JP2006110854A - Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of readily determining a desired page of a print material. <P>SOLUTION: Page information 901 is read from a non-contact IC attached to a magazine 401 with the non-contact IC which is placed on an MFP 100 as being opened. A server 520 is recognized according to an IP address in the read page information 901, page number groups (a first page number group and a second page number group) are acquired from the server 520 based on a serial ID in the page information 901, and then the page number of the page in the opened magazine 401 is determined according to the acquired page number groups. An advertisement detail file corresponding to the page number is fetched from the server 520 to be printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that can read page information from an information storage medium added to each page of a printed matter, a control method therefor, and a program.

  In recent years, MFPs (Multi Function Printers) having a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like in a copying machine are rapidly spreading. This MFP is also used as a network printer that performs print processing based on a print job submitted from another device on the network.

On the other hand, a non-contact IC chip (also referred to as an RF-ID or a non-contact IC tag) is added to a document or the like to give electronic information to the non-contact IC chip. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-120475 A

  However, the conventional MFP is installed in a public place such as a library or a convenience store, and provides various services to customers using a scan function, a print function, a function of transferring a scanned image by e-mail, and the like. Therefore, there is a demand for a function that allows users who are interested in advertisements, prizes, and the like existing in specific pages such as magazines and information magazines to easily access the detailed information.

  On the other hand, when copying a document whose page order has fallen apart for some reason, it is possible for the user to be aware of the page order, and there is a need for a function that sorts the copied sheets and outputs them in page order. It has been.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that can easily specify a desired page of a printed matter, a control method thereof, and a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is a page information reading device for reading page information from a printed matter to which a wireless communication element capable of wireless communication is added in an image forming apparatus that reads an image and prints it out. Means, page specifying means for specifying a page of the printed matter based on the read page information, page information acquiring means for acquiring detailed information of the specified page, and printing out the acquired detailed information. Output means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 9 is a method for controlling an image forming apparatus that reads an image and prints out the page from a printed matter to which a wireless communication element capable of wireless communication is added. A page information reading step for reading information; a page specifying step for specifying a page of the printed material based on the read page information; a page information acquiring step for acquiring detailed information of the specified page; And an output process for printing out detailed information.

  According to the present invention, page information is read from a printed material to which a wireless communication element capable of wireless communication is added, a page of the printed material is specified based on the read page information, and detailed information of the specified page is acquired. Since it is printed out, it is possible to easily specify a desired page of the printed material. For example, a user who is interested in an advertisement or a sweepstakes described in a printed material such as a book or a magazine gives detailed information about the page. Can be easily obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, the printed image is read, the page information of the specified page is added to the read image, and the image to which the page information is added is sorted in ascending order or descending order of the specified page. Therefore, it is possible to scan printed materials such as books and magazines without being aware of the order, and to provide a comfortable service to the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes an MFP (Multi Function Printer) 100 having a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like. The MFP 100 includes an image reader unit 101 that reads a document image, and a printer unit 102 that prints image data read by the image reader unit 101 or image data input from the outside.

  The image reader unit 101 reads a document image at a resolution of 400 dpi (dots / inch), for example, and performs digital signal processing. The printer unit 102 prints an image corresponding to the image data read by the image reader unit 101 at a resolution of 1200 dpi, for example.

  In the image reader unit 101, the original 104 placed on the original table glass 103 is exposed and scanned by moving the lit lamp 105 in the horizontal direction. The reflected light image from the original 104 at the time of exposure scanning enters the 3-line CCD sensor 110 via the mirrors 106, 107, and 108 and the lens 109. The three-line CCD sensor 110 photoelectrically converts the input reflected light image for each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color components, and transfers the image to the signal processing unit 111 as an electronic color image signal. To do. When the original image is exposed and scanned, the movement of the lamp 105 and the mirror 106 is controlled at twice the speed of the mirrors 107 and 108.

  The signal processing unit 111 converts the R, G, and B image signals input from the 3-line CCD sensor 110 into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) image signals. To the laser driver 112 of the printer unit 102. Note that in one exposure scan of a document image, an image signal related to one color component of M, C, Y, and Bk is transferred to the laser driver 112, and four exposure scans are performed on one document image. Is executed.

