JPH10214162A - Image formation device and method therefor, and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use the storage area of the secondary storage device of an image formation device, and to easily manage an image file stored in the secondary storage device, by eliminating stored image information and eliminating corresponding image data from the secondary storage device based on received command and image information. SOLUTION: Image code data inputted from a computer interface part 500 are transferred to a formatter part 600 by a core part 700 and the image data are stored in an image secondary storage part 300 through a reader part 100 by the core part 700. Then, a PC/WS 800 makes a user select the elimination/ non-elimination of the image file of the same file name as the file already stored in the image secondary storage part 300. That is, in the case that storage is already performed in the secondary storage part 300, the user is made to select whether or not to eliminate the image file, and in the case of selecting that it is to be eliminated, the already stored image file and the image information corresponding to it are eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus connected to a computer network for converting an image or an image consisting of only a document (hereinafter referred to as "document image") handled by a computer connected to the computer network. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a method, and an image forming system that store image data of a bitmap image in a next storage device, and form and output the image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a document image or image created by a computer or the like is formed and output by an image forming apparatus having a secondary storage device, the created document image or image is first converted into image code data using a page description language. After doing
The image code data was transmitted to an image forming apparatus connected by a computer network, and then developed into bitmap image data in the image forming apparatus and stored in a secondary storage device. The user has used a method in which image data stored in the secondary storage device is image-formed and output on paper or the like as necessary.

When storing in the secondary storage device, even if the name of the document image or the image file storing the image is the same, the storage date and time are always different, so even if the image file has the same or similar contents, It was newly stored as another image file.

[0004]

However, if the same or similar image data is stored in the image file having the same name but with a different storage date and time, the storage area of the secondary storage device of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient. Is wasted. In addition, if there is a plurality of image data for the image file with the same name, the user must separately grasp the image file stored in the secondary storage device on paper or the like. It is extremely difficult to do.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to effectively use a storage area of a secondary storage device of an image forming apparatus and to store an image stored in the secondary storage device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and method and an image forming system capable of facilitating file management.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus connected to a computer network, receiving means for receiving, from a computer connected to the computer network, image code data representing an image in a predetermined description format and image information and a command related to the image. Expansion means for expanding the image code data received by the reception means into image data of a bitmap image; a secondary storage device for storing an image file of the image data; and an image forming apparatus for storing the image information Side image information storage means, image management means for managing the image data stored in the secondary storage device and the image information stored in the image information storage means on the image forming apparatus side, and the secondary storage device Image output means for outputting the stored image data, The control unit deletes the image information stored in the image information storage unit of the image forming apparatus based on the received command and the image information, and deletes corresponding image data from the secondary storage device. An image erasing means is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image information may include at least an image identification symbol for identifying the image.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claims 1 and 2
In the image forming apparatus described above, the description format may be a description format in a page description language.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above, the image information storage unit may be located in the secondary storage device.

[0010] The invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
And the computer connected to the computer network.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, the computer converts the image into the image code data represented by the predetermined description format, and the conversion unit Transmitting means for transmitting the image code data and the image information converted by the image forming apparatus, image information storage means on the computer side for storing the image information, and image information stored on the image information storage means on the computer side. Image information management means for managing image information, wherein the image information management means stores an image file having the same image identification symbol as the image identification symbol of a new image file in the image information storage means on the computer side. Image identification symbol determining means for determining whether or not the image identification symbol If it is determined that an image file having one image identification symbol is stored in the image information storage means of the computer, the image information of the image file having the same image identification symbol is stored in the image information storage of the computer. Image information erasure selection means for allowing a user to select whether or not to erase from the means, and an image of an image file having the same image identification symbol when the user selects erasure by the image information erasure selection means. Image information erasing means for erasing information from the image information storage means on the computer side.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, the image identification symbol determining means uses an image file name as the image identification symbol and has the same name as the new image file name. It is determined whether or not the image file is stored in the image information storage means on the computer side, and the image information erasing means uses the image file name as the image identification symbol to store the image information of the image file having the same name. Can be deleted from the image information storage means on the computer side.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, the image information erasure selecting means further includes a window display means, and the new image file name and the new image file name are displayed via the window display means. It is possible to display whether or not to delete an image file having the same name.

