JP2001333237A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system capable of conveniently applying arbitrary image processing in the case of applying various kinds of image processing to image data provided by reading the images of an original. SOLUTION: When applying image processing to the image data of images read by a digital copying machine 1, the image data are transferred to a personal computer(PC) 3 and after image processing in the PC 3, these image data are returned to the digital copying machine 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading means for reading an image from a document on which an image is recorded and outputting the image as image data, and an image forming means for forming an image on a recording paper or the like based on the image data from the image reading means. An image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having the above is well known.

In such an image forming apparatus, the image data read by the image reading means is subjected to simple image processing such as trimming, and the image forming means forms an image based on the image data subjected to the image processing. It can be carried out.

[0004] Conventionally, an image forming system used in a network environment has been provided.

[0005] This image forming system includes, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and scanning (reading) and printing (printing) of an image with respect to the image forming apparatus.
And an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation for instructing the user is connected to each other via a network.
Further, a configuration in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected to a network may be adopted.

In such an image forming system,
For example, there is known a usage as a scanner mode in which an information processing apparatus instructs an image forming apparatus to read an image and transfers the image read by the image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus.

In a conventional image forming system, for example, image data of an image read by the image forming apparatus in the scanner mode is transferred to an information processing apparatus. Or the image file can be transferred to an image forming apparatus as needed to form an image.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus and image forming system such as a digital copying machine have the following problems.

That is, when an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine is used alone, only simple image processing can be performed on the image data of the image read by the image reading means as described above. .

This is due to the limitation of the functions of the image forming apparatus, and it is not possible to provide various image processing functions in addition to the basic functions of the image forming apparatus unless the image processing functions are used by everyone. However, the device becomes a special dedicated device, which leads to an increase in cost, and the provision of various image processing functions to the image forming apparatus itself also causes a cost increase.

In the case of an image forming system in which the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus are connected via a network, image data of an image read by the image forming apparatus is transferred to the information processing apparatus. It is conceivable to perform various image processing. In this case, the operator operates the image forming apparatus at the place where the image forming apparatus is installed to read the image, and then installs the information processing apparatus. It is necessary to move to a certain place and operate the information processing apparatus to perform image processing. That is, there is a problem that the processing is complicated and inconvenient for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of performing arbitrary image processing with ease of use when performing various image processing on image data obtained by reading an image of a document. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system capable of performing the above.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading means for reading a document and converting it into image data, and a first processing means for processing the image data read by the image reading means. Image processing means; read data transfer means for transferring image data read by the image reading means; second image processing means for processing image data transferred by the read data transfer means; Write data transfer means for transferring image data processed by the image processing means; and image data processed by the first image processing means or image data transferred by the write data transfer means. Image output means capable of selecting and outputting as an image,
An operator operating the image reading unit, a function selecting unit for selecting a desired image processing function, and processing the image data by the first image processing unit according to the function selected by the function selecting unit; Control for transferring image data to the second image processing means by the read data transfer means, processing the image data by the second image processing means, and controlling whether to transfer the data by the write data transfer means Means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the second image processing means performs image processing by software.

Further, according to the present invention, the function selecting means communicates with the second image processing means to acquire function information which can be processed by the second image processing means, and acquires the function information as a selectable function. It is presented to an operator.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the read data transfer means and the write data transfer means are implemented by e-mail on the Internet or ftp or http protocol.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the image data converted by the image reading means is multi-value luminance data.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the image data converted by the image reading means is compressed data.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a digital copying machine will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system configured by connecting this digital copying machine and a personal computer as an example of an information processing apparatus, ie, an image processing server, via a network Will be described. The image processing server is not limited to a personal computer, and may be, for example, a workstation or other large-sized host computer.

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

In this embodiment, two digital copying machines, digital copying machines 1 and 2, are provided. These two digital copiers 1 and 2 are each capable of reading (scanning) and forming an image (printing) of a document independently. It is also possible to transfer the image read by the copying machine 1 to the digital copying machine 2 and form the image by the digital copying machine 2, or vice versa. That is, an image read by the digital copying machine 1 or 2 is transferred to another device via the network 4 or an image received from another device via the network 4 is image-formed by the digital copying machine 1 or 2. It is possible to

In the present embodiment, the personal computer 3 is also connected to the network 4. The personal computer 3 can perform predetermined image processing on the image data received from the digital copying machines 1 and 2 and return the image data to the transmission source. Further, for example, the image data received from the digital copying machine 1 may be subjected to predetermined image processing and returned to the digital copying machine 2 different from the transmission source.

