JP2001096844A - Composite printer, computer, printing system, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize a composite printer which houses a card reader and a printer in a single case body. SOLUTION: Composite printers 20 and 30 each housing card readers 26 and 36 and printers 24 and 34 respectively in a single case body are connected to a host computer 10 through USB hubs 22 and 32. Consequently, the host computer 10 becomes capable of discerning the card readers 26 and 36 and the printers 24 and 34 respectively as independent equipment. Because of this, the host computer 10 can utilize effectively the card readers 26 and 36 and the printers 24 and 34 respectively as the independent equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device and a printing device are stored in a single housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 13 and 14 are views showing a conventional composite printing machine. As shown in FIG.
0 is a card reader 102 for acquiring image data from a PC memory card, and a printer 10 for printing image data.
4 is provided. The printer 104 of the multi-function printer 100 includes a host computer 110 and an RS23.
They are connected by a 2C cable or a local bus cable. Between the card reader 102 and the printer 104,
They are connected by an internal bus via the image processing unit 106.

As shown in FIG. 14, a card reader 102 of a multifunction printer is connected to a host computer 110 and an R.
They may be connected by an S232C cable or a local bus cable. Also in this case, the card reader 10
2 and the printer 104 are connected via an internal bus via an image processing unit 106.

The general operation of the multifunction printer shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will be described. Typical users are:
Original image data captured by a digital camera or the like is stored in a PC memory card. Then, the PC memory card is inserted into the card reader 102, and the original image data is read by the card reader 102. The image processing unit 106 captures the read original image data and performs image processing. Specifically, original image data consisting of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) -based multi-values is converted to YMC (Yellow, Magenta, C
yan) system to convert to multi-valued print image data. Further, when performing the color conversion from the RGB system to the YMC system, the image processing unit 106 also performs multi-value reduction of multi-values for expressing each pixel in gradation. Then, the image processing unit 106 transmits the print image data to the printer 104. Printer 104
Performs printing based on the print image data.

[0005]

However, FIG.
Further, in the multifunction printer 100 shown in FIG. 14, since the multifunction printer 100 includes the image processing unit 106, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased. That is, in the image processing unit 106, an arithmetic processing device for performing the above-described color conversion and multi-value conversion is required,
There was a problem that the manufacturing cost was high.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the host computer 10 has a problem that only one of the card reader 102 and the printer 104 provided in the multifunction printer can be recognized as a device.
That is, in the multifunction printer 100 shown in FIG.
Although the host computer 110 could recognize the printer 104, the card reader 102 could not. For this reason, the host computer 110 could not read the data stored in the PC memory card from the card reader 102 and use it.

[0007] On the other hand, in the multifunction printer 100 shown in FIG.
2 could be recognized, but the printer 104 could not. For this reason, the host computer 110 could not transmit the print data from the host computer 110 and print it with the printer 104.

That is, the host computer 110 cannot fully utilize the card reader 102 and the printer 104 provided in the multifunction printer 100 in either of the multifunction printers 100 shown in FIGS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a multifunction printer in which a host computer can fully utilize a card reader and a printer included in the multifunction printer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that can efficiently use the multifunction printer when the multifunction printer is connected to a host computer.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a multifunction printer according to the present invention is a data acquisition device for acquiring original image data, which is independent of a connected computer. A data acquisition device that can be recognized as a printer, and a printing device that prints print image data generated by performing image processing on the original image data and that is recognized as an independent device with respect to a connected computer. The printing apparatus is stored in the same housing as the printing apparatus that can perform the printing. By causing the data acquisition device and the printing device stored in the same casing to be recognized as independent devices by the computer, the computer acquires the original image data from the data acquisition device, and Can be image-processed. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an image processing unit in the multifunction printer. Then, the computer transmits print image data generated by performing image processing on the original image data to the printing device, so that the printing device performs printing based on the print image data.