[0014] The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claims 5 to 8.
In the image forming system according to any one of the above, the image information management means, when the user has selected to delete by the image information deletion selection means, the image information to the image management means, the image information An instruction issuing unit that erases the image data corresponding to the image information from the secondary storage device to the image erasing unit; May further include receiving means for receiving the command issued by the computer.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the fifth to ninth aspects, the image information managing means includes an image information storage means on the computer side and an image information on the image forming apparatus side. The image processing apparatus may further include an image information inspection unit that inspects whether information matches the information storage unit.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method of the image forming apparatus connected to the computer network, the image represented by a predetermined description format transmitted from the computer connected to the computer network. A receiving step of receiving code data and image information relating to the image; a developing step of expanding the image code data received in the receiving step into image data of a bitmap image; and storing the image data in a secondary storage device. Storing the image information in an image information storage unit of the image forming apparatus; and storing the image data stored in the secondary storage device and the image information stored in the image information storage unit of the image forming apparatus. Image management step of managing An image output step of outputting the image data stored in the image forming apparatus, wherein the image managing step deletes the image information stored in the image information storage means of the image forming apparatus, and stores the corresponding image data in the second area. An image erasing step for erasing from the next storage device is provided.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method of the eleventh aspect, the computer connected to the computer network converts the image into the image code data represented by the predetermined description format. A converting step, a transmitting step of transmitting the image code data and the image information converted by the converting step, and a command issued by the computer to the image forming apparatus, and a computer-side image information storing step of storing the image information And an image information management step of managing the image information stored in the image information storage means on the computer side, wherein the image information management step sets the same name as a new image file name in the image information on the computer side. An image file for determining whether or not the When the image file name determining step determines that the same name as the new image file name is stored in the image information storage means on the computer side, the image information having the same name is determined. An image information erasure selecting step for allowing a user to select whether or not to erase from the image information storage means on the computer side, and when the user selects erasing by the image information erasing selecting step, An image information erasing step of erasing the image information from the image information storage means on the computer side.

[0018]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a reader unit 100 reads a document (placed on a document feeder 101 in FIG. 2) and sends image data, which is image data of the document, to a printer unit 20.
0 and image secondary storage unit 300 and image input / output control unit 40
Output to 0. Further, the reader unit 100 stores the image data input from the image input / output control unit 400 in the image secondary storage unit 30.
0 and stored.

The image secondary storage section 300 is a secondary storage device for storing image data.

The printer unit 200 records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 100, the image secondary storage unit 300, and the image input / output control unit 400 on a recording paper.
An image is formed.

The image input / output control unit 400 includes the reader unit 100
And the computer interface unit 50
0, a formatter section 600, and a core section 700.

The image forming apparatus including the reader unit 100, the printer unit 200, the image secondary storage unit 300, and the image input / output control unit 400 transmits a document image via the computer interface unit 500 of the image input / output control unit 400. Or a personal computer that handles images (Personal C
omputer: PC or workstation (Work Stati)
on: WS) (PC / WS) 800 and a computer network 900.

A computer interface unit 500 of the image forming apparatus is an interface between the PC / WS 800 and the core unit 700, and is an image code transmitted from the PC / WS 800 and representing a document image or an image in a predetermined description format. Enter the data. As the predetermined description format, a format in a page description language such as LIPS can be used.

The formatter unit 600 is a PC / WS800
Is developed into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 200.

The details of the core unit 700 will be described later.
0, the image data flowing between each of the formatter unit 600, the reader unit 100, and the image secondary storage unit 300.

FIG. 2 shows the reader unit 100 and the printer unit 2.
00 shows a sectional view.

In FIG. 2, a document feeder 101 of a reader unit 100 feeds a document one by one from a last page onto a platen glass 102, and discharges the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed. Is what you do. When the original is conveyed onto platen glass 102, lamp 1
03 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the original is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is guided to the CCD image sensor 109 by the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108 and is read. The image data output from the CCD image sensor 109 is transferred to the printer unit 200 and the core unit 700 of the image input / output control unit 300 after predetermined processing.

Laser driver 221 of printer unit 200
Drives the laser light emitting unit 201 and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to image data output from the reader unit 100. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the irradiation of the laser beam, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and
The developer adhering to 02 is transferred to recording paper. The recording paper to which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 207 and
The developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of 7. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by discharge rollers 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each sort bin and sorts the recording paper. When no sorting is set, the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost sort bin.

When double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reader unit 100. Image data output from the CCD image sensor 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion and shading correction by the A / D / SH unit 110. A / D ・ SH
The image data processed by the unit 110 is transferred to the core unit 700 of the image input / output control unit 400 via the interface unit 113. Further, the image data is transferred to the printer unit 200 via the image processing unit 111 which performs processing in various modes set by the operation unit 115.

