JP2000194530A - Image forming device and image forming method of same device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form an image on the basis of newly acquired data when differences are judged to be existent by comparing information regarding the newly obtained data with information which is already stored and controlling the image formation according to the result. SOLUTION: When there is a job which is performed periodically (S551), retrieval from a cache list is performed to judge whether or not its indicated URL is present (S552). When the URL is present, it is judged whether or not the data size corresponding to the URL in the cache list matches the acquired data size (S553). When not, the data size in the cache list is replaced with the acquired data size, which is saved in the cache list (S554). Then a print process or print quitting process is performed (S505). When they match each other, it is judged that the acquired data is not updated and the process is quit; and a request to execute a new job is expected (S554).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of accessing a server connected to a network, and an image forming method in the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a WWW server on which various information is loaded, and an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
col), it is possible to connect via a network to a computer equipped with dedicated software (hereinafter referred to as a browser) for accessing the information held by the WWW server from the computer. As a result, information held by a specific WWW server can be referenced from a plurality of computers, and the information can be shared. Furthermore, the above browser is WWW
The information possessed by the server can be transferred to a computer and stored there. As a result, the user of the computer outputs the stored information to an information device having a printing function and instructs printing, whereby the WW
It is also possible to print information held by the W server.

In addition, it has become possible to provide an information device having the printing function itself with an access function to a WWW server so that the information device can directly acquire information from the WWW server and perform printing. Such an instruction can be issued from another terminal connected to the network, an operation panel of the information device, or the like.

[0004]

As described above, when an information device accesses a specific WWW server and prints information obtained from the server, information from the same URL is printed each time the information device is accessed. become. However, if the content of the information held by the specific WWW server specified by the URL has not been updated at all, exactly the same information is obtained and printed every time the access is made. In this case, only the printing paper is wasted, and the printing itself becomes completely meaningless.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and it is intended to determine whether there is a difference between data obtained from a predetermined server at a certain timing and data obtained from the predetermined server before that time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and apparatus for forming an image based on the newly acquired data when it is determined that there is a difference.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for periodically accessing a predetermined server to acquire data and to form an image, thereby obtaining a difference between data acquired at the previous access timing and data acquired at the current access timing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and apparatus which form an image based on the data acquired at the current access timing when the image is detected.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement.
That is, an image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network, a data acquisition unit that accesses the server to acquire data, and a storage unit that stores information about the data acquired by the data acquisition unit. A data generating unit that generates image forming data based on the data obtained by the data obtaining unit; an image forming unit that forms an image according to the image forming data generated by the data generating unit; Comparing means for comparing the already stored information with information on data newly obtained by the data obtaining means, and controlling image formation by the data generating means and the image forming means in accordance with the result of the comparing means And control means for performing the control.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the image forming method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, an image forming method in an image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network, wherein a data acquisition step of accessing the server to acquire data, and information relating to the data acquired in the data acquisition step are stored in a memory. A storing step of storing, a data generating step of generating image forming data based on the data obtained in the data obtaining step, and an image forming step of forming an image according to the image forming data performed in the data generating step A comparison step of comparing the information already stored in the memory with information on data newly acquired in the data acquisition step; and a control of controlling the image formation according to a comparison result in the comparison step. And a process.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a digital copying machine 1 is connected to a network, and a server 10 and a client 9 communicate with each other via the network. Enables data exchange. Although only one client and one server are shown in FIG. 1, it goes without saying that a plurality of these may be used.

A digital copying machine 1 which plays a central role in the image forming system according to this embodiment includes a hard disk 3 for storing image data and various programs.
A network interface unit 4 for communicating with an external device via a network; and an operation unit 5 for instructing the digital copier 1 to operate itself.
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 a reader unit) 7, and A digital image printing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a printer unit) 8 that prints out a digital image arranged in the printer 1 and a core unit 2 that integrates all of these components and performs a cooperative operation. In addition, a client terminal 9 for instructing the digital copying machine to operate and a WWW (World Wide Web) server 10 are connected to this network.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the reader section 7 and the printer section 8 of the present embodiment.

The document feeder 101 of the reader unit 7 feeds the placed documents one by one from the last page (bottom) onto the platen glass 102 one by one. The document on the glass 102 is discharged. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the reader unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is reflected by the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108.
It is guided to a D image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 109. The document image scanned in this manner is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 109, subjected to predetermined image processing, and transferred to the printer unit 8 and the core unit 2.

The laser driver 221 of the printer section 8 drives the laser light emitting section 201 and causes the laser light emitting section 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image signal output from the reader section 7. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 20
2 and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer adheres 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 laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, is conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. . The recording paper to which the developer has been applied in this manner is conveyed to the fixing unit 207 and the fixing unit 20.
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 in this manner is
The sorter 220 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each bin. If no sort is set in the sorter 220, the recording paper is stored in the uppermost bin.

