JP4646277B2 - Printing system, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, a program, and a recording medium. More specifically, the present invention reads a document, acquires location information where document data exists for information embedded in the document, and obtains the location where the document data exists. The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring corresponding document data via a network and printing it as a document, for example, a field of document distribution using books, magazines and the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In advertisements for magazines, etc., it is impossible to include all information about the company's products within the limited area, so usually the address for requesting materials and the telephone number for requesting materials are listed. A document request postcard or the like is inserted into a magazine. A user who wants to obtain a document by viewing an advertisement needs to post a postal request for the document or make an inquiry by telephone, and cannot obtain the document immediately upon request. In addition, with the recent spread of the Internet, many materials have been released on the Internet, but in order to find the necessary materials, it is necessary for the user to access the Internet and enter the URL etc. In addition, a search on the site is necessary, and it often takes time to search for a document that the user wants.
[0003]
On the other hand, one of the recent OA devices is a multifunction device called a printer, fax machine, copy machine, LAN connection and personal computer (PC) functions integrated into a single device. Document data can be acquired and printed by exchanging with other devices such as a server and other multifunction peripherals via a network based on recognition of the recognized document and information included in the recognized document. As conventional techniques using such a system, for example, JP-A-8-87564 (document processing apparatus), JP-A-10-285378 (copying apparatus and control method thereof), JP-A-2000-278472. (Image forming apparatus and print system) have been proposed.
[0004]
The invention described in the above-mentioned JP-A-8-87564 and JP-A-10-285378 recognizes a scanned document, and directly acquires and prints the original of the document, thereby reproducing and printing. The purpose is to improve the quality of the time. However, it is possible to use a method of acquiring and printing a related document from information embedded in a scanned document, not necessarily the original document. According to this usage method, for example, it is possible to view a magazine advertisement, scan the magazine, and obtain materials describing detailed information of related products. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-87564, FAX is used for document printing. However, in the current situation where the Internet is widespread, printing quality is improved by acquiring an original document in a printable format. . The invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-278472 has a device configuration that is applied only to printing of standard documents.
[0005]
Here, when using the Internet, for example, by using the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format, it becomes possible to easily obtain link information, which is embedded in a document scanned using the above-described multifunction device. Based on the information, related documents can be acquired, printed and used. Hypertext is a document system in which a text string or figure in a document is linked to another text or file. A state in which documents are connected one after another is called a hyperlink.
[0006]
In hypertext on the WWW, information related to links to other documents is described in a document as a URL (Universal Resource Location). The URL is a description method for uniformly accessing information placed on the network in the WWW, and can be said to be an address on the Internet where the information is placed. Client software for browsing WWW hypertext is called a WWW browser, or simply a browser, and browsing documents one after another is likened to surfing. However, if such hypertext is printed out and made into a paper document, the link is broken. When the document data referred to by the link is also necessary, the function “print all linked documents included in the document” in the print condition setting of the browser may be used. In addition, instead of printing all link destinations, the user can select and print a necessary link destination document from the browser.
[0007]
Normally, when a hypertext is distributed as a printed paper document, the linked document data included therein cannot be obtained. Further, it is a waste of resources to print all or part of the link reference destination document data in advance when printing from the PC. Instead, it is preferable that the user prints the document data referred to by the link even from a paper document as necessary. As a technique for embedding link information in a paper document, for example, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-83188 (concealed image processing system), additional information for identifying a user is embedded in an image portion of a document. Thus, there has been proposed an image processing apparatus having a function of preventing an unauthorized outflow of a confidential document due to copying. Further, according to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-172659 (image processing apparatus), the user identification information is encoded in the copying apparatus so that the original information is restored only when a specific person copies it. What has been proposed is proposed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and uses a printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral connected to the Internet, in which document identification information for obtaining material is embedded in advertisements such as magazines in advance, Anyone can easily and immediately obtain the material by simply copying the advertisement part using the printing device so that the user can view the advertisement in the magazine and obtain the desired material. It was made for the purpose of being able to do it.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 comprises an information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated from electronic data including link information to a printing apparatus and prints, and a printing apparatus that executes printing of the transmitted print data. In the printing system, when the information processing apparatus transmits the print data, the information processing apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits the electronic data corresponding to the print data, and the printing apparatus receives the information received from the information processing apparatus. Link information extracting means for extracting the link information of the electronic data, image information converting means for converting the link information extracted by the extracting means into image information, the print data and the image received from the information processing apparatus And printing means for printing together with the information .
