JP2002171383A - Method for displaying operation screen, picture input device, picture output management device and picture output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently operate an operation screen by using the operation screen common to plural output devices provided with different attributes to display the OR and AND of the attributes belonging to the plural picture output devices on this operation screen. SOLUTION: Plural printers 16, a server 14 and a scanner 12 are connected to a network 10. The server 14 calculates the OR or AND of the attribute information of the printers 16 based on the attribute information of each of the plural printers 16 to generate an operation screen generation signal and transmits it to the scanner 12. The scanner 12 inputs picture data, and the common operation screen generated based on the operation screen generation signal displayed on a display panel. Information for designating the printer 16 and information on the output form of the picture are inputted from the display panel and transmitted to the server 14. The server 14 transmits the information on the output form of the picture and the picture data to the designated printer 16, which outputs the picture based on the transmitted information and picture data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an operation screen display method, an image input device, an image output management device, and an image output system, and more particularly, to a plurality of printers connected to a network and reading an image of a document. The present invention relates to an image output system including a scanner and a printer server, an operation screen display method usable in the image output system, an image output management device of the image output system, and an image input device of the image output system.

[0002]

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

[0003]

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

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

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

Further, when printers having different functions are connected together, even if a user tries to obtain a printed matter in the same output format from a plurality of printers based on the same image data, which printer has the same function. If you do not know whether you have it, you cannot select the printer to output. In some cases, it is necessary to search for a printer having a special function, such as outputting on a paper size other than the standard size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has been made to use a common operation screen for a plurality of image output apparatuses having different attributes and to efficiently operate the operation screen. It is an object to provide an operation screen display method, an image input device, an image output management device, and an image output system.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation screen display method for displaying an operation screen for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes. An operation screen is displayed based on a result of a logical operation on an attribute of the plurality of image output devices. In this operation screen display method, the logical operation may be an AND operation or an OR operation. Further, the logical operation can be performed for each attribute item of the plurality of image output devices.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input device, wherein each of the plurality of image output devices is connected to a network, and outputs an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. Equipment and
An operation screen that is connected to the network and displays attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices that satisfy a specified condition based on attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, and a specified condition. An operation screen generation signal for generating at least one of the operation screens that displays all the attribute information of the plurality of image output devices that satisfy the information, and information regarding an output format of the image received via the network and the image An image output device used for an image output system comprising: an image output management device that transmits data to a designated image output device; an image data input device for inputting the image data; and a display operation. Information for designating screen conditions is input, and the operation screen generated based on the operation screen generation signal, At least one operation screen of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a condition and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition is displayed. A display input device for inputting information specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the displayed operation screen, and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device, and connecting to the network. Transmitting / receiving device for transmitting information input from the display input device and image data input from the image data input device via the network, and receiving the operation screen generation signal via the network. And characterized in that:

In the above image input device, when the number of pieces of attribute information displayed on the operation screen exceeds a predetermined value, the attribute information exceeding the predetermined value can be displayed under one attribute item. . Further, an interface component for displaying the attribute item is provided, and attribute information exceeding the predetermined value can be displayed in detail according to an operation on the interface component.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image output management apparatus which is connected to a network and outputs an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. An output device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and information specifying a condition of an operation screen to be displayed, and an operation screen generated based on the operation screen generation signal, At least one operation of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of the plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition A screen is displayed, and information for specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the displayed operation screen, and output from the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information on an output format of an image to be connected to the network, and the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device to the network. A transmission / reception device that transmits to the image output management device via the network, and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network, the image output management device being used in an image output system, An operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices; Screen for generating at least one of the operation screens displaying all the attribute information of the image output device Sends a signal formed,
And transmitting the information on the output format of the image received via the network and the image data to a designated image output device.

The image output management device described above, when displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition on an operation screen, displays information on an output format of an image input from the operation screen. , One image output device can be selected from the plurality of image output devices.