If double-sided recording is set,
After the recording paper has been conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the image direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the flapper 209 is rotated.
To the re-feeding conveyance path. When multiplex printing is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 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 in this way is again supplied to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

FIG. 3 shows a digital copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit 2 of FIG.

The core unit 2 is connected to the reader unit 7 via a digital interface, and on the other hand, to the hard disk 3, the network 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
122. 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. Is transferred to the hard disk 3 and the network interface unit 4 via the I / F 120. When a print request command is sent from the external client 9 via the network interface unit 4, C
The PU 122 transfers the PDL data sent together with the request command to the formatter unit 6. As a result, the PDL 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. C
The PU 122 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 123 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 7. The memory 123 is C
It is also used as a work area of the PU 122.

As described above, the core unit 2 includes the reader unit 7, the hard disk 3, the network interface unit 4,
It is possible to control the flow of data between each of the formatter sections 6 and perform processing combining functions such as reading an original image, printing an image, and inputting and outputting data to and from a computer. It is.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a program configuration of the network interface unit 4 according to the present embodiment.

IP (Internet Protocol) is an Internet protocol for providing a service for transmitting a message from a sending host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. Reference numeral 405 denotes a program for controlling the IP. The most important information for sending the message is the address of the transmission and destination, and is managed by the IP 405. This IP 405 is used to route the message to the destination host through the Internet system according to the address information.

The TCP (Transmission Control Pr.
otocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are programs for controlling the transport layer, and provide a service for sending a message from a sending application process to a receiving application process. Although TCP is a connection-type service and guarantees high reliability of communication, UDP does not guarantee reliability because it is a connectionless service.

A program 401 controls the protocol of the application layer. This protocol includes:
TELNET, a remote login service, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), a file transfer service
l), SNMP (Simplified
e Network Management Protocol), LPD (Line Printer Deamon), a server protocol for printer printing,
HT, a protocol of the WWW (World Wide Web) server
There are TP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and the like.

The application program includes W
HTTP client 4 for acquiring WW server data
03. There is an HTML parser 402 that converts the acquired HTML format data and image data into a data format for printing on paper.

In this embodiment, the digital copier 1
Actively accesses the external WWW server 10, and the W
The function of acquiring the HTML data of the WW server 10 and printing it with its own printer unit 8 is called “Web Pull Print”.

The user sends a message “Web
There are the following two methods for requesting "Pull Print". One is a dedicated program running on the external client 9 (hereinafter referred to as "print utility").
The other method is to make a request using the operation unit 5 of the digital copying machine 1. Hereinafter, these two methods will be described in detail. (1) How to operate the print utility First, "Web Pull P" using the print utility
The method of requesting “rint” will be described.

The user of the client 9 makes various settings relating to “Web PullPrint” using the print utility, and transmits the setting contents from the client 9 to the digital copying machine 1 via a network using a packet described later. can do. The digital copying machine 1 that has received 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. Then, the print utility communicates with the digital copier 1 using a packet described later, and can acquire information on a job spooled inside or delete a specific job.

