JP2000118085A - Image forming apparatus and method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a recording medium on which a program code of software realizing the function of an execution form is recorded in a system or apparatus to read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. SOLUTION: When data is obtained from a WWW server to be printed, it is judged whether the linked data of URL is printable (S701) and, in a case impossible to print (S701-No), data conversion processing is performed on the side of an external terminal and, by designating the processing result as a substitute URL (S715), data incapable of being usually printed only by an image forming apparatus is converted by using the external terminal to be made printable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of accessing a World Wide Web server (hereinafter referred to as a WWW server), a method of accessing a WWW server to form an image, and causing a computer to execute the method. And a recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the near future, a WWW server carrying various information and an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
col), it is possible to connect to a computer equipped with dedicated software (hereinafter referred to as a browser) for accessing via a network, and to refer to information on a WWW server from the computer. This makes it possible to refer to and share information on a specific WWW server from a plurality of computers.

Further, since the browser can store information on a WWW server in a computer, a user instructs an information device having a printing function to print out information once stored in the computer. And W
Information on the WW server can also be printed.

[0004] Further, since the information device itself having the printing function has an access function to the WWW server, the information device directly accesses the WWW server designated by the user to acquire information and perform printing. (This function is called Pull Print).

[0005]

[0006] HTML pages include an inline image for directly displaying an image and an external image for displaying an image using an external program.
For the inline image, an image format called GIF and JPEG is mainly used. The external image may be in any format as long as there is an external program capable of processing the image format. An inline image is an image that is directly embedded in an HTML page.
The <IMG> tag is used. The external image uses the HREF attribute of the <A> tag.

[0006] In a browser, it is easy to incorporate a necessary external program into a computer.
Some devices, such as ll Print, cannot easily incorporate programs. Since Pull Print of such information devices cannot process external images that display images,
There is a possibility that printing cannot be performed as it is and it will end. Further, since there is no limitation on the format of the inline image, there is a possibility that the printing process cannot be performed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the above-mentioned problem of unprintable HTML pages. In order to solve the above object, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a recording medium according to the present invention mainly have the following configurations.

[0008] That is, the image forming apparatus comprises: a designation unit for designating address information for specifying data on the server; a data acquisition unit for acquiring data on the server in accordance with the designated address information; Determining means for analyzing the generated data to determine whether or not print data can be generated; image forming means for generating print data based on the determination; printing means for printing the generated print data; And a notifying unit for notifying that the print data cannot be generated based on the print data.

The image forming apparatus further includes a receiving unit for receiving address information for specifying data on the server specified by the external terminal, and a data for obtaining data on the server in accordance with the received address information. Acquiring means, analyzing means for analyzing the acquired data, determining whether or not print data can be generated, image forming means for generating print data based on the determination, and printing the generated print data. A printing unit; and a notifying unit that notifies the external terminal when print data cannot be generated based on the determination.

[0010] When the determination means determines that the print data cannot be generated, the data acquisition means acquires alternative address information from an external terminal to acquire the data.

The substitute address information is a URL designating data obtained by converting unprintable data.

The image forming method may further comprise a specifying step of specifying address information for specifying data on the server; a data obtaining step of obtaining data on the server in accordance with the specified address information; A determining step of analyzing the generated data to determine whether or not print data can be generated; an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination; a printing step of printing the generated print data; And a notification step for notifying that the print data cannot be generated based on the print data.

The image forming method includes a receiving step of receiving address information for specifying data on a server specified by an external terminal, and a data for obtaining data on the server according to the received address information. An obtaining step, a determining step of analyzing the obtained data to determine whether print data can be generated, an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination, and a step of printing the generated print data. A printing step; and a notifying step of notifying the external terminal when print data cannot be generated based on the determination.

When it is determined in the determining step that print data cannot be generated, the data obtaining step obtains data by obtaining alternative address information from an external terminal.

The substitute address information is a URL for specifying data obtained by converting unprintable data.

The computer readable recording medium may further comprise: a designation step for designating address information for specifying data on the server; and a data acquisition step for acquiring data on the server in accordance with the designated address information. A determining step of analyzing the acquired data to determine whether print data can be generated; an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination; and a printing step of printing the generated print data And a notifying step for notifying that the print data cannot be generated if the print data cannot be generated based on the determination.

[0017] The computer-readable recording medium may further comprise: a receiving step of receiving address information specified by an external terminal for specifying data on the server; Acquiring the data, analyzing the acquired data, determining whether print data can be generated, an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination, and generating the generated print data. A printing process for printing;
If print data cannot be generated based on the determination,
A program for causing a computer to execute a notification step of notifying the external terminal is recorded.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail.

