JP2002032203A - Image forming device, image processor, method for controlling image forming device, method for controlling image processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance use efficiency of storage devices by storing an amount of data equal to or greater than storage capacity of individual storage devices by storing input/output data by making the storage devices provided to individual image forming devices as a single logical storage device. SOLUTION: This image forming device is characterized by structure that pieces of storage device information to be notified from image forming devices MFP 300, 400, 500 are received, a management table 600 to manage a plurality of storage devices as a single logical storage device on the basis of the received storage device information is generated, input data received from a certain image forming device are stored in the storage device of another image forming device according to the management table 600, output data are acquired from the storage device of another image forming device according to the management table 600 and the output data are transmitted to any image forming device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having a storage device for temporarily storing input / output data and capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices via a predetermined communication medium. The present invention relates to a control method, a control method for an information processing device, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus (multifunction apparatus) combining an image input / output device such as a scanner, a printer, and a facsimile has been known. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a storage device such as a RAM, an HDD, and a magneto-optical disk drive, temporarily stores input / output data in the storage device, and outputs the image to a storage medium such as paper as required by a user. Forming processing systems are known.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, an image forming apparatus (multifunction apparatus) is used.
Due to limitations on the free space of the storage device used for primary storage of input / output data provided in
When the input / output data size is large, there is a case where the data cannot be stored in the storage device provided in the apparatus.

[0004] Even when the image forming apparatus is communicably connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network or the like, the storage device used for primary storage of the input / output data is the image forming apparatus related to the processing of the input / output data. Only the storage device provided in the device can be used, and cannot be used from other devices.

Accordingly, in a system environment where a plurality of image forming apparatuses exist in the network or the like, depending on the use frequency and the storage capacity of the storage device, there are cases where the efficiency is extremely low when viewed through the entire system. . For example, when copying is performed by a certain device, even if the storage device of another device has sufficient free space,
If the storage device of the device becomes full, a situation occurs in which the copying process is stalled, and there is a problem in the storage device utilization efficiency of the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to tenth aspects of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of temporarily storing input / output data. Receiving a storage device information notified from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, generating a management table for managing the plurality of storage devices as one logical storage device based on the received storage device information; Based on the input data received from one image forming apparatus is stored in a storage device of another image forming apparatus, and based on a management table, output data is obtained from a storage device of another image forming apparatus, By transmitting output data to the image forming apparatus, input / output data is stored as a storage device provided in each image forming apparatus as one logical storage device. Can store a larger data than the storage capacity of each storage device Rukoto, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the storage device. Further, by outputting input / output data stored by one or more image forming apparatuses by another image forming apparatus, an image processing system capable of constructing an image processing system capable of more efficiently operating the image forming apparatus can be constructed. It is an object to provide an apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a control method of an image forming apparatus, a control method of an information processing apparatus, and a storage medium.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input unit (a reader unit 1, a facsimile unit 4, a network interface unit 7 shown in FIG. 1) and an image output unit (a printer shown in FIG. 1). Unit 2, a facsimile unit 4, and a network interface unit 7), and in an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices via a predetermined communication medium, input data input from the image input unit or the external device and Storage means (storage devices 301 and 4 shown in FIG. 6) for storing output data output by the image output unit;
01, 501) and notifying means for notifying any of the external devices of storage device information including the storage capacity of the storage means and the data information stored in the storage means (the CPU 123 shown in FIG. And an input data transmission unit (CPU 123 shown in FIG. 4 which transmits the input data input by the image input unit to the external device notified of the storage device information by the notification unit). And an output data receiving unit for receiving output data output from the image output unit from an external device having notified the storage device information by the notifying unit (the CPU 123 shown in FIG. 4 is a network interface). Receiving processing via the unit 7).