  The laser driver 112 generates laser light oscillated from the semiconductor laser 113 based on an image signal transferred from the signal processing unit 111 or an image signal input via a network interface controller 511 (NIC) described later. Modulate. Laser light oscillated from the semiconductor laser 113 is incident on the photosensitive drum 117 via the polygon mirror 114, the f-θ lens 115, and the mirror 116. At this time, the laser beam is scanned in the main scanning direction of the photosensitive drum 117 by the polygon mirror 114, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 117 by this scanning.

  The rotary developing device 118 includes a magenta developing unit 119, a cyan developing unit 120, a yellow developing unit 121, and a black developing unit 122. These four developing units are in cyclic contact with the photosensitive drum 117, and are sequentially placed on the photosensitive drum 117. The electrostatic latent images relating to magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) to be formed are sequentially developed with the corresponding color toner.

  The transfer drum 123 winds the recording paper supplied from the paper cassette 124 (or 125), and sequentially transfers the M, C, Y, and Bk toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 117 onto the recording paper. To do.

  As described above, the electrostatic latent image forming process, the developing process, and the transfer process are repeated for each of the M, C, Y, and Bk image signals, so that the toner images of the respective colors M, C, Y, and Bk are the same. A full color image is formed by being transferred onto the recording paper. The recording paper on which the full-color image is formed is separated from the transfer drum 123, the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 126, and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 128.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the MFP 100 includes non-contact IC readers / writers 301 and 302 below the document table cover portion 129 (in the document placement direction), and includes the non-contact IC shown in FIG. When the magazine 401 is placed on the platen glass 103 with the magazine 401 open, and the document platen cover 129 is closed and predetermined processing is performed, the magazine 401 is added to the magazine 401 with noncontact IC by the noncontact IC reader / writers 301 and 302. A plurality of page information can be simultaneously read from the plurality of contactless ICs 402.

  In the MFP 100, the ID paper 201 into which the non-contact IC 202 shown in FIG. 3B is inserted can be used as a recording sheet. A non-contact IC reader / writer 127 provided in front of the fixing unit 126 can read and write predetermined information as data with respect to the non-contact IC 202 inserted in the ID paper 201. In the drawing, a plurality of non-contact ICs 202 are embedded, but one ID paper may be provided for each ID paper.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the non-contact IC-attached magazine 401 has a non-contact IC 402 inserted in the illustrated positions of a plurality of papers constituting the magazine. The non-contact IC 402 stores a serial ID (Identification) for uniquely identifying a page of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC. The non-contact IC-attached magazine 401 is not limited to a magazine, and may be a book or a pamphlet as long as it is a bound printed product. Further, the position where the non-contact IC 402 is inserted is not limited to the illustration, but the non-contact IC reader / writer 301 or 302 is installed at a position where it can be easily read.

  Next, a hardware configuration of a control unit (not shown) in the printer unit 102 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of MFP 100 in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, MFP 100 is connected to server 520 via a network such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). Server 520 is a server computer to which a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address of the network is allocated, and can be accessed from MFP 100.

  The MFP 100 includes a local bus 504 and an I / O bus 505 connected to each other via a bridge circuit 506 (Br.) In the control unit. A CPU 501, a RAM 502, and a ROM 503 are connected to the local bus 504.

  The I / O bus 505 includes a device I / F 508 (Device I / F), a hard disk I / F 510 (IDE I / F), a network interface controller 511 (NIC), an image processing unit 512 (IPU), Raster image processor 513 (RIP), video RAM 514 (VRAM), operation unit I / F 515 (Panel I / F), extended I / O I / F 516 (Extend I / OI / F), and contactless IC reader / Writers 127, 301, and 302 (IC Reader / Writer) are connected.

  A printer engine 507 (Printer) and a scanner engine 517 (Scanner) are connected to the device I / F 508, and a hard disk drive 509 (HDD) is connected to the hard disk I / F 510.

  The CPU 501 develops system programs and application programs in the hard disk drive 509 in the RAM 502 by a boot program stored in the ROM 503, and performs various controls in the printer unit 102 in cooperation with these system programs and application programs. The RAM 502 is also used as a work area for temporarily storing calculation results and image data when the CPU 501 performs various calculations. The ROM 503 converts character code data and the like into character image data. Font data and the like are also stored.

  The bridge circuit 506 is used to disconnect the local bus 504 and the I / O bus 505. With this disconnection function, the CPU 501 accesses the RAM 502 and ROM 503 via the local bus 504 while transferring image data from the device I / F 508 to the raster image processor 513 via the I / O bus 505, for example. It becomes possible to do.

