JPH10143420A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform temporary preservation, transfer and distribution corresponding to difference in the performance/function of transfer or reproduction in the case of dealing with the same document data. SOLUTION: This system is constituted so as to perform the transfer/ distribution of hyper documents while connecting temporary preserving memory equipment 1 having a storage means and a control means for personal computer(PC) or digital copy machine (DPPC), DPPC 2...PC3 to a network. In this case, when transferring the document data in a document format mutually between the equipment such as DPPC 2 and PC 3, the temporary preserving memory equipment 1 defines/manages capability concerning the transfer source, transfer destination and temporary preserving memory and specifies a protocol with which this information can be exchanged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network system for temporarily storing, transferring, and distributing data between terminals such as a personal computer and an image forming apparatus connected via a network such as a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an SGML (Standard Generalizure) capable of expressing a document including information such as characters / voices / moving images and a link relationship between components such as a document / page / paragraph.
ed Markup Language / HTML (Hyper Text Markup)
Language) and other document formats are distributed on the Internet and LAN.

In order to make office devices cooperate with each other, a protocol specification of a system having a means for inquiring a processing side and an internal state of the device from a client side requesting the document information to a server side providing the document information is provided. A plan has been proposed.

[0004] In the Internet world, the accuracy of the transferred file is left to the receiving side. For example, after the transfer of the HTML file is completed, the document structure can be known only by interpreting the description in the file. It is an idea.

However, personal computers,
Office equipment such as workstations, scanners, facsimile machines, and printers have large variations in resources such as CPU power, memory capacity, and support software. Due to differences in the above and functions, temporary storage, transfer, and distribution could not be performed efficiently.

[0006]

As described above, a personal computer, a workstation, a scanner,
For office equipment such as facsimile and printer, CP
There are large variations in resources such as U power, memory capacity, support software, etc., and even when handling the same document data, there is a difference in performance and function in transfer and reproduction, so it can not be performed efficiently. There was a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a network system capable of efficiently temporarily storing, transferring, and distributing according to the difference in performance and function of transfer and reproduction when handling the same document data. Aim.

[0008]

According to the network system of the present invention, when transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the document data is transferred. In a network system having temporary storage means for temporarily storing information and exchanging information on processing capability between devices, the temporary storage means includes link information between documents and inter-document components. An extracting unit for extracting link information from the document data, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the link information extracted by the extracting unit in response to a request from a device in the network system.

In the network system according to the present invention, when document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between devices, temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function of storing temporary information, the temporary storage means converts link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. Extracting means for extracting, checking means for checking the existence and validity of a linked document based on the link information extracted by the extracting means, and checking means for a request from a device in the network system. And transmission means for transmitting the result of confirming the existence and validity of the linked document.

In the network system according to the present invention, when document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between devices, the temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function of storing temporary information, the temporary storage means converts link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. Extraction means to extract, confirmation means to confirm the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extraction means, and link destination to confirm the existence and validity of the document by this confirmation means Collection means for collecting documents of the type described above, and temporarily storing documents and the collection of the documents in response to a request from a device in the network system. And a transmitting means for transmitting the documents collected by stage.

In the network system according to the present invention, when document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between devices, the temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function of storing temporary information, the temporary storage means converts link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. Extraction means to extract, confirmation means to confirm the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extraction means, and link destination to confirm the existence and validity of the document by this confirmation means Collecting means for collecting the documents collected by the collecting means, allocating means for assigning document identification information for specifying the documents collected by the collecting means, Transmitting means for transmitting the document identification information allocated by the allocating means in response to a request from a device in the network system; and receiving a transmission request for the document specified by the document identification information transmitted by the transmitting means. When
And control means for controlling transmission of the corresponding document.

In the network system according to the present invention, when transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system having a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function, said temporary storage means extracts document attribute information necessary for reproducing a document from document data. And transmitting means for transmitting the document attribute information extracted by the extracting means in response to a request from a device in the network system.

In the network system according to the present invention, when transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function, the temporary storage means has a function or performance sufficient for the transfer destination device to reproduce a document. Determination means for determining whether or not the document data does not have a sufficient function or performance to reproduce the document, and control means for controlling not to transfer a part of the document data which cannot be reproduced. It is configured.

In the network system according to the present invention, when document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between devices, the temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function, the temporary storage means has a function or performance sufficient for the transfer destination device to reproduce a document. Determining means for determining whether or not the document data does not have a sufficient function or performance to reproduce the document; and converting the unreproducible portion of the document data to reproducible document data and transferring it. And control means for performing control.