A second invention according to the present invention relates to a storage device (storage device 30 shown in FIG. 6) for storing input / output data.
1, 401, 501) in an information processing apparatus (network server 12 shown in FIG. 6) capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium. A storage device information receiving unit that receives storage device information including storage capacity and data information stored in the storage device (the CPU 601 illustrated in FIG.
And an input / output data management table for managing storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as one logical storage device based on the storage device information received by the storage device information receiving unit. Based on the management table generating means (which is generated by the CPU 601 shown in FIG. 5) for generating the (management table 600 shown in FIG. 6) and the input / output data management table generated by the management table generating means, Input data storage control means for storing input data received from the image forming apparatus in a storage device of another image forming apparatus (the CPU 601 shown in FIG.
And controlling the storage in the storage device of each image forming apparatus via the storage device 8), and based on the input / output data management table, obtains output data from the storage device of the other image forming apparatus, and And output data transmission control means (the CPU 601 shown in FIG. 5 performs transmission processing via the network interface unit 608).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the management table generation means generates the input / output data management table based on at least one or more pieces of storage device information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the management table generating means updates the input / output data management table in accordance with the state of the storage device of each image forming apparatus (FIG. 5). The CPU 601) shown in FIG.

In a fifth aspect according to the present invention, the input data storage control means stores the input data transmitted from the image forming apparatus in at least one storage device of the image forming apparatus.

In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the input data storage control means has a storage capacity sufficient to store input data input by the image forming apparatus based on the input / output management table. And a determination notifying unit (CPU 601 shown in FIG. 5) for notifying the image forming apparatus of the determination result of the storage enabling / disabling determination unit. .

A seventh invention according to the present invention comprises an image input unit, an image output unit, and a storage device for storing input data input from the image input unit and output data output from the image output unit. In a method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices via a predetermined communication medium, a storage device information including a storage capacity of the storage device and data information stored in the storage device is stored in one of the external devices. A notification step of notifying the device (step S604 of FIG. 7), and an input data transmission step of transmitting the input data input by the image input unit to the external device having notified the storage device information by the notification step (FIG. 9, step S801), and output data output from the external device, which has been notified of the storage device information in the notification step, by the image output unit. Output data reception step of receiving those having a (step S805 in FIG. 9).

An eighth invention according to the present invention is directed to a method for controlling an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device for storing input / output data via a predetermined communication medium. A storage device information receiving step (step S703 in FIG. 8) for receiving storage device information including a storage capacity of the storage device notified from the forming apparatus and data information stored in the storage device; A management table generating step (step S705 in FIG. 8) for generating an input / output data management table for managing the storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as one logical storage device based on the input / output data management table Based on a table, input data received from one image forming apparatus is stored in a storage device of another image forming apparatus. Based on the input data storing process (steps S909 and S910 in FIG. 10) and the input / output data management table, the output data is obtained from the storage device of the other image forming apparatus and output to any one of the image forming apparatuses. And an output data transmitting step of transmitting data (steps S905 and S906 in FIG. 10).

A ninth invention according to the present invention comprises an image input unit, an image output unit, and a storage device for storing input data input from the image input unit and output data output from the image output unit. Notifying any one of the external devices of a storage capacity of the storage device and storage device information including data information stored in the storage device to an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices via a predetermined communication medium. Notification process (step S604 in FIG. 7)
An input data transmitting step (step S801 in FIG. 9) of transmitting the input data input by the image input unit to the external device having notified the storage device information in the notification step; An output data receiving step of receiving output data to be output by the image output unit from the external device having notified the information (step S in FIG. 9);
805) is stored in a storage medium in a computer-readable manner.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device for storing input / output data via a predetermined communication medium is provided.
A storage device information receiving step (step S703 in FIG. 8) for receiving storage device information including the storage capacity of the storage device notified from each of the image forming apparatuses and the data information stored in the storage device; A management table generating step (step S705 in FIG. 8) for generating an input / output data management table for managing the storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as one logical storage device based on the device information; An input data storing step of storing input data received from one image forming apparatus in a storage device of another image forming apparatus based on the output data management table (steps S909 and S910 in FIG. 10); Based on the table, output data is obtained from the storage device of the another image forming apparatus. And one in which the computer is allowed to readably stored in a storage medium storing a program for executing an output data transmitting step of transmitting the output data to any of the image forming apparatus (step S905, S906 of FIG. 10).