(First Embodiment) <System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital copier 1 which plays a central role of the present system includes a hard disk 3 for storing image data and various programs, a network interface unit 4 for communicating with external devices via a network, and a digital copier. An operation unit 5 for giving an operation instruction to the own machine on the copying machine 1, a formatter unit 6 for converting print data sent from an external device via a network into a format printable by the digital copying machine 1, A digital image reading unit (hereinafter referred to as “reader”) 7, a digital image printing unit (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 8 that prints out a digital image disposed thereunder, and all these components are integrated. And a core unit 2 for cooperative operation.

In the network, a client terminal 9 for designating a URL and instructing printing of the digital copying machine 1 and performing image development of the designated URL, and performs image development of the designated URL. Application server 11 and a WWW (Worle Wide Web) server 10 designated by a URL via the Internet.

<Core Block Diagram> FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the core 2. The core unit 2 is connected to the reader unit 7 via a digital interface 121, and is connected to the hard disk 3, the computer interface unit 4, the operation unit 5, and the formatter unit 6 via a bus.

The image data read by the reader unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 124 via the I / F 121, and the control command from the reader unit 7 is
Transferred to U122. The data processing unit 124 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred from the reader unit 7 to the data processing unit 124 responds to a control command transferred simultaneously with the image data. Then, the data is transferred to the hard disk 3 and the computer interface unit 4 via the I / F 120.

When a print request command is sent from the external client 9 via the computer interface unit 4, the CPU 122 transfers the simultaneously sent data to the formatter unit 6.

After that, the data is developed into image data by the formatter unit 6 and finally transferred to the data processing unit 124, and then transferred to the printer unit 8 to be printed out. The CPU 122 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 123 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 7. Also, memory 1
Reference numeral 23 is also used as a work area of the CPU 122.

As described above, the core unit 2 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 7, the hard disk 3, the computer interface unit 4, and the formatter unit 6, reads an original image, prints an image, and communicates with the computer. It is possible to perform processing combining functions such as data input / output.

<Program Configuration of Network Interface Unit> FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a program configuration of the network interface unit 4.

The IP (Internet Protocol) 405 is an Internet protocol layer that provides a service for sending a message from a sending host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. The most important information for delivering a message is the address of the transmission and destination, which is managed by the IP protocol. The routing of how the message is delivered to the destination host in the Internet system according to the address information is performed in the IP layer.

The TCP (Transmission Control Pr.
otocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are transport layers and provide a service for sending a message from a sending application process to a receiving application process. TCP is a connection-oriented service that guarantees high reliability of communication,
Since UDP is a connectionless service, reliability is not guaranteed.

Reference numeral 401 denotes an application layer protocol, which is a remote login service TELNE.
T, FTP as a file transfer service, SNMP as a network management protocol, LPD as a server protocol for printer printing, and the like.

The application includes an HTTP client 403 for acquiring data from a WWW server, and an HTML Parse for converting the acquired HTML data and image data into a data format for printing on paper.
r402 exists.

<Explanation of Web Pull Print> In this embodiment, a function in which the digital copying machine 1 actively accesses an external WWW server, acquires HTML data in the WWW server, and prints with its own copying machine. Web Pull Print
Call. The user sends a Web Pull P to digital copier 1.
There are the following two methods for requesting a rint.
One is a method using a dedicated program (hereinafter referred to as a “print utility”) running on the external client 9, and the other is a method using the operation unit 5 of the digital copying machine 1. Is the way.

<When Using Print Utility> First, Web Pull Print using the print utility on the external client 9 will be described.

The user can make various settings relating to Web Pull Print using the print utility, and transmit the settings to the digital copying machine 1 using a packet described later. On the other hand, the digital copying machine 1 receiving this packet analyzes the contents of the packet and starts the Web Pull Print operation according to the instruction.

The digital copying machine 1 has a function of spooling a plurality of Web Pull Print requests received from a print utility in the form of a job. And
The print utility communicates with the digital copying machine 1 using a packet described later, and can acquire information on a job spooled inside or delete a specific job. FIG. 38 is a list of items that can be set by the user using the print utility.

FIGS. 5 to 11 show operation screens of the print utility. When the print utility is activated on the client 9, an operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is first displayed. When setting items (6) to (38) listed in FIG. 38, the “Print Setup” button (60
By depressing 1), the operation screen of FIG. 6 is newly displayed. Further, by depressing the tag at the top of the operation screen, it is possible to move to the operation screens of FIGS. “OK” (606) / “Cancel” (607) on the operation screens of FIGS.
By pressing the button, it is possible to return to the operation screen of FIG.