Further, the original image data is often RGB data, and the print image data is often YMC data. Therefore, in the image processing in the computer, the original image data of the RGB system is converted into the print image data of the YMC system. The data of RGB system is data of three primary colors of light in additive color mixture, and the data of YMC system is data of three primary colors of ink in subtractive color mixture.

The original image data is represented by multi-valued data representing a plurality of gradations for each pixel, and the print image data is a multi-valued data smaller than the original image data for each pixel. Often represented by Generally, original image data captured by a digital camera or the like is represented by multi-values such as 256 gradations per pixel. On the other hand, in a printing device such as an ink jet printer, for example, print image data is represented by binary values of 0 and 1 for each pixel. For this reason, in image processing in a computer, original image data is reduced or multivalued to generate print image data.

Further, the data acquisition device holds data acquisition device identification information for a computer to identify the data acquisition device from another data acquisition device, and the data acquisition device receives the data from the computer based on a request from the computer. The acquired device identification information is transmitted to a computer, and the printing device holds the printing device identification information for the computer to identify the printing device and another printing device, and based on a request from the computer, The printing device identification information may be transmitted to a computer.
Thus, the computer can acquire the data acquisition device identification information of the data acquisition device and the printing device identification information of the printing device.

Further, the data acquisition device is a storage medium reading device capable of inserting and removing a storage medium storing the original image data, and the original image data is obtained by reading data stored in the storage medium. It may be acquired. That is, the data acquisition device is a so-called PC
You may comprise with the card reader of a memory card.

On the other hand, the data acquisition device is an optical image reading device for optically reading a sheet on which an original image is displayed, wherein the original image data is for optically reading a sheet on which the original image is displayed. May be acquired. That is, the data acquisition device may be configured by a so-called image scanner.

A computer according to the present invention is connected to a multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device for acquiring image data and a printing device for printing image data are stored in one housing, A computer capable of independently recognizing the device and the printing device, and manages transmission and reception with the data acquisition device, and a data acquisition device management unit for acquiring original image data from the data acquisition device, Acquiring the original image data from the data acquisition device management unit, performing image processing on the image data, and generating print image data that can be printed by the printing device; Transmitting and receiving the print image data from the print image data generating unit, and printing the print image data. A printing device management means for transmitting to the vessel,
It is characterized by having. As described above, since the print image generation unit in the computer performs image processing on the original image data to generate print image data, even in a multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device and a print device are stored in one housing,
There is no need to provide an image processing unit for image processing in this multifunction printer.

In this case, the print image data generating unit does not manage the number of the connected data acquisition devices, but manages the number of the connected data acquisition devices. The printing device management unit may not manage the number of connected printing devices, but may manage the number of printing devices to which the print image data generation unit is connected. . As described above, the processing load on the print image data generation unit is reduced by causing the data acquisition device management unit to manage the number of data acquisition devices.

Further, in this case, the data acquisition device includes:
When holding the data acquisition device identification information for identifying the data acquisition device and another data acquisition device, and when the print image data generating means to acquire the data acquisition device identification information, The print image data generation unit requests the data acquisition device identification information without specifying the data acquisition device to the data acquisition device management unit, and the printing device identifies the printing device with another printing device. When the print image data generation unit attempts to acquire the print device identification information, the print image data generation unit specifies the print device to the print device management unit. Requesting the printing device identification information. Because
Since the data acquisition device management unit manages the number of data acquisition devices, when the print image data generation unit attempts to acquire the data acquisition device identification information, the data acquisition device identification information of any data acquisition device is The data acquisition device management unit transmits the data acquisition device identification information of all the data acquisition devices to the print image data generation unit without specifying whether it is necessary. On the other hand, since the number of printing devices is managed by the print image data generating means, when the print image data generating means attempts to acquire the printing device identification information, the printing device identification information of which printing device is required. By specifying whether there is, the printing device management unit can transmit the printing device identification information to the print image data generation unit.