[0017]

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing system to which an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a reader unit for reading an image of a document and outputting image data corresponding to the document image to a printer unit 2 and an image input / output control unit 3. Printer unit 2
Records an image corresponding to the image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet.

The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a LIPS formatter unit 8, a PostScript (registered trademark) (PS) formatter unit 9. , A core unit 10 and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line.

A disk drive unit (for example, a magneto-optical disk drive unit) 6 is connected to the file unit 5. The file unit 5 compresses image data transferred from the core unit 10 and searches for the image data. Drive unit 6 with keywords for
Is stored in a storage device such as a disk set in the storage device.

The file section 5 searches compressed image data stored in the storage device based on the keyword transferred through the core section 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the data, and decompresses. The transferred image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The network interface unit 7 is, for example, a network (Network, hereinafter referred to as LA) such as Ethernet (registered trademark).
N) an interface between 100 and the core unit 10;
Personal computer or workstation (PC
/ WS) 11, an interface between the network server 12 and the core unit 10. Network server 12
Is the center of network control.

The LIPS formatter 8 is a PC / WS
PDL data (PDL data described in LIPS) transferred from the printer unit 11 is developed into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2, and the PS formatter unit 9
PDL data (PostS) transferred from C / WS 11
This is to develop the PDL data described in the script (postscript) into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2.

Although the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 includes a reader unit 1, a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a LIPS formatter unit 8, and a PS formatter unit 9. It controls the flow.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the reader section 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a document feeder, and the platen glass 1 is arranged one by one in order from the last page.
The document is fed onto the original document 02, and after the document reading operation is completed, the document on the platen glass 102 is discharged. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is transmitted to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 10 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108.
It is led to 9.

As described above, the scanned image of the original is CC
Read by D109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

An operation unit 115 includes a display input unit such as an LCD having a touch panel and various keys, and performs various message displays, various settings, and operations.

In the printer unit 2, reference numeral 221 denotes a laser driver for driving the laser light emitting unit 201.
The laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1 is emitted by the laser light emitting unit 201. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. This photosensitive drum 202
The developer is attached to the latent image portion by the developing device 203.

Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, a recording sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer section 206 to record the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 202. Transfer to paper.

The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper.

When no sorting is set, the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin. If double-sided printing is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the re-feeding conveyance path 2 is
Lead to 10. If the multiplex recording is set, the flapper 20 prevents the recording paper from being conveyed to the discharge roller 208.
9 guides the sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path 210. Refeeding conveyance path 2
The recording paper guided to 10 is transferred to the transfer unit 2 at the timing described above.
06 is fed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 110 denotes an A / D / SH unit.
The image data output from the CCD 109 is the A / D.
The SH unit 110 performs analog / digital conversion and performs shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transmitted to the image processing unit 11.
1, and to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface unit (I / F) 113.

A CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface unit (I / F) 113 in accordance with the settings set by the operation unit 115. For example, the operation unit 1
If a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process at 15 is set, a trimming process is performed by the image processing unit 111 and the image data is transferred to the printer unit 2.

When the facsimile transmission mode is set by the operation unit 115, the interface unit 113
The control command corresponding to the image data and the set mode is transferred to the core unit 10. Such a CPU 114
Is stored in the memory 116, and C
The PU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116.
The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10 shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in the figure, the image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is processed by the reader unit 1.
Are transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7 via the interface (I / F) 120 in accordance with the control command transferred from.

The code data representing the image input via the network interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and it is determined whether the PDL is LIPS or PostScript. The image data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2 after being transferred to the unit (LIPS formatter unit 8 to PS formatter unit 9) and expanded into image data.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the network interface unit 7.

The image data from the file unit 5 is
After being transferred to the data processing unit 121, the data is transferred to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the network interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1.