Image processing unit 111 and interface unit 1
13 is a CP according to the mode set by the operation unit 115.
It is controlled by U114. There are a plurality of modes that can be set by the operation unit 115. For example, when a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process is set, the image processing unit 111 causes the printer unit 200 to perform the trimming process.
To be transferred to Further, when the facsimile transmission mode is set, the interface 113 transfers the image data and the control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 700. Such a program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface unit 113 while referring to the memory 116. Also, the memory 116
Is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the core unit 700.

In FIG. 4, image data from the reader unit 100 is transferred to a data processing unit 721 via an interface unit 722, and a control command from the reader unit 100 is sent to the CPU 7 via the interface unit 722.
23.

The data processing unit 721 includes a plurality of image processing units,
For example, image processing such as rotation processing of the transferred image data and scaling processing for changing the magnification can be performed. The image data subjected to the image processing is sent from the reader unit 100 to the CPU 7.
The computer interface unit 50 via the interface unit 720 in response to the control command transferred to the
0 is transferred.

Image code data input via the computer interface unit 500 is transferred to the data processing unit 721 via the interface unit 720, and then transferred to the formatter unit 600 to be expanded into image data. After the image data is transferred to the data processing unit 721, the image data is transmitted to the reader unit 100 via the interface unit 722, and further transmitted to the image secondary storage unit 300 and the printer unit 2.
00 is transferred.

The CPU 723 performs such control in accordance with a program stored in the memory 724 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 100. The memory 724 is also used as a work area of the CPU 723.

As described above, with the core unit 700 as the center, the reading of the original image by the reader unit 100, the printer unit 2
00, image storage by the image secondary storage unit 300, expansion of image code data by the formatter unit 600, other information devices via the computer network 900 by the computer interface unit 500,
For example, it is possible to perform processing combining functions such as input / output of data from a PC / WS800 computer.

Further, after converting the document image or image created by the PC / WS 800 into image code data in a predetermined description format, the image code data can be transmitted to the computer interface unit 500 via the computer network 900. After the description format is developed into image data of image data by the formatter unit 600, the image data of the image data can be stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 via the core unit 700 and the reader unit 100. .

When image data of a document image or an image handled by the PC / WS 800 is stored as an image file in the image secondary storage unit 300, image information such as the name of the stored image file is stored and managed. The image secondary storage unit stored management table is used as the data table. This image information can include the date and time when the image file was stored, the size of the image file, and the like, in addition to the image file name. The image secondary storage unit stored management table exists in both the PC / WS 800 and the image forming apparatus. On the image forming apparatus side, the management table stored in the image secondary storage unit can be placed in the memory 724 of the core unit 700 or in the image secondary storage unit 300.

Hereinafter, based on FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, when a document image or an image handled by the computer PC / WS800 is stored in the secondary storage unit 300 of the image forming apparatus, the image secondary storage unit 300 is used. A description will be given of the processing in the present embodiment when the same or similar document image or image data of an image is already stored under the same image file name.

In FIG. 5, the user of the PC / WS 800 sets to save a document image or an image handled by the PC / WS 800 in the image secondary storage unit 300 of the image forming apparatus (S501). The document image or the image file name of the image specified by the user to be stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 is hereinafter referred to as FileA.

(1) When no image file having the same name as FileA exists in the image secondary storage section 300.

The PC / WS800 refers to the image secondary storage unit stored management table of the PC / WS800, and
It is determined whether or not an image file having the same file name as FileA is already stored in the image secondary storage unit (S50).
2). When making the determination in step S502, the determination can be made using the image identification symbol attached when the image code data was created. The file name of the image file can be used as the image identification symbol.

In this case, since no data is stored, the PC
The / WS 800 converts FileA into image code data using a page description language, and transmits the image code data to the computer interface unit 500 of the image forming apparatus (S503).

The image forming apparatus converts the image code data input from the computer interface unit 500 into the core unit 7.
After the image data is transferred to the formatter unit 600 and expanded into image data of the image data, the image data is transferred to the core unit 7.
00, the image secondary storage unit 3 via the reader unit 100
00 (S504).

The core unit 700 adds image information about File A to the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the image forming apparatus side, and the PC / WS 800 replaces the PC / WS 80
FileA is stored in the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the 0 side.
Is added (S505).

(2) When an image file having the same name as FileA exists in the image secondary storage unit 300.

The PC / WS 800 refers to the image secondary storage unit stored management table of the PC / WS 800 and
It is determined whether or not an image file having the same file name as FileA is already stored in the image secondary storage unit (S50).
2).