  The printer engine 507 corresponds to the printer unit 102 in FIG. The device I / F 508 is for connecting the printer engine 507 and the I / O bus 505, and transfers image data stored in the RAM 502 to the laser driver 112 of the printer engine 507 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 501. The hard disk I / F 510 executes access to the hard disk drive 509 under the control of the CPU 501. Note that image data is also spooled in the hard disk drive 509.

  A network interface controller 511 is connected to an external device such as a server 520 or a personal computer via a network, and transmits / receives image data, page information, a serial ID described later, and the like to / from these devices.

  The image processing unit 512 performs image processing such as resolution conversion. Under the control of the CPU 501, the raster image processor 513 converts image data related to the page description language transferred from the external device via the network interface controller 511 into a bitmap image and develops it in the RAM 502.

  In the video RAM 514, display data to be displayed on the display panel 601 (see FIG. 5) of the operation unit 518 (OPERATION PANEL) is written. This display data is output to the display panel 601 via the operation unit I / F 515. The extended I / O I / F 516 is an interface circuit for the CPU 501 to communicate with, for example, a mobile phone (not shown), and has an e-mail transmission function.

  The non-contact IC reader / writer 127 performs data access to the non-contact IC 202 added to the ID paper 201 shown in FIG. The non-contact IC reader / writers 301 and 302 perform data access to the non-contact IC 402 added to the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC by wireless communication.

  Next, the outline of the external configuration of the operation unit 518 is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, a display panel 601 has a touch panel sheet affixed on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays a system operation screen. When a displayed key is touched, its position information is sent to the CPU 501. Tell.

  The start key 602 is used when starting a document image reading operation. A stop key 603 has a function of stopping an operation in operation. The ID key 604 is used when setting a mode for performing an operation for reading a non-contact IC of a document such as a magazine, not a mode for performing a normal copy operation. A reset key 605 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit 518.

  Next, the internal configuration of the non-contact IC reader / writer 301, 302, 127 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the non-contact IC reader / writer 301, 302, 127.

  In FIG. 6, a non-contact IC reader / writer 301, 302, 127 includes a transmission antenna unit 702 for transmitting a radio signal, a modulation circuit 703 for modulating a data signal transmitted from the transmission antenna unit 702, and a radio signal. A receiving antenna unit 704 for receiving, a demodulating circuit 705 for demodulating a radio signal received from the receiving antenna unit 704, an I / F unit 706 for communicating with devices other than a non-contact IC, and a control unit 707 are provided. .

  The control unit 707 controls the transmission antenna unit 702, the modulation circuit 703, the reception antenna unit 704, the demodulation circuit 705, and the I / F unit 706. The transmission antenna unit 702 is connected to an AC power source 708 for constantly transmitting the above-described radio waves for power generation.

  In response to an instruction from the CPU 501, the control unit 707 modulates a radio wave for supplying power and data to be transmitted using the modulation circuit 703, and transmits the radio wave via the transmission antenna unit 702. Further, the control unit 707 can demodulate the radio wave signal received by the receiving antenna unit 704 by the demodulation circuit 705 and convert the signal so that it can be handled as a data signal.

  Next, the non-contact ICs 402 and 202 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the non-contact ICs 402 and 202.

  The non-contact ICs 402 and 202 are also called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags or data carriers, and can communicate with the above-described non-contact IC reader / writers 301, 302, 127, and 617 wirelessly. Yes.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the non-contact ICs 402 and 202 include a nonvolatile memory 801, an antenna unit 802 for transmitting / receiving radio waves, a resonant capacitor unit 803, and a power forming unit 804 for performing current rectification / smoothing. And a demodulating circuit 805 for demodulating and modulating radio waves, and a control unit 806. The non-contact ICs 402 and 202 do not have a built-in power source such as a battery, and generate electric power based on radio waves supplied from the non-contact IC reader / writers 301, 302, 127, and 617. That is, the antenna unit 802 forms a resonance circuit in combination with the resonance capacitor unit 803.

  The non-contact IC reader / writers 301, 302, and 127 always emit radio waves (AC magnetic fields) for generating power. When the non-contact ICs 402 and 202 are placed over the non-contact IC reader / writers 301, 302, and 127, an induced current is generated in the resonance circuit in the non-contact ICs 402 and 202 by electromagnetic induction. This induced current is output to the power generation unit 804. The power generation unit 804 rectifies and smoothes the input induced current to generate power of a predetermined voltage, and supplies it to the nonvolatile memory 801, the control unit 806, and the post-modulation circuit 805.