The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123. The network interface unit 7 has an MIB (Management Information).
A database called an “Operation Base” has been constructed, and the SNMP (Simple Network)
k Management Protocol) to communicate with a computer on a network via a protocol,
Printer management is enabled. The number of prints and various other settings that can be set for each department ID can be set and managed from the operation unit of the apparatus or a computer on a network.

As described above, the processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, and inputting / outputting the data from / to the computer can be performed with the core unit 10 at the center. It is possible.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network server 12 shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes a CPU,
Network control is performed based on a program stored in the storage medium 03 or another storage medium (not shown).

Reference numeral 602 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 601.

Reference numeral 605 denotes a keyboard controller (KB
C) controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 609 or a pointing device (not shown) such as a mouse.

Reference numeral 606 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC)
Controls the display on the CRT display (CRT) 610. Reference numeral 607 denotes a memory controller (MC), which is a hard disk (H) that stores a management table, font data, user files, edit files, and the like shown in FIG.
D), and controls access to an external memory 611 such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD).

Reference numeral 608 denotes a network interface (I
/ F), the communication with the LAN 100 is controlled.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 to 11 in the image forming processing system configured as described above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection form of an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

MFP 300, MFP 400, MFP 50
Reference numeral 0 denotes an image forming apparatus (an image forming apparatus including a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3 shown in FIG. 1), and a LAN 10 via a network interface unit 7.
Connected to 0.

Each image forming apparatus (MFP 300, MFP 4
00, MFP 500) includes a storage device 301, a storage device 401, and a storage device 501, and can store input / output data such as a read image, a print image, and a facsimile image. The storage device may be, for example, a storage device such as a disk mounted on the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 shown in FIG.

The network server 12 is connected to the LAN 100, and includes information on the storage devices 301, 401, and 501 (including storage capacity of each storage device and data information stored in each storage device). It holds a logical device management table 600 based on the storage device information). The management table 600 includes a plurality of storage devices (storage device 301, storage device 401, storage device 501).
Is managed as one logical storage device.

The network server 12 is connected to the LAN 100
Controls the access of the input / output data to the storage device in response to the input / output data access request from the image forming apparatus connected to the storage device.

Hereinafter, the processing operation of the image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied, and manages information of a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus. Corresponds to the procedure for registering on the server. This operation procedure is performed by the core unit 1
0 is stored in the memory 124 or another storage device (not shown) and executed by the CPU 123.
S601 to S604 indicate each step.

If the image forming apparatus has been activated or a new storage device has been added or deleted, step S6
At 01, a request command for acquiring the address information of the server managing the storage device information is transmitted.

In step S602, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the management server to the address information acquisition command transmitted in step S601, and when it is determined that a response has been received from the management server, that is, the address of the management server has been obtained. After storing the management server address acquired in step S603 in the memory 124 or another storage device, in step S604, the storage capacity of the storage device, the input / output data information stored in the storage device, and the storage device are attached. The storage device information, such as the address of the image forming apparatus, is transmitted to the previously acquired management server address, and the process is completed.

On the other hand, in step S602, step S6
If it is determined that there is no response from the management server to the address information acquisition command transmitted in step 01, that is, if it is determined that the address of the management server cannot be acquired, the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied, and manages storage device information of each image forming apparatus. This corresponds to a procedure when the network server 12 updates the information of the storage device management table 600 based on the transmission of the storage device information from the image forming apparatus. In addition, this operation procedure
Hard disk (HDD) in network server 12
And stored in the external memory 611 and executed by the CPU 601 in the network server 12. In addition,
S701 to S705 indicate each step.

In step S701, when an address request for the network server 12 is received from the image forming apparatus,
In step S702, the address information of the network server 12 is transmitted to the requesting image forming apparatus.