An image output system according to a ninth aspect is connected to a network, and outputs a plurality of images based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image. A device, an image data input device for inputting the image data, and information specifying a condition of an operation screen to be displayed, and an operation screen generated based on the operation screen generation signal, wherein At least one of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices that satisfy specified conditions and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of the plurality of image output devices that satisfy specified conditions Is displayed, and information specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the displayed operation screen, and output from the specified image output device A display input device for inputting information on an output format of an image to be connected to the network, and the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device to the network. A transmitting / receiving device that transmits to the image output management device via the network and receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network, and is connected to the network and has attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices. On the basis of at least an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of the plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition, An operation screen generation signal for generating one is transmitted, and the output of the image received through the network is performed. And an image output control apparatus for transmitting information and the image data to the designated image output apparatus about the format, further comprising a characterized.

In each of the above inventions, a plurality of image output devices, an image output management device, an image data input device, a display input device, and an image input device provided with a transmission / reception device are connected to the network. . The image output management device is configured to display, based on the attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices, an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to the plurality of image output devices satisfying the specified condition, and satisfying the specified condition. An operation screen generation signal for generating at least one of the operation screens for displaying all the attribute information of the plurality of image output devices is generated and transmitted to the transmission / reception device, and the transmission / reception device transmits the operation screen via a network. Receive the generated signal. The attribute information common to the plurality of image output devices is obtained from the logical product of the attributes of the plurality of image output devices, and all the attribute information of the plurality of image output devices is obtained from the logical sum of the attributes of the plurality of image output devices. can get. An operation screen in which image data is input from an image data input device and is generated based on an operation screen generation signal, and is an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition. And at least one of the operation screens for displaying all the attribute information of the plurality of image output devices satisfying the designated condition is displayed on the display input device.

In the display input device, information for specifying the condition of the operation screen to be displayed is input, and information for specifying an image output device for outputting an image from the displayed operation screen is displayed. The information about the output format of the image output from is input. Information input from the display input device and image data input from the image data input device are transmitted to the image output management device via the network by the transmission / reception device. The image output management device transmits information on the output format of the image transmitted from the transmission / reception device and the image data to the designated image output device. The image output device outputs an image based on image data transmitted via a network and information on an output format of the image.

As described above, a common operation screen is used for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes, and the result of the logical operation on the attributes of the plurality of image output devices is displayed on this operation screen. Selection becomes easy, and the operation screen can be operated efficiently. For example, in the case of uniform output or broadcast output, the logical product of the attributes of a plurality of image output devices is displayed, and if the attribute is selected within the range of the logical product, the same output result is obtained from the plurality of image output devices. Is guaranteed. Also, the logical sum of attributes of a plurality of image output devices can be displayed to indicate the entire range of selectable attributes. Further, the logical operation can be performed for each attribute item of the plurality of image output devices.

In particular, when all the attribute information possessed by a plurality of image output devices satisfying a designated condition are displayed on an operation screen, a plurality of attribute information are output based on information on an output format of an image input from the operation screen. Since one image output device is selected from the image output devices, a desired attribute can be selected from the entire range of selectable attributes, and the most appropriate output result can be obtained.

When the number of pieces of attribute information displayed on the operation screen exceeds a predetermined value, attribute information exceeding the predetermined value can be displayed under one attribute item. It is also possible to provide an interface component for displaying this attribute item, and to display in detail attribute information exceeding the predetermined value according to an operation on the interface component. This allows
It is guaranteed that the full range of selectable attributes will be displayed.

[0019]

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

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

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

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

It should be noted that the user interface for displaying the printing operation screen may be such that all information is generated by the server 14 and transmitted to the controller 12C of the scanner 12, without being separately stored.

