JP2000312269A - Method and device for controlling copying system and medium storage control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate setting of a copying condition by generating at least one piece of reading information including a set image reading condition, generating at least one piece of forming information including a set image forming condition, generating at least one piece of copying information by combining the reading information and the forming information and executing copying operation. SOLUTION: A reading instruction is given to a scan server 2 based on a copying instruction, when a preset reading condition 81 is transmitted to the scan server 2 as well. An image is read by operating a scanner 3 based on the received reading condition 81 and image data 83 obtained by reading the image is stored in a storage device 23 by the scan server 2 that receives the reading instruction. At this time, an ID 84 capable of discriminating image data is added to the image data 83. The ID 84 is managed by a memory of the scan server 2. When the image data 83 is stored in the storage device 23, reading completion information is transmitted to a client 1 by the scan server 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a copying system and a medium on which a control program is recorded, and more particularly, to a control of a copying system capable of easily setting copying conditions including designation of an apparatus. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus and a medium on which a control program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of network technology, documents, drawings, and the like have been copied using a network scanner and a network printer connected to a network. When performing copying using a network scanner and a network printer, if the network scanner and the network printer are compatible with the A0 size, the A0 drawing can be copied.
There is an advantage that there is no need to prepare a copier compatible with A0. Further, since the output destination network printer can be arbitrarily specified, for example, if a network scanner and a network printer installed on different floors are used, the trouble of transporting the copied document or drawing can be omitted.

In copying using a network scanner and a network printer, basically, a document or drawing is read by a network scanner by specifying scanning conditions,
If necessary, image data such as correction is applied to the image data obtained by reading, and print conditions are designated and printed out from a network printer.

[0004] Since such an operation is complicated, it is troublesome and an operation error is liable to occur. For this reason, a technique for facilitating copying using a network scanner and a network printer has been proposed.

[0005] This technique is roughly classified into a technique in which an output destination of image data read by a scanner is set as a printer, and a technique in which both scan conditions and print conditions are collectively set.

The former technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-2715.
No. 35, "Scanner Printer Server System and Automatic Image Transfer Method of the Scanner Printer Server System", "Network System" described in JP-A-10-70629, and "Image Reading Apparatus and Device" described in JP-A-10-224550. Image data output method in image reading device ".

The latter technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 66517, “Integrated Business Network System” and the like.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the output destination of image data read by a scanner is set as a printer (the former), and the output destination (transfer destination) of an image is any. It is only possible to specify a printer as a, but it is not possible to specify print conditions for the printer. In the case where both the scan condition and the print condition are collectively set as one (the latter described above),
The print conditions that can be specified are the general ones such as "designation of the number of copies", "designation of the paper size", "designation of the output bin", and the like, and no specific setting can be made for each printer model.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to easily set copy conditions including conditions corresponding to functions for each type of scanner and printer used, and to reuse set copy conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for controlling a copying system and a medium in which a control program is recorded.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least one image reading apparatus and at least one image forming apparatus are connected via a network, and In a control method of a copying system for executing a copying operation by outputting a document image read by the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus to be operated is designated, and an image reading set for the designated image reading apparatus is performed. A first step of generating at least one piece of read information including a condition, and specifying at least one image forming apparatus to be operated and generating at least one piece of formation information including image forming conditions set for the specified image forming apparatus; By combining the read information and the formation information,
The method includes a third step of generating at least one copy information, and a fourth step of executing a document image copying operation based on the copy information generated in the third step.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are stored and reused based on a user's instruction. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the copy information is generated by setting a reference instruction of formation information to be combined with the read information in the read information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the copy information is generated by setting a read information reference instruction to be combined with the formation information in the formation information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are displayed as icons on an operation screen.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, a predetermined window is opened by operating the icon indicating the read information, and the icon indicating the formation information is displayed in a predetermined area on the opened window. Is transferred to generate the copy information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the copy information is generated by transferring an icon indicating the formation information to an icon indicating the read information. .

