JP3751723B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system for printing an HTML-format electronic document including information such as characters / videos / sounds communicated via, for example, the Internet or a LAN.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An HTML format electronic document containing information such as text / video / audio is distributed on the Internet or LAN. There are many types of multimedia data such as still image data such as text, non-still image data such as video, invisible data such as audio, and dynamic variation data controlled and executed by an execution module described in the Java language. Is stored. A personal computer (PC) analyzes these data formats, decodes the encoded data, and displays or reproduces characters / video / audio.
[0003]
However, when such an electronic document is printed, still image data such as characters is printed in the same manner as when it is displayed, but non-still image data such as video is, for example, the first scene where playback is started is a still image. Invisible data such as voice cannot be known, and dynamic variation data controlled and executed in the Java language is not printed, or a specific state in the variation process is printed.
[0004]
Paper, which is a print output medium, takes advantage of its excellent listability, portability, etc., not to store information, but to “temporarily display” information that is difficult to capture on the display screen of electronic devices. It's being used.
[0005]
Such an electronic document cannot be understood unless the entire contents and volume are displayed / reproduced. For this reason, when printing / outputting a part that has not been confirmed by displaying / playing it on a PC screen or the like, it is possible to recognize invisible data / non-still image data / dynamically updated data. Can not.
[0006]
In addition, even if the information that is confirmed by displaying / playing it on a PC screen or the like is printed out, the specific situation of the video, the specific state of the dynamically updated data, taking advantage of the goodness of the paper If you want to see above, you can't select this.
[0007]
That is, it is desired to know the existence, position, and contents of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic variation data only by looking at the print output result. This necessity is particularly high because portable small PCs cannot always display / reproduce with sufficient performance.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when printing out, the existence, position, and contents of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data cannot be known, and any scene / state of non-still image data / dynamic update data is printed. There is a problem in that the configuration of the electronic document to be printed cannot be understood even when the data cannot be output and is output over a plurality of printed output papers.
[0009]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to know the presence, position, and contents of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data from the print output result, and to determine an arbitrary scene / state of the non-still image data / dynamic update data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system that can print out and can know the configuration of an electronic document to be printed even when output over a plurality of printed output sheets.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printing system of the present invention is a printing system having an instruction unit for instructing printing of an electronic document and a printing unit for printing in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit. Analyzing a document, detecting means for detecting the presence and position of invisible data, non-still image data, and dynamic update data, and converting the invisible data into visible data when the detecting means detects the presence of invisible data. The conversion means and the invisible data detected by the detection means, non-still image data, a sign or a mark indicating the position where the dynamic update data is present as an image at a location that does not interfere with the image data of the electronic document to be printed, A first control method for controlling the printing of all the electronic documents to be printed by performing image allocation, allocating pages, assigning page numbers, and printing by the printing means. The visible data converted by the converting means is developed and assigned to a page, assigned a subpage number corresponding to the page number assigned by the first control means, and printed by the printing means. And second control means for performing control .
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, electronic documents distributed on the Internet, such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format, still image data such as text, non-still image data such as video, invisible data such as audio, Java language Many types of multimedia data are included, such as dynamically updated data that is controlled and executed by the described execution modules.
[0015]
Hereinafter, a case where an electronic document acquired via the Internet is printed out will be described.
FIG. 4 shows the operation flow for printing out an electronic document. The electronic document (character / audio / video, etc.) shown in FIG. 4C is displayed and reproduced as shown in FIG. Or can be printed out as shown in FIG.
[0016]
FIG. 5 shows the flow of an operation for printing out an electronic document. There are the following cases.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the operator retrieves information by himself / herself, displays and reproduces the electronic document of the retrieval result on the display device, confirms it, designates the electronic document to be printed, makes a print request, and prints out the result. Get.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5B, the operator searches for information by himself, confirms only the list without displaying and reproducing the electronic document of the search result, specifies the electronic document to be printed, requests printing, and prints. Get the output result.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 5C, the operator designates the distributed electronic document without requesting information search by himself / herself, makes a print request, and obtains a print output result.
As shown in FIG. 5D, the operator does not search for information by himself and does not specify the distributed electronic document, and automatically obtains a printed output result.