The present invention can also be realized as a printing system including the above-described composite printing machine and a computer. Furthermore, the present invention can be realized as a recording medium storing steps necessary for realizing the above-described multifunction printer, computer, and printing system.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 10 and multifunction printers 20 and 30 connected to the host computer 10.
It is provided with.

In this embodiment, the host computer 10 is constituted by a notebook or desktop personal computer. The host computer 10 has a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 12
It has. A USB cable 40 is connected to the USB port 12, and the host computer 10 is connected to the multifunction printer 20 via the USB cable 40.

The multi-function printer 20 includes a USB hub 22, a printer 24, and a card reader 26. The USB hub 22, the printer 24, and the card reader 26 are stored in one housing.

The USB cable 22 is connected to the USB hub 22 of the multifunction printer 20. The USB hub 22 includes a printer 24 and a card reader 26.
Is connected.

In the present embodiment, the printer 24
The card reader 26 includes a PCMCIA (Personal Computer).
It is a PC card reader based on the Memory Card International Association). The card reader 26 reads information stored in the inserted PC memory card,
This is a drive for writing information to a PC memory card. In the present embodiment, it is mainly assumed that the PC memory card stores image data captured by a so-called digital camera. However, the data stored in the PC memory card may be image data stored by another method, and is not limited to image data.

The USB hub 22 of the composite printing machine 20
It is connected to the USB hub 32 of the multifunction printer 30 via a B cable 42. The multi-function printer 30 also includes a USB hub 32, a printer 34, and a card reader 36. The USB hub 32, the printer 34, and the card reader 36 are connected to the U
The device is similar to the SB hub 22, the printer 24, and the card reader 26.

The printers 24 and 34 described above constitute a printing device in the present embodiment. Card reader 2
Reference numerals 6 and 36 denote storage medium reading devices according to the present embodiment, which constitute data acquisition devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining in detail the internal configuration of the printers 24 and 34 and the internal configuration of the card readers 26 and 36.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printers 24, 3
4 mainly includes a CPU 50 and a RAM (Random Access).
memory) 51, ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, and non-volatile memory (for example, Electrically Erasable Programm
Able ROM) 54, a printing unit 55, and a USB interface 56. These CPU 50 and RAM 5
1, ROM 52, nonvolatile memory 54, printing unit 55, and U
The SB interfaces 56 are mutually connected via an internal bus.

CPU 50 in printers 24 and 34
Is a central processing unit for controlling the printing of the printers 24 and 34. The ROM 52 is a memory for nonvolatilely storing programs executed by the CPU 50, character fonts, and the like. The CPU 50 reads necessary programs and data from the ROM 52 at an arbitrary timing and executes the programs and data. The non-volatile memory 54 stores the printer 2
This is a memory that stores identification information relating to 4 and 34 in an electrically erasable and writable manner and in a nonvolatile manner. As shown in FIG. 3A, in this embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 54 is provided with a manufacturer name storage area 54a, a product name storage area 54b, and a serial number storage area 54c. , A manufacturer name, a product name, and a serial number. The USB interface 56 shown in FIG. 2 is an interface for connecting a cable from the USB hubs 22 and 32, and the printers 24 and 34
It sends and receives data to and from the host computer 10.

That is, the printers 24 and 34 receive data from the host computer 10 via the USB interface 56 and perform printing with the printing unit 55. Also,
When requested by the host computer 10, the printers 24 and 34 transmit the identification information stored in the nonvolatile memory 54 to the host computer 10 via the USB interface 56.

The card readers 26 and 36 mainly use U
The SB interface 57, the data read / write control unit 58, and the non-volatile memory (for example, electrically era
sable Programmable ROM) 59 and a RAM 59A. The USB interface 57, the data read / write control unit 58, and the nonvolatile memory 59
And the RAM 59A are connected to each other via an internal bus.

A PC memory card MC is inserted into the card readers 26, 36. Also, this inserted PC
The memory card MC can be taken out. That is, the card readers 26 and 36 are configured so that the PC memory card MC can be inserted and removed.