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 6 or 7, the icon indicating the formation information is:
A plurality of transcripts, and the copy information generated by the transcripts include instructions for image output by the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, at least one
In a control system of a copying system which executes a copying operation by connecting one image reading device and at least one image forming device via a network and outputting a document image read by the image reading device from the image forming device. A read information generating unit that specifies an image reading apparatus to be operated and generates read information including image reading conditions set for the specified image reading apparatus; and specifies an image forming apparatus to be operated. Forming information generating means for generating forming information including image forming conditions set for a designated image forming apparatus; read information generated by the read information generating means; and forming information generated by the forming information generating means. Copy information generating means for generating copy information by combining them; Is made to operate the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus based on the copy information, characterized by comprising a copy control means for executing the copying operation of the document image.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a copy information storage unit for storing the copy information, wherein the copy control unit stores the copy information stored in the copy information storage unit. The copying operation of the original image is performed based on the information.

[0020] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an icon display means for displaying the read information, the formation information, and the copy information as icons on an operation screen. I do.

Further, according to the invention of claim 12, according to claim 11,
In the invention, the icon display means changes each information of the read information, the formation information, and the copy information according to a user operation on the displayed icon.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, at least one image reading device and at least one image forming device are connected via a network, and a document image read by the image reading device is output from the image forming device. Then, on a medium in which a control program of a copying system that executes a copying operation is recorded, at least one piece of read information including an image reading condition set for the designated image reading apparatus and an operation target image reading apparatus is specified.
A second step of designating an image forming apparatus to be operated and generating at least one piece of forming information including image forming conditions set for the designated image forming apparatus; A third step of generating at least one copy information by combining the read information and the formation information, and a fourth step of executing a document image copying operation based on the copy information generated in the third step. And executing the steps.

Further, in the invention of claim 14, according to claim 13,
In the invention, the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are stored and reused based on a user's instruction.

According to the invention of claim 15, according to claim 13,
In the invention, the copy information is generated by setting a reference instruction of formation information to be combined with the read information in the read information.

Further, according to the sixteenth aspect, the thirteenth aspect is provided.
The present invention is characterized in that the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are displayed as icons on an operation screen.

Further, according to the seventeenth aspect, in the sixteenth aspect,
In the invention, a predetermined window is opened by operating an icon indicating the read information, and the copy information is generated by transcribing an icon indicating the formation information to a predetermined area on the opened window. I do.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention,
In the invention, the copy information is generated by transferring an icon indicating the formation information to an icon indicating the read information.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a control method and apparatus for a copying system according to the present invention and a medium on which a control program is recorded will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a copying system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the copying system includes a client 1, a scan server 2, a scanner 3, a print server 4, and a printer 5.
The client 1 is connected to the scan server 2 and the print server 4 via a network 6.

The client 1 is controlled by the control unit 11 and includes a memory 12 and a storage device 13 such as a hard disk.
have. External I / F (interface) 1
4, a display device 15 such as a display is connected,
An input device 17 such as a keyboard or a mouse is connected via an external I / F 16 and connected to the network 6 via a network I / F 18.

The scan server 2 is controlled by the control unit 21 and includes a memory 22 and a storage device 2 such as a hard disk.
The scanner 3 is connected via an external I / F 24 and connected to the network 6 via a network I / F 25.

The print server 4 is controlled by the control unit 41 and includes a memory 42 and a storage device 4 such as a hard disk.
3 and is connected to the printer 5 via the external I / F 44 and to the network 6 via the network I / F 45.

The scan server 2 and print server 4
Normally, the scanner 3 and the printer 5 are operated according to instructions from the client 1 and other clients (not shown) to read and print images.

Each of the control units 11, 21, and 43 is operated by software such as an application.

It should be noted that other scan servers, print servers, file servers, and the like (not shown) can be connected to the network 6.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the client 1, the scan server 2, and the print server 4 when copying a document. As shown in the figure, the client 1 runs each application on the window system 111, and at the time of execution of copying, a scan client application 112 for issuing a read instruction to the scan server 2 and printing to the print server 4. The print client application 113 that makes the request is started.