Also, "Bookmark" at the upper right of the operation screen in FIG.
By depressing the button (602), the bookmark screen of FIG. 10 is newly displayed. A bookmark is a list of URLs of home pages and their titles. If there are bookmarks already registered, the contents of the list are displayed on this screen. When specifying a URL from the list, the user selects the target URL, highlights it and presses the “OK” button (606), so that the input (501, 502) on the operation screen in FIG. Title and UR
L is reflected.

To newly add a title and a URL, enter the title and the URL in 501 and 502 on the operation screen shown in FIG. 5, respectively, and then press the "Add Bookmark" button (605) to enter the above list. Are added to them.

The user can open each of the operation screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 by the above-described method on the client 9 and set necessary items. When the “Print” button (604) on the operation screen in FIG. 5 is depressed after all the settings are completed, the print utility transmits the setting contents to the digital copying machine 1.

Further, when the "Monitor" button (603) is depressed on the operation screen of FIG. 5, the operation screen of FIG. 11 is displayed. At this time, the print utility communicates with the digital copying machine 1 to acquire information about the job spooled in the digital copying machine 1 and display it on the operation screen (FIG. 11). The user can grasp the progress of the spooled job by referring to the display contents.

The user can also delete a spooled job. In this case, the user selects a job to be deleted from the job information displayed on the operation screen, highlights the job, and presses a “Delete” button (608). Then, the print utility sends a deletion request including the job number of the designated job to the digital copying machine 1, and the digital copying machine 1 having received the deletion request outputs the job number from the spooled jobs. Deletes those that match.

In order to confirm the access of the URL,
When L is displayed and a "ConfirmACCESS" button (not shown) is pressed, the digital copying machine 1 accesses the URL and performs printing. When a “NotACCESS” button (not shown) is pressed, the digital copying machine 1 does not access the URL, but performs processing of the next URL.

<Processing by HTML Parser / HTTP Client> FIGS. 22 to 27 show HTML Parser 4
02 is a flowchart for printing a homepage of a WWW server using a program such as an HTTP client 403. Hereinafter, the overall processing flow will be described with reference to this flowchart.

The print utility on the client 9 and the digital copying machine 1 communicate with each other using the LPR protocol which is an upper protocol of TCP / IP. An LPD (Line Printer Deamon) operates in the network interface unit 4 of the digital copying machine 1, and a Web Pull Print request / Job information request / Job deletion request from the print utility is converted to an LPD command as an LPR command / LPQ command / LPRM command, respectively. Is received (S501, S502).

At this time, each parameter set by the print utility is stored as character string data in the data file in the LPR command packet,
Sent to FIG. 39 shows an example of this data file. As can be seen from the figure, the character string data is “STAR
T_OF_NETRETRIEVER_PARAMET
ERS "and" END_OF_NETRETRI "
EVER_PARAMETERS ".

Each parameter is described in the format of “parameter name = value”. (The numbers on the right side in the figure are for associating with the serial numbers in the description of the setting items of the print utility described above, and are not described in the actual data file.) However, in the parameters set by the print utility, Only print document title and user name are LPR
It is stored in the control file in the command packet. FIG. 12 shows an example of this control file.

Since the data communicated on the network as the LPR command packet is only the setting parameters necessary for printing, it is compared with a case where data obtained by converting homepage data into a printable format as in the conventional example is transmitted to the network. Thus, the data amount is extremely small.

On the other hand, in the core unit 2, a command receiving process for receiving a request command from the LPD is always operating, and the LPD operates in the LPR from the print utility.
Command / LPQ command / LPRM command in FIG.
And send it to the command receiving process. The command type (L
An identifier indicating PR / LPQ / LPRM is added, and the command receiving process determines the command type by referring to the identifier, and analyzes the contents of the command according to each format (S502).

The request command is also issued from a schedule job process described later (S503). This concludes the description of a method for requesting Web Pull Print using the print utility.

<Request for Web Pull Print from Operation Unit>
Next, Web Pull using the operation unit 5 of the digital copying machine 1
A method for requesting Print will be described.

FIGS. 16 to 21 show Web Pull Privileges that can be displayed by pressing the Web Pull Print mode button 304.
It is a screen of the nt mode.

The window 300 shown in FIG.
It is displayed that the print mode is the Pull Print print mode, and that the print mode is A4 paper size / enlargement ratio of 100% / 1 copy. On the URL button 331, the domain name of the WWW server to be accessed, the HTML to be acquired
Displays the file name of the format data. By pressing this button, an alphabet keyboard (not shown) is displayed and a character string can be input.