Subsequently, in step S703, the storage device information (the storage capacity of the storage device, the input / output data information stored in the storage device, and the address of the image formation device to which the storage device is mounted) are transmitted from the image forming device. Etc.). In step S704, it is determined whether the reception of the storage device has been normally completed (reception completed). If it is determined that reception has been completed, step S705 is performed.
And the management table 6 based on the received storage device information.
00 is updated (created if the management table 600 has not been created yet), and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S704, reception of the storage device did not end normally (reception was not completed).
If it is determined, the process is terminated.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied. Makes a data input / output request. This operation procedure is stored in a storage device such as the memory 124 in the core unit 10 and is executed by the CPU 123.
Steps S801 to S810 indicate each step.

In step S801, when a request for input / output data access to the storage device from a user is detected, in step S802, the content of the access request is analyzed, and it is determined whether or not the request is a data output request. If the request has been made, the process advances to step S803 to transmit a data acquisition request for the access request to the network server 12.

In step S804, the response from the network server 12 is determined, and it is determined whether or not the request data (file) exists. If it is determined that the request data (file) exists, in step S805, Under the control of the network server 12, data (file) is received from the storage device storing the requested data.

[0069] The received data is stored in step S806.
The output process is performed on the output unit desired by the user, and the process is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that the request is not a data output request, that is, a data input request, the flow advances to step S807 to perform data input processing from a user's desired input unit.

Further, in step S808, a request (file storage request) for storing the input data in the storage device is transmitted to the network server 12. Step S
At 809, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the network server 12 that storage is possible. If it is determined that there is a response from the network server 12 that storage is possible, the process proceeds to step S
At 810, the input data is transmitted to the network server 12 (or directly to another storage device) under the control of the network server 12, and the process is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 809 that there is a response from the network server 12 that the data cannot be stored, the process ends.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control processing procedure, which corresponds to a procedure in a case where the network server 12 performs access control of input / output data to a storage device based on an input / output data access request from an image forming apparatus.
The operation procedure is stored in an external memory 611 such as a hard disk (HDD) in the network server 12 and is executed by the CPU 601 in the network server 12. Also, S901 to S912 indicate each step.

When a data access request (file access request) to the storage device from the image forming apparatus is received in step S901, the content of the access request is analyzed in step S902 to determine whether or not the data acquisition request (file acquisition request). If the request is a data acquisition request (file acquisition request), the process advances to step S903 to search the management table 600 for the presence of the requested data.

In step S904, it is determined whether or not the requested data (file) exists. If it is determined that the requested data (file) exists, step S905 is performed.
Then, based on the information in the management table 600,
The requested data is acquired from the storage devices of the one or more image forming apparatuses, and in step S906, the data is transmitted to the requested image forming apparatus (file transfer), and the process is completed.

On the other hand, if the requested data (file) does not exist in step S904, that is, if the requested data (file) is not found, an error indicating that no data was found for the requested image forming apparatus. The notification is performed, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 902 that the request is not a file acquisition request, that is, it is a data write request, the flow advances to step S 908, and based on the information in the management table 600, there is an available space capable of storing data of the write request. If it is determined that there is free space available for storage, input data (file) is received from the image forming apparatus in step S909, and the process proceeds to step S910.
Then, according to the information in the management table 600, the received data is stored in the storage device of any one or more image forming apparatuses, and in step S911, the information in the management table 600 is updated, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 908 that the free space for storing the write request data (input data) is insufficient based on the information in the management table 600, the process proceeds to step S 912, where The storage is notified (error notification), and the process ends.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.
5 is a flowchart showing an example of the control processing procedure, and corresponds to a procedure for updating information in the management table 600 according to the operating state of the image forming apparatus and the state of attachment / detachment of a storage device. This operation procedure is performed in the external memory 61 such as a hard disk (HDD) in the network server 12.
1 and stored in the network server 12
This is executed by U601. Also, S1001 to S1
004 indicates each step.

In step S1001, the management table 60
For each image forming apparatus registered as 0, the status regarding the storage device is acquired. In step S1002, the storage device information received from each image forming apparatus is compared with the content of the management table 600, and the storage device information received in the management table 600 does not exist, and / or the storage registered in the management table 600. It is determined whether the device does not exist in the received storage device information, and / or that there is a change in the operating state, detachable state, and storage state of the storage device of each image forming apparatus in the image processing system, and there is a change. If it is determined that the
The management table 600 is updated based on the storage device information received at step S03.