  Further, the non-contact IC reader / writers 301, 302, and 127 simultaneously transmit radio signals related to various data in addition to radio signals for generating electric power. Is written into the nonvolatile memory 801 under the control of the control unit 806. The control unit 806 reads data from the nonvolatile memory 801, modulates the data by the post-modulation circuit 805, and transmits the data as a radio wave signal via the antenna unit 802.

  In this embodiment, a very small-sized mu-chip type non-contact IC is assumed. As shown in FIG. 3A, the non-contact IC is embedded in each paper constituting the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC. Used in. Further, as in the ID paper 201 in FIG. 3B, a label-type non-contact IC can be attached to a recording sheet for use. When a non-contact IC is added to an information medium (paper) such as a recording paper or a magazine in such a form, it is desirable to add it at a position that should be a margin such as four corners or a peripheral portion of the information medium.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an outline of a data format stored in the non-contact IC. .

  In FIG. 8A, a magazine 401 with non-contact IC has, for example, 300 pages of paper, and a total of 150 non-contact ICs are added to each paper including the front cover and back cover. Yes. For example, page information 901 in the data format shown in FIG. 8B is stored in each non-contact IC.

  In FIG. 8B, the page information 901 includes a serial ID portion 902 and a data portion 903. The serial ID portion 902 stores the serial ID described above.

  The data part 903 includes a control bit part 904. Data used for each control is stored in the control bit portion 904. The first bit is designated as the initial read bit 904a, and the next one bit is designated as the sorting copy enable bit 904b. For example, when 1 is set in the initial read bit 904a, the IP address of the server 520 is set in the data portion 903 other than the control bit portion 904. The initial read bit 904a may be specified for all non-contact ICs attached to the magazine 401, or may be specified for a specific non-contact IC such as a cover, for example. The sortable copy possible bit 904b is information used in a third embodiment to be described later, and details thereof will be described later.

  Next, the page specification / advertisement detailed information printing process according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this processing, a page is specified using a plurality of non-contact ICs 402 attached to the magazine 401 with non-contact IC, and detailed information such as advertisements posted on the page is acquired from the server 520 on the network and printed. To do.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a page specifying / advertisement detailed information printing process executed by MFP 100 of FIG. This process is executed in cooperation by the CPU 501 and the CPU (not shown) of the server 520.

  In FIG. 9, first, an “advertisement acquisition” mode different from the normal copy operation is set by operating the key 604 of the operation unit 518, and the magazine is placed on the platen glass 103 of the image forming apparatus 100. Then, the page information of the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC is read by the two non-contact IC reader / writers 301 and 302 (step S1001). Here, as shown in FIG. 10A, a desired page of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC is placed by the user on the platen glass 103 while being opened, and the platen plate 103 is placed. When the cover unit 129 is closed and brought into close contact with the opened page of the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC, and a read command is instructed from the operation unit (not shown), the non-contact IC reader / writer 301 in the document table cover unit 129 is used. Then, the page information 901 is read from the sheet bundle on the left side of the opened magazine 401 with the non-contact IC, that is, each non-contact IC 402 embedded in 50 sheets of 1 to 100 pages.

  At the same time, the non-contact IC reader / writer 302 in the document table cover section 129 embeds each of the paper bundles on the right side of the opened magazine 401 with non-contact IC, that is, the 100 sheets of 101 to 300 pages. The page information 901 is read from the non-contact IC. Here, when only a small amount of page information is detected due to page breaks of the magazine 401 with non-contact IC, an error display is performed.

  Next, the page information 901 read from the non-contact IC in step S1001 is searched for one in which the initial read bit 904a of the data portion 903 is set to 1, and the IP address stored in the data portion 903 is set. Based on this, the server 520 on the network on which data communication is to be performed is recognized (step S1002).

  The server 520 stores table information 905 shown in FIG. The table information 905 includes a serial ID stored in the non-contact IC added to the magazine 401 with non-contact IC, a magazine ID corresponding to the serial ID, and a page number (page No.) corresponding to the serial ID. It consists of. This table information 905 is prepared, for example, by a publisher that publishes a magazine 401 with a non-contact IC, and is stored in the server 520 in advance.