The print time button 332 is used for Web Pull Print
Window to set the date and time to start
7) This is a button for opening.

Since the contents of the parameters set in the window are the same as those in FIG. 9, detailed description is omitted. When the BOOK MARK key 334 (Fig. 16) is depressed,
The BOOKMARK window is displayed. When the time designation list button 335 is pressed, a time designation list window shown in FIG. 19 is displayed. When the waiting job list key 336 is pressed, a waiting job list window shown in FIG. 20 is displayed.

When the log button 337 (FIG. 16) is depressed, a log list window shown in FIG. 21 is displayed. The detail setting button 338 is a key for displaying a menu window for setting detailed parameters related to Web Pull Print. The parameters set in this window are all except for the printing paper size / double-sided printing / sorter / URL / schedule printing setting / day of the week / date designation / time designation / interval designation from the list in FIG.

The execution result of each job is displayed in the log list window of FIG. The latest execution time is displayed in order, and when the number exceeds the maximum that can be displayed on the screen, the oldest one is automatically deleted from the list.
The display contents are URL 393, date 394, time 395, and result display 396 (FIG. 21).

The URL 393 is the URL of the accessed WWW server, and the date 394 and time 395 are the date and time when the WWW server was accessed. Jobs 388, 3 for which access to the WWW server and normal printing were performed
The results of the jobs 91 and 392 are displayed as "normal end" on the result display 396, and the result of the job 389 whose printing has been interrupted by the user with the reset key is displayed as "reset end" in the result display column 396. The result of the job 390 that could not be printed normally due to the status or the like is displayed on the result display 396 as “error end”.

After the necessary parameters related to the Web Pull Print described above are set in each setting window, when the start button 319 in FIG.
Issues a Web Pull Print request command for command reception processing. The above is the Web using the operation unit 5
This is an explanation of how to request Pull Print.

In FIG. 22, the print instruction command from the operation unit 5 and the print instruction command from the schedule job process have the same data format as the print instruction command from the client 9 (see FIG. 13). S504) is for these three locations (S500, 5
01, 503) can be uniformly handled. The client 9 and the operation unit 5 issue a job inquiry instruction, a schedule job deletion instruction, and an immediate job deletion instruction in addition to the print instruction instruction.

In FIG. 22, URL access processing (S
505) operates to acquire HTML data, image data, and the like, which are homepage data, from the WWW server and create image data.

After the operation of the URL access processing (S505) is completed, it is checked in step S506 whether a cancel flag is set. If the cancel flag has been set, the print canceling process is executed (S510), a message indicating that the print has been canceled is transmitted to the issuing source of the canceled job (S511), and the process ends (S510).
512).

If the cancel flag is not set,
The created image is transmitted to the core unit 2 (S509). The core unit 2 receiving the image transfers the image to the printer unit 8,
Printing is performed on the paper stored in the cassette 204 or 205 (FIG. 2), and the execution of Web Pull Print is completed.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining in detail the command receiving process (S504 in FIG. 22). When the core unit 2 receives the command (S504), it first determines whether or not the command is a job inquiry command (S520), and if it is a job inquiry command, acquires a job list (S521).

Subsequently, the acquired job list is transmitted as a message to the destination to which the command has been transmitted (S524). At this time, if the command transmission source is the print utility, the received data is displayed on the print utility operation screen (FIG. 11).

If the received command is not a job inquiry command (S520-No), it is determined whether or not the received command is a schedule job deletion command (S522). If the command is a schedule job deletion command, the job information corresponding to the designated job number is deleted from the schedule list (S523), and the schedule list after deletion is transmitted as a message to the destination to which the command was transmitted (S524).

If the received command is not a schedule job deletion command, it is determined whether or not it is an immediate job deletion command (S525). When the command is an immediate job deletion command (S522-No, S525-Y
es), it is determined whether or not the specified job is being executed by the HTTP client or the HTML parser (S526). If not, the job information corresponding to the specified job number is immediately deleted from the job list. (S527). Subsequently, the job list after deletion is transmitted as a message to the destination to which the command has been transmitted (S524). The job to be deleted is HTTP
If the process is being executed by the client or the HTML parser, a cancel flag is set and the process is terminated (S
529).