In the network system according to the present invention, when document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between devices, temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices having a function of storing temporary information, the temporary storage means converts link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. Extraction means to extract, confirmation means to confirm the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extraction means, and link destination to confirm the existence and validity of the document by this confirmation means Collecting means for collecting the documents of the type, assigning means for assigning document identification information for identifying the documents collected by the collecting means, Extracting means for extracting document attribute information necessary for representing the document from the document data, determining means for determining whether or not the transfer destination device has sufficient functions or performance to reproduce the document, and determining means If it is determined that the document does not have a sufficient function or performance to reproduce the document, first control means for controlling not to transfer the document data of a part that cannot be reproduced, and the above-described determination means for reproducing the document. If it is determined that the document data does not have a sufficient function or performance, a second control means for controlling the conversion of the unreproducible portion of the document data to reproducible document data and transferring the document data, Transmission means for transmitting document data and various information according to the request.

In a network system according to the present invention, in a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices, information on a function or performance necessary for a transfer destination device to reproduce a document is provided. Is transmitted to the transfer source device.

[0017]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a network system according to the present invention. That is, this network system is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) or a digital copier (Digital Plane Paper Copier: hereinafter referred to as a DPPC), etc., and serves as a temporary storage means for temporarily storing information such as document data. Temporary storage memory device 1, DPPC2
, PC3, ... are connected to a network to transfer and distribute documents.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the DPPC 2. The DPPC 2 is roughly composed of three blocks, connects a scanner 33 and a printer 35 with image processing means 34, and receives and stores a basic unit 21 constituting a digital copying machine, and image data from the basic unit 21. The stored image data is transferred to the basic unit 21 again to implement memory copy, and the page memory unit 22 has a hard disk (HD) 65 as a secondary memory for storing compressed image data. A FAX board (G4 / G3 / FAX control means) 69 for exchanging image compression data with the outside through a public line, a system CPU 61 for controlling them via a system bus 73 and an ISA bus 74, and a main memory used by the system CPU 61 61a, a DMAC 62 for controlling DMA transfer on the ISA bus 74; A system unit 23 composed et consisting motherboard.

The basic unit 21 and the page memory unit 22 are used to exchange control data with the basic unit system interface 3.
6. It is connected to the basic unit image interface 37 for exchanging image data. The page memory unit 22
The system section 23 is connected to a system section system interface 76 for exchanging control data and a system section image interface 77 for exchanging image data. The basic unit 21 and the system unit 23 are not directly connected, and exchange of control data and image data is always performed via the page memory unit 22.

Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the above three systems will be described. The basic unit 21 includes an input unit (scanner) 33, an output unit (printer) 35, and the image processing unit 3.
4 and control means for controlling them (basic unit CPU)
31.

The scanners 33 have a plurality (1) arranged in rows.
A CCD line sensor (not shown) composed of a light receiving element for each line, and reads an image of a document placed on a document table (not shown) line by line in accordance with an instruction from the basic unit CPU 31 to determine the density of the image. After being converted into 8-bit digital data, the data is output to the image processing means 34 via the scanner interface 38 as time-series digital data together with a synchronization signal.

The basic unit CPU 31 controls each unit in the basic unit 21 and each unit in the page memory unit 22 described later. The page memory unit 22 is a basic unit C in the basic unit 21.
A system control unit 41 that controls communication of control information between the PU 31 and a system CPU 61 in the system unit 23, controls access to the page memory 46 from the basic unit 21 and the system unit 23, and includes a communication memory 42; A page memory 46 for temporarily storing image data, an address control unit 6 for generating an address of the page memory 46, an image bus 47 for transferring data between devices in the page memory unit 22, and a page memory unit 22 A page memory 46 via a control bus 43 and an image bus 47 for transferring control signals between each device and the system control unit 41
Data control means 45 for controlling data transfer when performing data transfer with the basic unit 21 via the basic unit image interface 37, and image data I / F
Means 48 for converting the image data to the resolution of another device when transmitting the image data to a device having a different resolution, or for converting the image data received from the device having a different resolution into the basic unit 21;
Conversion / binary rotation means 51 for converting the resolution to the resolution of the printer 35 or performing a 90-degree rotation process of the binary image data; compressing and transmitting the image data as in facsimile transmission or optical disk storage; Connected to a compression / decompression unit 50 and an image data I / F unit 48 for compressing input image data for a device to perform the compression or decompressing the compressed image data for visualization via a printer 35. The multi-value rotation memory 49 is used when outputting image data from the printer 35 by rotating the image data by 90 degrees or -90 degrees.