The data read / write control unit 58 in the card readers 26 and 36 is a control unit for reading data from the inserted PC memory card MC and writing data to the PC memory card. The data (image data in this embodiment) read by the data read / write control unit 58 is transmitted to the host computer 10 via the USB interface 57. The data transmitted from the host computer 10 is received by the data read / write control unit 58 via the USB interface 57, and is written to the PC memory card MC. The nonvolatile memory 59 is a memory that stores the identification information on the card readers 26 and 36 in an electrically erasable and writable manner and in a nonvolatile manner. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the present embodiment, the non-volatile memory 59 stores the manufacturer name storage area 5.
9a, a product name storage area 59b, and a serial number storage area 59c are provided, and store a manufacturer name, a product name, and a serial number, respectively. These pieces of identification information are also transmitted to the host computer 10 via the USB interface 57.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the host computer 10 in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4, the host computer 10 includes a CPU 14, a ROM 16, a RAM 18, and the USB port 12 described above. These USB port 12, CPU 14, ROM 16, RA
M18 is connected to each other via an internal bus.

The CPU 14 controls the host computer 1
It is a central processing unit that performs various arithmetic processing of 0. R
The OM 16 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 5, but the image processing application 60, the USB printer driver 62, the USB card reader driver 64, the USB controller 66, and the like executed by the host computer 10 are written in a nonvolatile manner. I have. The CPU 14 reads these programs from the ROM 16 at an arbitrary timing as necessary and executes them. RAM 18 is
When the PU 14 executes the various programs described above,
This is a memory for storing necessary data and the like in a volatile manner.

Next, based on FIG. 5 and FIG. 1 described above,
The overall processing of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the interrelationship between programs executed by the CPU 14 and related to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 14
An image processing application 60, a USB printer driver 62, a USB card reader driver 64,
A program with the B controller 66 is executed.

The image processing application 60 is, as shown in FIG. 1, a PC inserted in the card readers 26, 36.
This is a program that reads image data from a memory card and performs necessary image processing. That is, the memory cards inserted into the card readers 26 and 36 include, for example, R
Stores multi-valued image data of GB (Red: Red, Green: Green, Blue: Blue). Here, red, green, and blue are the three primary colors of light in additive color mixture. In the present embodiment, for example, multi-valued image data having 256 tones of 0 to 255 is stored for each of red, green, and blue per pixel.

The image processing application 60 which has read out the image data converts the RGB image data into, for example, YMC (Yellow: yellow, Magenta: magenta, Cya).
(n: cyan) -based image data. Where yellow,
Magenta and cyan are the three primary colors of ink in subtractive color mixing. In addition, the image processing application 60 converts the read-out image data from multi-valued data represented by a plurality of gradations for each pixel to multi-valued data having a smaller number of gradations. That is, the image processing application 60 performs color conversion from the RGB system to the YMC system, and performs multivalue reduction. In the present embodiment, for example, 0, 1 for each of yellow, magenta, and cyan per pixel.
Is converted into binary image data.

The host computer 10 outputs the processed image data to the printers 24 and 34.
The printers 24 and 34 that have received the image data perform color image printing based on the image data.

In such a series of printing processes, the image processing application 60 transmits and receives data to and from the multifunction printer 20 via the USB printer driver 62, USB card reader driver 64, and USB controller 66.

The USB printer driver 62 is a program for managing the printers 24 and 34 of the multi-function printers 20 and 30. In the present embodiment, the USB printer driver 62 has a function of transmitting image data for printing,
Based on a request from the image processing application 60,
It has a function of acquiring identification information such as the serial number of the printer 24 or the printer 34. That is, the USB printer driver 62 operates as the image processing application 60.
Has a function of returning the identification information of the printer 24 to the image processing application 60 when, for example, there is an inquiry about the identification information of the printer 24. Similarly, the USB printer driver 62 sends a message from the image processing application 60 to the printer 34, for example.
Has a function of returning the identification information of the printer 34 to the image processing application 60 when there is an inquiry about the identification information about. That is, the image processing application 60 knows the number of printers 24 and 34 connected to the host computer 10, and when the image processing application 60 attempts to acquire identification information, the image processing application 60 Then, an inquiry is made by specifying whether the printer requiring the identification information is the printer 24 or the printer 34. This inquiry is sent to the USB controller 66
Is transmitted to the printer 24 or the printer 34 via the. Then, the printer 24 or the printer 34 receiving the inquiry transmits the identification information to the USB controller 66.
Via the USB printer driver 62.