If the received command is not an immediate job deletion command (S525: No), it is determined whether or not the received command is an immediate job print command (S528). If it is not an immediate job print command, it is a schedule job print command, so this job is registered in the schedule job list (S530), and the process ends (S531). If the command is an immediate job print command, the process proceeds to the HTTP client in S504. H
The TTP client and HTML Parser do not process multiple jobs in parallel at once, and if another job is already running, this job is immediately registered in the job list and executed as soon as processing is completed. You.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing sequence of a schedule job. The schedule job process of S540 is periodically started once every minute.
In S541, it is checked whether or not a schedule job exists in the schedule job list. If so, it is checked whether or not the current date / time has reached the designated start date / time of the first job in the list. (S54
2). If it has reached, the schedule print mode of the job is changed to the immediate mode, and the command receiving process (S5).
02) to send a print instruction command (S543),
If not reached, the process ends (S545).

The command transmitted to the command receiving process S502 is processed as an immediate job and passed to the URL access process (S504), after which the same process as described above is performed. After the transmission of the print instruction command, the core unit determines the next Web Pull Print start date and time of the job whose print is instructed, and registers the job again in the schedule job list (S544). Then, it is checked again whether the current date / time has reached the designated start date / time of the first job in the list (S542). Thus S
By repeating the processing from 542 to S544, all schedule jobs that have reached the execution time are reliably executed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining the URL access processing in detail.

In URL access processing S600, UR
L is set (S601), and the HTML parser S602
To access the URL on the Web server. HTM
The processing of the L parser S602 will be described later. The text and image of the URL are fetched into the work area A (not shown). The generator S603 edits the text and the image fetched into the work area A into a format and outputs it. Subsequently, the data is rasterized in format processing S604,
The data rasterized in step S605 for performing data processing and printing is printed out. If there is a hyperlinked URL, the next link URL is accessed.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the HTML parser.

The HTML parser S 602 (FIG. 25) sequentially examines the designated URL and develops it in the work area A as image data. When it is checked in S701 that the URL file type can be processed (S701-S701).
Yes), the URL is accessed by HTTP in step S702. The URL of the image type (.gif or jpg) linked in step S703 is swept out to the work area A so that it can be printed.

In step S708, the HTML file is subjected to Tag processing, and is developed on work A as image data.

In step S709, HREF is displayed in the HTML page.
= "URL" or other URL like SRC = "URL"
Is output to the work area B (not shown) for the next access within the range in which the link level is specified. One page of U in S717
When the HTML data of the RL and the image data are all present, the process ends.

If a file type that cannot be interpreted is detected in step S701, an LPQ command from the client 9 is waited for, and the URL that cannot be processed in step S711 is identified by the L in FIG.
Responds to client in PQ command response format. From the client in step S712, the LPR in FIG.
When a substitute URL is specified by a command, the substitute URL is set in S715. If the alternative URL cannot be received in S713, or if the alternative URL is not the alternative URL in S714, S7
At 16, a non-printable mark is set in the work area A.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the client 9.

In step S720, the client 9 periodically executes the process shown in FIG.
(B) LPQ command is sent to check the print status. In step S723, in response to the response to the LPQ command shown in FIG. 32A, if a URL print processing message is received in step S724, it is checked in step S725 whether the contents of the URL can be processed by the PC.

If the client 9 can solve the URL print processing problem, the client 9 accesses the URL in question in S726, interprets the URL in S727, creates a file expanded into an image, and creates a file. As an alternative URL, a URL alternative instruction is performed in step S729 by using the (b) LPR command in FIG.

If the URL printing process cannot be resolved by the client 9, an instruction to disable the process is issued by an LPR command in S730. The file developed in S730 is transmitted from the digital copying machine according to the instruction of the HTTP protocol.

When data is obtained from the WWW server and printed, it is determined whether or not the data of the linked URL can be printed. If the data cannot be printed, data conversion processing is performed on the external terminal side. By designating the processing result as an alternative URL, data that cannot be normally printed only by the image forming apparatus can be converted and printed using an external terminal.

(Second Embodiment) As a second embodiment, a URL access confirmation process using another protocol ftp will be described.

The processing of the HTML parser will be described with reference to FIG.

The THML parser S602 (S60 in FIG. 25)
2) The work area A is checked by sequentially examining the designated URL.
Is developed as image data. If it is checked in S801 that the URL can be processed, the URL is checked in S802.
Is accessed using HTTP. If the file type linked in S803 is a URL of an image (.gif or jpg), the file type is ejected to the work area A so that printing is possible. S
At 808, the HTML file is subjected to Tag processing, and is developed as image data on work A.

The information hyperlinked to another URL in step S809 is discharged to the work area B for the next access within a range in which the link level is specified. In step S817, the process ends when all the HTML data and image data of the URL of one page have been collected.

