JP2000194531A - Information processor, information processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire at least image data even in the case of causing error. SOLUTION: This information processor acquires data from a server which provides services regarding a network, generates print data from the acquired data, and performs a printing process according to the generated print data and if data can not be printed, the generated print data are transferred to other information processing equipment 1023.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method having a function of accessing a World Wide Web server (hereinafter, referred to as a WWW server), and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a WWW server on which various information is loaded, and an HTTP (hyper text transfe)
It is now possible to connect to a computer equipped with dedicated software (hereinafter referred to as a browser) for accessing with the R protocol via a network, and to refer to information on the WWW server from the computer. Therefore, information on a specific WWW server can be referenced and shared from a plurality of computers.

Further, since a browser can store information on a WWW server in a computer, a human user can print out information on the WWW server once stored in the computer to an information device having a printing function. By giving an instruction, information on the WWW server can be printed.

[0004] Further, an information device having a printing function itself is W
By having the function of accessing the WWW server, it is possible to directly access the WWW server designated by the human user from the information device and perform printing based on the acquired information.

[0005]

However, the time required to acquire data from a WWW server is usually unpredictable due to the amount of data and network traffic. For this reason, the human user may not wait in front of the information device until printing is completed.In such a case, printing stops due to an error such as out of paper, a paper jam, or no toner. May be done. Once printing is stopped, the error is cleared and the information device remains stopped until a process for restarting is performed, so that a complete printed matter cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an information processing apparatus and method by which a human user can obtain at least image data even when an error occurs.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data obtaining means for obtaining data from a server via the Internet, and printing data for generating printing data from the data obtained by the data obtaining means. Generating means;
In an information processing apparatus having a printing unit for performing printing based on the printing data generated by the printing data generating unit, if the printing cannot be performed by the printing unit, the print data generated by the printing data generating unit And a transfer unit for transferring data to another device connected to the Internet.

[0008] In the first aspect, the transfer means has a compression means for compressing the print data, and can transfer the print data compressed by the compression means.

[0009] In the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises a protocol selecting means for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, and the transfer means transmits the print data to the network according to the protocol selected by the protocol selecting means. Forward on.

[0010] The invention according to claim 4 is a data acquisition step of acquiring data from a server via the Internet,
In an information processing method including a print data generation step of generating print data from the acquired data and a print step of performing printing based on the generated print data, when printing is not possible in the print step, The print data generated in the print data generation step is
A transfer step of transferring the data to another device connected to the Internet.

According to a fourth aspect, the transfer step includes a compression step of compressing the print data, and the compressed print data can be transferred.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a protocol selecting step for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, and the transferring step includes a step of transferring print data in accordance with the protocol selected in the protocol selecting step. Transfer over the network.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium is provided to a computer for a data acquisition procedure for acquiring data from a server via the Internet, and a printing procedure for generating print data from the acquired data. A data generation procedure and a printing procedure for printing based on the generated printing data are executed. If printing cannot be performed according to the printing procedure, the printing data generated by the printing data generation procedure is transmitted to the Internet. To execute a transfer procedure for transferring to another device connected to the device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the transfer step includes a compression step of compressing the print data, and the compressed print data can be transferred.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the program further causes the computer to execute a protocol selection procedure for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, and the transfer procedure is performed according to the protocol selected by the protocol selection procedure. Printing data can be transferred over a network.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of an information processing device 1001 having a scanner unit 2070 and a printer unit 2095, and its appearance is shown in FIG.

[Image Input / Output Unit] FIG. 2 will be described. A scanner unit 2070 serving as an image input device includes an operation unit 201.
2 (FIG. 1) in response to the reading start instruction, the original set on the tray 2073 is moved to the feeder 207.
2 and feeds the fed document paper one by one.
2.) Scanning is performed by a line sensor and converted into an electric signal as raster image data 2071.

A printer unit 209 serving as an image output device
5 prints an image on a sheet based on raster image data from the scanner unit 2070. The printed paper is discharged onto a discharge tray 2111.

The printing method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and an ink jet method in which ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array to directly print an image on paper. In the embodiment,
Any method may be adopted. The activation of the printer unit 2095 is started by an instruction from a CPU (central processing unit) 2001 (FIG. 1). Printer unit 209
5 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 2103,
2104 is provided.

Referring to FIG. In FIG. 1, 207
Reference numerals 0 and 2095 denote the same parts as in FIG. 2000 is a controller unit, which is a LAN (local area network)
k) 2011 and wide area network (WAN)
) 2051 which is directly connected to input / output image information and device information.
AM (random access memory) 2002 and operation I / F
(Interface) 2006, the network 2010,
Modem 2050 and ROM (read only memory) 200
3, a hard disk drive (HDD) 2004,
The image bus I / F 2005 is connected to the system bus 200
7 and an image bus I / F 20
05 and a raster image processor (RIP) 2060
, Device I / F 2020, and scanner image processing unit 2
080, the printer image processing unit 2090, the image rotation unit 2030, and the image compression unit 2040 are connected to the image bus 200.
8 interconnected.

A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for the CPU 2001 and temporarily stores image data. An operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface unit with the operation unit 2012, and
Is output to the operation unit 2012, and information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 2012 is supplied to the CPU 2001. The network 2010 is connected to the LAN 2011 to input and output information. The modem 2050 is connected to the public line 205
1 for inputting and outputting information. ROM
In 2003, a system boot program is stored. The hard disk drive 2004 is for storing system software and image data.

An image bus I / F 2005 is a bridge for converting a data structure.
And an image bus 2008 for transferring image data at high speed. The image bus 2008 is connected to a PCI (peri
pheral component interconnect) bus or IEEE
(Institute of electrical and electronics engineer
s) 1394.

Raster image processor (RIP) 20
Reference numeral 60 is for developing a PDL (page description language) code into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 2020 includes a scanner unit 2070 and a printer unit 2.
095 and the controller unit 2000,
It performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. A printer image processing unit 2090 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. The image compression unit 2040 converts the multivalued image data into a JPEG (joint ph
otographic experts group)
Value image data to JBIG (joint bi-level image exper
ts group), MMR (modified modified READ), MH
(Modified Huffman).

The CPU 2001 controls each unit of the controller unit 2000 according to a control program stored in the ROM 2003.

[Operation Unit 2012] FIG. 3 is a front view of the operation unit 2012 shown in FIG. In the center of the operation unit 2012, an LCD (liquid cry- tal) displaying an operation screen of the system is provided.
stal display) display section 2013 is arranged.
On the CD display unit 2013, a touch panel sheet is stuck. When a key displayed on the LCD display unit 2013 is operated, the position information of the operated key is displayed in the CPU 2001.
It is supplied to. A start key 2014 for starting a document image reading operation is arranged at a lower right portion of the operation unit 2012. Start key 20
In the center of the LED, two green and red LEDs (light emit
ting diode) 2018 is provided.
The lighting color of 8 indicates whether the start key 2014 can be used or not. This start key 201
In the vicinity of 4, a stop key 2015 for stopping the operation in operation is arranged. An ID key 20 for inputting a user ID of a user is provided at an upper right portion of the operation unit 2012.
A reset key 2017 for initializing settings from the operation unit 2012 is disposed below the ID key 2016.