The scan server 2 is running the scan server software 211 and the client 1
The scanner 3 is operated via the scanner driver 212 and the external I / F driver 213 in response to a read instruction from the scanner 3 to acquire a read image.

The print server 4 has a print server
The software is running, and in response to a print request (job) from the client 1, a printer driver 412,
The printer 5 is operated via the external I / F driver 413 to perform printing.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation of each unit when copying is performed will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of the operation of each unit at the time of copying, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of signals and data at the time of copying.

When executing copying, first, the client 1
Starts the scan client application 112 (step 1001). When the scan client application 112 is activated, an instruction to read a document image is issued to the scan server 2 based on a copy instruction from the user (step 100).
2) At this time, a preset reading condition 81 is sent to the scan server 2 together with the reading instruction. The reading condition 81 includes a printing condition 82 (details will be described later), but only the reading condition 81 is transmitted to the scan server 2.

The scan server 2 that has received the read instruction operates the scanner 3 based on the received read condition 81 to read an image (step 1003), and stores the image data 83 obtained by this in the storage device 23. (Step 1004). At this time, an ID 84 capable of identifying the image data is added to the image data 83. The ID 84 is managed in the memory 22 of the scan server 2.

When the scan server 2 stores the image data 83 in the storage device 23, the scan server 2
A read completion notification is transmitted together with the data 84 (step 100).
5). The client 1 (scan client application 112) that has received the reading completion notification activates the print client application 113 (step 1006), and passes the ID 84 and the print condition 82.

Next, the client 1 (print client application 113) issues a print request to the printer server 4 (step 100).
7) The ID 84 and the print condition 82 are transmitted.

Upon receiving the print request, the print server 4
A request is made to the scan server 2 to transfer the image data 83 based on D84 (step 1008). When the image data 83 is transferred from the scan server 2 based on the request (step 1009), the print conditions 82 The image data 83 is printed out from the printer 5 based on the image data (step 1010).

Here, a method of setting copy conditions (read conditions and print conditions) at the time of copy execution will be described. The display device 15 connected to the client 1 usually displays a screen 90 as shown in FIG. On screen 90,
A window 91 is displayed, and icons 911 (911-1, 911-2) indicating a scanner are displayed in the window 91.
And an icon 912 (912-1 to 912) indicating a printer.
-3) is displayed.

The icons 911 and 912 do not correspond to the number of scanners and printers, but correspond to the number of scanner reading conditions and printer printing conditions. For example, even if only one scanner 3 is connected to the network 6 via the scan server 2, if a plurality of reading conditions are set, the icon 911 is displayed for each reading condition.

Therefore, the icon 911 is displayed in FIG.
A reading condition as shown in FIG. 6A is set, and a printing condition as shown in FIG.

The icons 911 and 912
The user can set reading conditions and printing conditions by performing a predetermined operation, for example, clicking a mouse which is one of the input devices 17. For example, when the icon 911-1 is clicked, a window 92 as shown in FIG. 7 is opened. In the window 92, a “Properties” column 921 for setting reading conditions and a printer (and printing conditions) of an output destination are displayed.
Is displayed in the “output destination” column 922 for setting the destination.

The state shown in FIG. 7 is a state in which the output destination of the image data is not set, and the “output destination” column 922 is blank. In this state, the icon 912-1 indicating the printer displayed in the window 91 is transferred to the “output destination” column 922 as shown in FIG.
When the drag and drop operation of the icon 912-2 is performed by a mouse operation), the scanner indicated by the icon 912-1 and the printer indicated by the icon 912-1 and the printing conditions are set as output destinations of the image data in the reading conditions. Become. At this time, the reading conditions including the printing conditions set in the icon 912-1 are set in the icon 911-1 as shown in FIG.

When the conditions as shown in FIG. 9 are set for the icon 911-1, even if the setting of the icon 912-1 is changed, the setting of the icon 911-1 is not changed. When the setting of the icon 912-1 is changed by referring to the icon 912-1, the change is reflected in the setting of the icon 911-1 as shown in FIG. become.