If a file type that cannot be interpreted is detected in S801, the URL that cannot be processed by the client 9 is set to f.
Send at tp. The URL notification format of ftp is shown in FIG. When the client 9 instructs an alternative URL by ftp in S812, the alternative URL is set in S815. FIG. 36 shows an alternative URL format of ftp.

If the substitute URL cannot be received in S813, or if the substitute URL is not the substitute URL in S814, a non-printable mark is set in the work area A in S816.

The processing in the client 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S820, the client 9 periodically updates ft.
Check p to confirm the print status. The URL in FIG. 36 showing the URL for which the URL cannot be printed in S824.
When the notification format is received ftp, it is checked in step S825 whether the contents of the URL in question can be processed by the PC.

If the client 9 can solve the URL print processing problem, the client 9 accesses the URL in question in S826, interprets the URL in S827 to create a file expanded into an image, and In step S829, a URL substitution instruction is issued at ftp as the substitution URL. FIG. 36 shows an alternative URL format of ftp. If the URL print processing problem cannot be solved by the client 9, an instruction to disable processing in the alternative URL format of FIG. 36 is made in step S831 by ftp. The file developed in step S830 is transmitted from the digital copying machine according to the instruction of the HTTP protocol.

(Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment, a predetermined application server 11
1 shows an embodiment in which alternative URL data is received from ftp to ftp.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 30, the HTML
The processing of the parser will be described.

The HTML parser S602 sends the specified UR
L is sequentially examined and developed on the work A as image data. If it is checked in step S901 that the URL can be processed, the URL is accessed by HTTP in step S902. If the file type linked in step S903 is an image (.g
ig or jpg) is ejected to the work area A so that it can be printed. In step S908, the HTML file is subjected to Tag processing and developed on the work A as image data. The information hyperlinked to another URL in S909 is discharged to the work area B for the next access within a range in which the link level is specified.
In step S917, the process ends when all the HTML data and the image data of the URL of one page have been collected.

If a file type that cannot be interpreted is detected in S901, a URL that cannot be processed is transmitted to the predetermined application server 11 by ftp. The URL notification format of ftp is shown in FIG.
When an alternative URL is instructed by the application server 11 by ftp in S912, the alternative URL data is stored in the work A in S915. FIG. 36 shows an alternative URL format of ftp.

If the substitute URL cannot be received in S913 or if the substitute URL is not the substitute URL in S914, an unprintable mark is set on the work A in S916.

The processing in the application server 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S920, the application server 11 periodically checks ftp to confirm the print status. In step S924, the URL notification format of ftp in the URL print processing (FIG. 3)
When 5) is received, it is checked in step S925 whether the contents of the URL in question can be processed by the PC.

If the print processing of the URL can be solved by the application server 11, the application server 11 accesses the URL in question in step S926, and interprets the URL in step S927 to create a file expanded into an image. With the file as an alternative URL (URL data format (FIG. 37)), the URL data is transmitted.

If the URL printing process cannot be resolved by the application server 11 (S925-No), an inability to process is indicated in step S930 in the URL data format (FIG. 37).

(Fourth Embodiment) As a fourth embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which an application server is designated by the operation unit 5 and then alternative URL data is received by ftp.

The processing of the HTML parser will be described with reference to FIG.

The HTML parser S602 (FIG. 25) sequentially examines the designated URL and develops it in the work area A as image data.

If it is checked in step S951 that the URL can be processed, the URL is accessed by HTTP in step S952. If the file type linked in S953 is a URL of an image (.gif or jpg), the file type is ejected to the work area A so that printing is possible.

In step S958, the HTML file is T
The image data is subjected to ag processing and is developed on the work A as image data. The information hyperlinked to another URL in S959 is discharged to the work area B for the next access within a range in which the link level is specified. S9
At 67, the process ends when all the HTML data and image data of the URL of one page have been collected.

When a file type that cannot be interpreted is detected in S951, a URL information display screen is displayed on the operation unit 5 (FIG. 34). It is possible to display a URL 458 that cannot be processed on the URL information display screen, and allow the user 457 to input a processing method. In this example, “URL01, ti
f "cannot be processed. The user prints a print-impossible mark 460 and ignores 46 as the designation of processing.
1. An application server designation 462 can be selected. In this example, the case where the application server 11 is specified will be described. When the server name 463 is specified, the URL that cannot be processed is transmitted to the specified application server 11 by ftp. The URL notification format of ftp is shown in FIG. When the application server 11 instructs the alternative URL by ftp in step S962, the alternative URL data is stored in the work A in S965. FIG. 36 shows an alternative URL format of ftp.