[Scanner Image Processing Unit 2080] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the scanner image processing unit 2080 shown in FIG.
The image bus I / F controller 2081 is connected to the image bus 200
8 to control the image bus access sequence, and also to control each unit in the scanner image processing unit 2080 to generate timing. Filter 20
Reference numeral 82 denotes a convolution operation performed by a spatial filter. The editing unit 2083 recognizes, for example, a closed area surrounded by a marker pen from the input image data, and performs image processing such as shadowing, shading, and negative / positive inversion on the image data in the closed area. Things. When changing the resolution of the read image, the scaling unit 2084
Performs an interpolation operation on the main scanning direction of the raster image,
Enlargement and reduction are performed. The magnification change in the sub-scanning direction by the editing unit 2083 is performed by changing the scanning speed of an image reading line sensor (not shown). The table conversion unit 2085 converts image data, which is read luminance data, into density data. Binarization processing unit 20
Reference numeral 86 denotes binarization of multi-value gray scale image data by error diffusion processing or screen processing. 2
The image data for which the binarization processing has been completed is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus controller 2081 again.

[Printer Image Processing Unit 2090] FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the printer image processing unit 2090 shown in FIG.
The image bus I / F controller 2091 is connected to the image bus 200
8, which controls the image bus access sequence and controls each unit in the scanner image processing unit 2090 to generate timing. The resolution converter 2092 is connected to the network 2011 or the public line 2
The image data from image data 051 is converted to the resolution of the printer unit 2095. Smoothing processing unit 209
Reference numeral 3 denotes a process for smoothing shaggy (roughness of an image appearing at a black-and-white boundary such as a diagonal line) of the image data after the resolution conversion by the resolution conversion unit 2092.

[Image Compression Unit 2040] FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the image compression unit 2040 shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2041 is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the image bus access sequence,
The timing for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and the output buffer 2045 is controlled, and control such as mode setting for the image compression unit 2043 is performed.

Next, the processing procedure of the image compression unit 2040 will be described. When setting for image compression control is performed from the CPU 2001 to the image bus I / F controller 2041 via the image bus 2008, the image bus I / F controller 2
Reference numeral 041 performs settings necessary for image compression, such as MMR compression and JBIG decompression, for the image compression unit 2043. After that, the image bus I / O is again performed by the CPU 2001.
When image data transfer is permitted to the F controller 204I, the image bus I / F controller 2041 transmits image data from the ROM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008 according to the image data transfer permission. Start.

The received image data is stored in the input buffer 20.
The image data temporarily stored in the storage unit 42 and stored in the input buffer 2042 is transferred at a constant rate in response to an image data request from the image compression unit 2043. When transferring the image data, the image bus I / F controller 2041
The input buffer 2042 determines whether or not image data can be transferred between the image buffer and the image compression unit 2043.
When reading of image data from the image bus 2008 and writing of an image to the image compression unit 2043 are impossible, control is performed so as not to transfer data (hereinafter, such control is performed). Is called handshake).

Upon receiving the image data, the image compression section 2043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044.
To be stored. This is because, when performing image compression, several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing to be performed, and several lines of image data are prepared in order to perform the first one-line compression. Otherwise, image compression cannot be performed. The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. The output buffer 2045 performs a handshake between the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 2043, and transfers the image data to the image bus I / F controller 2041. Forward.

The image bus I / F controller 2041 transfers the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data to the RAM 2002 (FIG. 1) or each device on the image bus 2008.

Such a series of processing is performed until the processing request from the CPU 2001 is removed, for example, when processing of a required number of pages is completed, or when an error occurs during compression and decompression, for example. Compression section 204
The process is repeated until a stop request is issued from step 3.

[Image Rotation Unit 2030] FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the image rotation unit 2030 shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2031 is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the image bus sequence, sets the mode and the like in the image rotation processing unit 2032, and sets the image rotation processing unit 2
At 032, the timing for transferring the image data is controlled.

Next, the processing procedure of the image rotation unit 2030 will be described. When setting for image rotation control is performed on the image bus I / F controller 2031 via the image bus 2008 by the CPU 2001, the image bus I / F controller 2041 instructs the image rotation processing unit 2032 to rotate the image. Settings, such as image size and rotation direction,
Set the angle, etc. Thereafter, when the image data transfer to the image bus I / F controller 2041 is permitted again by the CPU 2001, the image bus I / F controller 2031 stores the image data in the RAM 2002 or the image bus 2
The transfer of image data is started from each device on 008. The size of the image data is 32 bits, and the size of the image to be rotated is 32 × 32 (bits). When transferring image data onto the image bus 2008,
It is assumed that image transfer is performed in units of 32 bits. The image to be handled is a binary image.

To obtain a 32 × 32 (bit) image,
As shown in FIG. 8, unit data transfer needs to be performed 32 times, and image data needs to be transferred from discontinuous addresses. The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is set so that it is rotated to a desired angle at the time of reading.
M2033 is written. For example, when the 32-bit image data transferred first is written in the Y direction shown in FIG. 9 and read in the X direction shown in FIG. 9, the image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. And 32x32
When the image rotation of (bit), that is, the writing to the RAM 2033 is completed, the image data of the RAM 2033 is read out by the image rotation processing unit 2032 by the above-described reading method, and the read image data is transferred to the image bus I.
/ F controller 2031.

The image bus I / F controller 2031 receiving the rotated image data converts the image data into
The data is transferred to the RAM 2002 (FIG. 1) or each device on the image bus 2008 by the continuous addressing.

Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001, for example, until the processing of the required number of pages is completed.

[Device 1 / F Unit 2020] FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020 shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2021 is connected to the image bus 2008
To control the image bus access sequence, control each unit in the device I / F unit 2020, generate timing, and control the external scanner unit 2070.
(FIG. 1) and a control signal to the printer unit 2095 (FIG. 1). Scan buffer 2022
Is for temporarily storing image data sent from the scanner unit 2070 and outputting the stored image data in synchronization with the image bus 2008.

The serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 2023 arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order, and converts it into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008. is there. The parallel-serial / serial-parallel converter 2024 decomposes the image data transferred from the image bus 2008 or arranges the image data in order and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer 2025. The print buffer 2025 temporarily stores image data sent from the image bus 2008, and outputs the stored image data in synchronization with the printer unit 2070.

Next, a processing procedure at the time of image scanning will be described. The image data sent from the scanner unit 2070 is stored in the scan buffer 2022 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner unit 2070. If the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, the image data is sent to the scan buffer 2022. Each time image data of 32 bits or more is input, the image data of 32 bits is sent from the scan buffer 2022 to the serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 2023 on a first-in first-out basis. Serial parallel /
The image data sent to the parallel-to-serial conversion unit 2023 is converted into 32-bit parallel image data, and the image data is transferred to the image bus 20 via the image bus I / F controller 2021.
08.

On the other hand, the image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139
In the case of 4, the image data in the scan buffer 2022 is sent to the serial-parallel / parallel-serial conversion unit 2023 on a first-in first-out basis, converted into serial image data, and transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021. You.

Next, a procedure for printing an image will be described. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, the 32-bit parallel image data received from the image bus 2008 by the image bus I / F controller 2021 is:
The image data is sent to the parallel / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 by the image bus I / F controller 2021, and is decomposed into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer unit 2070 by the parallel / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024. Is stored in the print buffer 2025.