The USB card reader driver 64 is a program for managing the card readers 26 and 36 of the multi-function printers 20 and 30. In the present embodiment, the USB card reader driver 64 transmits and receives data to and from the card readers 26 and 36 and, based on a request from the image processing application 60, identification information such as the serial number of the card readers 26 and 36. And a function of notifying management information including the presence or absence of a PC memory card. That is, US
The B card reader driver 64 has a function of collectively returning the management information of the card readers 26 and 36 to the image processing application 60 when the image processing application 60 inquires about the management information on the card readers 26 and 36. have. That is, the image processing application 60 uses the host computer 1
It is not necessary to keep track of the number of card readers 26 and 36 managed by the image processing application 60.
If the user wants to acquire the management information, it makes an inquiry about the management information to the USB card reader driver 64 without specifying the card reader. This inquiry is transmitted to the card readers 26 and 36 via the USB controller 66. The card readers 26 and 36 receiving this inquiry return management information to the USB card reader driver 64 via the USB controller 66.

Next, based on FIGS. 6 and 7, the image processing application 60 sends a USB printer driver 62.
Will be described in detail when there is an inquiry about identification information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart relating to the identification information inquiry process in the USB printer driver 62, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart relating to the identification information inquiry process in the printers 24 and 34.

First, the processing in the USB printer driver 62 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the USB printer driver 62 includes an image processing application 60.
Then, it is determined whether or not there has been an inquiry about identification information (step S10). If there is no inquiry for the identification information (step S10: No), this step S1
0 is repeated.

If there is an inquiry from the image processing application 60, the printer requests identification information from the printer (step S11). Which printer requests the identification information is specified in the inquiry from the image processing application 60. Here, it is assumed that an inquiry is made to the printer 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the request for the identification information is sent to the printer 24 via the USB interface 56.
Is received. Printer 2 receiving this identification information request
4 is a manufacturer name stored in the nonvolatile memory 54;
The identification information including the product name and the serial number is returned to the host computer 10 via the USB interface 56. The response of the identification information is received by the USB printer driver 62 via the USB controller 66 shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the USB printer driver 62 passes the identification information including the manufacturer name, product name, and serial number to the image processing application 60 (step S12). As a result, when an inquiry about identification information regarding one printer is made,
The processing of the SB printer driver 62 ends, and the processing from step S10 described above is repeated.

Next, the processing in the printer 24 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, upon receiving the inquiry about the identification information, the printer 24 reads the identification information including the manufacturer name, the product name, and the serial number from the nonvolatile memory 54 (Step S20). Subsequently, the printer 24 returns the identification information to the host computer 10 via the USB interface 56. Thus, the process when the printer 24 receives the inquiry about the identification information is completed.

Next, a process when the image processing application 60 inquires the USB card reader driver 64 of management information will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As described above, this management information includes information such as presence / absence of card insertion in addition to identification information such as a serial number.

FIG. 8 shows a USB card reader driver 64.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flowchart relating to management information inquiry processing in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart relating to management information inquiry processing in FIG.

First, the processing in the USB card reader driver 64 will be described. As shown in FIG.
The B card reader driver 64 determines whether there is an inquiry about management information from the image processing application 60 (Step S30). If there is no inquiry about the management information from the image processing application 60 (step S30: No), this step S30 is executed.
Step 30 is repeated.