  The MFP 100 can identify which magazine corresponds to which page by referring to the table information 905 based on the read serial ID of the non-contact IC.

  In the present embodiment, since one serial ID corresponds to the front and back two pages of one sheet, the page number stored in the “page No.” of the server 520 is the front and back two pages. Only the even pages are stored. As the page number stored in “page No.” of the server 520, an odd page number of the front and back two pages may be stored, or both page numbers of the front and back two pages may be stored. Good.

  Next, in step S1003, the first page number group (x1) and the second page number group (x2) are acquired from the server 520. Here, when the MFP 100 transmits a plurality of serial IDs read as page information by the non-contact IC reader / writer 301 to the server 520, the server 520 refers to the table information 905 based on the received plurality of serial IDs. A plurality of page numbers corresponding to the serial ID are transmitted to the MFP 100 as a first page number group (x1).

  At the same time, the MFP 100 transmits a plurality of serial IDs read as page information by the non-contact IC reader / writer 302 to the server 520, and the server 520 refers to the table information 905 based on the received plurality of serial IDs. A plurality of page numbers corresponding to the serial ID are transmitted to the MFP 100 as the second page number group (x2).

  Here, the server 520 does not send back all the page number groups corresponding to the serial ID sent from the MFP 100, and the minimum value of the page information corresponding to the serial ID read by the non-contact IC reader / writer 301. May be transmitted to MFP 100, and the maximum value of the page information corresponding to the serial ID read by non-contact IC reader / writer 302 may be transmitted to MFP 100.

  Next, in MFP 100, the minimum value (MIN (x1)) of the first page number group (x1) acquired from server 520 and the maximum value (MAX (x2)) of the acquired second page number group (x2). And whether or not the difference between the two values is 2 is determined (step S1004). For example, when the maximum page number of the acquired first page number group (x1) is 100 and the minimum page number of the acquired second page number group (x2) is 102, a non-contact IC is attached. The pages opened in the magazine 401 can be specified as 100 to 101 pages.

  If it is determined in step S1004 that the difference between the two values is 2 (YES in step S1004), the process proceeds to step S1006, but if the difference between the two values is not 2 (step S1004). NO), the process proceeds to step S1005.

  In step S1005, the maximum value (MAX (x1)) of the first page number group (x1) is compared with the minimum value (MIN (x2)) of the second page number group (x2), and the two values are compared. It is determined whether or not the difference is 2. For example, when the minimum page number of the first page number group (x1) is 102 and the minimum page number of the second page number group (x2) is 100, the first page number group (x1) is opened in the magazine 401 with non-contact IC. Can be specified as 101 to 100 pages. This is effective when a page is specified when a magazine that is opened right (not shown) is placed, or a magazine that is opened left is placed upside down or upside down. .

  If it is determined in step S1005 that the difference between the two values is 2 (YES in step S1005), the process proceeds to step S1006. On the other hand, if it is determined that the difference between the two values is not 2 (in step S1005). NO), the process proceeds to step S1010, an error message is displayed or printed and error processing is performed, and this processing ends.

  In step S1006, the MFP 100 transmits a serial ID corresponding to the larger page number among the page numbers compared with each other to the server 520, and requests acquisition of advertisement detailed information.

  The server 520 stores an advertisement detailed information table 906 shown in FIG. 11B in addition to the table information 905 described above. The advertisement detailed information table 906 is composed of a magazine ID, a page number, and an advertisement detail file corresponding to the page number. The advertisement detail file is created in the PDF (Portable Document Format) format of Adobe Systems, but is not limited to this.

  When the server 520 receives the serial ID as a request for acquiring the advertisement detailed information from the MFP 100, the server 520 searches the table information 905 for the magazine ID and page number corresponding to this serial ID, and the advertisement details corresponding to the searched magazine ID and page number. The file is further searched from the advertisement detailed information table 906. At this time, if there is a corresponding advertisement detail file, a print command is transmitted together with that file to MFP 100, and if there is no such file, an error message is transmitted to MFP 100 (step S1007).

  The MFP 100 determines whether the message received from the server 520 is an advertisement detail file print command or an error message (step S1008). If the message is an advertisement detail file print command (YES in step S1008), the MFP 100 has received the message. The advertisement detail file is printed (step S1009), and this process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is an error message (NO in step S1008), the process proceeds to step S1010, where the error message is displayed or printed, and this process ends.