On the other hand, the image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139
In the case of No. 4, the serial image data received by the image bus I / F controller 2021 from the image bus 2008
024, and is converted into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer unit 2070.
5 is stored. Then, the image data stored in the print buffer 2025 is synchronized with the timing signal sent from the printer unit 2070, and is stored on a first-in first-out basis.
The data is sent to the printer unit 2070.

Next, FIG. 11 will be described. The information processing device 1001 is a database server 10
02, the database client 1003, the e-mail client 1005, and the e-mail server 100
4, the WWW client 1006, and the DNS (domain
A LAN (local area network) 1010 is configured together with the name system) server 1007 and the printer 1040.

The information processing device 1001 has a PSTN (public
switched telephone network) or ISDN (inte
It is connected to a facsimile (FAX) device 1031 via a grated service digital network (1030).
An information processing device 1023 having the same configuration as the information processing device 1001 is connected to the Internet / intranet 1012.

The Internet / intranet 1012 includes a database server 1021 and a WWW server 10
22 and an e-mail server 1023 are connected.
Internet / Intranet 1012 and LAN 101
0 is connected via the router 1011.

The database server 1002 manages the binary image and the multivalued image read by the information processing device 1001 as a database. The database client 1003 is a database server 1002
Client of the database server 1002
The user can browse, search, etc., the image data stored in. The e-mail server 1004 is the information processing device 1
001 can be received as an e-mail attachment. The e-mail client 1005 receives and browses e-mail received by the e-mail server 1004, and transmits e-mail. WWW server 1006 transmits HTML (hyper text markup language) document to LAN
1010. WWW server 1006
Is provided by the information processing device 100
1 can be printed out. Printer 1
Reference numeral 040 is configured so that an image read by the information processing device 1001 can be printed out.

The information processing device 1001 includes a scanner 20
The image read from 70 is sent to the LAN 1010,
An image received from the LAN 1010 is copied to the printer unit 2095.
Can be printed out. Further, an image read from the scanner unit 2070 can be transmitted to the PSTN or the ISDN 1030 by a facsimile transmission unit (not shown), or an image received from the PSTN or the ISDN 1030 can be printed out by the printer unit 2095.

[Software] Next, FIG. 12 will be described. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1501 denotes a UI (user interfac
e) is a module that mediates with the device when the operator performs various operations and settings of the information processing device 1001. The UI 1501 transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data in accordance with the operation of the operator.

Reference numeral 1502 denotes an address book, which is a database module for managing data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like. The contents of the address book are used to add, delete, and acquire true data by an operation from the UI 1501, and to send data to each module described later and to provide communication destination information by an operator's operation. Reference numeral 1503 denotes a Web server module which is used for notifying management information of the information processing device 1001 in response to a request from a Web client (not shown). The management information is stored in ControlAPI (application program
interface) 1518, which is read through H
TTP1512, TCP (transmission control protocol)
ol) / IP (internet protocol) 1516 and a network driver 1517 are notified to the Web client. Reference numeral 1504 denotes a broadcast distribution module, that is, a module that manages data distribution.
1 distributes the data specified by the operator to the communication (output) destination similarly specified. Further, the operator operates the scanner unit 2 of the information processing device 1001.
070, when the generation of distribution data is instructed,
Operate the device via the ControlAPI 1518 described below,
Generate data.

Reference numeral 1505 denotes a module which is executed when a printer is designated as an output destination in the broadcast distribution module 1504. Reference numeral 1506 denotes a module which is executed when an E-mail address is specified as a communication destination in the broadcast distribution module 1504.

Reference numeral 1507 denotes a module which is executed when a database is designated as an output destination in the broadcast distribution module 1504. 1508 is a broadcast distribution module 150
4 is a module that is executed when the same multifunction peripheral as the information processing device is designated as the output destination. Reference numeral 1509 denotes a remote copy scan module,
01 and other information processing devices connected by a network or the like, for example, the information processing device 1
023 is an output destination and performs processing equivalent to a copy function realized by the information processing apparatus 1001 alone.

Reference numeral 1510 denotes a remote copy print module, which is a printer unit 209 of the information processing apparatus 1001.
5 is a module that performs processing equivalent to the Copy function realized by the information processing device 1001 alone, with another information processing device connected via a network or the like, for example, the information processing device 1023 as an input destination. 1511 is Web
Pull Print Internet or Intranet 10
12 is a module for reading and printing information of various homepages on the server 12. Reference numeral 1512 denotes a module used when the information processing apparatus 1001 communicates by HTTP.
It provides communication to the web server 1503 and the web pull print 1511 module.

Reference numeral 1513 denotes a 1pr module, which provides communication to a printer module 1505 in the broadcast distribution module 1504 by a TCP / IP 1516 module described later.

Reference numeral 1514 denotes SMTP (simple mail transf).
er protocol) module, and a TCP / I
Broadcast distribution module 150 by P1516 module
4 to provide communication to the E-mail module 1506. Reference numeral 1515 denotes an SLM (Salutation-Manager) module, which is a TCP / IP module 151 described later.
6 provides communication to a database module 1517, a DP (data processing) module 1518, a remote copy scan 1509 module, and a remote copy print 1510 module in the broadcast distribution module 1504. 1516 is TCP / I
A P communication module that provides network communication to the various modules by a network driver described later.

Reference numeral 1517 denotes a network driver.
It controls the part physically connected to the network. Reference numeral 1518 denotes a control API, which provides an interface to a downstream module such as a job manager 1519 to be described later with respect to an upstream module such as the broadcast distribution module 1504, and reduces dependency between upstream and downstream modules. This enhances their diversion. Reference numeral 1519 denotes a job manager, which interprets a process instructed by the above-described various modules via the Control API 1518 and gives an instruction to each module described later. The job manager 15
Reference numeral 19 denotes a unit for centrally managing hardware processes executed in the information processing device 1001.

Reference numeral 1520 denotes a CODEC manager.
It manages and controls various types of compression and decompression of data in the processing instructed by the job manager 1519. 152
Reference numeral 1 denotes an FBE (first binary encoding) encoder that compresses data read by a scan process executed by the job manager 1519 and the scan manager 1524 in an FBE format. Reference numeral 1522 denotes a JPEG-CODEC, which is a job manager 1519, a scan process executed by the scan manager 1524,
In the printing process executed by the H.26, JPEG compression of the read data and JPEG decompression of the print data are performed. 1523 is MMR-CODEC
In the scan process executed by the job manager 1519 and the scan manager 1524, and the print process executed by the print manager 1526, the MMR compression of the read data and the MMR decompression process of the print data are performed.

Reference numeral 1524 denotes a scan manager, which manages and controls scan processing specified by the job manager 1519. 1525 is SCSI (small co
mputer system interface) driver for communicating between the scan manager 1524 and the scanner unit to which the information processing device 1001 is internally connected. 1
A print manager 526 manages and controls print processing instructed by the job manager 1519. 1527 is an engine I / F driver,
An interface between the print manager 1526 and the printing unit is provided.