The system unit 23 includes a control unit (system CPU) 61 for controlling each device in the system unit 23 via a system unit system bus 73, and a main memory 6 as a storage unit used by the system CPU 61.
1a, a general-purpose ISA bus 74, an ISA bus controller (ISA / B / C) 63 that interfaces the system bus 73 and the ISA bus 74, and an ISA bus 7
DMA controller (D) that controls data transfer on
MAC) 62, a storage means (HDD) 65 connected to the ISA bus 74 for electronically storing image data, and an HD / FD interface (HD
FDI / F) 64, a printer controller means 70 for realizing a printer function, a G3 / FAX control means 69 having a G3 / FAX control function, and image data from the printer controller means 70 as pages via a system image interface 77. A system unit image bus 75 for outputting to the memory unit 22 is provided.

The hard disk HD built in the HDD 65 has one compressed page or one page including a plurality of pages.
Compressed image data for each document is stored as a file in a state managed by search data for searching the document. A system panel system bus 73 includes a control panel 24 including a keyboard and a display for giving instructions to the system section 23.
Is connected.

An image data I / F means (image data control means) 48 is a device on an image bus 47 for transferring image data between the scanner 33 or the printer 35 and the page memory 46 via the image processing means 34. . Further, the printer controller 70 and the like connected to the system unit image bus 75 in the system unit 23 and the page memory 46
Also, image data transfer is performed.

Next, in such a configuration, for example, P
A case where the hyper document acquired by the C3 via the network is transferred / distributed to the DPPC 2 or another office device utilizing the temporary storage memory device 1 will be described.

A hyper document (hereinafter, referred to as a document) refers to a document in which link information between documents and link information between document components such as pages, paragraphs, and words are embedded. HTML (Hyper Text Markup Langua
The ge) format is a specific example of a file format for expressing a hyper document.

FIG. 3 shows that the document x acquired by the PC 3 via the network is simply transferred to the DPPC 2 by using the temporary storage memory device 1 according to the present invention, and the other document y referred to by the document x is also simultaneously transmitted. This is a conceptual illustration of the maximum effect of the present invention, which is to enable reception, and also to know the existence of another document z referred to by the document y.

The destination office equipment (here, DPPC
2) Inquiry of the temporary storage memory device 1 for related documents and their attribute information, in addition to the documents explicitly stored by the distribution source office device (here, the PC 3), prior to the transfer of the document data. It becomes possible to know.

Here, the reason for using the temporary storage memory device 1 is to delegate document transfer / distribution processing to the temporary storage memory device 1 by designating a document, a transfer source, a transfer destination, a distribution source, a distribution destination, and the like. By doing so, other document processing can proceed in parallel. Temporary storage memory device 1
Is a logical storage device, and may be physically a semiconductor memory or a hard disk. Here, an example is shown in which the DPPC 2 is used as the temporary storage memory device 1, but special hardware is not required as long as it has the functions described below.

In the document example shown in FIG. 4, document x is document y,
This indicates that document y references document z. Further, the document x indicates that the inside of the document x itself is also referred to.

Conventionally, the document y and the attribute information relating to the document cannot be obtained unless the document x is received and analyzed. If the temporary storage memory device 1 of the present invention is used, it is possible to obtain (although not all) information of the related documents y and z only by explicitly processing the document x.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the entire document distribution operation acquired by the PC 3. First, the PC 3 acquires a document via the network (ST1), temporarily stores the document in the temporary storage memory device 1 (ST3), receives a temporary storage document ID for identifying this document (ST3), and temporarily stores the document. A document transfer instruction command including the document ID is issued to the DPPC2 of the document distribution destination (ST4). DPPC2 is
The target document is extracted from the temporary storage memory device 1 by specifying the temporary storage document ID (ST5). In addition, PC3
Other office (OA) equipment (other PC3, other DPPC
2)), a document transfer instruction command including a temporary storage document ID is issued (ST6), and another office (OA) device specifies the temporary storage document ID and temporarily stores the temporary storage memory device 1.
Then, a target document is extracted from (ST7). The PC 3 ends distribution of the document in this way (ST8).

FIG. 6 is for explaining the first to fourth embodiments in the network system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6A, the document distribution source PC 3, the temporary storage memory device 1, and the document distribution destination D
FIGS. 6B to 6E show the internal configuration of the temporary storage memory device 1 according to the present invention in a simple system configuration in which the PPCs 2 are interconnected by a network.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a link information extraction unit 13, and a storage unit 14. The link information extracting unit 13 extracts the link information “document y” described in the “document x” received from the PC 3 via the communication unit 12 and stored in the storage unit 14,
The information is recorded in a link information table provided in the control unit 11.