In this case, since it is stored, PC /
The WS 800 allows the user to select erasing / non-erasing of an image file having the same file name as FileA already stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 of the image forming apparatus (S50).
6). By allowing the user to select the deletion, the user can easily manage the image file without separately grasping the image file on paper or the like. For this selection, a window as shown in FIG. 6 can be displayed using a window display.

It is determined whether or not the user has selected to delete the image file having the same file name as FileA already stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 (S507), and if so, the PC / WS800 Issues a command to the image forming apparatus to delete the image file having the same file name as FileA already stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 (S508).

The image forming apparatus having received the delete command deletes the image file having the same file name as FileA stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 according to the command (S509). At the time of the deletion, the image file to be deleted can be specified using the image identification symbol as described above. As the image identification symbol, the image file name can be used as described above.

The core unit 700 deletes the image information of the image file having the same file name as FileA from the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the image forming apparatus side, and deletes the PC / W.
In S800, the image information of the image file having the same file name as FileA is deleted from the management table stored in the image secondary storage unit of the PC / WS800 (S510).

The following processing is the same as that in steps S503 to S505 of (1).

The PC / WS 800 converts FileA into image code data using a page description language, and transmits the image code data to the computer interface unit 500 of the image forming apparatus (S503).

The image forming apparatus converts the image code data input from the computer interface unit 500 into the core unit 7.
00, the image data is transferred to the formatter unit 600 and is expanded into bitmap image image data. Then, the image data is stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 by the core unit 700 via the reader unit 100 (S504).

The core unit 700 adds image information on FileA to the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the image forming apparatus side, and the PC / WS 800 stores the PC / WS 80
FileA is stored in the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the 0 side.
Is added (S505).

(3) When an image file having the same name as FileA exists in the image secondary storage unit 300 and the user selects non-erasing of the image file.

In this case, FileA is stored separately from an image file having the same name as FileA. Since the storage date and time are different, the image files can be distinguished.

The following processing is the same as that in steps S503 to S505 of (1).

The PC / WS 800 converts FileA into image code data using a page description language, and transmits the image code data to the computer interface unit 500 of the image forming apparatus (S503).

The image forming apparatus converts the image code data input from the computer interface unit 500 into the core unit 7.
00, the image data is transferred to the formatter unit 600 and is expanded into bitmap image image data. Then, the image data is stored in the image secondary storage unit 300 by the core unit 700 via the reader unit 100 (S504).

The core unit 700 adds image information about FileA to the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the image forming apparatus side, and the PC / WS 800 stores the PC / WS 80
FileA is stored in the image secondary storage unit stored management table on the 0 side.
Is added (S505).

It is also possible to check the coincidence of image information between the management table stored in the image secondary storage unit of the PC / WS 800 and the management table stored in the image secondary storage unit of the image forming apparatus.

The present invention relates to a computer PC / WS800
The present invention can also be applied to a case where the program is implemented by supplying a program to the program. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, the program is transferred from the storage medium to the computer P
By reading the data into the C / WS 800, the computer PC / WS 800 operates according to a predetermined procedure.

That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the functions shown in FIG.
0 may be executed. FIG. 5 when this is executed
Is stored in an image forming system including the computer PC / WS 800 and the core unit 700 by storing a program including necessary information by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or an FD or from an external storage medium via a computer network 900. By loading, the computer P
The present invention can be applied to the case where the power is supplied to the C / WS 800 and the core unit 700.

[0068]

According to the present invention, when an image file having the same name as the name of an image file to be stored is already stored in the secondary storage device of the image forming apparatus, the image file already stored is stored. The user is allowed to select whether or not to delete the file. If the user selects to delete the image file, the stored image file and the corresponding image information can be deleted. The storage area of the next storage device can be used effectively, and the management of image files can be facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reader unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reader unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a core unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed when a document image or an image handled by a computer is stored as image data of a bitmap image in an image secondary storage unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which when an image file having the same name as an image file that the user wants to save is already stored in the image secondary storage unit, the user is prompted to select the deletion of the already stored image file. It is a figure showing the example of the displayed window.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Reader unit 101 Document feeder 102 Platen glass 103 Lamp 104 Scanner unit 105, 106, 107 Mirror 108 Lens 109 CCD 110 A / D / SH 111 Image processing unit 113, 720, 722 I / F (Interface) 114, 723 CPU 116, 724 Memory 115 Operation unit 200 Printer unit 201 Laser emission unit 202 Photosensitive drum 203 Developing unit 204, 205 Cassette 206 Transfer unit 207 Fixing unit 208 Discharge roller 209 Flapper 210 Re-feeding conveyance path 220 Sorter 221 Laser driver 300 Next storage unit 400 Image input / output control unit 500 Computer interface unit 600 Formatter unit 700 Core unit 721 Data processing unit 800 PC / WS 900 Computer network Work