Reference numeral 1528 denotes a parallel port driver, which provides an interface when the web pull print 1511 outputs data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

[Application] FIG. 13 shows an embedded application block relating to distribution. On the left side of FIG. 13, applications mounted on the information processing apparatus are shown, and 1501, 1509, 1504, 1511, 1
Numeral 503 denotes the same part as in FIG. On the right side of FIG. 13, a remote image forming apparatus is shown. As the remote image forming apparatus, a remote printing apparatus 4300, a laser beam printer (LBP) 4350,
There are a remote printing apparatus 4400, a Notes (registered trademark) server 4450, an original image DB server 4500, a mail server 4550, an original image DB server 4600, and a Web server 4650.

The remote printing device 4300 prints the transmitted data in page units.

In the case of an existing LBP, image data depending on the device is transmitted to the LBP 4350 by the broadcast distribution module 1504. A remote printing device 4400 capable of handling device-independent data, a Notes server 4450, and an original image DB server 4500
To the mail server 4550, the broadcast distribution module 1
504 are used. Compressed data of a binary image generated by one scan is stored in SLM, SMT
It is transmitted by the P (simple mail transfer protocol) protocol.

Since the original image DB server 4600 can handle only a multi-valued JPEG different from the above, it is transmitted alone.

Based on the URL (uniform resource locator) input from the user interface (UI) 1501, the Web server 4650 is accessed, the homepage information is received, and stored as an HTML document.
で Convert to existing PostScript in units of pages and print based on the obtained PostScript.

The LBP 4350 is the broadcast distribution module 15
The image transmitted at step 04 is received and printed. The Notes (registered trademark) server 4450 is a known Notes server, and receives and stores an image transmitted by the broadcast distribution module 1504. The original image DB server 4500 receives and stores the binary image transmitted by the broadcast distribution module 1504. Mail server 45
Numeral 50 is for receiving and storing the image transmitted by the broadcast distribution module 1504. The original image DB server 4600 receives and stores the multi-value image transmitted by the broadcast distribution module 1504. Web server 4500 contains the content. The web browser 4700 can access a web server or the like.

[UI Application] The address book 1502 of the UI 1501 will be described. The address book 1502 is stored in a non-volatile storage device (a non-volatile memory, a hard disk, or the like) in the information processing device 1001. The address book 1502 stores characteristics of devices connected to the network, for example, Name or alias name, network address of the device, network protocol that the device can process, document format that the device can process, compression type that the device can process,
It describes the image resolution that can be processed by the device, the paper size that can be fed in the case of a printer device, paper feed stage information, and the name of a folder that can store documents in the case of a server (computer) device.

According to the information described in the address book 1502, each application described later can determine the characteristics of the distribution destination. The address book 1502 is editable, can be downloaded from a server computer or the like in a network, can be used, and can be directly referred to.

[Remote Copy Application 150
9] The remote copy application 1509 determines the processable resolution information of the device designated as the distribution destination by referring to the address book 1502, and uses the well-known MMR compression to convert the binary image read by the scanner accordingly. And compress it and use a known TIFF (Tagged Image Fil
e Format), and transmitted to the printer device on the network through the SLM 4103.

The SLM 4103 is a network including device control information called a known salutation manager (or smart link manager).
It is a kind of protocol.

[Broadcast Distribution Module 1504] Unlike the remote copy application 1509, the broadcast distribution module 1504 can transmit images to a plurality of distribution destinations by one image scan. The distribution destination is not limited to the printer device, and can be directly distributed to a so-called server computer.

Next, description will be made in order according to the distribution destination. The destination device is a known network printer protocol, LPD (Line Printer Daemon), and a printer control command, LIPS (LBP image processing s)
ystem) is determined to be processable from the address book 1502, the image is read according to the image resolution similarly determined from the address book 1502, and the image itself is
In the present embodiment, a known FBE (First Binary Encod
ing), and then LIPS-coded to form a well-known network printer protocol, L.
Send to the partner device by PR.

If the destination device can communicate with the SLM and is a server device, the server refers to the address book 1502 to determine the server address and the designation of the folder in the server, and, similarly to the remote copy application, determines the scanner. Is compressed using a known bit compression, and the obtained image is compressed using a known TIFF (Tagged
Image File Format), and can be stored in a specific folder of a server device on the network through the SLM.

In the device of the present embodiment, when the server which is the partner device determines that the well-known JPEG-compressed multi-valued image can be processed, the multi-value read image is read in the same manner as the binary image. Is converted into a well-known JFIF (JPEG file interchange format) using JPEG compression of
Through the LM, it can be stored in a specific folder of the server device on the network.

If the destination device is a known E-Mail server, the mail address described in the address book 1502 is determined, and the binary image read by the scanner is compressed using the known MMR compression. It is known TIF
FSM and the well-known SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
ol) to send to the E-mail server. Subsequent distribution is performed according to mail server 4550.

[Web Pull Print Application] First, a Web pull print request method using a print utility operating on an external client will be described. Using this print utility, the user makes various settings related to Web pull printing,
The setting contents can be transmitted to the information processing device 1001 using a packet described later. On the other hand, the information processing device 1001 that has received this packet analyzes the contents of the packet and starts a Web pull print operation according to the instruction. The information processing device 1001 has an application that spools a plurality of Web pull print requests received from a print utility in the form of a job. The print utility communicates with the information processing device 1001 by using a packet described later to acquire information on a job spooled inside,
Or delete specific jobs. This spooling is performed by a Web pull print application.

Next, items that can be set by the user using the print utility will be described. These items include the following items (1) to (40).

(1) “Printed document title” A 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 data to be obtained.

(3) “Printer address” The network address of the information processing device 1001 that sends a Web pull print request.

(4) "User name" Any user name can be entered. The information processing device 1001 specifies the sender of the Web pull print request from the user name.

(5) “Option file” A file in which all the contents set by this print utility are stored. By creating an option file for each user in advance and specifying one of these files in this setting item, it is possible to set all the setting items collectively.

(6) "Link Level" In the information processing apparatus 1001, when a hyperlink is set in a homepage designated for printing, the hyperlink can be printed following the link. At this time, the number of hierarchies to follow the link is specified in this item.

(7) “Maximum Number of Printed Pages” The upper limit of the number of pages to be printed when the home page to be printed spans a plurality of pages.

(8) "Print beyond the maximum number of printed pages" When one home page to be printed spans a plurality of pages, and the middle page corresponds to the "maximum number of printed pages" in (7), the home page is printed. Specify whether or not to print to the end.

(9) “Printing of Other Sites” If the “link level” specified in (6) is 1 or more and the link destination is another site, whether or not to print the link destination is also determined. Is specified.

(10) “Printing Link Map” The information processing apparatus 1001 can create / print a link map representing a link relationship when a home page is printed following one link. Specify whether to print this link map as the last page of printing on the homepage.

(11) “Print page number” Specifies whether to print a page number in the footer part of the print result.

(12) “Print Date” Specifies whether or not to print the print execution date in the footer portion of the print result.

(13) "Print URL" Specifies whether to print the URL in the footer portion of the print result.

(14) “Printing of Document Title” Specify whether or not to print the “document title” of the above (1) in the header portion of the print result.

(15) "Contents of header to be printed" An arbitrary text string to be printed on the header portion of the print result.

(16) “Position of header to be printed” The position to print the text string specified in “Contents of header to be printed” in (15) above.

