters according to the contents described in the script, and retransmits the print job to the network printer 10. When the network printer 10 receives the re-sent print job from the client 20, the network printer 10 re-prints the original data using the changed printing parameters by the processes shown in steps S101 to S306 shown in FIG. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by transmitting a script from the network printer 10 to the client 20, the setting contents of the printing parameters are changed in the client 20 and the print job is retransmitted to the network printer 10. Therefore, the user can perform reprinting for obtaining the intended print result without going back and forth between the network printer 10 and the client 20. In addition, since the client identification information is printed together with the original on the printing paper, and the client 20 as the transmission source of the original to be reprinted can be identified by reading the printed original with the scanner, the client 20 as the script transmission destination can be mistaken. Can be specified easily.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the network printer 10 (computer) performs print processing 1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and print processing 2 (see FIG. 11) according to programs stored in the ROM 102 and the HD 110. And a program for executing the processing according to the present invention may be provided to the network printer 10 by communication. Alternatively, such a program may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium.

  In the first embodiment, the CPU 101 of the network printer 10 is stored in the HD 110 by periodically comparing each time information stored in the HD 110 with the current time supplied from the time measuring unit 104. Data (print job ID, client identification information, script setting information, thumbnail and time information) is deleted after a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes or 1 hour) has elapsed since being stored in the HD 110. Also good. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to store the data for all the print jobs that have been printed, so that the memory resources of the HD 110 can be used effectively. In addition, if a predetermined time has elapsed and data about a print job that is considered unlikely to be reprinted is deleted, the thumbnail to be searched when selecting the client 20 as the script transmission destination. The work efficiency at the time of selection will also be improved because the number of items can be reduced. The same applies to the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the case of reprinting original data from the network printer 10 has been described. For example, it is possible to display an image with finer colors installed at a location away from the client 20. The image data created in the client 20 and the display output parameters that determine the display conditions of the image data are transmitted to the image display device, and the image is displayed on the image display device based on the image data and the display output parameters. The present invention may be applied to display. Also in this case, by transmitting a script from the image display apparatus to the client 20, the setting contents of the display output parameter are changed in the client 20, and the display output parameter and the image data are retransmitted to the image display apparatus. Therefore, the user can perform re-display for obtaining the intended display result without going back and forth between the image display device and the client 20.

  The network printer 10 may be directly connected to a plurality of clients 20. Further, instead of the network printer 10, an image processing system in which a printer or a scanner is connected to a personal computer or the like and a document can be printed or a document image can be read may be used. Instead of a script, for example, a program written in C language or Java (registered trademark) programming language may be used.

It is a figure which illustrates the structure of LAN1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating data stored in an HD 110 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an operation of print processing 1 executed in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the operation of the printing process 1 executed in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example (menu screen) in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example (thumbnail list screen) in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example (confirmation screen of the client 20 for retransmitting a print job) in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example (script setting information change screen) in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of processing relating to re-transmission of a print job executed by a client 20 according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart (the 1) which illustrates operation | movement of the printing process 2 performed in the network printer 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an operation of a printing process 2 executed in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example (a screen for prompting a scanner to read a document to be reprinted) in the network printer 10 according to the embodiment. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... LAN, 10 ... Network printer, 20 ... Client, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Time measuring part, 105 ... Scanner part, 106 ... Network communication part, 107 ... Printing part, 108 ... Operation input Part 109 ... display part 110 ... HD.

Claims (8)