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the printing system further includes a server that stores electronic data and can distribute the electronic data via a network, and the printing apparatus includes the link information. The link information extracting unit extracts link information from the image information printed by the printing unit, and the electronic data acquiring unit includes the link information. The electronic data designated by the link information is acquired from the server based on the above .
[0011]
The invention of claim 3 is an information processing apparatus of a printing system connected to a printing apparatus via a network, wherein the printing apparatus extracts link information of electronic data received from the information processing apparatus, In the case of including image information conversion means for converting the link information extracted by the extraction means into image information, and printing means for printing the print data received from the information processing apparatus together with the image information, The information processing apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits the print data together with the electronic data including the link information corresponding to the print data .
[0028]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus that transmits print data generated from electronic data including link information to a printing apparatus, and a printing apparatus that executes printing of the transmitted print data. In a program for controlling a printing system, in the information processing apparatus, a first process for transmitting the electronic data corresponding to the print data when transmitting the print data, and the information processing apparatus in the printing apparatus A second process for extracting the link information of the received electronic data; a third process for converting the link information extracted by the second process into image information in the printing apparatus; and the printing apparatus. A fourth process of printing the print data received from the information processing apparatus and the image information together on the printing system Is a program for causing a row.
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a document in which link information is embedded, and 2 is a related document obtained from a location specified by the link information. Reference numeral 10 denotes a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus 10 includes a document reading unit 11, an image data recognition unit 12, an electronic data acquisition unit 13, and a document printing unit 14, and 30 provides information on a network. The server (or PC) 40 is a network. The document reading unit 11 has a function of scanning the document 1 and storing it in the printing apparatus 10 as image information. The image data recognition unit 12 has a function of separating a region including document identification information from the image information scanned by the document reading unit 11 and acquiring the document identification information from the image region. Examples of image information recognized by the image data recognition unit 12 include information displayed as text, information displayed as a barcode, and information displayed as embedded information in which document identification information is embedded.
[0035]
In the case of displaying as the above-mentioned text, for example, a method of specifying a URL that is an address on the Internet indicating a place where a desired material exists can be considered. Also, when displaying as a barcode, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-87564, the information of ASCII 500 characters per square inch is embedded by using a two-dimensional barcode. Can do. With this amount of information, it can be said that the amount of information is sufficient to specify the URL of a document published on the Internet.
[0036]
The electronic data acquisition unit 13 acquires the document identification information obtained by the image data recognition unit 12, and receives the document identification information from another device such as the server 30 connected via the network 40 such as the Internet or LAN. Has a function of acquiring the document data specified by. The document printing unit 14 has a function of printing the document data acquired by the electronic data acquisition unit 13.
[0037]
Normally, the printing apparatus 10 includes a mechanism for printing. However, in order to print a document in a format that the printing apparatus 10 cannot recognize, it is connected via the network 40 to which the printing apparatus 10 is connected. Another possible configuration is to convert the document format for the printing apparatus 10 on another PC.
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of document printing processing in the printing apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied. First, the document reading unit 11 takes in a document instructed to be read as image data (step S1). The image data recognition unit 12 cuts out a text (URL) indicating the document identification information, a barcode, or an area of an embedded image from the document data read as image data, and identifies the document embedded in the image data of the area Information is acquired (step S2). Document identification information is given to the electronic data acquisition unit 13, and document data is acquired from a device such as the server 30 connected via the network 40 such as the Internet or a LAN based on the document identification information (step S3). The acquired document data is printed as a document by the document printing unit 14 (step S4).
[0039]
(Example 2)
Next, an example of net surfing by hypertext of a paper document using an MFP as the printing apparatus 10 will be described. Here, the printing apparatus 10 is not limited to an MFP, and a printing apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier that can be connected to the network 40 and has a document or image reading function can also be used. In the WWW on the Internet, document data (electronic document) is configured by hypertext expression. In other words, holding a reference to another document called a link in the document data, and selecting a point representing a specified character string or figure on the document data displayed on the display screen by clicking with the mouse, The document data of the reference destination is displayed. However, once such hypertext document data is printed from a printer into a paper document, information about the link is lost.