(17) "Background printing" When an image for background drawing is specified in the home page, whether or not to print the image is specified. If the background color of the homepage is set to black, etc., there is no problem when displaying on a color display, but when printing with a black and white printer, the text part and the background will also be black and it will not be possible to judge the text It is a setting for.

(18) “Numbering to <H> tag” Specifies whether or not to add a heading number to the head of the heading sentence in the home page.

(19) "Print linked document first" When two or more link levels are specified, it is specified whether to print in the order of the read links or to print the same link level first.

(20) "Enlargement ratio / reduction ratio" An enlargement ratio / reduction ratio when a home page is enlarged / reduced and printed.

(21) “Reduction Ratio at the Time of a Page Boundary” In the information processing device 1001, when an image on a homepage covers a page boundary, the image can be reduced and printed so as to fit within the page. Specify the reduction ratio at this time.

(22) “Font name” A font used when printing HTML text data.

(23) “Font size” The font size used when printing the headline character string in the homepage.

(24) "Font thickness" The font thickness used when printing the headline character string in the homepage.

(25) "Use of style sheet" Specify whether or not to use the file specified by the "style sheet name" in the following (26).

(26) “Style sheet name” A file storing the setting contents of “font name” of (22), “font size” of (23), and “font thickness” of (24) If a style sheet) exists in advance, specify its file name. This allows
The user can make settings for these fonts without having to set individual items.

(27) "Printing paper size" The size of paper used for printing.

(28) “Printing Paper Direction” One of Portrait and Landscape is specified as the paper direction when printing.

(29) “Left / Right / Top / Bottom Margin” The margin from the edge of the sheet when printing.

(30) “Number of copies” By setting this item, multiple copies can be printed.

(31) “Sorter” The operation mode of the sorter connected to the information processing device 1101 is specified. The operation modes include normal sort and
There are a staple sort and a group sort. When the normal sort is selected, a plurality of printed materials are sorted and discharged one by one for each bin of the sorter. 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 originals and one page of printed matter are discharged to the same bin.

(32) "Resolution" Print resolution.

(33) "Duplex printing" Specifying whether or not to perform duplex printing.

(34) “Scheduled print setting” In the information processing device 1001, at the designated time, the Web
A pull print operation can be started or a Web pull print request from a user can be periodically repeated, and these functions are called a schedule. Specifically, there are 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) "Day of week designation" When the periodic tour mode (day of week designation) is designated in the "schedule print setting" of the above (34), the day of the week to be executed is designated.

(36) "Date designation" When the time designation mode / periodical tour mode (date / interval designation) is designated in the "schedule print setting" of (34) above, the date to start execution is designated.

(37) "Time designation" When the time designation mode / periodic circulation mode is designated in the "schedule print setting" of the above (34), the time to start execution is designated.

(38) "Specify interval" When the periodic patrol mode (interval specification) is specified, the execution time interval is specified by date and time.

(39) “Print only updated document” When executing in the periodic patrol mode, specifies whether to print only the home page updated since the previous printing.

(40) "Error Processing" As an instruction when printing is not possible due to an error such as a paper jam in the information processing apparatus 1001 or a lack of toner, WW
Whether or not to transfer the image obtained from the W server is set.

[Operation Screen] FIGS. 14 to 21 are operation screens of the print utility. WWW client 1
When the print utility is activated on 006 (FIG. 11), first, the operation screen of FIG. 14 is displayed. When setting the above-mentioned setting items (6) to (38), pressing the PrintSetup button on this operation screen causes the setting shown in FIG.
A new operation screen (HTML Print Potion window) is displayed.

Further, when the tag at the top of the operation screen is pressed, it is possible to move to the operation screens shown in FIGS. FIG. 16 shows a client operation screen (HTML Print
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a client operation screen (PostScript Option window), and FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a client operation screen (Schedule window).

In the operation screens shown in FIGS.
By pressing the K / Cancel button, it is possible to return to the operation screen of FIG.

When the Bookmark button at the upper right of the operation screen shown in FIG. 14 is pressed, a bookmark screen shown in FIG. 19 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. To specify a URL from the list, select the target URL and press the 0K button with the highlighted character to reflect the selected title and URL in 1 and 2 on the operation screen in FIG. Is done. To add a new title and URL, refer to FIG.
Title and URL at the positions indicated by 1 and 2 on the operation screen
And then pressing the AddBookmark button adds them to the list above.

Next, a setting method on the operation screen shown in FIG. 18 will be described. When setting the schedule, the user first checks the EnableSchedule check box 34. At the time of initial setting, this check box is not checked, and in this state, no schedule can be set.

When the check box 34 is checked,
Settings can be made for each of the setting items (34) to (39). Then, Yusa said once in (34)
Select one of the following modes: / Weekly / Monthly / Repeat.

When the Once mode is selected, the above (3)
Only the setting items 6) and (37) are settable.
The user can select the execution start time (year / month /
Day / hour / minute). With this designation, the information processing device 1001 performs Web pull printing only once at the designated date and time.

When the Weekly mode is selected, the setting items (35) and (37) are settable, and
The user inputs an execution day of the week and an execution start time (hour / minute). A plurality of execution days can be specified at the same time. By this designation, the information processing device 1
001 is executed every week at a specified time on a specified day of the week, and Web pull printing is performed.

When the Monthly mode is selected, the day of (36) and the setting items of (37) are settable, and the user can execute the web pull print execution date and time (hour / minute). ). With this designation, the information processing device 1001 repeats W every month on the designated date and time.
Perform eb pull print.

When the repeat mode is selected, the setting items (36), (37), and (38) can be set, and the user can set the execution start date and the execution start time ( Hour / minute), execution interval (day / hour)
Enter With this designation, the information processing device 1001 repeatedly performs Web pull printing at the designated execution interval from the designated execution start date and time.

If the Weekly / Monthly / Repeat mode is selected, the ModifiedOnly check box 39
(FIG. 18) becomes a checkable state.

FIG. 20 shows a client operation screen (Monito
r window).

The error processing mode in FIG. 21 specifies how to handle image data when printing becomes impossible due to an error such as a paper jam, no paper, or no toner in the information processing device 1001. I do. Specifically, transmission of image data using the E-mail function, transmission of image data to the database server, transfer to another information processing device, and printing are selected for the WWW client 1006 (FIG. 11). it can.

[0132] The Web pull print application receives the above-mentioned instruction by a known LPR. When the job is executed, the instruction is interpreted and the WWW specified in (2) above is interpreted.
Acquire HTML format data from the server. After acquiring one page of data, the software
Converts the description to stScript format, and the data is RIP
The data is developed as a bitmap image on the RAM 2002 via the 2060. Bitmap image is device I / F
Is output to the printer 2095 via the.

[Web Server Application] Web
Since the server application is not directly related to the present embodiment, the description is omitted.

Next, each screen of the operation unit 2012 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

[Operation Screen] The functions provided by the information processing device 1001 are Copy / Send / Retrieve / Tasks / Management / Co.
nfiguration can be divided into six major categories. These functions are displayed on the six main tabs (COPY / SEND / RETRIEVE / TASKS / MGM) displayed at the top of the operation screen 3010.
T / CONFIG) 3011 to 3016. By pressing these main tabs, switching to a screen of each category is performed. When switching to another category is not permitted, the display color of the main tab changes, and there is no response even if the main tab is pressed.

