JP2000228709A - Image server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deterioration in an image due to various conversion processing at an output device such as resolution in the case that the image received from an input device connected to a network is transferred to the output device connected to the network and outputting the image from the output device. SOLUTION: An image server that manages a network recognizes instrument information such as output resolution of an image output device and stores the information to a network management table. Then the image server controls an image input device so as to input an image on the basis of the information such as the resolution stored in the network management table when the image input device inputs the image and receives the image inputted by the image input device from a network 101 and stores the image in a hard disk 110. The image stored in the hard disk 110 is sent to the image output device through the network 101, which outputs the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image server system in a network to which various input / output devices are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, networks have rapidly developed, and devices such as scanners, fax reception, PCs (personal computers, etc.) for inputting images as electronic information, printers, fax transmissions, CRTs (PRTs), and the like have been developed.
Many devices that output images of electronic information such as C) have come to exist.

[0003] These devices generally have different input resolutions and output resolutions, and must output images input from an unspecified number of input devices to output devices. That is, it is necessary to output an image input at a certain resolution at a different resolution.

[0004]

However, in a conventional network system, an image is read at a reading (input) resolution of an input device and stored in a server, and a printer having an output resolution different from the resolution stored in the server is used. When outputting an image, a scaling process must be performed digitally in accordance with the resolution of the printer. Depending on the resolution, the scaling process may cause the output image to be unnecessarily deteriorated. was there.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for transmitting an image input from an input device connected to a network to an output device connected to the network and outputting the transferred image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image server system capable of preventing the problem.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image server system comprising a network, image input means connected to the network, image output means connected to the network, and an image server managing the network. The image server includes a resolution recognizing unit that recognizes an output resolution of the image output unit, and an input that controls the image input unit to input an image at the resolution recognized by the resolution recognizing unit when an image is input by the image input unit. Control means, storage means for receiving and storing the image input by the image input means from a network, output control means for sending the image stored in the storage means to the image output means through a network and outputting the image, It is characterized by having.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image server system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

An image server 102 for managing the network 101, a gateway 103 for exchanging data with an external network 100 such as the Internet, and a paper image (hard copy) are read into electronic image information. Scanner 1 to convert
04, terminals (PCs) 105 and 106 through which an operator exchanges data via the network 101, a fax 107 which exchanges image data through a telephone line, and a printer which converts electronic image information into a hard copy and outputs it 108 and hard copy,
There is a digital copying machine 109 for converting between a hard copy and an electronic image. Also, image server 1
02 has a storage (storage means) such as a hard disk 110.

Hereinafter, the image server 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
02 will be specifically described.

First, the image server 102 of the present embodiment
Searches for the network 101 at predetermined time intervals, determines a device connected to the network 101, and obtains device information such as a device name, input / output, resolution, monochrome (monochrome) / color, operation enabled / disabled, and other status. From each device.

Then, a network management table as schematically shown in FIG. 2 is created. That is, the network management table includes the device names (for example, scanner 1, printer 1, printer 2, fax 1, etc.), input / output (I, O, I / O), and resolution (200, 400, 60).
0, 800 (dpi) etc.), black and white / color (B / W, C
OLOR), operation enabled / disabled (ACTIVE; ○, ×),
Other statuses (low remaining paper, out of toner, etc.) are shown as a list.

The image server 102 also stores an image read from the scanner in a storage such as a hard disk 110 in the server 102 or transmits an image sent via a telephone line in accordance with an instruction from an operator through a PC. It can be stored in a storage or external network 10
0 is stored in a storage and sent to the operator via the PC, and vice versa.
00, an image stored in a storage is output to a printer or a telephone line, and image data is exchanged with a digital copying machine.

Hereinafter, a specific operation example will be described in which an image read by a scanner is output to a printer. Here, it is assumed that the network management table at a certain time is as shown in FIG.

When an image is read by the scanner 1,
Since the reading resolution of the scanner 1 is 1200 dpi at maximum, the resolution of the output device (200
dpi black and white, 600 dpi black and white, 300 dpi color,
(4 types of 400 dpi color), and scans each image, and stores each image on a hard disk in the image server. Here, 200 dpi black and white (fax)
Since it is 1/3 of 600 dpi black and white, the 200 dpi monochrome image is not scanned and stored in the hard disk, but when outputting to fax, the 600 dpi monochrome image may be thinned out and transferred.