FIG. 12 is a list of items that can be set by the user using the print utility. The contents of each setting item are as follows. (1) "Printed document title" Set the document title to be printed on the header of the print result. Can be edited by the user. (2) “URL” Specifies the domain name of the WWW server storing the home page to be printed and the file name of the HTML format data to be obtained. (3) “Printer address” Specify the network address of the digital copier 1 that sends the “Web Pull Print” request. (4) “User name” Any user name can be entered. The digital copying machine 1 specifies the sender of the “WebPull Print” request from the user name. (5) “Option file” Specify the file in which all the contents set by this print utility are saved. By creating this “option file” for each user in advance and designating any one of the files in this setting item, it is possible to perform the setting for all the setting items collectively. (6) “Link Level” In the digital copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, a hyperlink is set on the home page specified for printing, and it is possible to specify the number of layers (here, 0 to 10) to follow the link. (7) “Maximum Number of Printed Pages” When the homepage to be printed spans a plurality of pages, the maximum number of pages to be printed (here, 0 to 100) is set. (8) "Print beyond the maximum number of print pages" If one home page to be printed spans multiple pages and the middle page corresponds to the "maximum number of print pages", specify whether to print to the end of the home page. I do. (9) "Printing of Other Sites" When the setting of "link level" is "1" or more and the link destination is another site, specifies whether or not to print the link destination. (10) “Printing Link Map” In the digital copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, when a homepage is printed following a link, a link map representing the link relationship can be created / printed. Specify whether to print this link map as the last page of printing on the homepage. (11) “Print page number” Specify whether to print the page number in the footer part of the print result. (12) "Print date" Specifies whether to print the date of printing on the footer part of the print result. (13) “Print URL” Specifies whether to print a URL in the footer portion of the print result. (14) “Print Document Title” Specify whether to print “Printed Document Title” in the header portion of the print result. (15) “Contents of header to be printed” Set an arbitrary character string to be printed in the header part of the print result. (16) “Position of header to be printed” Specify the position to print the character string specified in “Contents of header to be printed”. (17) "Background printing" If an image for background drawing is specified on the home page, specify whether to print it. If the background of the homepage is set to black, etc., when displaying on a color display, even if there is no problem, when printing with a black and white printer, the text part will be black and the background will also be black and the text will not be able to be judged Is the setting. (18) “Numbering to <H> tag” Specifies whether or not to add a heading number to the head of the heading sentence in the homepage. (19) “Print link document first” When a link level of “2” or more is specified, specify whether to print in the order of the read links or to print the same link level first. (20) “Enlargement / reduction rate” An enlargement / reduction rate (50 to 200 in this case) for printing the homepage after enlarging / reducing it is set. . (21) “Reduction Ratio at the Time of Page Boundary” In the digital copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when an image on the homepage is over the page boundary, the image can be reduced and printed so as to fit within the page. At this time, a reduction ratio (here, 20 to 100) is specified. (22) “Font name” Specifies a font to be used when printing HTML text data. (23) “Font size” Specify the font size to be used when printing the headline character string in the homepage (here, set as large, medium, small). (24) “Font weight” Specify the font weight to use when printing the headline text on the homepage (here, bold, standard,
Narrower). (25) “Use style sheet” Specify whether to use the file specified in “Style sheet name”. (26) "Style sheet name" File containing the settings for "Font name", "Font size", and "Font thickness" (style sheet)
If the file already exists, specify its file name. This allows the user to make settings for these fonts without setting individual items. (27) "Print paper size" Specify the size of paper used for printing. (28) “Print paper direction” Specify either Portrait or Landscape as the paper direction when printing. (29) “Left / Right / Top / Bottom Margin” Margin from the edge of paper when printing (here 0 to 1)
0) is set. (30) “Number of copies” Set the number of copies to be printed (here, 1 to 99). (31) “Sorter” The operation mode of the sorter connected to the digital copying machine 1 of the present embodiment is designated. The operation modes include a normal sort, a staple sort, and a group sort. When the normal sort is selected, a plurality of prints are sorted and discharged one by one for each bin of the sorter (220 in FIG. 2). When the staple sort is selected, it is set so that the sorted printed materials are stapled. When the group sort is selected, a setting is made so that a plurality of copies of originals of the same page are discharged to the same bin. (32) “Resolution” Set the print resolution (here 300/400/60)
0 can be set). (33) "Duplex printing" Specify whether to perform duplex printing. (34) “Scheduled printing” In the digital copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the “Web Pull Print” operation is started at a designated time or the “Web Pull Print” request from the user is periodically repeated. These functions are called schedule printing. Here, it is set whether or not to perform the scheduled printing (here, “no”, “once”, “every week”, “every month”, and “repetition” can be set).

The print mode in this "scheduled print" is set in (35) to (39). That is, the “scheduled printing” includes an immediate execution mode / time designation mode / periodic tour mode (day designation / date designation / interval designation). In this item, any one of these modes is designated. (35) “Specify day of the week” When the periodic tour mode (specify the day of the week) is specified in the “scheduled print mode”, specify the day of the week on which the printing is to be performed. (36) “Specify date” When the time specification mode / periodic tour mode (date / interval specification) is specified in “schedule print mode”, specify the date (year, month, day) to start execution. (37) "Time specification" When the time specification mode / periodic tour mode is specified in "schedule print mode", the time to start execution (hour and minute)
Is specified. (38) “Specify interval” When the periodic patrol mode (interval specification) is specified, specify the execution time interval by date and time. (39) “Print only updated documents” When executing in the periodic patrol mode, specifies whether to print only the homepage updated since the previous printing.

FIGS. 5 to 11 are diagrams for explaining operation screens of the print utility in the client 9 according to the present embodiment.

When the print utility is started in the client 9, an operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is first displayed. When setting the above-mentioned setting items (6) to (39), by pressing a “Print Setup” button 500 on this operation screen, the operation screen of FIG. 6 is newly displayed. Further, by instructing the tag at the upper part of the operation screen, it is possible to move to the operation screens of FIGS. By instructing an "OK" or "Cancel" button on the operation screens of FIGS. 6 to 9, it is possible to return to the operation screen of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the "HTML Print Option" screen in the "HTML Print Property". The link level, the maximum print page, the data to be printed on the header, and the like (the setting items (6) to (16)) ) Can be specified. FIG. 7 shows “HTML Print Property”
Shows the example screen of `` Print Style '' and shows the setting item (17)
~ (26) can be specified. FIG. 8 shows “HTML P
A screen example of “PostScript Option” in “rint Property” is shown, and the above-described setting items (27) to (33) can be designated. Further, FIG. 9 shows a screen example of “Schedule” in “HTML Print Property”, and shows the setting items (3
4) to (39) can be specified.

