JP2002268863A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that is provided with a means for downloading an image and outputting the image in addition to an original function or as a portion of a convertible original function, performs an indicated operation and also outputs the downloaded image when the original function is utilized, and separately requests charge involved in the image output. SOLUTION: In this image forming system that forms an output image on the basis of input image data inputted by a user, an output image based on input image data inputted by the user is formed, another output image based on the downloaded image data is also formed, and the output image and the other image data are outputted to a prescribed output unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a means for downloading and outputting an image in addition to an original function or as a part of an original function that can be diverted, and is instructed when the original function is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system capable of outputting a downloaded image together with the execution of the operation and separately charging a fee for the image output.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a system for using a digital multifunction peripheral installed in a convenience store or the like as a network scanner or a network printer over the Internet, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-783.
There is a network system published at 28. The digital multifunction machine, which is a part of this system, is connected to the image information server via a communication line (and via the Internet), downloads image data,
Means for forming an output image for printing and outputting on paper from the downloaded image data, means for printing and outputting the formed output image on paper, and having the user specify the image to be downloaded by a reception code to determine the image. Means and
It is provided to realize the original function.

A system for downloading and outputting image data from an image information server such as a general Web server is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2000-268.
095 is an Internet image service system. The digital multifunction peripheral, which is a part of this system, is also connected to the image information server via the Internet via HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
ol), means for forming an output image for printing out the downloaded image data on paper, means for printing out the formed output image on paper, download source URL (Uniform Resource)
Locator) is provided for the purpose of realizing the original function.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
The systems disclosed in 000-78328 and JP-A-2000-268095 have been hampered from spreading due to high communication costs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for downloading and outputting an image in addition to the original function or as a part of the original function that can be diverted, and to be instructed when the original function is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of outputting a downloaded image together with the execution of the operation and separately charging a fee for the image output.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for forming an output image based on input image data input by a user.
Determining means for determining image data to be downloaded, connecting means for connecting to a server holding the determined image data, download means for downloading image data from the connected server, and output based on input image data input by a user An image forming unit that forms an image and also forms another output image based on the image data downloaded by the download unit, and controls the output unit to output the output image formed by the predetermined output unit and another output image. Output control means.

In such an image forming system, for example, by outputting an advertisement when the original function is used, the original function use cost can be reduced by the advertisement income.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Some of the embodiments of claim 1 are disclosed in
The digital multifunction peripheral, which is a part of the system of JP-A-00-78328 and JP-A-2000-268095, is modified as follows.

A network system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. From FIG.
The network system 100 includes a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) 2 owned by a user in a public network 1, a web server 3 for connecting a database 4 and generating a home page of the Internet, and a convenience store. The digital color copier 5 installed in a store or the like is connected.

The personal computer 2 has a function of communicating with the network 1 and has an input processing unit such as a keyboard and an output processing unit such as a display. The contents stored in the storage unit are read out and processed by the calculation unit. Thus, various processes can be performed. PC 2
Usually, the user looks at the display on the display and makes an input using the keyboard. The web server 3 has a communication function with the network 1, generates a home page on the Internet for the present network system, sends the home page to the network 1, and stores various data received via the network 1 in the database 4. I do. Further, it searches for data in the database 4 and outputs it to the network. On the homepage, a menu of services executable by the network system of the present invention and the like are displayed so that the user of the personal computer 2 can select the menu. The prepared homepage is programmed using a language such as JAVA (registered trademark) so as to receive installation shop information and the like notified from digital color copiers installed in various places. Digital color copier 5
Has a communication function with the network 1, and is a digital color printer capable of printing out image data received via the network 1 and reading image data obtained by reading an image original by a scanner of the digital color copying machine 5 to the network 1. It is a copy device.

Next, the configuration of the digital color copying machine 5 of FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the digital color copying machine.

In FIG. 2, a main bus 11, which is a transmission path of period information, is connected to a local bus 12, which is a partial information transmission path, via a local bus controller 13. The local bus 12 is connected to a scanner 14 for reading an image document and a plotter 15 for forming an image on recording paper by, for example, an electrophotographic method. The main bus 11 has a CPU 23 that controls the entire digital color copying machine 5, a read-only memory (ROM) 22 that is a non-volatile storage unit that stores programs and the like, and a random access that is a temporary storage unit for data and programs. A memory (RAM) 21, a LAN controller 19 for controlling connection to a network line 20 of a local area network (LAN), and a public communication line (P
(STN) 18 and an operation unit 16b such as operation buttons together with a display unit 16a for displaying operation menus, status displays and messages of the digital color copier 5, and an operation unit 16b for operating the buttons. Display 16
And an HDD controller 2 for controlling a hard disk drive (HDD) 26 for storing image data and the like.
7 and a frame memory 25 for storing image data expanded for printing, and a system controller 24 for image processing including bus control, interrupt control, and data processing such as compression / decompression.