If the user wants to change the printer and printing conditions displayed in the “output destination” column 922, the desired icon 912 is newly transcribed, thereby changing the “output destination”.
The icon 912 displayed in the column 922 is updated, and its settings are changed.

When a plurality of icons 912 are simultaneously transferred to the “output destination” column 922, a plurality of icons 912 are displayed in the “output destination” column 922. When copying is performed with this setting, image data is printed out from a plurality of designated printers.

The icons 911 and 912
The user can activate the scan client application 112 and the print client application 113 by performing a predetermined operation, for example, double-clicking a mouse. For example, when the icon 911 is double-clicked, the scan client application 112 is started, and FIG.
A window 93 as shown in FIG.

In the window 93, a "scan setting" column 931 displaying the setting of the reading conditions, an "output destination" column 932 displaying the printer of the output destination and the printing conditions, and an "output" button 933 for instructing the execution of copying are provided. A "scan" button for instructing execution of a scan is displayed. This figure 1
In the state shown in FIG. 1A, the output destination is not set, so that the “output” button 933 cannot be pressed and is displayed. In this state, the window 9 described above is used.
2, the icon 91 is displayed in the “output destination” column 932.
By transcribing 2, the output destination can be set.

When the scan client application 112 is started from the icon 911 in which the output destination printer is set, the icon 911 is displayed in the “output destination” column 932 as shown in FIG. . In this case, the "output" button 933 for instructing the execution of copying is in a state where it can be pressed.

By the way, in the above description, the window 9
Although the setting of the output destination is performed by transcribing the icon 912 on the window 2 or the window 93, the output destination can be set without opening the window 92 or the window 93.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the icon 912 is transcribed on the icon 911 or vice versa.
Reading conditions (including designation of a scanner) and printing conditions (including designation of a printer) can be set.

When the icon 911 (912) is transcribed and the reading condition and the printing condition are set, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2B, an icon 913 indicating copying may be newly generated (this icon 9
13 can also be applied to the case where the settings are made on the windows 92 and 93 described above).

When a predetermined operation such as double-clicking is performed on the icon 913, the scan client application 112 is started, but the screen 90 displays a copy execution as shown in FIG. Window 94 is opened.

The window 94 has an “input source” column 941 displaying the designation of the scanner and the reading conditions, an “output destination” column 942 displaying the designation of the printer and the printing conditions, and a “copy” button for instructing the execution of copying. 943 or the like is displayed.

When an operation such as a mouse click is performed on the “input source” column 941 and the “output destination” column 942,
A window 95 for setting reading conditions as shown in FIG. 13B and a window 96 for setting printing conditions as shown in FIG. 13C are opened.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reading condition of the scanner and the printing condition of the printer are set, and the reading condition and the printing condition are arbitrarily combined to obtain the copying condition. Based on this configuration, both the scanner and the printer were operated to copy the original, so that the user could use the scanner and the printer as easily as copying using a dedicated copier. Copying can be performed.

Further, since the setting of the copying condition is performed graphically by the client, the setting of the copying condition including the combination of the scanner and the printer can be easily performed.
And it can be performed intuitively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a copying system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of a client 1, a scan server 2, and a print server 4 when copying a document.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of each unit when copying is performed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of signals and data when copying is performed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device (1).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a reading condition and a printing condition (1).

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device (2).

FIG. 8 is a diagram (3) showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 15;

FIG. 9 is a diagram (2) showing reading conditions and printing conditions.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing reading conditions and printing conditions (3).

FIG. 11 is a diagram (4) showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 15;

FIG. 12 is a diagram (5) showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 15;

FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device (6).