The “Bookmark” in the upper right of the operation screen shown in FIG.
By instructing the button 501, the bookmark screen of FIG. 10 is newly displayed. This bookmark is
A list of homepage URLs and their titles. If there is a registered bookmark, the contents of the list are displayed on the screen shown in FIG. To specify a URL from this list, enter the desired URL
By selecting the “OK” button in a state where (1001 in FIG. 10) is highlighted and displayed, as shown in 502 and 503 on the operation screen in FIG. 5, the selected title (DocumentTitle) and the selected title (DocumentTitle) are displayed. URL (Document Location)
Is reflected. Here, when a new title and URL are added, the title and the URL are input to 502 and 503 on the operation screen in FIG. 5 and then an “Add Bookmark” button 504 is instructed. They are added to the list.

Here, the setting method on the operation screen of FIG. 9 will be described in detail. When setting a schedule, the user first selects the “Enable Schedule” check box 34.
Check. At the time of initial setting, this check box is not checked. In this state, no schedule can be set. When the check box 34 is checked, setting can be performed for each of 35 to 40 setting items. Subsequently, the user selects one of the 35 "Once" / "Weekly" / "Monthly" / "Repeat" modes.

When the “Once” mode is selected, only the setting items 37 and 38 can be set, and the user can start the execution of “Web Pull Print” (Year / Month).
th) / Day / Hour / Minutes).
With this designation, the digital copying machine 1 performs “Web Pull Print” only once at the designated date and time.

When the "Weekly" mode is selected, 36
And 38 setting items can be set, and the user can select “We
b. Enter the execution day (Weekly of Days) and the execution start time (hour (Hour) / minute (Minutes)) of “Pull Print”. A plurality of execution days can be specified at the same time. With this designation, the digital copying machine 1 repeatedly performs “Web Pull Print” every week at the designated time on the designated day of the week.

When the "Monthly" mode is selected, 37 "Day" and 38 setting items can be set, and the user can execute "Web Pull Print" on the execution date and time (Hour). ) / Min (Minutes)). With this designation, the digital copying machine 1 repeatedly performs “Web Pull Print” every month at the designated date and time of each month.

When the "Repeat" mode is further selected, the setting items 37, 38 and 39 become settable, and the user can start the execution of "Web Pull Print" and the execution start time (hour / minute). , Execution interval (Day of Cycle / Day)
r)). By this designation, digital copier 1
Performs “Web Pull Print” repeatedly at the specified execution interval from the specified execution start date and time.

Also, "Weekly" / "Monthly" / "Repea
If one of the t modes is selected, the Modif
The "ied Only" check box 40 becomes checkable. If this box 40 is checked, the same UR
When "Web Pull Print" is periodically performed on the information on the WWW server indicated by L, printing is performed only when the information has been updated compared to the time when printing was previously performed.

The user can open each of the operation screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 by the above-described method, and can set necessary items. Then, when the “Print” button 505 on the operation screen of FIG. 5 is designated after all the settings are completed, the print utility transmits the settings to the digital copying machine 1.

Further, when the "Monitor" button 506 is designated 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, acquires information about the job spooled in the digital copying machine 1, and displays the information on the operation screen. The user can grasp the progress of the spooled job by referring to the display contents. The user can also delete the spooled job. In this case, the user selects a job to be deleted from the job information displayed on the operation screen, highlights it (1101 in FIG. 11), and designates a “Delete” button 1102. As a result, the print utility transmits a deletion request including the job number of the specified job to the digital copying machine 1. Then, the digital copying machine 1 receiving the deletion request deletes the spooled job having the same job number from the spooled jobs.

The above is the description of the operation method of the print utility. (2) Operation Method of Operation Unit Next, a method of requesting “Web Pull Print” using the operation unit 5 will be described. 14 to 17 show HTML P
4 is a flowchart showing a process of printing a homepage of the WWW server 10 using the digital copying machine 1 using a program such as an arser 402 and an HTTP client 403 (FIG. 4). Hereinafter, the overall processing flow will be described with reference to this flowchart.

The print utility of the client 9 and the digital copying machine 1 communicate with each other using the LPR protocol, which is a higher-level protocol of TCP / IP. In the network interface unit 4 of the digital copying machine 1, an LPD (Line Printer Deamon) is operating, and “Web Pu
When various commands such as “ll Print” request / job information request / job deletion request are issued from the client 9 (S5)
01), in step S502, the LPD is received as the LPR command / LPQ command / LPRM command, respectively.