  According to the first embodiment, the page information 901 is read from the non-contact IC attached to the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC placed in the open state on the MFP 100, and the IP in the read page information 901 is read. While recognizing the server 520 from the address, a page number group (first page number group and second page number group) is acquired from the server 520 based on the serial ID in the page information 901, and from the acquired page number group Since the opened page number of the magazine 401 is specified, and the advertisement detail file corresponding to the page number is acquired from the server 520 and printed, a user who is interested in the advertisement or sweepstakes described in the magazine can be obtained. The detailed information can be easily obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the page specifying process in steps S1002 to S1005 is performed by inquiring the server 502, but may be performed in the MFP 100. As a result, the page number identification process can be performed without connecting to the server 520, so that the page identification can be performed in a short time, and even if a network failure occurs, the user is not disturbed. Can be processed. In step 1106, the MFP 100 transmits the serial ID corresponding to the larger page number among the page numbers compared with each other to the server 520, but transmits the serial ID corresponding to the smaller page number to the server 520. You may make it do.

[Second Embodiment]
An image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same basic configuration and structure as MFP 100 described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  In the first embodiment, in MFP 100, a page is specified using a non-contact IC added to a paper constituting a magazine with a non-contact IC, and detailed information such as an advertisement posted on the page is printed. In the second embodiment, for example, even when a user scans a part of a magazine with a non-contact IC without performing the page order, the function of performing the printing process by sorting in the page order. explain.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing page sort printing processing executed by MFP 100 in the second embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed in cooperation by the CPU 501 and the CPU (not shown) of the server 520.

  In FIG. 12, first, the magazine page is optically scanned by the reader unit, and the page information of the magazine 401 with non-contact IC is read by the two non-contact IC reader / writers 301 and 302 (step S1101).

  When the document table cover 129 is closed and brought into close contact with the magazine 401 with non-contact IC, and a scan job is input from the operation unit 518, the opened page of the magazine 401 with non-contact IC is scanned to read an image, and the original The non-contact IC reader / writer 301 in the base cover unit 129 reads the page information from the non-contact IC 402 attached to the left-side paper bundle of the opened magazine 401 with the non-contact IC, and at the same time, the document The non-contact IC reader / writer 302 in the base cover unit 129 reads the page information from the non-contact IC 402 attached to the sheet bundle on the right side of the opened magazine 401 with the non-contact IC. Here, as in the first embodiment, if only a small amount of page information is detected due to page breaks or the like of the magazine 401 with the non-contact IC, an error display is performed.

  Next, in steps S1102 to S1105, processing similar to that in steps S1002 to S1005 in FIG. 10 in the first embodiment is performed, and the scanned page is specified. On the other hand, if the page cannot be specified (NO in step S1105), the process proceeds to step S1107, and error processing such as displaying or printing an error message or discarding the scan data is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S1106. move on.

  In step S1106, the page information specified in steps S1102 to S1105 is added as attribute information to the image data of the page of the magazine 401 with non-contact IC scanned by the image reader unit 101, and stored in the HDD 509, and the process proceeds to step S1108. move on.

  In step S1108, it is determined whether or not there is a next page to be scanned. If there is a page to be scanned, that is, if there is a next scanned page, the process returns to step S1101 to scan the next data and perform page identification processing. And repeatedly.

  On the other hand, if there is no page to be scanned next, the scan data is sorted (step S1109). That is, the scan data scanned by the above processing and stored in the HDD 509 is sorted in ascending order based on the page number information received from the server 520. Then, the scan data stored in the HDD 509 is read out in the sorted order, the printing process is performed (step S1110), and this process is terminated.

  According to the second embodiment, in the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC to which the non-contact IC 402 is added, when the user scans some pages of the magazine 401 in the order of the disjointed pages and tries to print. However, the MFP 100 can perform print processing by sorting in page order. Thus, the magazine can be scanned without the user being aware of the order, and a comfortable service can be provided to the user.

  In the above embodiment, the page specifying process in steps S <b> 1102 to S <b> 1105 is performed by inquiring the server 502, but may be performed in the MFP 100.

  When the MFP 100 performs the processing of steps S1102 to S1105, it can be realized by storing a table corresponding to the table information 905 shown in FIG. 11A in the server 520 in the HDD 509 of the MFP 100 and referring to this. it can.