If the substitute URL cannot be received in step S963, or if the substitute URL is not found in step S964, a print impossible mark is set in the work area A in step S966. The URL notification format of ftp is shown in FIG. From application server 11 to step S96
When the user designates the URL data shown in FIG. 37 in step 2, the ftp received data is stored in the work area A. Step S
If the URL data shown in FIG. 37 cannot be received in 963 or if the URL data is not the substitute URL data in step S964, a non-printable mark is set in the work area A.

The processing of the application server 11 is shown in FIG.
The processing is the same as that of step 1 and will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, LPD and TCP / IP have been described as network communication protocols.
Similar effects can be obtained by using a communication protocol such as IPX / SPX or Apple Talk. Also, the description has been made using the LPR / LPD as the communication protocol between the client 9 or the application server 11 and the digital copier 1.
Similar effects can be obtained by using a communication protocol such as TP or FTP.

The communication between the client 9 or the application server 11 and the digital copying machine 1 has been performed by LAN, but P1284, SCSI, U
The same effect can be obtained by performing the connection with SB or the like. The same effect can also be obtained by displaying on the operation panel of the digital copying machine and instructing the user to perform processing.

When data is acquired from the WWW server and printed, it is determined whether or not the data of the linked URL can be printed. If the data cannot be printed, the data is output on the external terminal side or the application server side. By performing the conversion processing and designating the processing result as an alternative URL, data that cannot be normally printed only by the image forming apparatus is converted into data using an external terminal or an application server and can be printed.

[0109]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a system or an apparatus with a recording medium on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) by reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the recording medium, the recording medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a recording medium. That is, if the program codes of at least the modules of the “addressing module 4010”, “data acquisition module 4020” and “judgment module 4030”, “image forming module 4040”, “print module 4050”, and “notification module 4060” are stored in the recording medium Good.

[0116]

As described above, according to the present invention, W
When data is acquired from the WW server and printed, it is determined whether or not the data of the linked URL can be printed. If the data cannot be printed, the data conversion processing is performed on the external terminal side or the application server side. By performing the processing and designating the processing result as an alternative URL, data that cannot be normally printed only by the image forming apparatus can be converted and printed using an external terminal or an application server.

[0117]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 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 core unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration in a network interface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a top window on the operation screen of the client.

FIG. 6: HTML Print Pot on the operation screen of the client
It is a figure showing an ion window.

FIG. 7: HTML Print Sty on the operation screen of the client
It is a figure showing a le window.

FIG. 8: Post Script Option on the operation screen of the client
It is a figure showing a window.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a Schedule window on the operation screen of the client.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a Book Mark window on the operation screen of the client.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a Monitor window on the operation screen of the client.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a control file.

13 (a) is LPR, (b) is LPQ, (c) is LP
It is a figure showing an RM command packet format.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit in a copy mode.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a paper selection / sorter selection screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit in a Web Pull Print mode.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a print time designation screen of the operation unit.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a Book Mark screen of the operation unit.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a time designation list screen of the operation unit.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a standby job list screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a log list screen of an operation unit.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the entire system.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a command receiving process.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a schedule job process.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a URL access process.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an HTML parser process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of a client.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an HTML parser process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating print confirmation processing of a client according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an HTML parser process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating print processing of an application server according to the third embodiment.

32A is a diagram illustrating an LPQ format, and FIG. 32B is a diagram illustrating an LPR command packet format.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an HTML parser process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a state where a URL information display screen is displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an ftp URL notification format.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an ftp alternative URL format.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an ftp URL data format.

FIG. 38 is a list of items that can be specified by a client.

FIG. 39 is an example of a data file.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a memory map of a recording medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital copying machine 2 Core part 3 Hard disk 4 Network interface 5 Operation part 6 Formatter part 7 Reader part 8 Printer part 9 Client 10 WWW server 11 Application server