Copy has a function of copying a normal document using its own scanner and printer, and a function of copying a document using its own scanner and a printer connected via a network (remote Copy).

Send sends a document placed on its own scanner to an e-mail, a remote printer, a fax, and a file transfer (FTP) file.
otocol)) and a function to transfer to the database, and it is possible to specify a plurality of destinations.

Retrieve is a function of acquiring an external document and printing the document on its own printer. WWW, electronic mail, file transfer, and facsimile can be used as a document acquisition means.

Tasks automatically processes documents sent from outside such as fax and Internet print, and generates and manages tasks for periodically performing Retrieve.

Management manages jobs, address books, bookmarks, documents, account information, and the like.

In the Configuration, settings relating to the own device (network, clock, etc.) are performed. FIG. 22 shows a copy screen as an example of the operation screen.

[DeviceInformationService (DIS)] Set values for jobs, functions of devices (scanners, printers, etc.), statuses, billing information, etc. in the controller.
A database that stores data in a data format compliant with the Control API and an I / F with the database are stored in a DIS (device
information service).

FIG. 23 shows the DIS 7102 and the JobManager
7101, ScanManager 7103, and PrintManager7
Shows the interaction with 104. Basically, dynamic information such as a job start command is transmitted from JobManager 7101 to each Docu.
The mentManager is directly instructed, and the DIS 7102 refers to the static information such as the function of the device and the content of the job.
Static and dynamic information and events from each DocumentManager are transmitted to the JobManager 7101 via the DIS7102. When setting / acquisition of data to the database of DIS7102 from each DocumentManager, DIS7102
Because the internal data format of is compliant with the Control API,
Data format conforming to Control API and each DocumentMana
Performs mutual conversion with the data format that ger can understand. For example, when setting status data from each DocumentManager, interpret the device-specific data and
ntrol API to convert to the corresponding data defined by
The data is written in the database of S7102. JobManag
When data is set and obtained from the database of the DIS 7102 from the er 7101, the JobManager 7101 and the D
No data conversion occurs between IS7102. Also, D
In the IS7102, event data is updated based on various event information notified from the DocumentManager.

Next, referring to FIG.
Various databases held inside (hereinafter referred to as DB)
Will be described. The round rectangles shown in FIG. 24 represent individual DBs. In FIG. 24, reference numeral 7201 denotes a SupervisorDB, which holds status and user information of the entire apparatus. Is stored in the storage device.

Reference numeral 7202 denotes a ScanComponentDB, and 72
03 is a PrintComponentDB, and these Components are held corresponding to each existing Component. For example, in the case of a device including only a printer, only the PrintComponentDB exists. For example, in the case of a device having a facsimile,
XComponentDB is retained. At initialization, each ComponentDB has a corresponding DocumentManager at Component
Set the function and status of.

Reference numeral 7204 denotes a ScanJobServiceDB;
05 is a PrintJobServiceDB, and these JobServices
Similarly to ComponentDB, the DB sets the functions that can be used by the corresponding DocumentManager on the device and the support status of those at initialization.

Next, JobDB and DocumentDB will be described. Reference numeral 7206 denotes a ScanJobDB, and reference numeral 7207 denotes a PrintJob.
Each DB is a JobDB, 7208 is a ScanDocumentDB, and 7209 is a PrintDocumentDB.

Each time a job and its associated document are generated, JobManager and DocumentDB are dynamically secured and initialized by the JobManager, and necessary items are set. Before each DocumentManager starts processing the job, JobD
Read the items required for processing from B and DocumentDB,
Start the job. Thereafter, when the jobs are completed, the DBs of these jobs and the documents attached to these jobs are released. Since a job has one or more documents, a plurality of DocumentDBs may be reserved for a certain job.

A database 7210 holds event information notified from each DocumentManager.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a counter table for recording the number of scans and the number of prints of the apparatus.

Events notified from DocumentManager include component state transitions from ScanDocumentManager, completion of scan processing operations, various errors, and Pr.
There are status transition of components from intDocumentManager, completion of print processing operation, paper jam, paper feed cassette open, and the like, and an event ID for identifying each event is predetermined.

When an event is issued from DocumentManager, DIS 7102 stores the event database 721 in the event database.
1 and, if necessary, detailed data associated with the event. Also, DocumentMana
When the event release is notified from the ger, the event data designated to be released is deleted from the event database 7211.

When the event polling is performed by the JobManager, the DIS 7102 refers to the event database 7210, and stores the currently generated event 1D and
If necessary, the detailed data accompanying the event
If no event has occurred at the moment, the fact is returned. Further, when the event of the completion of the scanning process and the event of the completion of the printing process are notified, the counter value of the user who has performed the scanning and printing is updated.

Each time the value of the counter by this software is updated so that the value is not lost due to accidental power-off or the like, the counter is written back to the backed-up memory device or the nonvolatile storage device of the hard disk device. It is.

[Scan Operation] The scan operation will be described with reference to FIG. CPU 8101 and memory 8102
, CODEC 8104, IDE controller 810
8 and the SCSI controller 8103 are connected to the PCI bus 81
05 are connected to each other. A scanner 8107 is connected to the SCSI controller 8103 with a SCSI interface cable 8106, and an IDE hard disk is connected to the IDE controller 8108 with an IDE interface cable. The scanner 8107 may be a scanner function unit of a copying machine having a composite function.

FIG. 26 shows a software structure relating to the scanning operation. The JobManager 8201 has a function of classifying and storing application-level requests. DIS82
02 stores parameters required for a scan operation from the application level. The request from the application is stored in the memory 8102. The scan operation management unit 8203 acquires information necessary for performing a scan from the JobManager 8201 and the DIS8202. The scan operation management unit 8203 receives, from the JobManager 8201, the table data of the job number and the document number shown in FIG.
, The scan parameters shown in FIG. Thus, scanning is performed based on the scanning conditions requested by the application.

The scanning operation management unit 8203 is the DIS 82
The scan parameters (FIG. 28) acquired from the document sequence number 02 are transferred to the scan sequence control unit 8204 in document number order. The scan sequence control unit 8204 that has received the scan parameters of FIG. 28 controls the SCSI control unit 8207 according to the scan image attribute contents shown in FIG. Thereby, the PCI bus 8105 (FIG. 2)
The SCSI controller 8103 connected to 5) is operated, and the scanner 81 is connected via the SCSI cable 8106.
Scanning is performed by sending a SCSI control command to 07.

The scanned image is a SCSI cable 8
To the SCSI controller 8103 via the
Further, it is stored in the memory 8102 via the PCI bus 8105. When the scan is completed, the scan sequence control unit 8204 stores the data in the memory 81 via the PCI bus 8105.
At the time point when the image is stored in the file 02, a request is sent to the compression / decompression control unit 8205 in order to compress the scan image stored in the memory 8102 in accordance with the contents of the scan image compression format of the scan parameters in FIG. put out.

The compression / decompression control unit 820 receiving the request
5 is a CODEC connected to the PCI bus 8105
8104, the scan sequence control unit 8204
The compression is performed by designating the scan image compression format 8309 from. The compressed image is stored in the memory 8102 by the compression / decompression control unit 8205 via the PCI bus 8105. The scan sequence control unit 8204 compresses the scan image into the format specified by the scan image compression format (FIG. 28) by the compression / decompression control unit 8205, and stores the image file of the scan parameters (FIG. 28) at the time when the scan image is stored in the memory 8102. According to the type 8307, the compressed scan image stored in the memory 8102 is filed.