[0019]
That is, in the case of FIG. 5A, the contents of the electronic document are displayed and reproduced, and the character / video / audio / dynamic update data is confirmed and then printed out.
In the case of (b), (c), and (d) in FIG. 5, the purpose is to know the contents of the electronic document on the paper without confirming the contents of the electronic document. It is desired to know the existence, location, and contents of the target update data, and the present invention corresponds to this.
[0020]
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printing system according to the first embodiment. The configuration of this printing system includes at least a print instruction input unit 30 for instructing printing of an electronic document, a print control unit 31 for controlling and executing formation of a print output image, and analyzing the electronic document data to make invisible data / non-still images. The data analysis unit 32 detects data / dynamic update data.
[0021]
In this example, a data communication unit 37 for obtaining an electronic document from the outside, a data storage unit 38 for storing electronic document data, a display reproduction unit 39 for displaying and reproducing an electronic document, and a display device 40 are connected here. Show. All may be connected via a network.
[0022]
Next, the operation of analyzing the electronic document to be printed in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when receiving a print request from an operator, the print instruction input unit 30 sends a designated electronic document from the data storage unit 38 to the data analysis unit 32 and analyzes the electronic document data. The data analysis unit 32 determines the presence of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data (S1), extracts the position information, and notifies the print control unit 31 (S2).
[0023]
The print control unit 31 expands the designated electronic document to form a print output image, and at the same time, converts the position information of the invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data notified from the data analysis unit 32 to the original electronic In order not to disturb the document image, “marks” are formed and stored at the upper end and right end, which are blank areas on the printed output paper (S3).
[0024]
In this way, the print control unit 31 performs the operations up to step S3 to form an image in which invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data exists (S4), and invisible data / non-still image in step S1. When there is no image data / dynamic update data, normal image formation is performed (S5), and print output control is performed (S6).
[0025]
The mark uses different shapes to distinguish invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data. As an example, using the figure ▽ / ◇ / ☆, “▽” represents invisible data, “◇” represents non-still image data, and “☆” represents dynamic update data.
[0026]
As another example of the mark, as shown in the printing example of FIG. 10 (a), as character A (Audio) / V (Video) / M (Model), “A” is invisible data, and “V” is non-visible. Still image data “M” may represent dynamic update data. As yet another example, different icons are used.
[0027]
In the case of invisible data, a mark having a different shape is used to distinguish the attribute. An example of audio data is the shape that represents the mouth. An example of music data is a quarter note of a score. An example of language data is a national flag whose language is the first language. As another example, a character string expressing an attribute such as Music / Voice / Lang. In addition, as another example representing the attribute of invisible data, any visible pattern can be used as long as it can be distinguished, such as the name of application software suitable for reproducing data, and a numerical value representing the size of data.
[0028]
In the case of non-still image data, a different mark expressing the attribute is used. An example is an application software icon suitable for playing a movie or animation. Another example is the name of application software that is suitable for playing video / animation. Another example is the playback time required to play a video / animation.
[0029]
In the case of dynamic update data, a mark that is a hint to know the contents is used. For example, preset data for dynamically updated areas. Another example is default data for dynamically updated regions. Another example is a data set as an option that may be employed during an update.
[0030]
The mark can also be used as follows. A serial number is assigned to the invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data detected from the original electronic document, and the corresponding page when the image is expanded and formed on the memory for the purpose of printing out the original electronic document. The mark and this serial number are printed out. Thus, even when a plurality of marks are printed out on the same page, the corresponding data type and position information can be easily understood.
[0031]
As another example of the mark, as shown in the printing example of FIG. 10A, in order to indicate the position on the printed output paper so as not to interfere with the printed output content of the original electronic document, (A) A line segment connecting the start point and end point of the region and (b) the region start point and end point is formed. As the margin portion of the paper, any combination of the upper end and the right end, the upper end and the left end, the lower end and the right end, and the lower end and the left end is used. This makes it possible to easily know the presence of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data.
[0032]
As another example of the mark, as shown in the printing examples of FIGS. 10B and 10C, the paper surface is used for the purpose of indicating the position on the printed output paper so as not to interfere with the printed output content of the original electronic document. A “rectangular frame” is formed in a corresponding portion of the back surface of the sheet. Thus, the presence of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data can be easily known by looking through the paper.