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A designating means for designating address information for specifying data on a server; a data acquiring means for acquiring data on the server in accordance with the designated address information; and analyzing the acquired data. Determining means for determining whether print data can be generated; image forming means for generating print data based on the determination; printing means for printing the generated print data; and print data based on the determination. If you cannot generate
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a notifying unit that notifies that generation cannot be performed. 2. A receiving means for receiving address information specified by an external terminal for specifying data on a server; a data obtaining means for obtaining data on the server in accordance with the received address information; A determination unit that analyzes the acquired data to determine whether print data can be generated; an image forming unit that generates print data based on the determination; a printing unit that prints the generated print data; If print data cannot be generated based on the determination,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a notifying unit that notifies the external terminal. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said server is a WWW server. 4. An external terminal for providing address information for specifying data on a server to the image forming apparatus, wherein the external terminal is a computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. 5. The computer according to claim 1, wherein said external terminal for providing address information for specifying data on a server to said image forming apparatus is a computer locally connected to said image forming apparatus. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification identifies a URL of a WWW server from which print data could not be generated. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the notification, acquisition of the next data is not performed until a response to the notification is received. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein after receiving the notification, if a response to the notification is received, or if there is no response at a predetermined time, the next data is obtained. Image forming apparatus. 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: printing the print data for identifying that print data cannot be generated from the data obtained by the data obtaining means until receiving a response to the notification after the notification. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 10. After the notification, if there is no response to the notification at a predetermined time, a print request for identifying that print data cannot be generated from the data obtained by the data obtaining means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data printing is performed. 11. The data acquisition means analyzes data on the server and accesses another server according to information linked to the data to acquire the specified server information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that print data cannot be generated, the data obtaining unit obtains data by obtaining alternative address information from an external terminal. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substitute address information is a URL designating data obtained by converting unprintable data. 14. When the determination means determines that print data cannot be generated, the notification means notifies a predetermined external terminal that print data cannot be generated. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the print data cannot be generated, the notification unit notifies the operation panel that the generation of the print data is impossible. Image forming device. 16. A specifying step of specifying address information for specifying data on a server, a data obtaining step of obtaining data on the server according to the specified address information, and analyzing the obtained data. A determining step of determining whether print data can be generated; an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination; a printing step of printing the generated print data; and print data based on the determination. If you cannot generate
A notification step of notifying that the image cannot be generated. 17. A receiving step of receiving address information for specifying data on a server specified by an external terminal; a data obtaining step of obtaining data on the server according to the received address information; Analyzing the acquired data, a determining step of determining whether or not print data can be generated, an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination, and a printing step of printing the generated print data, If print data cannot be generated based on the determination,
A notification step of notifying the external terminal. 18. The image forming method according to claim 16, wherein said server is a WWW server. 19. The external terminal for providing address information for specifying data on a server to the image forming method, wherein the external terminal is a computer connected to the image forming method via a network. 18. The image forming method according to claim 17, wherein: 20. The image forming method, wherein the external terminal for providing address information for specifying data on a server to the image forming method is a computer locally connected to the image forming method. Item 18. The image forming method according to Item 17. 21. The image forming method according to claim 16, wherein said notification identifies a URL of a WWW server from which print data could not be generated. 22. The image forming method according to claim 16, wherein after the notification, the next data is not obtained until a response to the notification is received. 23. The method according to claim 16, wherein after receiving the notification, if a response to the notification is received, or if there is no response at a predetermined time, the next data is obtained. Image forming method. 24. After the notification, printing of print data for identifying and displaying that print data cannot be generated from the data obtained in the data obtaining step is not performed until a response to the notification is received. The image forming method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein 25. After the notification, if there is no response to the notification at a predetermined time, the print data for identifying that print data cannot be generated from the data obtained in the data obtaining step. 18. The image forming method according to claim 16, wherein data printing is performed. 26. The data acquisition step comprising analyzing data on the server and accessing another server according to information linked to the data to acquire the specified server information. Claim 16 or 1
8. The image forming method according to item 7. 27. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the determination step determines that print data cannot be generated, the data obtaining step obtains data by obtaining alternative address information from an external terminal. 18. The image forming method according to item 17. 28. The image forming method according to claim 16, wherein said alternative address information is a URL specifying data obtained by converting unprintable data. 29. If the determination step determines that print data cannot be generated, the notification step notifies a predetermined external terminal that print data generation is not possible. 18. The image forming method according to item 17. 30. The method according to claim 16, wherein if it is determined in the determining step that print data cannot be generated, the notifying step notifies the operation panel that print data cannot be generated. Image forming method. 31. A specifying step of specifying address information for specifying data on a server, a data obtaining step of obtaining data on the server according to the specified address information, and analyzing the obtained data. A determining step of determining whether print data can be generated; an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination; a printing step of printing the generated print data; and print data based on the determination. If you cannot generate
A notifying step of notifying that generation is not possible, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute. 32. A receiving step of receiving address information for specifying data on a server specified by an external terminal; a data obtaining step of obtaining data on the server according to the received address information; Analyzing the acquired data, a determining step of determining whether or not print data can be generated, an image forming step of generating print data based on the determination, and a printing step of printing the generated print data, If print data cannot be generated based on the determination,
And a notifying step of notifying the external terminal. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the notifying step.