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 client 2 scan server 3 scanner 4 print server 5 printer 6 network 11 control unit 12 memory 13 storage device 14 external I / F 15 display device 16 external I / F 17 input device 18 network I / F 21 control unit 22 memory 23 storage Device 24 External I / F 25 Network I / F 41 Control unit 42 Memory 43 Storage device 44 External I / F 45 Network I / F 81 Reading condition 82 Printing condition 83 Image data 84 ID 90 Screen 91-96 Window 111 Window system 112 Scan client application 113 Print client application 211 Scan server software 212 Scanner driver 213 External I / F driver 411 Print server Software 412 Printer driver 413 External I / F driver 911, 912, 913 Icon

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 W F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HH03 HJ04 HJ10 HK07 HK15 HN05 HN18 HN19 HQ14 5B021 AA01 AA19 EE04 5C062 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB25 AB42 AC02 AC05 AC22 AE15 AF14 5E501 AA02 AA06 AA07 AB30 AC25 BA05 CA02 DA02 EA08 EA14 FA04 FA06

Claims (18)

[Claims] At least one image reading apparatus is connected to at least one image forming apparatus via a network, and a copy operation is executed by outputting a document image read by the image reading apparatus from the image forming apparatus. A first step of designating an image reading device to be operated and generating at least one piece of read information including image reading conditions set for the designated image reading device; A second step of specifying at least one image forming apparatus and generating at least one piece of forming information including image forming conditions set for the specified image forming apparatus; and combining the read information and the formation information. A third step of generating at least one copy information; The method of replication system, characterized by comprising a fourth step of performing a copying operation of the document image based on the copy information. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are stored and reused based on a user's instruction. 3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the copy information is generated by setting a reference instruction of formation information to be combined with the read information in the read information. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the copy information is generated by setting a reference instruction of read information to be combined with the formation information in the formation information. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are displayed as icons on an operation screen. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined window is opened by operating the icon indicating the read information, and the copy information is generated by transferring the icon indicating the formation information to a predetermined area on the opened window. The control method for a copying system according to claim 5, wherein 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the copy information is generated by transferring an icon indicating the formation information to an icon indicating the read information. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of icons indicating the formation information are transcribed, and the copy information generated by the transcript includes instructions for image output by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Control method of the copying system. 9. A copying operation is performed by connecting at least one image reading device and at least one image forming device via a network and outputting a document image read by the image reading device from the image forming device. A read information generating unit that specifies an image reading device to be operated and generates read information including image reading conditions set for the specified image reading device; and an image to be operated. A forming information generating unit that specifies forming apparatus and generates forming information including image forming conditions set for the specified image forming apparatus; and a read information generated by the read information generating unit and the forming information generating unit. Copy information generating means for generating copy information by combining the generated formation information; A copy control unit that operates the image reading device and the image forming device based on the copy information generated by the copy information generation unit and performs a copy operation of a document image. Control device. 10. A copy information storage unit for storing the copy information, wherein the copy control unit executes a copy operation of a document image based on the copy information stored in the copy information storage unit. 10. A control device for a copying system according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The control device according to claim 9, further comprising an icon display means for displaying the read information, the formation information, and the copy information as icons on an operation screen. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the icon display means changes each of the read information, the formation information, and the copy information in accordance with a user operation on the displayed icon. Control device for copying system. 13. A copy operation is performed by connecting at least one image reading device and at least one image forming device via a network, and outputting a document image read by the image reading device from the image forming device. First step of designating an image reading device to be operated and generating at least one piece of read information including image reading conditions set for the designated image reading device on a medium recording a control program of a copying system to be operated A second step of designating an image forming apparatus to be operated and generating at least one piece of forming information including image forming conditions set for the designated image forming apparatus; and the read information and the formation information A third step of generating at least one copy information by combining Fourth medium recording a control program of the replication system and executes and performing a copying operation of the document image based on the generated copy information in the third step. 14. The control program according to claim 13, wherein the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are stored and reused based on a user's instruction. The recorded media. 15. The copy information is generated by setting a reference instruction of formation information to be combined with the read information in the read information.
A medium on which the control program of the copying system described above is recorded. 16. The medium according to claim 13, wherein the read information, the formation information, and the copy information are displayed as icons on an operation screen. 17. A method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined window is opened by operating an icon indicating the read information, and the copy information is generated by transferring an icon indicating the formation information to a predetermined area on the opened window. A medium storing a control program for a copying system according to claim 16. 18. The medium according to claim 16, wherein the copy information is generated by transferring an icon indicating the formation information to an icon indicating the read information. .