[0033]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the printing system includes at least a print instruction input unit 20, a print control unit 21, a data analysis unit 22, and an invisible data conversion unit 23 that converts invisible data into visible data.
[0034]
In this example, a data communication unit 27 for obtaining an electronic document from the outside, a data storage unit 28 for storing electronic document data, a display reproduction unit 29 for displaying and reproducing an electronic document, and a display device 30 are connected here. Show. All may be connected via a network.
[0035]
Next, the operation of analyzing the electronic document to be printed in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when receiving a print request from an operator, the print instruction input unit 20 sends a designated electronic document from the data storage unit 28 to the data analysis unit 22 and analyzes the electronic document data. The data analysis unit 22 determines the presence of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data (S11), and if it exists, extracts the position information and notifies the print control unit 21 (S12).
[0036]
The print control unit 21 expands the designated electronic document to form a print output image, and at the same time, the position information of the invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data notified from the data analysis unit 22 is converted into the original electronic data. In order not to disturb the document image, “marks” are formed and stored at the upper and right edges of the margin area of the printed output paper (S13), and image formation in which invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data exists is formed. (S14).
[0037]
Subsequently, when the data analysis unit 22 determines that there is invisible data (S16), the invisible data conversion unit 23 receives the invisible data from the data storage unit 28 and converts it into visible data. As an embodiment, in the case of voice data, it is converted into text data by a voice recognition subsystem. As another example, it is converted into text data by the speech recognition subsystem and then converted into Japanese text data by the English-Japanese translation subsystem. As another example, music data is converted into a score. If the invisible data is not converted to visible data in step S16, only the attribute information is converted to visible data (S17).
[0038]
As the image formation of the converted visible data from step S16 or step S17 (S18), it is sent to the print control unit 21 and the print output is controlled (S19). If there is no invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data in step S11, normal image formation (S15) is sent to the print control unit 21 and print output control is performed (S19).
[0039]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment. The configuration of this printing system includes at least a print instruction input unit 10, a print control unit 11, a data analysis unit 12, an invisible data conversion unit 13, and a non-still image data that is displayed and reproduced for each individual scene that is a component thereof. Still image data display / reproduction unit 14, dynamic update display / reproduction unit 15 that displays and reproduces dynamically updated data for each individual state as a component, and data selection input unit 8 that receives a data selection instruction from an operator And a data selection unit 16 connected to.
[0040]
In this example, a data communication unit 17 for obtaining an electronic document from outside, a data storage unit 18 for storing electronic document data, a display reproduction unit 19 for displaying and reproducing an electronic document, and a display device 9 are connected here. Show. All may be connected via a network.
[0041]
Next, the operation of analyzing the electronic document to be printed in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when receiving a print request from an operator, the print instruction input unit 10 sends a designated electronic document from the data storage unit 18 to the data analysis unit 12 and analyzes the electronic document data. The data analysis unit 12 determines the presence of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data (S21), and if present, extracts the position information and notifies the print control unit 11 (S22).
[0042]
The print control unit 11 forms an image in which invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data exists (S23). The print control unit 11 expands the designated electronic document to form a print output image. The position information of the notified invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data is stored by forming “marks” at the upper and right margins of the margin area of the printed output paper so as not to disturb the original electronic document image. (S25).
[0043]
Unlike the normal display / playback unit 19, the non-still image data display / playback unit 14 has a function of disassembling and displaying still images that are components of non-still image data frame by frame. As an example, in the case of moving image data, a function is provided for reproducing and displaying a set of still images that are constituent elements of a moving image that is reproduced and displayed by continuously displaying at a speed of 30 frames or more per second ( S26). As another example, a function is provided for reproducing and displaying a set of still images, which are constituent elements of an animation image reproduced and displayed by frame-by-frame advance at regular intervals. As another example, a function is provided that can select and display any 10 characters in a character string exceeding 10 characters flowing in a character display area for 10 characters on a screen like a telop.