Also, 600 dpi color and 400 dpi
Store only color images on the hard disk, 600d
When outputting a monochrome black and white image, 600 dpi color may be converted to black and white, and when outputting a 200 dpi monochrome image, the color may be further thinned out to 1/3 for output.

Alternatively, the resolution of the scanner is 1200 dp.
Since the resolution of each output device is 1 / n with respect to i, only 1200 dpi color is scanned and stored in the hard disk, this image is thinned out by 1 / n, and transferred to each output device for output. You may do so.

When reading an image from the scanner 2,
Since the reading resolution of the scanner 2 is 400 dpi at the maximum, 400 dpi color, 300 dpi color, 30 dpi
The image is scanned in four types, 0 dpi monochrome and 200 dpi color, and stored in the hard disk.

Here, the printer 1 is 600 dpi monochrome, but since the resolution of the scanner 2 is 300 dpi at the maximum, scanning is performed at a maximum value of 300 dpi satisfying 600 / n <400, and data is stored.

When an output device is selected by the operator, the image data optimum for the output device is transferred to the output device (after performing processes such as thinning-out and interpolation if necessary) and the image is output.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In a network system, a server obtains information (for example, resolution information) of output devices in a network, and when inputting an image from a scanner or the like, inputs an image at each resolution and stores the image in a server. There is an effect that a good image can be output even when an image is output from the output device.

Further, as in this embodiment, a certain resolution A
If there is a resolution of 1 / n, an image having a resolution of A is not stored, but an image of resolution A is thinned out and output, thereby saving the amount of storage.

Similarly, it is also possible to save an amount of storage by inputting and storing an image at a resolution of the least common multiple of the recognized resolution, and decimating and outputting the image as appropriate.

If a resolution C higher than the highest resolution B that can be input by the image input device exists among the recognized resolutions, C / n (n is an integer and C / n <
By inputting and accumulating an image having a resolution of B (smallest value of B), and interpolating and outputting the image appropriately, it is possible to cope with a resolution that cannot be input.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image server system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the external network 400
A network 401 and a network 402 exist via the Internet. An image server 403 that manages the network 401 is provided in the network 401.
A gateway 415 for exchanging data with the external network 400, and scanners 405 and 40 for reading a paper image (hard copy) and converting it into electronic image information
6, a terminal (PC) 408 through which an operator exchanges data via the network 401, and printers 411, 4 for converting electronic image information into hard copy and outputting the same.
12 and the like.

On the other hand, in the network 403, an image server 404 for managing the network 403,
A gateway 416 for exchanging data with the external network 400, a scanner 407 for reading a paper image (hard copy) and converting it into electronic image information, and a terminal (PC) 409 for an operator to exchange data via the network 101 , A fax 410 for exchanging image data through a telephone line, and a printer 414 for converting electronic image information into a hard copy and outputting it
And a digital copying machine 413 for copying a hard copy or converting a hard copy into an electronic image.

Each of the image servers 403 and 404
Have storages (storage means) such as hard disks 417 and 418, respectively.

As in the previous embodiment, the image server 40
3 and 404 periodically search for devices in their own networks, respectively, and create and update network management tables. Further, the image server 403 and the image server 404 periodically exchange network management tables with each other.

When an image is input from an input device in the network 401, the image server 403 refers to both network management tables and inputs the image at all resolutions of the output devices existing in both networks 401 and 402. The input device is controlled so that the resolution of the output device existing in the network 401 is stored in the hard disk 417 in the image server 403, and the resolution image of the output device present in the network 402 is stored in the external network. The image is transferred to the server 404 via the server 400, and the image server 404 stores the transmitted image on the hard disk 418.

Conversely, when inputting an image from an input device in the network 402, the image server 404 controls the input device to input images at all resolutions of the output devices existing in both networks, and
02 is stored in the hard disk 418 of the image server 404 in the image server 404, and the resolution image of the output device in the network 401 is transferred to the server 403 via the external network 400. , On the hard disk 417.
Note that details of input, storage, and output of an image are the same as those in the previous embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices are present in a network has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices exist. The same effect can be obtained by applying the control of the present invention.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By obtaining information (for example, resolution information) of an image output device connected to the network, controlling input conditions by the image input device, and accumulating the information in the image server, it is possible to output an image from any image output device. Thus, there is an effect that a good image can be output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a network management table used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific setting example of a network management table used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: external network, 101: network, 102: image server, 103: gateway, 104: scanner, 105, 106: terminal (PC), 107: fax, 108: printer, 109: digital copying machine, 110: hard disk.