As programs stored in the ROM 22, a download source connection unit 221 for connecting to a download source, a download unit 222 for downloading information from the download source, and an image forming unit 223 for forming an image based on the downloaded information. And an image output unit 224 for outputting a formed image, and a download source determining unit 225 for determining a download source. Also,
The processing units 221 to 225 may be stored in an auxiliary storage device connected to the main bus 11.

A download source connection unit 221 for connecting to the download source, a download unit 222 for downloading information from the download source, an image forming unit 223 for forming an image based on the downloaded information, and outputting the formed image. As the image output unit 224, one originally prepared for the function may be used. The download source determining unit 225 is a processing unit which is a feature of the present invention, and is provided in addition to the above-described original function.

As the download source determining unit 225, a storage unit for storing one download source set by the user in advance is provided, and a method of always adopting the download source and a plurality of download sources set by the user are stored in advance. Providing a storage unit, a method of sequentially selecting from them, a storage unit that previously stores a plurality of download sources set by a user, and a method of randomly selecting from them, or a plurality of downloads set by a user There is a method of providing a storage unit that stores the source in advance and presenting them to the user for selection. The storage unit controlled by the download source determination unit 225 may be provided in, for example, an auxiliary storage device.

The original system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-78.
328 or JP-A-2000-268095,
Depending on the combination of the download source determining unit, there are at least eight embodiments. These are not only the first embodiment but also the embodiments of the third and fourth embodiments. Since the operation of other combinations can be inferred from some examples, a method of randomly selecting a plurality of download sources is used as a download source determining unit, and image input is performed by a processing unit modified from the system of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-78328. And a method of always adopting a preset download source as a download source determining unit.
The operation will be described for two cases where an image is output by modifying the system of No. 95. The former is the operation of the first and third embodiments, and the latter is the operation of the first and fourth embodiments.

First, a case where image input is performed in a system modified from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-78328 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when the network scanner service is used. In FIG. 3, the processes from steps S31 to S37 are described in
000-78328 is the same as the processing shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, in step S31, the user of the personal computer 2 accesses the homepage of the web server 3. It is assumed that the user of the personal computer 2 knows the address of the home page of the web server 3 in advance.

In step S32, it is assumed that the address of the home page of the web server 3 is known in advance.
In step S32, the web server 3 sends home page data to the network 1.

In step S33, a home page is displayed on the display of the personal computer 2, and the user of the personal computer 2 selects the network scanner service and inputs his / her address from the display screen provided from the web server 3.

In step S34, the web server 3
Searches the database 4 and sends out a list of service stores near the address input to the personal computer 2.

In step S35, a list of service-performing stores is displayed on the display of the personal computer 2, and the user of the personal computer 2 selects and inputs a store that is convenient for him / her.

In step S36, the web server 3
Receives the selection of the store input to the personal computer 2 and sends out a reception code.

In step S37, the reception code is displayed on the display of the personal computer 2, and the user of the personal computer 2 records the reception code in a memo or the like. Here, the personal computer user moves to the store selected in step S35 after bringing a memo or the like recording the reception code.

In step S138, the user of the personal computer 2 performs an operation of selecting a network scanner service from a menu displayed on the operation unit 16 of the digital color copying machine 5, inputs a reception code, and starts processing. Then, the digital color copying machine 5 accesses the web server 3 and outputs the reception code,
One of a plurality of special advertisement reception codes for advertisements set in advance is selected at random, and the special advertisement reception code is output to the web server 3. Next, the user of the personal computer 2 sets the document on the digital color copying machine 5 and starts scanning the document image.

In step S139, the web server 3
Reads (records) the image data scanned by the digital color copying machine 5 into a database corresponding to the reception code. The web server 3 retrieves the print image data (advertisement image) in the database corresponding to the special advertisement reception code and sends it to the digital color copying machine 5.

In step S140, the digital color copying machine 5 outputs the received print image data.

According to this series of processes, when the user of the personal computer 2 uses the network scan service of the digital color copying machine 5, the advertisement image selected at random is output from the digital color copying machine 5 and Presented to the user. Receive advertising fees from advertisers,
A method of reducing operating and utilization costs by returning the received advertisement fee to users of the personal computer 2 which is a service user or a service provider such as a convenience store in which the digital color copying machine 5 is installed. This is made possible by this. For example, the number of times the advertisement image is downloaded and the communication cost at that time are totaled as a whole or individually for each download source.