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

[0025] The printer _{16 1, 16 2, ··· 16} n is,
Since they have substantially the same configuration and differ only in the attributes, one printer will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and the description of the other printers will be omitted. In the following, in the case where each printer is described without particular distinction, the suffix at the end of the reference numeral is omitted, and the printer is referred to as a printer 16.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the operator presses the button 200A from the menu screen shown in FIG. 9 displayed on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12 and selects the copy service from the menu, the output method / storage destination designation shown in FIG. Is displayed. The operation screen includes a group display unit 202 for displaying the printers 16 connected to the network 10 in groups registered in advance by an operator's operation, a setting unit 204 for setting an output method and the like, and a numeric keypad unit 206. The setting unit 204 displays a selection button 205 such as an output method displayed as an icon.

As an output method option, one job is output by one printer without being divided, and “divided output is not performed”. The number of input copies is divided so that the number of output copies of each printer is equal, and a plurality of printers are divided. "Equal output (equal output)" output to printers, "Broadcast output (broadcast output)" in which the same number of copies are output from each printer, specify multiple printers, There are “designating the number of copies individually (designating the number of individual copies)” for designating the number of copies, and “best-fitting (best-fitting)” for designating the output conditions and selecting and outputting the printer most suitable for the conditions. By clicking the selection button 205, one of the output methods can be selected. FIG.
The operation screen 0 indicates a state in which “broadcast output” in which the same number of copies as the number of input copies are output from each printer is selected as the output method.

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

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

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

At this time, when the status of the designated printer 16 is confirmed, if there is a printer 16 that is down due to an error such as power-off, paper jam, or no paper stored in the tray, etc., Server 14
Generates attribute information for generating a printing operation screen so that the attribute information of the down printer 16 is not displayed. At this time, the down printer 1
With respect to No. 6, information for displaying a print operation screen for displaying error information indicating that the printer is down may be generated.

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

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

The operation screen changing process will be described in more detail. The operation of the printing operation screen shown in FIG. 11 on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12 causes the group of the printer 16 displayed on the group display section 202 of the printing operation screen. Is selected, a printer 16 belonging to the group is designated, and an operation screen generation request signal for setting an output instruction to a printer belonging to the designated group is transmitted. The product is calculated, attribute information common to each group is selected, and the common attribute information is transmitted to the scanner 12. As a result, a printing operation screen for displaying the group of the printers 16 and the attribute information common to this group is newly generated and displayed.

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

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

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

When the best fit output is performed, the logical sum of the calculated attribute information of the printer 16 is displayed on the display panel 12B of the scanner 12, but when the number of the logical sums exceeds a predetermined value, A single icon (for example, a square icon with "Others" written next to it) is provided to collectively display attribute information exceeding a predetermined value, and the attribute information exceeding a predetermined value in response to a click or pull-down operation of this icon Is displayed in detail.

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

When “equal output” is selected as the output method, the printer 16 displayed on the group display unit 202 is displayed.
When one of the groups is designated, the scanner 12 transmits an operation screen generation request signal for grouping. In the server 14, the logical product of the attribute information of the printers 16 belonging to the group is calculated, the attribute information common to each group is selected, and the common attribute information is
Sent to. As a result, a print operation screen for displaying the group of the printers 16 and the attribute information common to the group is generated and displayed. In the case of equal output or broadcast output, by displaying common attribute information, it is guaranteed that the same output result is obtained from all printers.

[Print instruction processing] The operator confirms the attribute information of the printer 16 on the printing operation screen shown in FIG. 11, and then outputs an image data output format such as a paper size and a scaling ratio from the printing operation screen. Set a parameter and give a print instruction.

As described above, when the printer 16 to be output is specified by the operator, the output parameter indicating the image data output format is set, and a print instruction is issued, it is determined in step 162 in FIG. 1
A print enable confirmation signal for confirming whether or not printing by the printer 16 designated at 68 is possible is transmitted to the server.