In FIG. 1, a network 4 is an LA (registered trademark) or a token ring, for example.
N or any other network such as the Internet. An address on the network is set in advance for each device connected to the network 4, and each device is identified by this address,
It communicates with other devices connected to the network 4.

In FIG. 1, the number relationship between the personal computer, that is, the image processing server, and the digital copying machine, that is, the image forming apparatus, is one-to-many.
Needless to say, it can be many-to-many.

FIG. 2 shows the digital copying machine 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

Digital copiers 1 and 2 shown in FIG.
Since both have the same configuration, the digital copying machine 1 will be described as a representative here.

The digital copying machine 1 includes a network connecting means 11 serving as an interface with the network 4 shown in FIG. 1, a control means 12 for controlling the operation of the entire digital copying machine 1, and an image reading means for reading an image from a document. 13, an image forming means 14 for forming an image on paper or the like, a storage means 15 for storing image data read by the image reading means 13 and other parameters necessary for the operation of the digital copier 1, Input means 16 for inputting operations, instructions, and the like for the copying machine 1;
And display means 17 for displaying various information to the user.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the operator presses an applied function button (not shown) provided on the input means 16 of the digital copying machine 1 at the place where the digital copying machine 1 is installed. The digital copier 1 for which the advanced function button is pressed is connected to the network 4
, And communicates with the personal computer 3 using a predetermined address on the network, obtains a list of image processing functions that the personal computer 3 can provide, and displays the list on the display unit 17. The operator selects and inputs a desired image processing function from the list displayed on the display unit 17.

When the digital copying machine 1 inquires of the personal computer 3 about an image processing function that can be provided, the digital copying machine 1 may also transmit its own network address to the personal computer 3. This allows the personal computer 3 to know the address of the party to which the list of image processing functions that can be provided by the personal computer 3 is transmitted, so that the personal computer 3 does not need to register the digital copying machine 1 in advance.

The image processing functions that can be provided by the personal computer 3 include, for example, a copy-writing function, a skew correction function, a stain removal function, and a font conversion function, but it goes without saying that all other image processing functions are included. .

Here, when the application function button is pressed, the digital copying machine 1 communicates with the personal computer 3 and a list of image processing functions that the personal computer 3 can provide is stored in the personal computer 3.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a list of image processing functions that can be provided by other devices is registered and stored in the storage unit 15 in advance, and when the application function button is pressed, A list registered and held in the storage means 15 in advance may be displayed.

Further, a plurality of image processing servers such as the personal computer 3 are connected to the network 4, and a list of image processing functions that can be provided by any of the plurality of image processing servers is displayed. May be selected.

Further, the operator may select any one of the plurality of image processing servers, that is, the operator may select the image processing server itself. Even when the operator selects the image processing server itself, the digital copier 1 may search for the image processing server connected to the network 4, display a list thereof, and select from the list. A list of image processing servers connected to the network 4 is registered and stored in the storage unit 15 in advance, and the list registered and stored in the storage unit 15 is displayed, and a list is selected from the list. You may.

For example, if the digital copying machine 2 can provide an image processing function different from that of the digital copying machine 1, the digital copying machine 2 can also be an image processing server.

The communication method between the digital copying machine 1 and the image processing server is a so-called electronic mail or ftp.
It goes without saying that any method such as a protocol or an http protocol can be used.

Next, the operator who has selected the image processing function,
A normal copying operation is performed using the digital copying machine 1. That is, an original is set on the digital copying machine 1,
A copy start button provided on the input means 16 of the digital copying machine 1 is pressed.

Then, in the digital copying machine 1, the image recorded on the document is optically read by the image reading means 13 to obtain image data, which is compressed by a predetermined compression method and stored in the storage means 15. This compression method may be any compression method.