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. 13 shows an example of this data file. As can be seen from the figure, the character string data is "START_OF
_NETRETRIEVER_PARAMETERS "and" END_OF_NETRETR "
IEVER_PARAMETERS ". Each parameter is described in the format of “parameter name = value”. The numbers on the right side in FIG. 13 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, among the parameters set by the print utility, “print document title”, “user name”
Is stored in the control file in the LPR command packet.

FIG. 18 shows an example of the control file.

Since the data flowing on the network as the LPR command packet is only the setting parameters necessary for printing, it is compared with the case where the data obtained by converting the homepage data into a printable format as in the conventional example is transmitted to the network. , The amount of data 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 representing 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 in FIG. 14). Incidentally, the request command is also issued from a schedule job process described later (S543).

The above is the description of the method of requesting “Web Pull Print” using the print utility.

Next, a method of requesting “Web PullPrint” using the operation unit 5 of the digital copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show examples of display on the liquid crystal display unit 330 of the operation unit 5 when the "copy" mode is designated.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a window for displaying the current state, which indicates that the current state is "copyable state", "A4 size", the enlargement ratio is "100%", and "one copy" is printed. . A guide key 301 displays appropriate advice when the user does not know the operation. 302
Reference numerals 304 denote mode change keys. When the copy key 302 is pressed, the mode is changed to the copy mode, and the web key 304 is changed to the web print mode. Reference numeral 305 denotes a key for displaying a mode key which cannot be displayed at present. When this button 305 is designated, a printer mode key is displayed.

Reference numeral 306 denotes a paper selection key.
When 06 is designated, a display as shown in FIG. 21A is made, and the size of the paper stored in the paper cassettes 204 and 205 can be selected. A button 307 is used to display a processing menu for performing settings related to image processing, and can perform settings such as trimming, masking, negative / positive inversion, and shadow processing. A button 308 is used to perform processing settings related to double-sided printing. The button 308 can select and set one of three types of copying from one-sided original to one-sided original, one-sided original to two-sided original, and two-sided original to two-sided original. . The application zoom 309 is a key for displaying a menu screen for changing the vertical and horizontal magnifications. 31
Reference numeral 0 denotes a sorter key. By instructing the key 310, a menu relating to the sorter 220 is displayed as shown in FIG. When "Sort" is selected in FIG. 21B, a plurality of printed materials are sorted and discharged one by one for each bin of the sorter 220. If "staple sort" is selected, the sorted printed matter is set to be stapled. Further, when "group sort" is selected, a setting is made so that a plurality of copies of originals are discharged to the same bin as printed matter of the same page.

A mixed original 311 is a button for setting whether originals of different sizes are mixed or only originals of the same size. When the mixed original is designated, the original size is checked each time scanning is performed. If mixed loading is not specified, it is set so that the document size is checked only on the first page. The same-size button 314 is a key for returning the enlargement ratio to the setting of 100%, and the reduction 315 and the enlargement 316 are buttons for displaying a menu for setting the enlargement ratio and the reduction ratio, respectively. The numeric keypad 318 is
In the example of the screen 0, the button is used to set the number of copies. By instructing the reset key 320, parameters necessary for copying are returned to default values. After setting the necessary parameters before copying, when the start key 319 is designated, the copy operation is started. After the copy is started, the STOP key 321 and the reset key 320
Is instructed, the copying operation is interrupted.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 28 show “Web Pu
11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the liquid crystal display unit 330 in a “Web Pull Print” mode by instructing an “ll Print mode” button 304. FIG.

The window 300 in FIG.
b Pull Print "mode is displayed, where" A4 size, enlargement ratio "100%" and "1 copy"
The print is indicated. The URL button 331 has a domain name (abcded) of the WWW server to be accessed.
g.co.jp), the file name of the HTML format data to be acquired
(index) is displayed. Here, this URL button 3
By instructing 31, an alphabet keyboard (not shown) is displayed, and it is possible to input a character string using the keyboard and designate a new URL.

The print time button 332 is displayed as “Web Pull Pri
This button is used to open a window (FIG. 23) for setting the date, time, and the like for starting “nt”. The contents of the parameters set in this window are the same as those in the case of FIG. 9 described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. "Book Mar
When the "k" key 334 is designated, a BOOK MARK window shown in FIG. 24 is displayed.

When the time designation list button 335 is designated, a "time designation list" window shown in FIG. 25 is displayed.

When the standby job list key 336 is designated, a "standby job list" window shown in FIG. 26 is displayed.

Further, when the log button 337 is designated, a "log list" window shown in FIG. 27 is displayed.