[0044]
Unlike the normal display / reproduction unit 19, the dynamic update data display / reproduction unit 15 has a function of reproducing and displaying partial data, which is a component of data dynamically updated according to operator input and time, one by one. As an example, in the case of moving image data, a function of reproducing and displaying an arbitrary bank surface of a moving image whose scenario changes according to an operator input for each scene is provided (S27). As another example, a function of reproducing and displaying an arbitrary scene of an animation image in which a story can be similarly selected by an operator input one by one is provided. As another example, a function is provided in which an arbitrary partial character string of an arbitrary character string can be selected and reproduced from a group of telop character strings whose contents can be changed by operator input.
[0045]
As a result, as image formation of the selected data (S28), it is sent to the print control unit 11 and the print output is controlled (S29).
If there is no invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data in step S21, normal image formation is performed (S24), and the print control unit 11 is sent to perform print output control (S29).
[0046]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
The system configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the printing system of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
[0047]
The operation of the print control unit 11 in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Also, printing examples printed out here are shown in FIGS. 10A to 10E.
[0048]
In the print output control (S5, S19, S29) processed by the print control unit 11, all the original electronic documents to be printed are developed and pages are allocated (S91). A page number is assigned to the allocated page (S92). It is checked whether the invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data notified to the print control unit 11 as a result of the data analysis processing in the data analysis unit 12 exists (S93). The data to be additionally printed (as described in the first embodiment to the third embodiment) sent from the data storage section 18 under the control of the section 12 is developed to perform page allocation (S94). A subpage number is assigned to the allocated page (S95).
[0049]
As sub-page numbers, “1-1”, “1-2”, “1-3”... Are assigned to the additional print output page for the print output page “1” of the original electronic document. In another embodiment, “1a”, “1b”, “1c”. Any other expression can be used as long as the correspondence with the print output page number of the original electronic document can be seen.
[0050]
The print controller 11 first prints out the original electronic document to be printed (S96), and then prints out additional print output data (S97). Accordingly, the configuration of the original electronic document can be first grasped from the print output result, additional data can be obtained, and the correspondence between the original electronic document and the page of the additional print data can be easily known.
[0051]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the position of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data can be known from the print output result, and the invisible data / non-still image data can be determined from the print output result. / The contents of dynamic update data can be known, and any scene / state of non-still image data / dynamic update data can be printed out. You can know the structure of electronic documents.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the existence, position, and contents of invisible data / non-still image data / dynamic update data can be known from the print output result, and the non-still image data / dynamic update data It is possible to provide a printing system that can print out an arbitrary scene / state and can know the configuration of an electronic document to be printed even when output over a plurality of printed output sheets.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of an operation for printing out an electronic document.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for printing out an electronic document.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of analyzing an electronic document to be printed.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of analyzing an electronic document to be printed.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of analyzing an electronic document to be printed.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of print output control.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print example printed out.
[Explanation of symbols]
8: Data selection input unit 9, 30, 40 ... Display device 10, 20, 30 ... Print instruction input unit (instruction means)
11, 21, 31... Print control unit (control means)
12, 22, 32 ... Data analysis part (detection means)
13, 23 ... Invisible data conversion unit (conversion means)
14: Non-still image data display / playback unit 15 ... Dynamic update data display / playback unit 16 ... Data selection unit (selection means)
17, 27, 37... Data communication unit 18, 28, 38... Data storage unit 19, 29, 39.

Claims (1)

In a printing system having instruction means for instructing printing of an electronic document and printing means for printing in accordance with an instruction of the instruction means,
A detection unit that analyzes an electronic document to be printed according to a print instruction of the instruction unit and detects the presence and position of invisible data, non-still image data, and dynamic update data;
Conversion means for converting invisible data into visible data when the presence of invisible data is detected by the detection means;
A code or mark indicating a position where the invisible data, non-still image data, or dynamic update data detected by the detection means is used as an image in a location that does not interfere with the image data of the electronic document to be printed. A first control unit that performs control to print all the images of the electronic document, perform page allocation, assign page numbers, and print out the print unit;
Control that the visible data converted by the conversion means is developed to perform page allocation, assign a subpage number corresponding to the page number assigned by the first control means, and print out the printing means. Second control means to perform;
A printing system comprising:

Images