Thus, in response to the link information inquiry about “document x”, the temporary storage memory device 1 refers to the link information table in the control unit 11 to extract the link information “link information” on “document x”. Document y "can be answered.

That is, on the side of the office device (DPPC2, PC3, etc.) which has transmitted the link information inquiry, the document x is referred to by the document x without reference to the document x. You can get information.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a link information extraction unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a link document confirmation unit 1.
Consists of five. Based on the link information “document y” described inside the “document x” extracted by the link information extraction unit 13, the link document confirmation unit 15 determines whether “document y” is accessible or actually exists. The control unit 11
And record the result in the link information table.

As a result, the temporary storage memory device 1 refers to the link information table in the control unit 11 in response to the link information inquiry about “document x”, and obtains the “document x” obtained by extracting the link information about “document x”. The result of the link document confirmation confirming whether “y” actually exists can be answered.

That is, the office device that has transmitted the link information inquiry can obtain the existence confirmation result of “document y” referred to by “document x” without receiving and analyzing “document x”. .

In the third embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a link information extraction unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a link document confirmation unit 1.
5, a link document collection unit 16; The link document collection unit 16 obtains the data of “document y” via the network for the “document y” that the link information extraction unit 13 has extracted and the existence of the link document confirmation unit 15 has confirmed, and stores it in the storage unit. 14, and records the result in the link information table in the control unit 11.

As a result, the temporary storage memory device 1 refers to the link information table in the control unit 11 in response to the link information inquiry about “document x”, and obtains the “document x” obtained by extracting the link information about “document x”. The document data of “document y” that has already been obtained in response to the document transfer request of “document y” can be answered with a link document confirmation result that confirms whether “y” actually exists. be able to.

That is, on the side of the office equipment which has transmitted the link information inquiry / document transfer request, the contents of “document y” referred to by “document x” are transmitted to the network without receiving / analyzing “document x”. Can be obtained without direct access.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a link information extraction unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a link document confirmation unit 1.
5, a link document collection unit 16 and a data conversion unit 17. If necessary according to the contents of the document transfer request, the data conversion unit 17 converts the format of “document y” into “document y ′” and stores it in the storage unit 14, for example.

As a result, the temporary storage memory device 1 refers to the link information table in the control unit 11 in response to the link information inquiry about “document x” and obtains the “document x” obtained by extracting the link information about “document x”. "y" can be returned as a link document confirmation result that confirms whether it actually exists, and for the document transfer request of "document y", the format is converted according to the requested document format. The document data of the document y '"can be transferred.

That is, the office device that has transmitted the link information inquiry / document transfer request has requested the content of “document y” referred to by “document x” without receiving and analyzing “document x”. It can be obtained in a form converted to a document format “document y ′”.

FIG. 7 is for explaining the fifth to seventh embodiments in the network system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7A, the document distribution source PC 3, the temporary storage memory device 1, and the document distribution destination D
In a simple system configuration in which the PPCs 2 are interconnected by a network, the internal configuration of the temporary storage memory device 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 14, and a document reproduction information extraction unit 18. The document reproduction information extracting unit 18 receives information from the PC 3 via the communication unit 12 and stores the “document x” stored in the storage unit 14 with information (for example, frame shape , Font types, etc.) and records them in a document reproduction information table provided in the control unit 11.

As a result, the temporary storage memory device 1 refers to the document reproduction information table in the control unit 11 in response to the document reproduction information inquiry regarding "document x", and extracts the document reproduction information (frame shape change, frame shape change, Font type, etc.).

That is, the office equipment which has transmitted the document reproduction information inquiry can obtain in advance information for determining whether or not “document x” can be faithfully reproduced without receiving and analyzing “document x”. it can.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 14, a document reproduction information extraction unit 18, and a document reproduction determination unit 19. The determination unit 19 includes a document reproduction information extraction unit 18
Of the document reproducibility described in the document “document x” (with audio file, video file, etc.) and the processing function / performance of DPPC2 as the distribution destination (transfer destination). To determine whether the document can be faithfully reproduced.

In response to the document transfer request of “document x”, the temporary storage memory device 1 also transfers an audio file or a moving image file if the document can be reproduced, and the “document x”
If it is impossible to reproduce the document, a selective and adaptive document transfer process of not transferring the audio file or the moving image file can be performed.