[0040]
In the present invention, when such hypertext is printed from a printer into a paper document, the link information is embedded and printed in the print image using an embedded image, barcode or the like. Further, the hypertext that has become the paper document is read by using the scanner of the printing apparatus 10, and the link information embedded in the image is taken out. This link information is displayed on the operation panel of the printing apparatus 10. When the user selects a desired link from the displayed link information, the printing apparatus 10 takes in the document data of the reference destination of the link via the network 40 and prints it. In this way, it is possible to surf the Internet on a paper document basis using the printing apparatus 10.
[0041]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the printing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The printing apparatus 10 includes a document reading unit 11 that reads image data from a paper image, and a document printing unit 14 that prints electronic data on paper. The memory 15 has a hypertext analysis program 15a, a link information conversion program 15b, a hypertext reception program 15c, and a link information display selection user interface program 15d, and a secondary storage device 16 for storing data for a long period of time. , A CPU 17 for executing each program on the memory 15, a display device 18 for realizing a user interface, an input device 19 for a mouse or a keyboard, and a communication control unit 20 for communicating with another computer 30 via a network 40. Is done.
[0042]
The memory 15 described above stores the following programs.
1. Hypertext receiving program:
The WWW server and the WWW client (browser) have a function of requesting a transfer service to the WWW server and receiving the hypertext according to a communication protocol for exchanging hypertext on the Internet.
2. Hypertext analysis program:
It has a function of parsing hypertext and extracting link information.
3. Link information conversion program:
A function of converting link information into image information (encoding), a function of converting image information into link information (decoding), and a function of performing reversible conversion. In the present invention, the type of image information is intended to be embedded with information such as a barcode.
4). Link information display selection user interface program:
The user has a function of displaying link information on the screen of the printing apparatus 10 and allowing the user to select link information using an input unit such as a touch panel or a hard key.
[0043]
Also, a function is added to the printer driver on the PC 30 side, and when printing hypertext, the PC 30 side printer driver transmits hypertext itself in addition to transmission of print data. This is because the link information is lost in the print data, and thus the link information in the hypertext is separately transmitted to the printing apparatus 10.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for printing hypertext from the PC 30 to which the present invention is applied. First, the hypertext itself is transmitted together with the print data from the PC 30 that makes the print request first. The printing apparatus 10 receives these data, and extracts link information from the hypertext by the hypertext analysis program 15a (step S11). Next, the link information is converted into image information by the link information conversion program 15b (step S12). The printing apparatus 10 prints the hypertext image information and the link information image information together (step S13).
[0045]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of print processing of linked document data using a paper document to which the present invention is applied. First, when hypertext printed on paper is set in a scanner included in the printing apparatus 10, the document reading unit 11 reads image information from a hypertext paper document (step S21). Link information is extracted from the image information by the link information conversion program 15b (step S22), and the link information is displayed on the display device 18 of the printing apparatus 10 by the link information display selection user interface program 15d. If the user needs it, a link is selected (step S23). It is determined whether or not the link has been selected by the user (step S24). If the link is selected (in the case of YES), the document data that is the reference destination of the link selected by the hypertext receiving program 15c is sent to the WWW server. Requests and receives the document data (step S25). The following processing is the same as the processing flow shown in FIG. 4, but the printing apparatus 10 receives these data and extracts link information from the hypertext by the hypertext analysis program 15a (step S26). . Next, the link information is converted into image information by the link information conversion program 15b (step S27). The printing apparatus 10 prints the hypertext image information and the link information image information together (step S28). If link destination document data is still necessary, the process returns to step S21 and the same processing is performed.
[0046]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of hypertext according to the present invention. HTML is used in hypertext on the WWW, and in the example shown in FIG. 6, four pieces of link information are included. Here, href = “http: // www....” Indicates the location on the WWW where the document data of the reference destination is placed.