The scan sequence control unit 8204 requests the file system 8206 to create a file in the file format specified by the image file type (FIG. 28) of the scan parameters (FIG. 28). The file system 8206 includes the scan sequence control unit 82
According to the image file type from FIG. 04 (FIG. 28), the compressed image stored in the memory 8102 is converted into a file, transferred to the IDE controller 8108 via the PCI bus 8105, and transferred to the IDE hard disk 8110 via the IDE cable 8109. By transferring
File the scanned compressed image.

When the file system 8206 (FIG. 26) stores the filed image on the IDE hard disk 8110, the scan sequence control unit 8204
Assuming that the current process of one sheet on the scanner 8107 has been completed, a scan completion notification is sent back to the scan operation management unit 8203 (FIG. 26).

At this point, there is a document on the scanner 8107 that has not been scanned yet, and the JobManager 8
If a scan request is present from 201 (FIG. 26), a scan operation is requested to the scan sequence control unit again using the scan parameters (FIG. 28) stored in the DIS8202.

On the other hand, if there is no unscanned document on the scanner 8107 or if the JobManager 8
If there is no scan request from the server 201, it is determined that the scan operation has been completed, and a scan completion notification is issued to the JobManager 8201.

[Print Operation] The print operation will be described with reference to FIG. The engine I / F 9003 has a DPRAM inside, through which parameter setting for the printer, reading of the printer status,
Exchanges print control commands. Further, the engine I / F 9003 has a video controller.
VCLK (Vide
oClock) and HSYNC, PCI bus 9005
The image data developed above is the engine I / F
The data is transmitted to the printer via the cable 9006. The transmission timing is as shown in FIG.

VCLK is always supplied, and HSYNC is
Provided in synchronization with the start of one line of the printer. The video controller stores the data for the set image width (WIDTH) in the memory (SO
URCE) and read it out as a Video signal from the engine I /
Output to F cable 9006.

After repeating this for the specified number of lines (LINES), an IMAGE END interrupt is generated. As described above, when a print job instruction is passed from the application program on the CPU 9001 to ControlAPI,
The ntrol API passes this print job instruction to the controller-level JobManager as a job.

Further, the JobManager stores the job settings in the DIS, and instructs the PrintManager to start the job. When the PrintManager accepts the job, it reads information necessary for executing the job from the DIS, and sets this information in the printer via the engine I / F 9003 and the DPRAM. FIG. 31 shows the setting items of engine I / F9003.
FIG. 32 shows setting items and control commands via the DPRAM of the printer, and status commands.

For the sake of simplicity, this job will be described assuming that this job is uncompressed, prints two copies of a letter (11 ″ × 8.5 ″) size binary image, and that the printer has a performance of 600 dpi. The operation will be described. First, when receiving this job, PrintManager calculates the number of image bytes of the width of this image (in this case, the side of 8.5 ").

[0168]

(Equation 1) Is calculated from The number of lines Is calculated from The calculated values and the SOURCE address where the given image of the first page is stored are set in WIDTH, LINES, and SOURCE shown in FIG. At this point, the engine I / F 9003 has completed the preparation for image output, but has not output image data because the HSYNC signal from the printer has not come (VCLK has come).

The PrintManager stores a numerical value 1 as an output copy number at a predetermined address (BookNo) of the DPRAM shown in FIG.
Write. After that, a request to feed the output paper for the first page FEED Issue REQ and request IMAGE from printer Wait for REQ.

Then, the request IMAGE is sent from the printer. When REQ comes, IMAGE Issue START. This IMAGE Upon receiving START, the printer starts outputting HSYNC, and the engine I / F 9003 that has been waiting for HSYNC outputs an image. When the printer detects the trailing edge of the output paper,
END is output, and when the output paper is ejected, SHEET Output OUT.

PrintManager is the first page IMAGE END
Then, the second page of WIDTH, LINES and SOURCE was sent to Engine I
Set to / F9003 and request FEED Issue REQ and request IM
AGE Wait for REQ.

IMAGE of the second page The operation after the REQ is received is the same as that of the first page.

Next, image transfer at the time of error will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the CPU when printing the homepage of the WWW server 1022. The print utility on the client 1006 (FIG. 11) and the information processing device 1001 (FIG. 11)
Means that communication is performed using the LPR protocol, which is an upper protocol of TCP / IP.

The Web pull print 151 shown in FIG.
1. Within LPD (lineprinter deamon) not shown
Is running and Web from the print utility
The pull print request / job information request / job deletion request are respectively an LPR command / LPQ command / LP
The LPD receives the RM command (S1). On the other hand, in Web pull printing, a command receiving process for receiving a request command from the LPD is constantly operating, and the LPD sends an LPR command / LPQ command / LPRM command from the print utility to the command receiving process. The command receiving process analyzes the contents of the command (S2).

The interpreted command includes the various settings described above from the client.
DIS7 via lAPI1518 and JobManager1519
102 is set as a detailed item of the job (S3). Also, according to the setting, for example, the URL,
12, TCP / IP1516, network driver 1
517 via the WTM server 1022 to the HTM
The information of the home page described in L is obtained (S4).

When one page of data is obtained, the HTM
L is converted into PostScript format (S5). Converted
PostScript format is RAM2002 by RIP2060
It is formed as a bitmap image on top (S6). The print manager 1526 makes print settings for the bitmap image to the printer 2095 via the engine I / F 1527 (S7). The detailed information at this time is DIS7102
To get from. If an error occurs during printing (S27), such as out of paper, paper jam, toner out, or the like (S8), a printer error status is written in DIS7102, and JobManager1519 and ControlAPI15 are written.
The information is transmitted to the Web pull print 1511 via the server 18 (S28).

In the Web pull print 1511, it is checked whether or not the error processing set by the WWW client 1006 (FIG. 11) has been transferred (S9). If there is no error, DIS7102, JobManager1519, ControlA
The page output event is transmitted to the web pull print 1511 via the PI 1518 (S32).

If there is a next page, the HTML data of the next page is received from the WWW server 1022 (S25).
When the setting of “with transfer” is made, what kind of processing is performed is sequentially examined. In the case of the setting of no transfer, the printer waits for error processing by the user and prints when the error processing is completed. If it is set to send an image as an attached file of an e-mail at the time of transfer setting in S9 (S9)
10) JobManager 1519 is CODEC Manager 1520
To make an MMR compressed S file. CODECManager
The MMRCODEC 1523 that has received the request from the 1520 performs MMR compression using the image compression 2040 or a software compression module (not shown) (S13).

After that, a TIFF header is added,
An F file is stored in the HDD 2004 (S1
4). When the file is completed, information such as the completion, the directory, the file name and the like are displayed in the CODEC Manager 1520,
The information is transmitted to the Web pull print 1511 via the JobManager 1519 and the Control API. According to that information,
From Web Pull Print to Broadcast Distribution Module 1504
An e-mail transmission request is sent to the E-mail application 1506. At this time, not only the directory and file name of the file, but also the E-mail address and the like are notified.
E-mail application 1506 is SMTP1514,
TCP / IP 1516, network driver 1517
The image file is sent to the specified address via the server (S15).