When there is an inquiry about management information from the image processing application 60 (step S30:
In Yes, the number of card readers managed by the USB card reader driver 64 is checked (step S).
31). In the present embodiment, the USB card reader driver 64 includes two card readers 2 as shown in FIG.
6, 36 are managed.

Next, the USB card reader driver 64
Determines whether the management information has been checked by the number of card readers (step S32). If the management information has not been checked for the number of card readers (step S32: No), the serial number and the presence / absence of card insertion are inquired of one card reader. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the card reader 26 is inquired about the serial number and the presence or absence of the card insertion,
This inquiry is transmitted to the card reader 26. Upon receiving this inquiry, the card reader 26 reads the serial number from the nonvolatile memory 59 and checks the electric signal to detect whether the PC memory card MC has been inserted. Then, the serial number and the presence or absence of the insertion of the PC memory card MC are answered to the card host computer 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the USB card reader driver 64 inquires of the USB controller 66 about the drive name of the card reader (step S3).
4). USB controller 66 receiving this inquiry
Checks the drive name of the card reader and sends a response to the USB card reader driver 64.

Next, the USB card reader driver 64
Creates a table for the serial number, presence / absence of card insertion, and drive name (step S35). FIG. 10 shows an example of this table. The table shown in FIG. 10 is created for each card reader. Then, the process returns to step S32 to determine whether the management information has been checked for the number of card readers. These steps S
By repeating the processing from step 32 to step S35 by the number of card readers, tables are created by the number of card readers. That is, in the example of the present embodiment, two tables, a table TB1 for the card reader 26 and a table TB2 for the card reader 36, are created.

As shown in FIG. 8, the aforementioned step S3
If it is determined in step 2 that the management information has been checked by the number of card readers (step S32: Yes), the created table is passed to the image processing application 60 (step S36). Then, the processing from step S30 described above is repeated. Accordingly, the USB card reader driver 64 when the image processing application 60 inquires of management information about the card reader
Is completed.

Next, a process for inquiring management information in the card reader will be described by taking the card reader 26 as an example. As shown in FIG. 9, the card reader 26 that has received the inquiry about the serial number and the presence or absence of the insertion of the memory card,
Read the serial number from (see FIG. 2) (step S
40). Subsequently, the card reader 26 detects the electric signal of the PCMCIA port and checks whether or not the PC memory card MC has been inserted (step S41). Subsequently, the card reader 26 replies to the host computer 10 about these serial numbers and whether or not a card has been inserted. This allows
The processing of the card reader 26 when the inquiry about the management information regarding the serial number and whether or not the memory card is inserted is completed.

As described above, according to the printing system according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
And the card readers 26 and 36 can be recognized as independent devices by the host computer 10, so that the printers 24 and 34 and the card readers 26 and 36 can be used effectively. That is, even in the multifunction printers 20 and 30 in which the printers 24 and 34 and the card readers 26 and 36 are stored in the same housing, the printers 24 and 34 and the card readers 26 and 36 are accessed as independent devices. Can be. Thus, for example,
The host computer 10 can read data stored in the PC memory card from the card readers 26 and 36.

Further, as described above, the host computer 10
Can read the data stored in the PC memory card from the card readers 26 and 36, so that the image processing necessary for printing the image data stored in the PC memory card by the printers 24 and 34 can be performed. To
The processing can be performed by the host computer 10. That is, the color conversion and the multi-value reduction can be performed by the image processing application 60 of the host computer 10. For this reason, the image processing unit conventionally provided in the multifunction printer becomes unnecessary, and the cost of the multifunction printer can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, since the number of card readers 26 and 36 connected to the host computer 10 is managed by the USB card reader driver 64, the processing load on the image processing application 60 is reduced. can do. That is, the image processing application 60 does not need to know how many card readers 26 and 36 are connected to the host computer 10. For this reason, when trying to acquire the management information of the card readers 26 and 36, the image processing
It is only necessary to request the card reader driver 64 for management information.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, as shown in FIG.
The multifunction printer 20 having a card reader 26 as a data acquisition device and the image scanner 7 as a data acquisition device
6 may be connected. The multi-function printer 70 also includes a USB hub 72 and a printer 74 in addition to the image scanner 76, and is connected to the multi-function printer 20 via the USB hub 42 via the USB hub 72. The present invention can be applied to such a composite printing machine 70 as well.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the present invention is applied to a multifunction printer 80 in which a USB hub 82, a printer 84, a card reader 86, and an image scanner 88 are stored in the same housing. May be applied.