  Or, even if there is no table such as the table information 905, if the non-contact IC serial ID added to each paper of the magazine is continuously added from the first page to the last page, these non-contact ICs Is read by a non-contact IC reader / writer, and the maximum number and minimum value of the serial ID are detected, so that the total number of pages of the magazine placed on the document table can be grasped, and the page corresponding to each serial ID You can find the number. Accordingly, since the page sort printing process can be performed without connecting to the server 520, the page identification can be performed in a short time, and even if a network failure occurs, the user is not inconvenienced. Can be processed.

[Third Embodiment]
An image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention has the same basic configuration and structure as the MFP described in the first and second embodiments, and a description thereof is omitted. Only the differences from the first and second embodiments will be described below.

  In the second embodiment, a function has been described in which MFP 100 performs print processing by sorting pages in order of pages even when a part of a magazine with a non-contact IC added for each page is scanned in order of pages. However, in the third embodiment, a description will be given of a function for performing print processing by sorting in page order even when copy data composed of a plurality of pages is divided and copied.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the sortable copy original executed by the MFP according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This process is executed by the CPU 501.

  In FIG. 13, when a print job is input (step S1201), the MFP 100 performs print processing based on the print job on the recording paper (ID paper 201) supplied from the paper cassette 124 or the like (step S1202). The ID paper 201 subjected to the printing process reads the serial ID from the non-contact IC (non-contact IC 202) added to the ID paper 201 by the non-contact IC reader / writer 127 installed in front of the paper discharge port ( Step S1203).

  Next, the MFP 100 writes data to the non-contact IC added to the ID paper 201 substantially at the same time as reading the serial ID (step S1204). Here, the IP address of the server 520 for storing 1 in the sorting copy enable bit 904b of the page information 901 (FIG. 9B) stored in the non-contact IC and storing the page number information for the read serial ID. Is written in the data portion 903.

  Next, the ID paper 201 that has been subjected to the printing process is discharged, and it is determined whether there is an unprinted page for the input print job (step S1205). If there is an unprinted page as a result of this determination, the process returns to step S1202 and the same processing is repeated until there are no more printed pages.

  As a result of the determination in step S1205, when there is no unprinted page and printing of the print job is completed, the MFP 100 reads the read serial ID, the document number added for each print job, and the pages added in ascending order from 1. The set of numbers is transmitted to the server 520 having the IP address written in the page information 901 in step S1204, stored in the table 1401 shown in FIG. 14 (step S1206), and this process is terminated.

  Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 15, the process of specifying the page number of each original, sorting and printing when the originals printed on the plurality of ID papers 201 are copied in the order of the pages is described. To do.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a copy sorting print process according to the third embodiment. This process is executed by the CPU 501.

  In FIG. 15, in the MFP 100, when the user places a document printed on the ID paper 201 on the platen glass 103, closes the platen cover unit 129, and inputs a copy job from the operation unit (step S1301). Then, the page information 901 is read from the non-contact IC attached to the original by the non-contact IC reader / writers 301 and 302 in the original table cover section 129, and the server 520 is recognized by searching the sortable copy possible bit 904b (step). S1302). Here, if the sorting copy enable bit 904b is 1, the server 520 that performs data communication is uniquely recognized from the IP address stored in the data portion 903.

  Next, after scanning the original (step S1303), the serial ID of the original is read (step S1304) and stored in the memory. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a document to be scanned (step S1305). If there is a document to be scanned, the process returns to step S1303 and the same processing is repeated until there is no scanned document.

  On the other hand, when there are no more scanned documents, the serial ID for each document read in step S1304 is transmitted to the server 520, and the page number for each document retrieved based on the table 1401 is acquired from the server 520 (step S1306). .

  Next, the scanned originals are sorted so that the acquired page numbers are in ascending order (step S1307), the printing process is performed (step S1308), and this process ends.

  According to the third embodiment, even when an original composed of one or a plurality of ID papers 201 is copied, printing processing can be performed by sorting in the page order.

  In each of the first to third embodiments, the page number is acquired from the serial ID-page number table of the external server 520 using the serial ID stored in the non-contact IC of the ID paper 201. However, the page number information in the present invention is not limited to being stored in the external server 520. That is, regarding the first embodiment and the second embodiment, if the page number information is written in the non-contact IC added to each page of the magazine at the time of printing at the publisher, the MFP 100 The functions in the embodiments can be provided while communication with the external server 520 is performed in a short time.