Then, after waiting for a specified time in step S1004, the processing from step S1001 is repeated.

On the other hand, in step S1002, the received storage device information matches the storage device information registered in the management table 600, that is, the operation state, the detached state, and the like of the storage device of each image forming apparatus in the image processing system.
If it is determined that there is no change in the storage state,
The processing from step S1001 is repeated.

By storing the input / output data by using the storage device of each image forming apparatus as one logical storage device by the above processing, it is possible to store larger data than the storage capacity of each storage device. At the same time, the utilization efficiency of the storage device can be improved.

Further, by outputting input / output data stored by a different image forming apparatus by another image forming apparatus, it is possible to operate the image forming apparatus more efficiently.

[Other Embodiments] In the first embodiment, the management table 600 for logical storage devices is created on the network server 12, but at least one of the image forming apparatuses connected to the LAN 100 manages the management table 600. The table 600 may be created to control the data access request of each image forming apparatus.

In this case, the management table 600 is created,
The procedure for determining an image forming apparatus that issues a data access request from another image forming apparatus is as follows. Each image forming apparatus searches for the existence of another image forming apparatus that holds the management table 600 at the time of startup. Itself creates a new management table 600 and thereafter controls data access requests from other image forming apparatuses.

As a result, there is no need to connect the network server 12 on the LAN 100, and the cost according to the present invention can be further reduced.

Further, data input by different image forming apparatuses may be obtained and processed by different image forming apparatuses, thereby enabling efficient image forming processing.

In FIG. 2, the case where the printer unit is a laser beam printer has been described.
Other electrophotographic systems such as ED printers, inkjet systems, thermal transfer systems, sublimation systems, and other printing systems may be used.

As described above, by storing the input / output data using the storage device of each image forming apparatus as one logical storage device, it is possible to store larger data than the storage capacity of each storage device. At the same time, the use efficiency of the storage device can be improved.

Further, by outputting input / output data stored by a different image forming apparatus by another image forming apparatus, it is possible to operate the image forming apparatus more efficiently.

As described above, in a network server capable of communicating via a network or the like with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device usable as a primary storage area of input / output data, the storage capacity and storage capacity of the storage device Storage information such as data file information obtained, a logical storage device management table is generated based on the obtained storage information of the plurality of storage devices, and input / output data is generated based on the information of the generated logical storage device management table. Is stored in the storage device, and input / output data is read from the storage device based on the information in the logical storage device management table and output to the output device of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to use the image forming apparatuses mutually, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be used. The obtaining storage device likened to one logical storage device, increasing the utilization efficiency of the storage device becomes capable of storing large size of the input and output data from the same time.

Further, in a network environment such as a LAN, the operating state of the storage device of the image forming apparatus is detected, and the information in the logical storage device management table is updated according to the presence or absence of each storage device, thereby enabling the network. It is possible to control the storage capacity of input / output data according to the increase or decrease of the image forming apparatus having the storage device connected to the storage device.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, if the programs and data to be installed are compressed,
A program for decompressing may also be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

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 CPU or 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 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, C
DR, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon disk and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0106]

As described above, according to the first, seventh and ninth aspects of the present invention, the storage capacity of storage means for storing input / output data and the data information stored in the storage means are provided. Notifying the storage device information to any one of the external devices, transmitting the input data input by the image input unit to the external device that has notified the storage device information, and transmitting the storage device information from the external device that has notified the storage device information. Since the output data output by the image output unit is received, the storage device of each image forming apparatus is used as one logical storage device to store input / output data, thereby storing larger data than the storage capacity of each storage device. Data can be stored, and the use efficiency of the storage device can be improved. Further, by outputting the input / output data stored by the other image forming apparatus by the other image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus can be more efficiently operated.