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

In the scanner 12, step 170 in FIG.
In, it is determined whether a print enable signal has been received,
If a print enable signal is received, the next step 17
In step 4, it is determined whether or not an image reading (scan start) has been instructed by, for example, pressing a start button by the operator. If it is determined in step 174 that an image reading instruction has been issued, in step 176, the scanner unit 12A is controlled to read the image recorded on the set original document by one operation, that is, a series of image data is output to the common image data. And stored in the memory 12D of the scanner as digitized image data. Then, in step 178, the output format input from the operation screen and the image data read from the scanner unit 12A are transmitted to the server 14.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 170 that the print disable signal has been input, step 172
When the operator instructs the operator to re-designate the printer 16 and the operator operates the display panel 12B to re-designate the printer 16, the process proceeds from step 162 to step 168 in the same manner as described above, and the server 14
A print enable confirmation signal for confirming whether or not printing is possible is transmitted to the original in step 176. If the print enable signal is received in step 170 and it is determined in step 174 that the image reading is instructed, the process proceeds to step 176. The recorded image data is read, and the output format and the image data are transmitted to the server 14 in step 178.

As described above, the printer 16 can be specified by specifying one printer 16 or
By designating one group, it is possible to simultaneously output printed matter from each of the printers 16 belonging to the designated group.

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

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

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

[Printing Process] If it is determined in step 134 of FIG. 6 that the output format and image data from the scanner 12 have been received by the server 14, the process proceeds to step 1
At 36, the status of the printer 16 designated to execute the job is confirmed, and it is determined from the status confirmed at step 138 whether printing is possible. If an error occurs in the printer 16 designated for printing and printing is not possible, a print disable signal is transmitted to the scanner 12 in step 130. As a result, the scanner 12 performs step 1
At 80, it is determined that the print disable signal has been received after the output format and image data transmission, and as described above, the operator
Printer 1 instructed by the operation screen to re-designate, and the operator operates display panel 12B to output
When redesignation 6 is performed, the print enable signal is received, and when the start of scanning is instructed, the image is read, and the output format and the image data are transmitted to the server 14 again. Until it is determined in step 182 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the flow returns to step 180 to repeatedly determine whether or not a print disable signal has been received.

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

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 138 that printing is possible, the image data output format signal indicating the paper size, the number of copies, etc., and the input from the scanner 12 are input to the printer 16 designated for printing by the server 14 in step 140. The transmitted image data is transmitted via the network 10. When it is determined in step 104 of FIG. 5 that the output format and the image data transmitted from the server 14 have been received, the printer 16 prints the image based on the image data in the output format designated in step 106 on a recording paper. And the recording paper on which the image is formed is output.

As described above, in the print system according to the present embodiment, the attribute information of the printer connected to the network is registered in the database of the server. Can be withdrawn. It should be noted that the attribute information of the printer connected to the network can be extracted from a client other than the scanner.

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

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

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

In particular, in the case of equal output or broadcast output, the logical product of the attributes of a plurality of printers is displayed, and if the attribute is selected within the range of the logical product, the same output result can be obtained from the plurality of printers. Is guaranteed. Also, by displaying the logical sum of the attributes of a plurality of printers, the entire range of selectable attributes can be shown, and the selection of an optimal printer is facilitated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the above, an example of performing a logical sum operation and a logical product operation has been described. However, other arithmetic methods such as an exclusive ethical sum operation may be used, or a plurality of operations may be used in combination. .

[0080]

According to the present invention, a common operation screen is used for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes, and the operation screen is based on the result of the logical operation of the attributes possessed by the plurality of image output devices. Is displayed, and the operation screen can be efficiently operated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Network 12 Scanner 14 Server 161, 162,... 16n Printer 181, 182,... 18n Client 20 Driver 22 Facsimile Machine 24 Database 30 MFP

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI theme coat テ ー マ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 D H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z (72) Inventor Toshihide Yoshimura Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP07 AQ06 AR01 AR03 AS02 HQ12 HR07 2C087 AA03 AA09 AB01 AB06 AB08 AC08 BA03 BD07 CA02 5B021 AA01 AAA19A19 EE03 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB38 AC02 AC04 AC21 AC42 AF00 5C075 AB90 CA90 FF02 FF90