Further, the detailed setting button 338 is clicked on “Web Pull
This key is used to display a menu window for setting detailed parameters related to “Print”. The parameters set in this window are all except for the printing paper size / double-sided printing / sorter / URL / schedule print setting / day of the week / date designation / time designation / interval designation from the list in FIG.

In the BOOK MARK window of FIG. 24, a list of URLs 350 to 354 that have already been registered is displayed. When the up arrow key 356 is designated, the URL list is scrolled upward, and the down arrow key 357 is designated. U
The RL list is scrolled down. Registration key 3
By pressing 55, the URL displayed on the URL button 331 in FIG. 22 is additionally registered in this list. Further, after selecting any one of the URLs 350 to 354 and highlighting the selected URL, by instructing an “OK” button 359, the selected URL is displayed in the URL button 33.
Set to 1. Similarly, after highlighting, the delete button 358 is instructed to display the selected URL.
Is removed from the URL list.

In the “time designation list” window of FIG. 25, a list of jobs for which the print time has been designated in the print time designation window (FIG. 23) is displayed. The display contents include a URL 366, a print date 367, and a print time 368. The jobs on this list can be deleted from the list by the same operation method as in FIG.

In the “standby job list” window of FIG. 26, an HTTP client process (to be described later) (S50)
A list of jobs waiting to be executed is displayed because another job is already being executed by 4) or the HTML parser process (S506). Jobs on this list
It can be deleted from the list by the same operation method as in FIG.

In the “log list” window of FIG.
The execution result of each job is displayed. Here, the execution time is displayed in order from the newest one, and when the maximum display number is exceeded, the oldest one is automatically deleted from the list. The display contents include URL 393, date 394, time 395, and result display 396. URL 393 is
URL of the accessed WWW server, date 39
4. The time 395 is the date when the WWW server was accessed,
Indicates the time. "Normal end" is described in the result 396 of the jobs 388, 391, and 392 in which access to the WWW server and printing have been normally performed, and the result 396 of the job 389 in which the user interrupted the printing by the reset key.
Is described as "reset end", and the network and WW
“Error end” is described in the result 396 of the job 432 that cannot be normally printed due to the state of the W server or the like.

After the necessary parameters are set in the above-mentioned setting windows for “Web Pull Print”, a command is received from the operation unit 5 by finally pressing the start button 319 in FIG.
A "t" request command is issued to the network. The above is the description of the operation method in the operation unit 5.

Next, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the description will be continued.

When a print instruction command from the operation unit 5 and a print instruction command from the schedule job process are input as described above, these are in the same data format as the print instruction command from the client 9 (see FIG. 19). Therefore, in the command receiving process of step S502, print request instruction commands from these three locations can be handled in a unified manner. From the client 9 and the operation unit 5, in addition to these print instruction instructions, a job inquiry instruction, a schedule job deletion instruction,
An immediate job deletion command or the like is issued.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the command receiving process in step S502 in FIG.

When the core unit 2 receives the command, it is first determined in step S520 whether or not the command is a job inquiry command. If the command is a job inquiry command, the flow advances to step S521 to acquire a job list. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S524, and the acquired job list is transmitted as a message to the destination that transmitted the inquiry command. At this time, if the command transmission source is the print utility (S
501), the received job list data is displayed on the print utility operation screen (FIG. 11).

If it is determined in step S520 that the received command is not a job inquiry command, the process proceeds to step S520.
Proceeding to 522, it is determined whether the command is a schedule job deletion command. If the command is a schedule job deletion command, the flow advances to step S523 to delete job information corresponding to the designated job number from the schedule list. In step S524, the deleted schedule list is used as a message and the deletion command is deleted. Send to the destination that sent it.

If it is determined in step S522 that the command is not a schedule job deletion command, the flow advances to step S525 to determine whether the command is an immediate job deletion command. If so, the process proceeds to step S526, where the designated job is an HTTP client or an HTML Par.
It is determined whether or not the job is being executed by ser. If not, the process advances to step S527 to immediately delete the job information corresponding to the designated job number from the job list. Then, the process proceeds to step S524, and the job list after deletion is transmitted as a message to the destination that has transmitted the immediate job deletion command.

If it is determined in step S526 that the job to be deleted is being executed by the HTTP client or the HTML parser, the flow advances to step S529 to set a cancel flag and end the processing.

If it is determined in step S525 that the command is not an immediate job deletion command, the flow advances to step S528 to determine whether the command is an immediate job print command. If the command is not an immediate job print command, the process proceeds to step S530. Since the command is a print command of a schedule job, this schedule job is registered in the schedule job list, and the process ends (S531).

If it is determined in step S528 that the command is an immediate job print command, the flow advances to step S504 to execute H
The processing moves to the TTP client.

Here, the HTTP client, HTML P
The arser does not process multiple jobs at once, and if another job is already running, the received job is immediately registered in the job list, and the currently running process is It will be executed as soon as it is over.