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. An image server system comprising a network, an image input unit connected to the network, an image output unit connected to the network, and an image server managing the network, wherein the image server includes the image output unit A resolution recognizing unit that recognizes an output resolution of the image input unit; an input control unit that controls an image input unit to input an image at a resolution recognized by the resolution recognizing unit when an image is input by the image input unit; Storage means for receiving the image input by the network from the network and storing the image, and output control means for sending the image stored in the storage means to the image output means through the network and outputting the image. Image server system. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of image input units and a plurality of image output units are connected to the network, and the resolution recognizing unit recognizes an output resolution of each of the plurality of image output units. The input control means controls the image input means to input an image at a plurality of resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means at the time of image input by the image input means; The output control means receives the input plurality of resolution images from a network and stores the received images, and among the plurality of resolution images stored in the storage means, outputs the image having the resolution of the image output means to be output to the network. An image server system which sends the image to an image output unit that the user wants to output and outputs an image. 3. The image server according to claim 2, wherein the image server does not input an image at all resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition unit.
Among the resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means,
If there is a certain resolution A and a resolution of A / n (n is an integer) with respect to this resolution A, an image having this resolution of A / n is input by the image input means and stored by the storage means. An image server system, which does not perform image processing. 4. The image server according to claim 2, wherein the image server does not input an image at all resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition unit.
An image server system, wherein the image input means is controlled to input an image at a resolution of a least common multiple of the resolution recognized by the resolution recognition means. 5. The image server according to claim 2, wherein the image server does not input an image at all resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition unit.
Among the resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means,
If there is a resolution C higher than the highest resolution B that can be input by the image input means, C / n (n is an integer and
An image server system, wherein an image input unit is controlled to input an image having a resolution of C / n <B (the smallest value satisfying B), and the image is stored in the storage unit. 6. The image server according to claim 2, wherein the image server has a monochrome / color recognizing unit that recognizes whether the image output unit is monochrome or color. Controlling the image input means so as to input an image in the resolution and black and white or color recognized by each of the recognizing means, storing the image of the input resolution in the storage means, and selecting the resolution of the image output means to be output An image server system comprising: sending a black-and-white or color image having the following to an image output unit that wants to output the image and outputting the image. 7. An image server system comprising: a network; an image input unit connected to the network; an image output unit connected to the network; and an image server managing the network. Device information recognizing means for recognizing device information, and input control means for controlling an image input means to input an image based on device information recognized by the device information recognizing means at the time of image input by the image input means. A storage unit that receives an image input by the image input unit from a network and stores the image, and an output control unit that sends the image stored in the storage unit to the image output unit via a network and outputs the image. An image server system, characterized in that: 8. The image server system according to claim 7, wherein said device information recognizing means performs a recognizing operation at predetermined time intervals and updates connected device information in a network. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network is a plurality of networks connected via an external network, and said network is connected to an image input unit and an image output unit connected to each network. An image server system for performing control by the recognition unit, the input control unit, the storage unit, and the output control unit. 10. An image server for managing a network in which an image input means and an image output means are connected, a resolution recognizing means for recognizing an output resolution of the image output means, and the resolution recognizing means when an image is input by the image input means. Input control means for controlling the image input means so as to input an image at the resolution recognized by the storage means, receiving means for receiving and storing the image input by the image input means from the network, and storing the image in the storage means An image server, comprising: an output control unit that sends an image to the image output unit via a network to output the image. 11. The network according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of image input units and a plurality of image output units are connected to the network, and the resolution recognizing unit recognizes an output resolution of each of the plurality of image output units. The input control means controls the image input means to input an image at a plurality of resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means at the time of image input by the image input means; The output control means receives the input plurality of resolution images from a network and stores the received images, and among the plurality of resolution images stored in the storage means, outputs the image having the resolution of the image output means to be output to the network. An image server that sends the image to the image output unit that the user wants to output. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, instead of inputting an image at all resolutions recognized by the resolution recognizing means, a certain resolution A and a resolution A When there is a resolution of A / n (n is an integer) for A, the image having the resolution of A / n is not input by the image input means and stored by the storage means. Image server to do. 13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein the image is input at a resolution of the least common multiple of the resolution recognized by the resolution recognition means, instead of inputting the image at all the resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means. An image server for controlling image input means. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein, instead of inputting an image at all resolutions recognized by the resolution recognizing means, the resolution is recognized by the resolution recognizing means. If there is a resolution C higher than the maximum resolution B that can be input by the image input means, an image having a resolution of C / n (n is an integer and the smallest value satisfying C / n <B) is input. An image server which controls image input means so as to store the image data in the storage means. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a monochrome / color recognizing means for recognizing whether the image output means is monochrome or color. The image input means is controlled so as to input an image at the resolution and black and white or color recognized by the apparatus, and the image of the input resolution is stored in the storage means, and the image is output in black and white or color having the resolution of the image output means to be output. An image server that sends the image to the image output unit that wants to output the image. 16. An image server for managing a network in which an image input unit and an image output unit are connected, a device information recognizing unit for recognizing device information of the image output unit, and the device information when an image is input by the image input unit. An input control unit that controls an image input unit to input an image based on the device information recognized by the recognition unit; a storage unit that receives an image input by the image input unit from a network and stores the image; An image server, comprising: an output control unit that sends the image stored in the storage unit to the image output unit via a network and outputs the image. 17. The image server according to claim 16, wherein the device information recognizing means performs a recognition operation at predetermined time intervals and updates connected device information in a network. 18. The system according to claim 10, wherein control information is exchanged with an image server connected to another network connected via an external network, and the image server is connected to a plurality of networks. An image server, wherein the image input means and the image output means are controlled by the recognition means, the input control means, the storage means and the output control means. 19. A control method of an image server for managing a network in which an image input unit and an image output unit are connected, wherein an output resolution of the image output unit is recognized, and the recognized resolution is used when an image is input by the image input unit. The image input means is controlled so as to input an image in, receiving the image input by the image input means from the network, storing the image in the storage means, and transmitting the image stored in the storage means to the image output means through the network. A method for controlling an image server, comprising sending an image and outputting an image. 20. The image processing device according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of image input units and a plurality of image output units are connected to the network, and the output resolution of each of the plurality of image output units is recognized. At the time of image input, the image input means is controlled so as to input an image at a plurality of resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition means, and the plurality of resolution images input by the image input means are received from a network and stored in the storage means. Storing, of the plurality of resolution images stored in the storage unit, sending an image having the resolution of the image output unit to be output to the image output unit to be output through a network,
An image server control method for outputting an image. 21. A control method of an image server for managing a network in which an image input unit and an image output unit are connected, wherein the device information of the image output unit is recognized, and the recognized device is input when an image is input by the image input unit. Controlling the image input means to input an image based on the information, receiving the image input by the image input means from a network, storing the image in the storage means, and storing the image stored in the storage means through the network. A method for controlling an image server, comprising: sending an image to an output unit to output an image; 22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling an image server which manages a network connected to an image input unit and an image output unit, a resolution recognizing step of recognizing an output resolution of the image output unit. An input control step of controlling an image input unit to input an image at a resolution recognized by the resolution recognition step when an image is input by the image input unit; and receiving an image input by the image input unit from a network. A storage step of storing an image stored in the storage unit through a network, and an output control step of outputting the image to the image output unit through a network to output the image. . 23. The network according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of image input means and a plurality of image output means are connected to the network, and in the resolution recognizing step, each output resolution of the plurality of image output means is recognized. In the input control step, the image input means is controlled so as to input an image at a plurality of resolutions recognized by the resolution recognition step at the time of image input by the image input means, and in the accumulation step, the image input means Receiving the input plurality of resolution images from a network and accumulating the received plurality of resolution images, in the output control step, among the plurality of resolution images stored in the storage means, the image having the resolution of the image output unit desired to be output; A storage medium for transmitting the image to the image output means to output the image through the device. 24. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling an image server which manages a network connecting an image input unit and an image output unit, wherein a device information recognizing step of recognizing device information of the image output unit. An input control step of controlling an image input unit to input an image based on device information recognized by the device information recognition step when an image is input by the image input unit; and an image input by the image input unit. Receiving an image from a network and storing the image in a storage unit; transmitting an image stored in the storage unit to the image output unit through a network to output an image; Characteristic storage medium.