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An operation screen display method for displaying an operation screen for a plurality of image output devices having different attributes, wherein the operation screen is displayed based on a result of a logical operation on an attribute of the plurality of image output devices. How to display the operation screen. 2. The operation screen display method according to claim 1, wherein said logical operation is an AND operation or an OR operation. 3. The operation screen display method according to claim 1, wherein the logical operation is performed for each attribute item of the plurality of image output devices. 4. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and connected to the network. An operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition based on attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices; and a plurality of image output devices satisfying a specified condition Transmits an operation screen generation signal for generating at least one of the operation screens displaying all the attribute information included in the image, and outputs the information regarding the output format of the image received via the network and the image specified with the image data. An image output management device for transmitting to an output device; and an image input device used in an image output system comprising: An image data input device for inputting image data, and information for specifying conditions of an operation screen to be displayed, and an operation screen generated based on the operation screen generation signal. An operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices that satisfies, and at least one operation screen for displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output devices that satisfy a specified condition are displayed, A display input device for inputting information that specifies an image output device that outputs the image from the displayed operation screen, and information about an output format of an image that is output from the specified image output device; and a display input device that is connected to the network. Along with the information input from the display input device and the image data input from the image data input device via the network And a transmission / reception device for transmitting the operation screen generation signal via the network. 5. The image input device according to claim 4, wherein when the number of pieces of attribute information to be displayed on said operation screen exceeds a predetermined value, the attribute information exceeding the predetermined value is displayed under one attribute item. . 6. An interface component for displaying said attribute item, wherein attribute information exceeding said predetermined value is displayed in detail in response to an operation on said interface component.
The image input device according to the above. 7. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. An image data input device for inputting information for specifying conditions of an operation screen to be displayed, and a plurality of image outputs that are generated based on the operation screen generation signal and satisfy the specified conditions. An operation screen for displaying at least one of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to the apparatus and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output apparatuses satisfying a specified condition, and the displayed operation screen Inputting information specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the device, and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device. And a display input device for connecting to the network and transmitting information input from the display input device and image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network. And a transmission / reception device that receives a signal for generating the operation screen via the network. An image output management device used for an image output system, comprising: An operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices that satisfy a specified condition based on the attribute information of each image output device, and all attributes of the plurality of image output devices that satisfy the specified condition Transmitting an operation screen generation signal for generating at least one of operation screens for displaying information; An image output management device for transmitting information on an output format of an image received via the network and the image data to a designated image output device. 8. When displaying all attribute information possessed by a plurality of image output devices satisfying a designated condition on an operation screen, the plurality of image output devices are displayed based on information on an output format of an image input from the operation screen. The image output management device according to claim 7, wherein one image output device is selected from the image output devices. 9. A plurality of image output devices each connected to a network and outputting an image based on image data transmitted through the network and information on an output format of the image, and inputting the image data. An image data input device for inputting information for specifying conditions of an operation screen to be displayed, and a plurality of image outputs that are generated based on the operation screen generation signal and satisfy the specified conditions. An operation screen for displaying at least one of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to the apparatus and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output apparatuses satisfying a specified condition is displayed. Inputting information specifying an image output device that outputs the image from the device, and information regarding an output format of an image output from the specified image output device. And a display input device for connecting to the network and transmitting information input from the display input device and image data input from the image data input device to the image output management device via the network. A transmission / reception device that receives the signal for generating the operation screen via the network, and is connected to the network and satisfies a designated condition based on attribute information of each of the plurality of image output devices. Operation screen generation for generating at least one of an operation screen for displaying attribute information common to a plurality of image output devices and an operation screen for displaying all attribute information of a plurality of image output devices satisfying designated conditions Information about the output format of the image transmitted by the signal and received through the network and the image data; The image output system comprising an image output control apparatus which transmits the designated image output apparatus, the a.