Here, the schedule job registration processing in step S530 will be described in more detail.

The core unit 2 first detects the schedule print mode in the received print command, and determines the actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” according to each mode. That is, if the mode is "Once", the actual "Web
The start date and time of "Pull Print" uses the date / time specified in the command. In the case of the “Weekly” mode, the actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” is the date and the specified time corresponding to the closest specified day of the week after the date / time at the time of registration. For example, the date of registration /
If the time is 15:00 on one day (Saturday) and the designated day / time is 12:00 on Saturday, Monday, and Thursday, the actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” is three days (Monday). 1
It is 2:00 o'clock.

In the case of the “Monthly” mode, the actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” is the closest specified date / time after the date / time at the time of registration. For example,
The date / time at the time of registration is 15:00 on November 1,
If the specified date / time is 12:00 on the day, the actual start date and time of "Web Pull Print" is 12:12 on December 1.
It is midnight.

Further, in the case of the "Repeate" mode,
The actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” is the closest after the date / time at the time of registration among a plurality of start timings calculated from the designated start date / time and the designated interval. For example, if the date / time at the time of registration is 1 on November 1,
At 5:00, the designated start date / time is November 1, 1
At 2:00, if the specified intervals are 3 days and 12 hours, the actual start date and time of “Web Pull Print” is 0: November 5
It is midnight.

After the start date and time of the actual “Web Pull Print” is determined in accordance with each mode in this manner, the actual “Web Pull Print” is registered in the schedule job list while being sorted in the order of earliest start date and time.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining a characteristic portion of the present embodiment. H in step S504 in FIG.
9 shows the processing of the TTP client.

The core unit 2 that has received the job execution request first, in step S550, executes the WW according to the specified URL.
HTML from the W server 10 as home page data
Acquire data, image data, etc. Next, step S55
1 to determine whether this job is a job to be executed periodically, and if not, step S505 (FIG. 14).
Proceed to. This determination is based on the “Sche
This is performed using the value of the “dule” parameter (see FIG. 13), and only when this value is “weekly”, “monthly”, or “repeate”, it is determined that the job is to be executed periodically.

If the job is to be executed periodically, the process proceeds to step S552, where the URL of the cache list (FIG. 28) is set.
To determine whether the specified URL exists. If the URL does not exist, step S5
The process advances to step S54, where the specified URL and the acquired data size are added to the cache list, and the process proceeds to step S505.

If the URL exists in step S552, the flow advances to step S553 to determine whether the data size corresponding to the URL in the cache list matches the acquired data size. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S554, where the data size in the cache list is rewritten with the obtained data size, and the process proceeds to step S505. If they match in step S553, the flow advances to step S554 to determine that the acquired data has not been updated, end the process, and wait for a new job execution request.

In step S554, the information on the acquired data is stored in a cache list as shown in FIG. This information is the specified URL
2800 and the data size (byte unit) 2801 obtained from the URL. The cache list is a list that is always stored in the memory 123 in order to store such information, and can be written / read from the core unit 2.

Returning again to FIG. 14, H in step S504
After the operation of the TTP client is completed, it is checked in step S505 whether a cancel flag is set. If the cancel flag has been set, the flow advances to step S509 to execute print stop processing. And step S51
In step S511, a message indicating that printing has been canceled is transmitted to the source of the canceled print job, and the process ends (S511).

If the cancel flag is not set in step S505, the process proceeds to step S506, and the HTML P
Processing moves to arser. The HTML Parser is a program for creating an image based on the data acquired from the WWW server 10 so that the image can be printed by the printer unit 8.

After the processing by the HTML parser is completed, the flow advances to step S507 to check whether the cancel flag is set. If the cancel flag has been set, the process advances to step S509 to execute the print stop process as described above, and transmits a message to the issuer of the print job to the effect that printing has been canceled (S51).
0) and the process ends (S511).

If the cancel flag is not set in step S507, the process proceeds to step S508, and the HTM
The image data created by L Parser is transmitted to the core unit 2. As a result, the core unit 2 receiving the image data
Transfers the image data to the printer unit 8, prints on the paper stored in the cassette 204 or 205, and completes the execution of “Web Pull Print”.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing of a schedule job.

This schedule job process is periodically started once every minute. First, in step S541, it is checked whether or not a schedule job exists in the schedule job list.
To check whether the current date / time has reached the designated start date / time of the first job in the list. If the specified job start date / time has been reached, the flow advances to step S543 to transmit a print instruction command to the command receiving process (S502 in FIG. 14). If not, the process ends (S54).
5).

As described above, the command transmitted to the command receiving process (S502) is processed as an immediate job and passed to the HTTP client process (S504), after which the same processing as described above is performed.