Next, when the applied function button is pressed and the image processing function of another device is selected as described above, the digital copying machine 1 Is transmitted to the personal computer 3 which provides the image processing function selected by the operator. At this time, information about the image processing function selected by the operator is also transmitted to the personal computer 3, and the image processing to be performed by the personal computer 3 is specified.

When transmitting this image data to the personal computer 3, the digital copying machine 1 may transmit its own network address to the personal computer 3 together with the image data. By doing so, the address of the partner to which the image data received by the personal computer 3 is returned after performing the specified image processing can be known, and the personal computer 3 does not need to register the digital copying machine 1 in advance.

In the personal computer 3 which has received the compressed image data, the received image data is decompressed, subjected to specified image processing, compressed again, and returned to the digital copying machine 1.

In the digital copying machine 1 to which the image data is returned from the personal computer 3, the received image data is stored in the storage means 15, and an image is formed by the image forming means 14 based on the image data.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operator can perform various image processing functions by simple operations without moving from the installation location of the digital copying machine 1 to the installation location of the personal computer 3. Can be used. In particular, when the personal computer 3, that is, the image processing server is located at a remote place remote from the digital copying machine 1, the effect of the image forming system according to the present embodiment is remarkable.

In the above embodiment, the personal computer 3
When using the image processing function of the digital copier 1
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the digital copier 1 performs some image processing and then transfers the image to the personal computer 3 for further image processing. The digital copying machine 1 may further perform some image processing on the image data returned from.

In the digital copying machine 1, usually, an image of a document is optically read by the image reading means 13 to obtain luminance data of the image, and the luminance data of the image is subjected to luminance-density conversion processing by the control means 12 to obtain an image. The image data transmitted from the digital copying machine 1 to the personal computer 3 in order to perform image processing on the personal computer 3 is based on the luminance data. Alternatively, the data may be density data, or data in another format.

The digital copier 1 has an OCR (character recognition) function, converts the read image data into text data, and transmits the text data to the personal computer 3.
The image data may be returned to the digital copying machine 1 after the personal computer 3 performs some processing, or the personal computer 3 may be provided with an OCR (character recognition) function, and the image read by the digital copying machine 1 may be used. Send the data to PC 3
The image data may be converted into text data by the personal computer 3 and then returned to the digital copying machine 1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image date is transmitted from the digital copying machine 1 to the personal computer 3, the image data is processed by the personal computer 3, and then returned to the digital copying machine 1. The present invention is not limited to this,
The return from the personal computer 3 to the digital copying machine 1 is not necessary. For example, the digital copier 1 is provided with an OCR function, converts the read image data into text data, and transmits the text data to the personal computer 3, thereby realizing an electronic mail function. By sending an image date from
X function can be realized.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the digital copying machine 1, the read image data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 15, but this is not always necessary, and the read image data is stored in the storage unit 15. May be transmitted to the personal computer 3 without being stored in the PC 3.

In the image forming system of the present invention, it is needless to say that compression and decompression of image data are not essential.

The image processing function performed by the personal computer 3, that is, the image processing server, may be realized by software processing, or may be realized by hardware processing such as a dedicated hardware accelerator.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, complicated image processing that cannot be performed by an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine alone can be performed by a simple operation. The image data subjected to the image processing can be printed.

According to the above-described embodiment, the TAT
Since it is possible to implement a new image processing function without having to develop a long hardware, it is easy to customize the function and upgrade the version. In addition, abundant functions can be provided.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus can acquire the function information that can be processed by communicating with the image processing server, so that only the processing function of the image processing server is changed. This has the effect that the function of the image forming system can be improved. This is a very important effect, for example, in a case where the digital copying machine owned by the user uses the processing function of the image processing server on the Internet provided by the manufacturer.

According to the above-described embodiment, communication between the image forming apparatus and the image processing server is performed by e-mail, ftp protocol, or http protocol.
Since the ttp protocol can be easily traversed by a firewall, the user can easily set up a network.

According to the above-described embodiment, the image processing server can use unprocessed multi-valued luminance data as image data. Can be provided.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the compressed data is transferred between the image forming apparatus and the image processing server, the transfer time can be shortened, and the security is improved. Is also preferred.