In the above embodiment, the printer 24,
34 is YMC (Yellow: yellow, Magenta: magenta, Cya
Although the description has been made by taking an example of an inkjet printer of (n: cyan) type, the invention is not limited to this. For example, an inkjet printer having yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (YMCK) inks may be used. The addition of black to the three primary colors (YMC) of the ink in the subtractive mixture in this way can be said to be a kind of YMC-based inkjet printer. Further, the image data stored in the PC memory card is not limited to the RGB system, but may be a YUV system or the like.

Further, with respect to each process described in the above embodiment, a program for executing each of the processes is stored in a floppy disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc-R).
It can be recorded on a recording medium such as an eadOnly Memory (ROM), a ROM, or a memory card and distributed in the form of a recording medium. In this case, the above-described embodiment can be realized by causing the host computer 10 to read and execute a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

The host computer 10 may include another program such as an operating system or another application program. In this case, by utilizing another program provided in the host computer 10, an instruction to call a program realizing processing equivalent to that of the present embodiment from among the programs provided in the host computer 10 is recorded on a recording medium. It may be.

Further, such a program can be distributed not as a recording medium but as a carrier through a network. The program transmitted in the form of a carrier wave over the network is taken into the host computer 10 and the above-described embodiment can be realized by executing the program.

When recording a program on a recording medium or transmitting a program on a network as a carrier, the program may be encrypted or compressed.
In this case, the host computer 10 that has read the program from these recording media or carrier waves needs to execute the program after decrypting and expanding the program.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even in the case of a multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device and a printing device are stored in one housing, the computer can recognize the data acquisition device and the printing device as independent devices. Printing equipment can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall hardware configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a printer and a card reader.

3A is a diagram illustrating identification information stored in a non-volatile memory of a printer, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating identification information stored in a non-volatile memory of a card reader;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a computer.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing an interrelationship among an image processing application executed by a computer, a USB printer driver, a USB card reader driver, and a USB controller.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a USB printer driver when an inquiry about identification information is made from an image processing application.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the printer when a USB printer driver inquires of identification information via a USB controller.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a USB card reader driver when an inquiry about management information is made from an image processing application.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a card reader when a management information inquiry is made from a USB card reader driver via a USB controller.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a table relating to management information generated by a USB card reader driver.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a printing system including a multifunction printer having an image scanner as a data acquisition device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction printer including a printer, a card reader, and an image scanner.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a conventional multifunction printer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of another conventional multifunction printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Host computer 12 USB port 14 CPU 16 ROM 18 RAM 20, 30 Multifunction printer 22, 32 USB hub 24, 34 Printer 26, 36 Card reader 40, 42 USB cable 50 CPU 52 ROM 54 Non-volatile memory 55 Printing unit 56 USB Interface 57 USB interface 58 Data read / write control unit 59 Non-volatile memory 60 Image processing application 62 USB printer driver 64 USB card reader driver 66 USB controller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C055 EE02 2C061 AP01 AP07 AQ05 AR01 BB06 BB10 5B021 BB01 BB02 BB10 EE02

Claims (15)