If it is determined in step S10 that the image is not set to be transmitted as an attached file of the e-mail and that the image transfer to the database is instructed (S11), JobManag
The er 1519 requests the CODEC Manager 1520 for MMR compression and filing. The MMR Codec 1523, which has received the request from the CODECManager, performs MMR compression using the image compression 2040 or a software compression module (not shown) (S16). Then add a TIFF header,
It is stored in the HDD 2004 as a TIFF file (S
17).

When the file is completed, information such as the completion, the directory, and the file name are stored in the CODEC Manager 1.
520, the JobManager 1519, and the Control API 1518 are transmitted to the Web pull print 1511. According to the information, a transmission request to the database is made from the Web pull print to the DB application 1507 of the broadcast distribution module 1504. At this time, not only the directory and the file name of the file but also the directory of the database and the like are notified. The DB application 1507 sends the image file to the designated directory of the database server via the SLM 1515, TCP / IP 1516, and network driver 1517 (S18).

At S11, if the image transfer to the database has not been instructed and the image transfer to another digital copying machine has been instructed (S12), JobManager1
519 requests the CODEC Manager 1520 to perform MMR compression and filing. The MMR Codec 1523 requested by the CODEC Manager 1520 performs MMR compression using the image compression 2040 or a software compression module (not shown) (S19).

Thereafter, a TIFF header is added,
An F file is stored in the HDD 2004 (S2
0). When the file is completed, information such as the completion, the directory, the file name, and the like are displayed in the CODEC Manager 152.
0, JobManager 1519, and Control API 1518 are transmitted to Web pull print 1511. Broadcast distribution module 15 from Web pull print according to the information
A request for transmission to the information processing device is made to the DP application 1508 of No. 04. At this time, not only the directory and file name of the file, but also the address of the information processing device is notified.

The DP application 1508 is the SLM5
15, TCP / IP1516, network driver 1
Via 517, the image file is sent to another information processing device at the designated address (S21).

If the image transfer to another information processing device is not instructed in S12, the image is transferred to the printer. Therefore, JobManager 1519 is a CODEC Manager 152
0 requests FBE compression and filing. CODEC Manage
The FBE encoder 1521 receiving the request from r performs FBE compression using the software compression module (S2).
2). After that, a header for the printer is added and stored in the HDD 2004 as a print file (S2).
1). When the file is completed, information such as the completion, the directory, the file name, and the like are displayed in the CODEC Manager 152.
0, JobManager 1519, and Control API 1518 are transmitted to Web pull print 1511.

In accordance with the information, a transmission request to the printer is made from the Web pull print to the P550 application 1505 of the broadcast distribution module 1504. At this time, not only the directory and file name of the file but also the address of the printer are notified.

The P550 application 1508 is 1p
The image file is sent to the printer of the designated address via r1513, TCP / IP 1516, and network driver 1517 (S24).

If there is no next page, the Web pull print requests the E-mail application 1506 of the broadcast distribution module 1504 to send an end notification by e-mail (S30). The E-mail application sends an end notification to the user's computer as instructed, and the job ends.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or the CPU or the MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, 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 (com
pactdisk ROM), CD-R (compact disk recordable)
, Magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM (rea
d only memory), and so on.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (opera
Needless to say, a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing by a ting system or the like is also included.

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 instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU provided 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.

In this embodiment, when an error occurs in the middle of printing, data following the error is transferred.
When an error occurs and transfer is specified, data that has already been printed is also filed and remains on the HDD, so that it is possible to easily transfer all page data to the image forming apparatus or the computer.

[0195]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the above configuration, even if an error occurs,
A human user can obtain at least image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation unit 2012 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner image processing unit 2080 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer image processing unit 2090 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image compression unit 2040 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image rotation unit 2030 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining data transfer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image rotation process.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device I / F 2020 in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing connections of components of the system.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the present system.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an embedded application.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen (top window) of a client.

FIG. 15 shows a client operation screen (HTML Print P
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an (action window).

FIG. 16 shows a client operation screen (HTML Print S
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a (tyle window).

FIG. 17: Client operation screen (PostScript Optio
(n window) is a figure which shows an example.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen (Schedule window) of a client.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen (BookMark window) of the client.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a client operation screen (Monitor window).

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen (error processing) of a client.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a screen 2012 of the operation unit.

FIG. 23 DIS and JobManager, PrintManager, ScanMa
It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the exchange with a nager.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a database and counters inside DIS.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram for explaining hardware control in scanning.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating software control in scanning.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of table data of a job number and a document number.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a parameter table in scanning.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating hardware related to printing.

FIG. 30 is a timing chart of transfer of print image data.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a print parameter register table of the engine I / F.

FIG. 32 is a table showing an example of a communication command between the printer and the engine I / F.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure by the CPU when printing a home page of the WWW server 1022.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2000 Controller unit 2001 CPU 2002 RAM 2003 ROM 2004 Hard disk drive 2005 Image bus I / F 2006 Operation I / F 2007 System bus 2008 Image bus 2010 Network 2011 LAN 2020 Device I / F 2030 Image rotation unit 2040 Image compression unit 2050 Modem 2060 Raster Image processor 2051 Public line 2070 Scanner unit 2080 Scanner image processing unit 2090 Printer image processing unit 2095 Printer unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Aiyama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Ryuji Tanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Kenzo Sekiguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Kotaro Yamaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tohru Maeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) KA12 KB04 KC28 KC53 KF04 KH28 LB02 LB04 LB14 ME01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A data acquisition unit for acquiring data from a server via the Internet, a print data generation unit for generating print data from the data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and An information processing apparatus having a printing unit for performing printing based on the generated printing data, wherein when printing cannot be performed by the printing unit, the printing data generated by the printing data generating unit is connected to the Internet. An information processing apparatus comprising: a transfer unit that transfers data to another device. 2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means has a compression means for compressing print data, and transfers the print data compressed by said compression means. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising protocol selection means for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, wherein said transfer means performs printing according to the protocol selected by said protocol selection means. An information processing device for transferring application data over a network. 4. A data acquisition step for acquiring data from a server via the Internet, a print data generation step for generating print data from the acquired data, and printing for performing printing based on the generated print data. And a transfer step of transferring the print data generated in the print data generation step to another device connected to the Internet when printing is not possible in the printing step. An information processing method comprising: 5. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein the transfer step includes a compression step of compressing print data, and transferring the compressed print data. 6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a protocol selection step for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, wherein the transfer step includes printing according to the protocol selected by the protocol selection step. An information processing method characterized by transferring application data over a network. 7. A data acquisition procedure for acquiring data from a server via the Internet, a print data generation procedure for generating print data from the acquired data, and printing based on the generated print data. And a printing procedure for executing the printing data generated by the printing data generating procedure when the printing cannot be performed by the printing procedure. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing a transfer procedure to be transferred to a computer is recorded. 8. The computer-readable recording device according to claim 7, wherein the transfer step includes a compression step of compressing print data, and transferring the compressed print data. Medium. 9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising causing the computer to further execute a protocol selection procedure for selecting one network protocol from a plurality of predetermined network protocols, wherein the transfer procedure is selected by the protocol selection procedure. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for transferring print data over a network according to a protocol.