  Further, regarding the third embodiment, the table 1401 shown in FIG. 15 is stored not in the external server 520 but in the HDD 509 of the MFP 100, so that the communication between the MFP 100 and the external server 520 can be performed in a short time. The function in the form of can be provided.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus as a storage medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the stored program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the non-contact IC reader / writer 301,302 of FIG. (A) is a diagram showing an outline of a magazine with a non-contact IC that can be read by the MFP 100 of FIG. 1, and (b) is a diagram showing an outline of an ID paper used as recording paper in the MFP 100 of FIG. is there. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of MFP 100 in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an external configuration of an operation unit 518 in FIG. 4. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of non-contact IC reader / writers 301 and 302 and a non-contact IC reader / writer 127. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of non-contact IC402 of Fig.3 (a), and noncontact IC202 of FIG.3 (b). (A) is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC of Fig.3 (a), (b) is a figure which shows the outline of the data format stored in non-contact IC. 3 is a flowchart showing page specification / advertisement detailed information printing processing executed by MFP 100 in FIG. 1. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC with a right opening, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the magazine 401 with a non-contact IC with a left opening. (A) is a figure which shows the table information of the page number corresponding to serial ID, FIG.11 (b) is a figure which shows the table information of the advertisement detailed file corresponding to a page number. 10 is a flowchart showing page sort printing processing executed by MFP 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of a sortable copy original executed by an MFP according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the table information of the page number corresponding to serial ID. 10 is a flowchart illustrating copy sorting print processing executed by the MFP according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 MFP
101 Image reader unit 102 Printer unit 129 Document table cover unit 201 ID paper 301, 302 Non-contact IC reader / writer 401 Non-contact IC magazine 202, 402 Non-contact IC
520 Server 901 Page information

Claims (17)

In an image forming apparatus that reads and prints an image,
Page information reading means for reading page information from a printed matter to which a wireless communication element capable of wireless communication is added;
Page specifying means for specifying a page of the printed matter based on the read page information;
Page information acquisition means for acquiring detailed information of the specified page;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an output unit that prints out the acquired detailed information. Image reading means for reading an image of the printed matter;
Page information adding means for adding page information of the specified page to the read image;
Sorting means for sorting the images with the page information added in ascending or descending order of the specified pages,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit sequentially prints out the sorted images.   The page specifying unit acquires a page number from an information processing apparatus connected via a network based on the read page information, and the page information acquiring unit is configured to acquire the page number based on the acquired page number. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein detailed information is acquired from the information processing apparatus.   The reading means is attached to a first reading means for reading page information from a wireless communication element attached to one paper bundle of a printed material with a predetermined page opened, and to the other paper bundle of the printed material. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second reading unit that reads page information from the wireless communication element.   5. The page specifying unit specifies a page number of an opened page of the printed material based on page information respectively read by the first reading unit and the second reading unit. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the page information includes a serial ID that uniquely identifies a page of the printed matter.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the page information by an RFID method.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the wireless communication element includes an RFID tag. In a control method of an image forming apparatus that reads and prints an image,
A page information reading step of reading page information from a printed matter to which a wireless communication element capable of wireless communication is added;
A page specifying step of specifying a page of the printed matter based on the read page information;
A page information acquisition step of acquiring detailed information of the identified page;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising: an output step of printing out the acquired detailed information. An image reading step of reading an image of the printed matter;
A page information adding step of adding page information of the specified page to the read image;
A sorting step of sorting the images with the page information added in ascending or descending order of the specified pages;
10. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the output step, the sorted images are printed out in order.   The page specifying step acquires a page number from an information processing apparatus connected via a network based on the read page information, and the page information acquisition step is based on the acquired page number. 11. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 9, wherein detailed information is acquired from the information processing apparatus.   The reading step is added to a first reading step of reading page information from a wireless communication element added to one paper bundle of a printed material with a predetermined page opened, and to the other paper bundle of the printed material. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 9, further comprising a second reading step of reading page information from the wireless communication element.   The page specifying step specifies a page number of an opened page of the printed material based on page information read in each of the first reading step and the second reading step. 12. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to 12.   The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 9, wherein the page information includes a serial ID that uniquely identifies a page of the printed matter.   15. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the reading step reads the page information by an RFID method.   The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication element includes an RFID tag.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 9.

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