[Claims] A data acquisition device for acquiring original image data, the data acquisition device being capable of being recognized as an independent device by a connected computer, and an image processing device for processing the original image data. A printing device for printing the print image data generated by the printing device, and a printing device that can be recognized as an independent device to a connected computer, comprising: A composite printing machine, wherein the device and the device are stored in the same housing. 2. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the original image data is RGB data and the print image data is YMC data. 3. The original image data is represented by multi-value data representing a plurality of gradations for each pixel, and the print image data is multi-value data smaller than the original image data for each pixel. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction printer is represented by: 4. The data acquisition device, wherein the computer holds data acquisition device identification information for identifying the data acquisition device from another data acquisition device,
The data acquisition device identification information is transmitted to a computer based on a request from the computer, and the printing device holds printing device identification information for the computer to identify the printing device and another printing device. The multifunction printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing device identification information is transmitted to the computer based on a request from the computer. 5. The data acquisition device is a storage medium reading device capable of inserting and removing a storage medium in which the original image data is stored, wherein the original image data is obtained by reading data stored in the storage medium. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction printer is acquired. 6. The data acquisition device is an optical image reading device that optically reads a sheet on which an original image is displayed, wherein the original image data optically reads a sheet on which the original image is displayed. The multifunction printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the multifunction printer is acquired by: 7. A multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device for acquiring image data and a printing device for printing image data are connected to one housing, and the data acquisition device and the printing device are connected. A data acquisition device management unit for managing transmission and reception with the data acquisition device, and acquiring original image data from the data acquisition device; and Means for acquiring the original image data from the means, and performing image processing on the image data to generate print image data that can be printed by the printing device; and managing transmission and reception with the printing device. And a printing device management unit that obtains the printing image data from the printing image data generating unit and transmits the printing image data to the printing device. Computer, characterized in that it comprises a stage, a. 8. The print image data generation means does not manage the number of connected data acquisition devices, but manages the number of data acquisition devices connected to the data acquisition device management means. The printing device management unit does not manage the number of connected printing devices, but manages the number of connected printing devices to which the print image data generating unit is connected. Item 8. The computer according to Item 7. 9. The data acquisition device has data acquisition device identification information for distinguishing the data acquisition device from another data acquisition device, and the print image data generating means transmits the data acquisition device identification information. When trying to acquire information, the print image data generation unit requests the data acquisition device identification information from the data acquisition device management unit without specifying the data acquisition device, and the printing device It holds printing device identification information for identifying a device and another printing device, and when the print image data generation unit attempts to acquire the printing device identification information, the print image data generation unit The computer according to claim 8, wherein the printing device management unit specifies the printing device and requests the printing device identification information. 10. The print image data generating means according to claim 1, wherein
The original image data composed of system data
The computer according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the computer converts the print image data including system data. 11. The print image data generating means converts the original image data represented by multi-valued data representing a plurality of gradations for each pixel to a smaller number than the original image data for each pixel. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image data is converted into the print image data represented by value data.
0. The computer according to any one of 0. 12. The data acquisition device is a storage medium reading device capable of inserting and removing a storage medium storing the original image data, wherein the original image data is read by reading data stored in the storage medium. The computer according to claim 7, wherein the computer is acquired. 13. The data acquisition device is an optical image reading device for optically reading a sheet on which an original image is displayed, wherein the original image data is for optically reading a sheet on which the original image is displayed. The computer according to claim 7, wherein the computer is acquired by: 14. A data acquisition device for acquiring original image data, a computer that acquires the original image data from the data acquisition device, and generates print image data by performing image processing on the original image. A printing device for receiving the print image data from the computer and printing the print image data, and, the computer can recognize the data acquisition device and the printing device as independent devices, The printing system, wherein the data acquisition device and the printing device are stored in the same housing. 15. A multifunction printer in which a data acquisition device for acquiring image data and a printing device for printing image data are connected to one housing, and the data acquisition device and the printing device are connected. A computer-readable recording medium that independently recognizes the image data, and a data acquisition device management step for acquiring original image data from the data acquisition device; and performing image processing on the image data to perform the printing. A recording medium storing a program for causing the computer to execute: a print image data generating step of generating print image data that can be printed by a device; and a printing device management step of transmitting the print image data to the printing device. .