Next, a case where an image is output by modifying the system of JP-A-2000-268095 will be described.

The network system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. The hardware of the digital color copier 205 as a digital multifunction peripheral used in the network system 200 is configured in the same manner as in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the network system 20
Reference numeral 0 denotes a web server for connecting a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) 202 owned by a user to the network 1 of the public network and a database 204 of the company A and generating a home page of the Internet of the company A. 203, a digital color copier 205 installed in a convenience store or the like, and a database 207 of the dealer B, and a web server 208 for generating a website of the dealer B on the Internet.

For example, the digital color copier 205
It is set up in a convenience store. The digital copying machine 205 includes a scanner 14, a plotter 15, and a frame memory 25.
An Internet browser control module 231;
It has a charging control unit 232, a printer control unit 233, a copier control unit 234, a scanner control unit 235, and a system unit 240. Further, the digital copying machine 205 is connected with a coin rack 206 as a peripheral device as a charging tool for performing charging management.

Referring to FIG. 4, when a user downloads and prints paid content from a website of a company A that manages the web server 203, an advertisement image is downloaded from a website of a company B (may be the same as the company A). Download and print. Reduction of operating and utilization costs by receiving advertisement fees from the advertiser B and returning the received advertisement fees to service providers and service users such as convenience stores where the digital copier 205 is installed. This makes it possible to achieve this.

In the above embodiment, the digital copying machine 20
5 is provided with an image forming unit and an image output unit for its original function, and may be used. However, there is no particular reason why the image output is limited to paper printing, and the embodiments of claims 1 and 3 include a combination of a network scanner that is not a digital copying machine, a screen display rasterizer device and a display device, and an advertisement image. In the above-described embodiment in which an image may be displayed on the screen, the number of times the advertisement image is downloaded, and the communication cost at that time, by adding a totaling unit 241 that totals the total or individually for each download source, An embodiment according to claim 2 will be described. With this tallying unit, a pay-as-you-go advertising fee can be set.

The above embodiment can be regarded as the third embodiment. The description of the case of performing image output with a modified configuration of the system of JP-A-2000-268095 is as follows.
Although not a description of the embodiment of claim 3,
A modified version of the 68095 system is also an embodiment of claim 3.

When the image output function is used, even if the apparatus side is not one of the first and fourth aspects, the server side sets a pre-reduced fee in exchange for sending the information with the advertisement information. It is also conceivable.
However, this is not the case with the image input function, and the addition of the function of downloading and outputting the advertisement information when the function is originally used is particularly meaningful in the case of an image input device.

Except for a combination of a network scanner with a rasterizer device and a display device, the above-described embodiments of claims 1 and 2 are also embodiments of claim 4. In addition, as an embodiment of claim 4, the following having another effect can be considered.

Immediately after each job of the image copying apparatus or the image printing apparatus, specific image data is downloaded from a previously designated image information server and output on paper. By setting the specific image data as a predetermined separator paper design of the device using organization, the separator paper of the predetermined design can be used.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the original function is used, image data such as an advertisement is downloaded and output, thereby making it possible to pay an advertisement fee. , And by returning it, the cost burden of the function user is originally reduced. Therefore,
The cost burden of the user who originally uses the function can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
It becomes possible to make the advertising fee and the like a pay-as-you-go system.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
In an image input device such as a scanner, cost can be reduced by an advertisement fee or the like.

According to the invention of claim 4,
In addition to making it possible to reduce the cost due to the advertisement fee and the like, the organization using the image copying apparatus or the image printing apparatus can use the job separator paper having a predetermined design as a secondary function.

[0048]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a network scanner service is used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 201 Network 2, 202 Personal Computer 3, 203 Web Server 4, 204 Database 5, 205 Digital Copier 206 Billing Tool 207 Vendor B Web Server 208 Database 221 Download Source Connection Unit 222 Download Unit 223 Image Forming Unit 224 Image Output Unit 225 Download source decision section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming system for forming an output image based on input image data input by a user, determining means for determining image data to be downloaded, and connecting means for connecting to a server holding the determined image data. Download means for downloading image data from a connected server; and an image forming an output image based on the input image data input by the user and also forming another output image based on the image data downloaded by the download means. An image forming system comprising: forming means; and output control means for controlling output of an output image formed on a predetermined output unit and another output image. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times the image data is downloaded by the download unit and the communication cost at that time, as a whole or individually for each server. An image forming system, characterized in that: 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a scanner processing unit that reads an image with a scanner, wherein the input image data is read by the scanner processing unit. . 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a copy processing unit for copying an image, wherein the input image data is read by the copy processing unit.