In other words, the office equipment which has transmitted the document transfer request needs to reproduce only the data which is necessary to reproduce “document x” without receiving and analyzing “document x” and can actually reproduce it. Obtainable.

In the seventh embodiment shown in FIG.
The temporary storage memory device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 14, a document reproduction information extraction unit 18, a determination unit 19, and a data conversion unit 20. If necessary according to the contents of the document transfer request, the data conversion unit 20
The audio file, the moving image file, and the like determined to be unreproducible are converted into a reproducible format and stored in the storage unit 14.

Thus, even if the temporary storage memory device 1 cannot reproduce the document at the distribution destination (transfer destination) in response to the document transfer request of “document x” including the audio file and the moving image file, In addition, it is possible to execute a selective and adaptive document transfer process for transferring a sound file or a moving image file converted into a format that can be reproduced, thereby enabling a document to be reproduced.

That is, the office device that has transmitted the document transfer request transmits the format-converted data that can actually be reproduced to reproduce “document x” without receiving and analyzing “document x”. Can be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the protocol.
3. One example of a command / response exchanged by the temporary storage memory device 1 and the DPPC 2 via the network is shown. By using the above-mentioned temporary storage memory device 1 of the present invention, the protocol example shown here can be realized.

First, the PC 3 obtains “document x” via the network, and before issuing various commands,
The processing capability and performance of the temporary storage memory device 1 to which the command is to be issued (Capability: hereinafter referred to as capability) are inquired, and the capability response from the temporary storage memory device 1 has the desired processing function and performance. If it indicates that this is the case, a “document temporary storage command” using the document name and document size as parameters is issued to the temporary storage memory device 1. Temporary storage memory device 1
Checks the internal state and returns "OK" as a "document temporary storage response" if operable.

Subsequently, the PC 3 transfers the data of the “document x” to the temporary storage memory device 1. Temporary storage memory device 1
Receives this, stores it in the storage unit 14 and temporarily stores the document I
D is assigned, and a temporary storage document ID (document data transfer response) is returned to the PC 3.

The PC 3 issues a "document transfer command" to the DPPC 2 using the temporary storage memory device 1 and the ID of the temporarily stored document as parameters. Next, DPPC
2 issues a “document transfer request command” to the temporary storage memory device 1 with the temporary storage memory device 1 and the ID of the temporarily stored document as parameters.
Queries the DPPC2 for capabilities.

When the capability response from the DPPC 2 indicates that the DPPC 2 has the desired processing function or performance, the temporary storage memory device 1 checks the internal state and sets “OK” as the “document transfer request response”. (If available).

Next, the DPPC 2 requests the temporary storage memory device 1 to transfer data of “document x” (document data transfer request). The temporary storage memory device 1 transfers the temporary storage document “document x” with the specified ID to the DPPC 2 (document data transfer).

According to this protocol, it is possible to add information utilizing the features of the first to seventh embodiments to the “document transfer request response” and send it back to the DPPC 2. As a result, the DPPC 2 can use the temporary storage memory device 1 to inquire the temporary storage memory device 1 without receiving and analyzing the “document x” to obtain information on “document y” and “document z”. It is possible to obtain. In other words, the PC 3 is explicitly processing only the “document x”, but the DPPC 2 is the temporary storage memory device 1
By using this function, it is also possible to obtain information of "document y" and "document z" referred to by "document x".

Further, in the first to seventh embodiments, when the capability inquiry of the temporary storage memory device 1 is received, the function which each has as a characteristic is returned as a capability reply.

The data transfer destination (distribution destination) DP
The PC 2 returns a capability response to the capability inquiry from the temporary storage memory device 1 that is the data transfer source.

The timing at which the DPPC 2 serving as the data transfer destination provides the capability information to the temporary storage memory device 1 serving as the data transfer source may be transmitted before issuing the document transfer request command. It may be transmitted simultaneously in a form to be included in the transfer request command.

Next, according to the protocol example of FIG. 8, the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the flowchart common to the embodiments shown in FIG. 9, when the temporary storage memory device 1 receives the capability inquiry (ST11), the temporary storage memory device 1 returns the capability answer (ST11).
12) When a “document temporary storage command” is received (S
At T13), the document size specified by the parameter is compared with the available memory capacity (the storable capacity of the storage unit 14) (ST14).

If “document size ≦ usable memory capacity”, “OK” is returned as “document temporary storage response” (ST16), and the document data of “document x” is received and stored in storage unit 14 (ST17). ), A "document data transfer response" is returned (ST18).