[0047]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hypertext display screen according to the present invention. When the hypertext shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the browser, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. Here, four links are displayed. For example, when the “White House” link is clicked with the mouse, the display is switched to the document data specified by href.
[0048]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which conventional hypertext is printed on paper. In the state shown in FIG. 8, the link information by HTML is lost. In the present invention, link information included in hypertext is encoded and printed as image information. In other words, in addition to the image in which hypertext is displayed on the screen, for example, an image in which information is embedded or a barcode image is printed on paper. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of link information.
[0049]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed material in which link information is embedded using an embedded image. Here, the embedded image adds image information that cannot be distinguished from the original image by human eyes. The example shown in FIG. 10 shows a gray color for the sake of understanding, but indicates that the link information is embedded somewhere (in font printing or in the background).
[0050]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed material in which link information is embedded by a barcode image. In the bar code printed on the upper right of FIG. 11, link information is encoded and included.
[0051]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a link displayed on the operation panel of the printing apparatus 10. A link is displayed as a menu on the operation panel of the printing apparatus 10, and the user selects one of the displayed menus. The printing apparatus 10 acquires and prints the reference destination document data of the selected link.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in a product introduction in a magazine or the like, it is possible to easily and instantly obtain the necessary materials simply by performing an operation of copying the advertisement portion of the magazine in place of the inquiry for requesting the materials. In addition, it is possible to know link destination information even in a document on which paper is printed with hypertext, and it is possible to perform paper-based net surfing without using a PC or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a document printing process in a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for printing hypertext from a PC to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of print processing of linked document data using a paper document to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of hypertext according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hypertext display screen according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which conventional hypertext is printed on paper.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of link information.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed material in which link information is embedded by an embedded image.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed material in which link information is embedded by a barcode image.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a link displayed on the operation panel of the printing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document, 2 ... Related document, 10 ... Printing apparatus, 11 ... Document reading part, 12 ... Image data recognition part, 13 ... Electronic data acquisition part, 14 ... Document printing part, 15 ... Memory, 15a ... Hypertext analysis program 15b ... Link information conversion program, 15c ... Hypertext reception program, 15d ... Link information display selection user interface program, 16 ... Secondary storage device, 17 ... CPU, 18 ... Display device, 19 ... Keyboard / mouse (input device) , 20 ... communication control unit, 30 ... server (PC), 40 ... network.

Claims (4)

An information processing device that transmits print data generated from electronic data including link information to a printing device and prints the print data; and
A printing apparatus that executes printing of the transmitted print data;
In a printing system consisting of
The information processing apparatus includes:
A transmission means for transmitting the electronic data corresponding to the print data when transmitting the print data;
The printing apparatus includes:
Link information extracting means for extracting the link information of the electronic data received from the information processing apparatus;
Image information converting means for converting the link information extracted by the extracting means into image information;
Printing means for printing the print data received from the information processing apparatus together with the image information;
A printing system comprising: The printing system further includes a server that stores electronic data and can distribute the electronic data via a network.
The printing apparatus includes:
Based on link information, it has electronic data acquisition means for acquiring electronic data,
The link information extracting means extracts link information from the image information printed by the printing means;
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data acquisition unit acquires electronic data specified by the link information from the server based on the link information. In an information processing apparatus of a printing system that is connected to a printing apparatus via a network,
The printing device is
Link information extracting means for extracting link information of electronic data received from the information processing apparatus;
Image information converting means for converting the link information extracted by the extracting means into image information;
Printing means for printing the print data received from the information processing apparatus and the image information together;
If you have
The information processing apparatus includes:
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the electronic data including the link information corresponding to the print data when transmitting the print data. An information processing device that transmits print data generated from electronic data including link information to a printing device and prints the print data; and
A printing apparatus that executes printing of the transmitted print data;
In a program for controlling a printing system comprising:
A first process of transmitting the electronic data corresponding to the print data when transmitting the print data in the information processing apparatus;
A second process for extracting the link information of the electronic data received from the information processing apparatus in the printing apparatus;
A third process for converting the link information extracted by the second process into image information in the printing apparatus;
A fourth process for printing the print data and the image information received from the information processing apparatus together in the printing apparatus;
Is executed on the printing system.

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