After transmitting the print instruction command in step S543, the core unit 2 determines the start date and time of "Web Pull Print" next to the job whose print is instructed, and registers the job again in the schedule job list (S54).
4). Then, the process returns to step S542 to check whether or not the current date / time has reached the designated start cost / time of the first job in the list. In this way, by repeating the processing from step S542 to step S544, all schedule jobs that have reached the execution time can be reliably executed.

In the present embodiment, TCP / IP has been described as the communication protocol of the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, IPX / SPX, Apple Talk, etc. Similar effects can be obtained by using a communication protocol. Further, although the description has been made using the LPR / LPD as the communication protocol between the client 9 and the digital copying machine 1, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a communication protocol such as HTTP or FTP may be used.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but it can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.). ) May be applied.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage 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.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program codes, and the OS (Operating System) running on the computer is executed based on the instructions of the program codes. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage 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, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when data is repeatedly obtained from a predetermined WWW server and printed, only the data whose data content has been changed is printed, so that printing paper can be printed. Unnecessary consumption can be prevented.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not there is a difference between data obtained from a given server at a certain timing and data obtained from the server before that time. If it is determined that there is a difference, an image is formed based on the newly acquired data, so that useless image formation can be omitted.

According to the present invention, when a predetermined server is periodically accessed to acquire data and form an image, the difference between the data acquired at the previous access timing and the data acquired at the current access timing is obtained. Is detected, an image can be formed based on the data acquired at the current access timing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit of the digital copying machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit of the digital copying machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a network interface according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation screen (top window) on a client of the image forming system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6: Operation screen (HTML Print O) on the client
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a (ption window).

[Fig. 7] Operation screen (HTML Print S
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a (tyle window).

FIG. 8: Operation screen (PostScript O) on the client
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a (ption window).

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation screen (Schedule window) on a client.

FIG. 10: Operation screen (Book Mark) on the client
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of (window).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation screen (Monitor window) on a client.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a list of items that can be set from a client.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data file.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the entire image forming system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a command receiving process in S502 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing of the HTTP client in S504 of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a schedule job process.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a control file.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating each format of an LPR / LPQ / LPRM command packet.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a state of an operation unit in a copy mode in the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a sheet (A) and selecting a sorter (B) on the operation unit.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating “We” in the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state of the operation unit in the “b Pull Print” mode.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a “print time designation” screen displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a screen example of “Book Mark” displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a “time designation list” displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a “standby job list” displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a “log list” displayed on the operation unit.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a cache list.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network, comprising: a data acquisition unit that accesses the server to acquire data; and a storage that stores information about the data acquired by the data acquisition unit. Means, data generation means for generating image formation data based on the data acquired by the data acquisition means, image formation means for performing image formation according to the image formation data generated by the data generation means, Comparing means for comparing the information already stored in the storage means with information relating to data newly obtained by the data obtaining means; and an image by the data generating means and the image forming means according to the result of the comparing means. Control means for controlling the formation;
An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium in accordance with the image forming data. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information on an address of the server and a size of the data. 4. When at least one of the address of the server and the data size do not match as a result of the comparison by the comparing unit, the control unit performs image formation based on data newly acquired by the data acquiring unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising schedule setting means for setting a schedule for image formation, wherein said data acquisition means accesses said server in accordance with a schedule set by said schedule setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The schedule set by the schedule setting means includes at least information on a day of each week and a date and time of each month, and the data acquisition means accesses the server periodically according to the schedule. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 7. The server may be a WWW (World Wid Web)
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a server. 8. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network, comprising: a data acquiring step of accessing the server to acquire data; and information relating to the data acquired in the data acquiring step. Storing in a memory, a data generating step of generating image forming data based on the data obtained in the data obtaining step, and performing image forming according to the image forming data formed in the data generating step. An image forming step, a comparing step of comparing the information already stored in the memory with information about data newly acquired in the data acquiring step, and performing the image forming in accordance with a comparison result in the comparing step. And a control step of controlling the image forming method. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein in the image forming step, an image is formed on a recording medium in accordance with the image forming data. 10. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the information includes information on an address of the server and a size of the data. 11. As a result of the comparison in the comparison step, if at least one of the address of the server and the data size do not match, the control step performs image formation based on the data newly acquired in the data acquisition step. 11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
Item. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a schedule setting step of setting an image forming schedule, wherein said data acquisition step accesses said server in accordance with the schedule set in said schedule setting step. The image forming method according to any one of the above items. 13. The schedule set in the schedule setting step includes at least information on a day of each week and a date and time of each month, and in the data obtaining step, the server is periodically accessed according to the schedule. 13. The image forming method according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The server according to claim 1, wherein said server is a WWW (World Wid We
The image forming method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein b) the server is a server.