Receiving means for receiving document data and output condition information defining an output condition of the document data;
Generating means for generating an image of an original based on original data and output condition information received by the receiving means;
Output means for outputting the image generated by the generating means;
Acquisition means for acquiring device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the original data and output condition information, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the output condition information;
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information and output condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Changing means for displaying the output condition information stored in the storage means on the display means, and changing the output condition information in response to an operation input from the operation means;
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by the output condition information changed by the changing unit and the document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit the original data to the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the program created by the creation unit to the communication device. Receiving means for receiving document data and output condition information defining an output condition of the document data;
First generation means for generating an image of a document based on document data and output condition information received by the receiving unit;
Output means for outputting the image generated by the first generation means;
Acquisition means for acquiring device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the original data and output condition information, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the output condition information;
Second generation means for generating a thumbnail indicating the content of the document data;
Storage means for associating and storing device specifying information, document data specifying information and output condition information acquired by the acquiring means, and thumbnails generated by the second generating means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Display control means for displaying one or more thumbnails stored in the storage means on the display means;
Out of the thumbnails displayed on the display means, the output condition information stored in the storage means in association with the thumbnail selected by the operation input from the operation means is displayed on the display means. Changing means for changing the output condition information in response to an operation input;
A program that can be executed in a communication device specified by device specifying information stored in the storage means in association with the selected thumbnail, the output condition information changed by the changing means, and the selected Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit the document data specified by the document data specifying information stored in the storage unit in association with the thumbnail to the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the program created by the creation unit to the communication device. Timekeeping means,
Whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the device specifying information was stored in the storage means is determined based on a time measurement result by the time measuring means, and when a predetermined time has passed, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a deleting unit that deletes apparatus specifying information from the storage unit. Receiving means for receiving document data and printing condition information defining printing conditions for the document data;
Device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the document data and printing condition information received by the receiving unit, document data specifying information for specifying the document data, and the printing condition information Obtaining means for obtaining
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information, and printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means in association with each other;
Generating means for generating an image of a document including an image indicating the device specifying information based on the device specifying information, document data, and printing condition information;
Printing means for printing the image generated by the generating means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Reading means for reading an image printed by the printing means;
Identification means for identifying device specifying information from the image read by the reading means;
The printing condition information stored in the storage means in association with the device specifying information identified by the identification means is displayed on the display means, and the printing condition information is changed according to an operation input from the operation means. Change means,
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information, the printing condition information changed by the changing unit, and the document data specifying stored in the storage unit in association with the device specifying information Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit document data specified by information to the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the program created by the creation unit to the communication device. Receiving means for receiving a print job including document data and print condition information defining a print condition of the document data;
Generating means for generating an image of a document based on a print job received by the receiving means;
Printing means for printing the image generated by the generating means;
Device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the print job, document data specifying information for specifying document data included in the print job, and printing included in the print job Acquisition means for acquiring condition information;
Storage means for storing device specifying information, document data specifying information and printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Operation means;
Display means;
Changing means for displaying the printing condition information stored in the storage means on the display means and changing the printing condition information in response to an operation input from the operating means;
A program that can be executed in a communication device specified by device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by printing condition information changed by the changing unit and document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit a print job including the original data to be transmitted to the printing device;
A printing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the program created by the creation unit to the communication device. Computer
Generating means for generating an image of a document based on received document data and output condition information defining an output condition of the document data;
Output control means for causing the output means to output the image generated by the generating means;
Acquisition means for acquiring device specifying information for specifying a communication device that is a transmission source of the original data and output condition information, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the output condition information;
Storage control means for storing in the storage means the device specifying information, document data specifying information and output condition information acquired by the acquiring means;
Changing means for displaying the output condition information stored in the storage means on a display means, and changing the output condition information according to an operation input from the operation means;
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information stored in the storage unit, and that is specified by the output condition information changed by the changing unit and the document data specifying information stored in the storage unit Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit the original data to be transmitted to the computer;
A program for causing a program created by the creating means to function as means for transmitting to the communication device. Computer
Apparatus specifying information for specifying a communication apparatus that is a transmission source of received original data and printing condition information that defines printing conditions for the original data, original data specifying information for specifying the original data, and the printing Acquisition means for acquiring condition information;
Storage control means for associating the device specifying information, the document data specifying information and the printing condition information acquired by the acquiring means with each other and storing them in the storage means;
Generating means for generating an image of a document including an image indicating the device specifying information based on the device specifying information, document data, and printing condition information;
Print control means for causing the printing means to print the image generated by the generation means;
A reading control unit that causes the reading unit to read an image printed by the printing unit;
Identification means for identifying device specifying information from the image read by the reading means;
Changing means for displaying the printing condition information stored in the storage means in association with the device specifying information identified by the identifying means on the display means and changing the printing condition information in response to an operation input from the operating means. When,
A program that can be executed by the communication device specified by the device specifying information, the printing condition information changed by the changing unit, and the document data specifying stored in the storage unit in association with the device specifying information Creating means for creating a program for controlling the communication device to transmit document data specified by the information to the computer;
A program for causing a program created by the creating means to function as means for transmitting to the communication device.   A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 6 or 7 is recorded.

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