When the data reception is completed (ST19), the temporary storage memory device 1 allocates a temporary storage document ID and allocates the temporary storage document ID to the temporary storage document table provided in the control unit 11 as shown in FIG. Temporary storage document I
D, the document name (LRU), and the document size are recorded. The initial values of the link information and the reproduction information are zero (however, the link information entry corresponds to the first to fourth embodiments, and the reproduction information entry corresponds to the fifth embodiment to the seventh embodiment). .

If the document size is larger than the available memory capacity, a processing failure "NG" is returned and an error is terminated (waiting for a command) (ST15). FIG.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 according to the embodiment. After receiving the data of "document x", the temporary storage memory device 1 extracts link information from "document x" (ST21), and displays the link information extraction result "document y" as shown in FIG. 17 (b). (For example, link information: 10001, child: <NULL>, parent: 1, status: <extraction>).

When receiving the "document transfer request command" (ST22), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits a capability inquiry (ST23), receives the capability reply (ST12), and receives the received "document transfer request command". ) Has a link information request for “document x” (S
T25), the link information “document y” extracted from “document x” is returned (ST26). Thereafter, when receiving the “document data transfer request command” (ST27), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits the document data of “document x” (S27).
T28) If no “document data transfer request command” has been received (ST29), the process ends (waiting for command).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the second embodiment. After receiving the data of “document x”, the temporary storage memory device 1
Execute link information extraction from “document x” (ST31),
The link information extraction result “document y” is recorded in a link information table provided in the control unit 11 as shown in FIG. 17B, and further, it is determined whether “document y” exists normally. Access site Y where "document y" is assumed to exist (ST32). Valid if present
If it does not exist, it is recorded as "invalid" in the link information table in the control unit 11 (status: <valid>).

When receiving the "document transfer request command" (ST33), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits a capability inquiry (ST34), receives the capability reply (ST35), and receives the received "document transfer request command". ) Has a link information request for “document x” (S
T36), “valid / invalid” of the confirmed link information “document y” is returned (ST37). Thereafter, when receiving the "document data transfer request command" (ST38), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits the document data of "document x" (S38).
T39) If no “document data transfer request command” has been received (ST40), the process ends (waiting for command).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the third embodiment. After receiving the data of “document x”, the temporary storage memory device 1
Execute link information extraction from “document x” (ST41),
The link information extraction result “document y” is recorded in a link information table provided in the control unit 11 as shown in FIG. 17B, and it is further confirmed whether “document y” exists normally (ST42). If the confirmation result is "valid", "document y" is automatically taken in from site Y, a temporary storage document ID is also assigned to "document y", and is temporarily stored in storage unit 14 (ST43). “y” is recorded and managed in a temporary storage document table in the control unit 11 shown in FIG. 17A (for example, ID: 2, document name: y, document size: S).
y, link information: <NULL>, reproduction information: <NULL>
L>).

When temporary storage memory device 1 receives the "document transfer request command" (ST45), it sends a capability inquiry (ST46), receives the capability reply (ST47), and receives the received "document transfer request command". ) Has a link information request for “document x” (S
T48) "Document y" automatically imported from site Y
Is returned (ST49). afterwards,
When receiving the "document x data transfer request command" (ST50), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits the document data of "document x" (ST51), and receives no "document x data transfer request command" (ST50). ST52) When the "document y data transfer request command" is received (ST53), the document data of "document y" is transmitted (ST54). If the "document y data transfer request command" is not received (ST55),
Terminate (wait for command).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the fourth embodiment. After receiving the data of “document x”, the temporary storage memory device 1
Execute link information extraction from “document x” (ST61),
The link information extraction result “document y” is recorded in a link information table provided in the control unit 11 as shown in FIG. 17B, and the site Y is accessed to determine whether “document y” exists normally. (ST62), and if the result of the check is "valid", "document y" is automatically imported from site Y, and a temporary storage document ID is assigned to "document y" and temporarily stored in storage unit 14. (ST63), this “document y” is recorded and managed in a temporary storage document table in the control unit 11 shown in FIG.
Document name: y, document size: Sy, link information: <NUL
L>, reproduction information: <NULL>).