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06T 1/00 G06F 15/62 330G

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus connected to a computer network, wherein image code data representing an image in a predetermined description format, image information and a command related to the image, transmitted from a computer connected to the computer network. Receiving means for receiving the image data; developing means for expanding the image code data received by the receiving means into image data of a bitmap image; a secondary storage device for storing an image file of the image data; Image information storage means on the image forming apparatus side for storing; image management means for managing the image data stored in the secondary storage apparatus and the image information stored in the image information storage means on the image forming apparatus side; Image output means for outputting the image data stored in the secondary storage device; The image management means, based on the received command and the image information, erases the image information stored in the image information storage means of the image forming apparatus side, the corresponding image data to the secondary An image forming apparatus comprising an image erasing means for erasing from a storage device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information includes at least an image identification symbol for identifying the image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description format is a description format in a page description language. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image information storage unit is located in said secondary storage device. 5. An image forming system, comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and the computer connected to the computer network. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the computer converts the image into the image code data represented by the predetermined description format, and the image code converted by the conversion unit. Transmitting means for transmitting data and the image information to the image forming apparatus; computer-side image information storing means for storing the image information; and image for managing the image information stored in the computer-side image information storing means. Information management means, wherein the image information management means determines whether an image file having the same image identification code as the image identification code of a new image file is stored in the image information storage means on the computer side Image identification symbol determining means, and the image identification symbol determining means performs the same image identification code as the new image identification symbol. If it is determined that the image file having the same image identification code is stored in the image information storage means on the computer side, whether the image information of the image file having the same image identification symbol is deleted from the image information storage means on the computer side Image information erasure selecting means for allowing the user to select whether or not the image information has the same image identification symbol when the user selects erasure by the image information erasure selecting means. And an image information erasing means for erasing the image information from the image information storage means. 7. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the image identification symbol determination unit uses an image file name as the image identification symbol to generate an image file having the same name as a new image file name on the computer side. The image information erasing means determines whether or not the image information of the image file having the same name is stored in the computer by using the image file name as the image identification symbol. An image forming system for erasing information from an information storage unit. 8. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein said image information deletion selecting means further comprises a window display means, and the image file having the same name as said new image file name is provided via said window display means. An image forming system for displaying whether or not to erase the image. 9. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the image information management unit is configured to execute the image management when the user selects deletion by the image information deletion selection unit. A command is issued to the means for erasing the image information from the image information storage means of the image forming apparatus, and to the image erasing means for erasing the image data corresponding to the image information from the secondary storage device. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction issuing unit, wherein the receiving unit further includes a receiving unit that receives the instruction issued by the computer. 10. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein said image information managing means is provided between said computer-side image information storing means and said image forming apparatus-side image information storing means. An image forming system further comprising image information inspection means for inspecting the coincidence of the information. 11. An image forming method for an image forming apparatus connected to a computer network, comprising: an image code data transmitted from a computer connected to the computer network and representing an image in a predetermined description format; A receiving step of receiving image information; a developing step of developing the image code data received in the receiving step into image data of a bitmap image; a step of storing the image data in a secondary storage device; Is stored in an image information storage unit of the image forming apparatus, and an image management step of managing the image data stored in the secondary storage device and the image information stored in the image information storage unit of the image forming apparatus is performed. And the image stored in the secondary storage device. An image output step of outputting image data, wherein the image management step deletes the image information stored in the image information storage means of the image forming apparatus, and stores the corresponding image data from the secondary storage device. An image forming method comprising an image erasing step for erasing. 12. The image forming method according to claim 11, wherein the computer connected to the computer network converts the image into the image code data represented by the predetermined description format. A transmitting step of transmitting the image code data and the image information converted by the step and an instruction issued by the computer to the image forming apparatus; a computer-side image information storing step of storing the image information; and a computer-side An image information management step of managing the image information stored in the image information storage means, wherein the image information management step stores the same name as a new image file name in the image information storage means on the computer side. Image file name When the image file name determining step determines that the same name as the new image file name is stored in the image information storage means on the computer side, the image information with the same name is stored on the computer side. An image information erasing selection step for allowing the user to select whether or not to delete the image information from the image information storage means; and when the user selects erasing in the image information erasing selection step, the image information having the same name is deleted. An image information erasing step of erasing from image information storage means on the computer side.