According to the above-described embodiment, when data is transferred between the image forming apparatus and the image processing server, the stored data is transferred, so that the data is transferred regardless of the transfer speed of the transfer path. There is an effect that an image can be transferred to a computer.

Also, for example, one image forming apparatus is used for a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
If the image processing functions of the two image processing servers are shared, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image forming system that can easily perform arbitrary image processing when performing various image processing on image data obtained by reading an image of a document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Digital copier 3 Personal computer 4 Network 11 Network connection means 12 Control means 13 Image reading means 14 Image forming means 15 Storage means 16 Input means 17 Display means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) H04N 1/40 H04N 1/40 Z F term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AB05 BA03 BB10 BD40 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB00 EE03 JJ05 5C062 AA05 AA14 AA29 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB38 AC24 AC41 AC42 AC43 AF00 BA04 5C077 LL18 PP05 PP65 9A001 JJ35 KK42

Claims (15)

[Claims] An image reading unit that reads a document and converts the image data into image data; a first image processing unit that processes image data read by the image reading unit; and an image data read by the image reading unit. Read data transfer means for transferring; second image processing means for processing image data transferred by the read data transfer means; write data transfer for transferring image data processed by the second image processing means. Means, image output means capable of selecting either image data processed by the first image processing means or image data transferred by the write data transfer means and outputting the selected image as an image; A function selecting means for selecting a desired image processing function by an operator operating the means; According to the function, the image data is processed by the first image processing means, or the image data is transferred to the second image processing means by the read data transfer means, and the image data is processed by the second image processing means. And a control means for controlling whether the data is transferred by the write data transfer means. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein said second image processing means performs image processing by software. 3. The function selecting means communicates with the second image processing means to acquire function information that can be processed by the second image processing means, and presents the function information to the operator as a selectable function. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The image according to claim 1, wherein the read data transfer means and the write data transfer means are implemented by e-mail on the Internet or by ftp or http protocol. Forming system. 5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image data converted by the image reading unit is multi-value luminance data. 6. The image data converted by the image reading means is compressed data.
6. The image forming system according to 3, 4, or 5. 7. An image reading means for reading a document and converting the image data into image data; a first image processing means for processing image data read by the image reading means; and an image processing means for processing the image data read by the first image processing means. Data storage means for storing image data for each document and storing image data for one or more documents; read data transfer means for transferring image data read by the image reading means in the data storage means; A second image processing unit that processes image data transferred by the read data transfer unit; a write data transfer unit that transfers image data processed by the second image processing unit; A write data storage unit for storing at least one image data transferred by the transfer unit, and the image data can be output as an image An image output unit, an operator operating the image reading unit, a function selection unit for selecting a desired image processing function, and image data in the data storage unit according to the function selected by the function selection unit. The image is output as an image by the image output means, or is transferred to the second image processing means by the read data transfer means, the image data is processed by the second image processing means, and the data is written by the write data transfer means. And storing the transferred image data in the write data storage means.
A control unit for controlling whether the stored image data is output as an image by the image output unit. 8. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein said second image processing means performs image processing by software. 9. The function selecting unit communicates with the second image processing unit to acquire function information that can be processed by the second image processing unit and presents the function information to the operator as a selectable function. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein: 10. The image according to claim 7, wherein the read data transfer unit and the write data transfer unit are implemented by e-mail on the Internet or by ftp or http protocol. Forming system. 11. A processing method changing means for changing a processing method of the first image processing means in accordance with a function selected by the function selecting means. 3. The image forming system according to 1. 12. When the image data is processed by the second image processing means in accordance with the function selected by the function selection means, the processing method changing means determines that the first image processing means 12. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the image data converted by the image reading unit is processed so as to be multi-valued luminance data. 13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first image processing means includes a data compression process.
13. The image forming system according to 0, 11 or 12. 14. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the second image processing unit is shared by a plurality of read data transfer units. 15. The read data transfer means and the second image processing means are connected via a network, and when the read data transfer means transfers image data to the second image processing means, the read data transfer means 9. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an address on a network of a transfer unit is added to the image data and transferred.