Upon receiving the "document transfer request command" (ST64), temporary storage memory device 1 transmits a capability inquiry (ST66), receives the capability reply (ST66), and receives the received "document transfer request command". ) Has a link information request for “document x” (S
T67) If the actual document format is different from the document format specified by the “document transfer request command” or the document format that has been answered that it can be processed in response to the capability inquiry, the data conversion unit 1
7 to automatically convert "document x" to "document x '" (ST7).
0), when receiving the "document x 'data transfer request command" (ST71), the document data of the "document x'" which is the conversion result is transmitted (ST72), and the "document x 'data transfer request command" is received. When there is no (ST73), when the "document y data transfer request command" is received (ST74), the document data of "document y" is transmitted (ST75), and when the "document y data transfer request command" is not received (ST75). ST76),
Terminate (wait for command).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the fifth embodiment. When the temporary storage memory device 1 receives the “document transfer request command” from the DPPC 2 (ST81), the temporary storage memory device 1
A capability inquiry is transmitted to (ST8
2) When the capability answer is received from the DPPC 2 (ST83), the reproduction information extraction of “document x” stored in the storage unit 14 is executed (ST84), and the DPPC 2
Document reproduction information that cannot be reproduced by the document reproduction function of the document is extracted from “document x” (ST85), and the results (frame shape, font type, audio file, moving image file, etc.) are shown in FIG. Is recorded in a document reproduction information table provided in the control unit 11 (for example,
Index: 20001, attribute name: FRAME, parent:
1).

When the "document transfer request command" requests the document reproduction information of "document x" (ST85), the temporary storage memory device 1 returns the document reproduction information extracted from "document x" (ST86). . Thereafter, when receiving the “document x data transfer request command” (ST87), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits the document data of “document x” (ST87).
88) If the “document x data transfer request command” has not been received (ST89), the processing ends (waiting for command).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the sixth embodiment. When the temporary storage memory device 1 receives the “document transfer request command” (ST91), the temporary storage memory device 1 sends a capability inquiry to the DPPC 2 (ST92), and receives the capability reply (ST93). Document reproduction information that cannot be reproduced by the reproduction function is extracted from “document x” and “document y” stored in the storage unit 14 (ST94), and the result (frame shape, font type, audio file, moving image file, etc.) ) To FIG.
(C) is recorded in the document reproduction information table in the control unit 11 (for example, index: 20001, attribute name:
FRAME, parent: 1).

Thereafter, when “document x” is transferred to DPPC2, the document data of “document x” is transmitted only when DPPC2 can reproduce “document x” (ST95) (S95).
T97) Only when the DPPC 2 can reproduce “document y” (ST97), the document data of “document y” is transmitted (ST98).

In other words, the temporary storage memory device 1 can also store the components of “document x” and “document x”, the “document y” referred to by “document x”, and the components of “document y”. Only when the document can be reproduced, the data is transferred.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device 1 in the seventh embodiment. When receiving the “document transfer request command” (ST111), the temporary storage memory device 1 transmits a capability inquiry to the DPPC 2 (ST112), and receives the capability response (ST113).
Document reproduction information that cannot be reproduced by the document reproduction function of C2 is stored in the storage unit 14 as “document x” and “document y”.
(ST114), and records the results (frame shape, font type, audio file, moving image file, etc.) in the document reproduction information table in the control unit 11 shown in FIG. 17C (for example, the index). : 2000
1, attribute name: FRAME, parent: 1).

Thereafter, when "document x" is transferred to DPPC2, if the "document x" cannot be reproduced by DPPC2 (ST115), data conversion unit 20 converts the "document x" into a format "document x""reproducible by DPPC2. Automatic conversion (ST1
16) The document data of “document x ″” as the conversion result is transmitted (ST117).

The temporary storage memory device 1 can also reproduce the components of “document x”, the “document y” referred to by “document x”, and the components of “document y”. It is also possible to automatically convert to a special format and transfer it.

The personal computer and the digital copying machine have been described above as examples, but it goes without saying that the same processing can be performed by using the temporary storage memory device 1 of the present invention even in the case of other office devices. .

In the second to fourth embodiments, when confirming the existence of a document, the search processing range can be limited.
For example, data search processing is performed inside the same domain as the base “document x”.

In the third and fourth embodiments, when collecting documents, the search processing range can be limited.
For example, data collection processing is performed inside a domain two levels higher than the base “document x”.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a “temporary storage memory” capable of improving the performance of the entire network system.

By inquiring the temporary storage memory, the client can know in advance the resources (application, memory, etc.) necessary for reproducing the file contents without executing the file transfer, and execute the file transfer. It is possible to know in advance whether a necessary file exists in a normal state on the network even without it.

The client can obtain necessary files on the network and can obtain required files on the network without accessing the network only by accessing the temporary storage memory.

By inquiring the temporary storage memory, the client can know in advance that the reproduction of the file contents will be insufficient without analyzing the file contents. It is possible to know in advance that this will happen and avoid unnecessary transfer of files. It is possible to know in advance that the reproduction of the file contents will be insufficient and convert the file to an appropriate file and transfer it.

The server can be notified of the processing capacity of the client. The server side can determine the processing capacity of the client side and execute the selective and adaptive file transfer.

[0094]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a network system capable of efficiently temporarily storing, transferring, and distributing according to differences in performance and function of transfer and reproduction when handling the same document data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the maximum effect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a document reference example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the entire document distribution.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a temporary storage memory device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a temporary storage memory device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a protocol.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a temporary storage memory device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a temporary storage memory device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the temporary storage memory device in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a temporary storage document table, a link information table, and a document reproduction information table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Temporary storage memory device 2 ... Digital copying machine (DPPC) 3 ... Personal computer (PC) 11 ... Control part 12 ... Communication part 13 ... Link information extraction part 14 ... Storage part 15 ... Document confirmation part 16 ... Document collection part 17 ... Data conversion unit 18 Document reproduction information extraction unit 19 Judgment unit 20 Data conversion unit 61 CPU 61a Main memory 65 Hard disk (HDD)

Claims (9)

[Claims] When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device includes temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means includes an extraction means for extracting link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. Transmitting means for transmitting the link information extracted by the extracting means in response to a request from a device in the network system. 2. An apparatus comprising: a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing document data in which document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded is transferred between the devices. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means includes an extraction means for extracting link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. A confirmation unit for confirming the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extracting unit; A transmission means for transmitting a result of confirming the existence and validity of the network system. 3. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device has temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means includes an extraction means for extracting link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. A confirmation unit for confirming the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extracting unit; and collecting the linked document whose existence and validity are confirmed by the confirming unit. A collection unit that transmits a temporarily stored document and a document collected by the collection unit in response to a request from a device in the network system. Network system characterized by comprising a transmitting means. 4. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device has temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means includes an extraction means for extracting link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. A confirmation unit for confirming the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extracting unit; and collecting the linked document whose existence and validity are confirmed by the confirming unit. Collecting means; assigning means for assigning document identification information for identifying documents collected by the collecting means; and Transmitting means for transmitting the document identification information allocated by the allocating means in response to the request, and receiving a transmission request for the document specified by the document identification information transmitted by the transmitting means, A network system, comprising: control means for controlling transmission. 5. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device has temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, said temporary storage means extracts document attribute information necessary for reproducing a document from document data, and said network system A transmission unit that transmits the document attribute information extracted by the extraction unit in response to a request from a device in the network system. 6. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device includes temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information regarding processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means determines whether or not the transfer destination device has a function or performance sufficient to reproduce a document. Determination means; and control means for controlling not to transfer a portion of the document data that cannot be reproduced when the determination means determines that the function or performance is not sufficient to reproduce the document. Characteristic network system. 7. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device has temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information regarding processing capacity between each other, the temporary storage means determines whether or not the transfer destination device has a function or performance sufficient to reproduce a document. Determining means; and control means for controlling, when the determining means determines that the document does not have a sufficient function or performance to reproduce the document, converting the document data of an unreproducible portion into reproducible document data and transferring the document data. A network system comprising: 8. When transferring document data in which link information between documents and link information between document components are embedded between devices, the device has temporary storage means for temporarily storing the document data. In a network system defining a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between each other, the temporary storage means includes an extraction means for extracting link information between documents and link information between document components from document data. A confirmation unit for confirming the existence and validity of the linked document based on the link information extracted by the extracting unit; and collecting the linked document whose existence and validity are confirmed by the confirming unit. Collecting means, allocating means for assigning document identification information for identifying documents collected by the collecting means, and document attribute information necessary for reproducing the document. Extracting means for extracting information from document data; determining means for determining whether or not the transfer destination device has sufficient functions or performance to reproduce the document; and sufficient means for reproducing the document with this determining means. First control means for controlling not to transfer the document data of a portion which cannot be reproduced when it is determined that the document data does not have the necessary functions or performances, and having sufficient functions or performances for reproducing the document by the determination means. If it is determined that there is no document data, second control means for controlling the conversion of the document data of the unreproducible part into reproducible document data and transferring the document data; A network system, comprising: transmission means for transmitting information. 9. In a network system that defines a protocol for exchanging information on processing capability between devices, information on a function or performance necessary for a destination device to reproduce a document is transferred to a source device. A network system for transmitting to a network.