According to the second to sixth, eighth, and tenth aspects, the storage device information including the storage capacity of the storage device notified from each image forming apparatus and the data information stored in the storage device is received. An input / output data management table for managing storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as one logical storage device is generated based on the storage device information received by the device information reception unit, and generated by the management table generation unit. The input data received from one image forming apparatus is stored in a storage device of another image forming apparatus based on the input / output data management table, and the other image forming apparatus is stored based on the input / output data management table. Since the output data is obtained from the storage device and the output data is transmitted to any one of the image forming apparatuses, By storing input / output data as a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus as one logical storage device, it is possible to store larger data than the storage capacity of each storage device, and to improve the use efficiency of the storage device. Can be. Further, by outputting the input / output data stored by one or more image forming apparatuses by another image forming apparatus, there is an effect that the image forming apparatus can be operated more efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system to which an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a reader unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network server illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration of an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second control processing procedure in the image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fourth control processing procedure in an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a fifth control processing procedure in the image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by an image processing system to which the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 File part 7 Network interface part 8 LIPS formatter part 9 PS formatter part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 C 1/21 1/21 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP07 AQ04 AQ05 AQ06 HP00 HQ02 2C087 AA03 AB01 AB08 AC05 AC07 AC08 BA01 BA03 BB03 BB10 BC07 BD02 BD40 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB02 DD12 DD20 EE04 5C062 AA02 AA35 AB11 AB13 AB17 AB22 AB38 AB43 AB53 AC22 AC34 AC43 AC58 AF00 BA00 ACB CB03

Claims (10)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus comprising an image input unit and an image output unit, and capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices via a predetermined communication medium, wherein: input data input from the image input unit or the external device; A storage unit that stores output data output by the image output unit; and a notifying unit that notifies storage device information including storage capacity of the storage unit and data information stored in the storage unit to any one of the external devices. An input data transmitting unit that transmits input data input by the image input unit to an external device that has notified storage device information by the notifying unit; and an external device that has notified storage device information by the notifying unit. An output data receiving unit that receives output data output by the image output unit. 2. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device for storing input / output data via a predetermined communication medium, wherein a storage capacity of the storage device notified from each of the image forming apparatuses is provided. A storage device information receiving unit that receives storage device information including data information stored in the storage device; and a storage device of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on the storage device information received by the storage device information reception unit. Management table generating means for generating an input / output data management table to be managed as one logical storage device; and an input / output data management table generated from the certain image forming apparatus based on the input / output data management table generated by the management table generating means. An input data record for storing input data in a storage device of another image forming apparatus. Output data transmission control means for acquiring output data from a storage device of the another image forming apparatus based on the input / output data management table, and transmitting the output data to any one of the image forming apparatuses; An information processing apparatus comprising: 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management table generation unit generates the input / output data management table based on at least one piece of storage device information. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said management table generating means includes a management table updating means for updating said input / output data management table in accordance with a state of a storage device of each of said image forming apparatuses. Information processing device. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said input data storage control means stores input data transmitted from said image forming apparatus in at least one storage device of said image forming apparatus. apparatus. 6. The storage availability determination unit determines, based on the input / output management table, whether there is a storage capacity sufficient to store input data input by the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that notifies the image forming apparatus of a determination result of the storage availability determination unit. 7. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image input unit; an image output unit; and a storage device for storing input data input from the image input unit and output data output from the image output unit. A control method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device, a notification step of notifying storage device information including storage capacity of the storage device and data information stored in the storage device to any one of the external devices, An input data transmission step of transmitting input data input by the image input unit to an external device that has notified storage device information in the notification step, and an image from the external device that has notified storage device information in the notification step. Controlling the image forming apparatus, comprising: an output data receiving step of receiving output data output by the output unit. Method. 8. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device for storing input / output data via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the storage device is notified from each of the image forming apparatuses. A storage device information receiving step of receiving storage device information including a storage capacity of the storage device and data information stored in the storage device; and logically connecting storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses based on the received storage device information. A management table generating step of generating an input / output data management table managed as one storage device; and, based on the generated input / output data management table, input data received from the certain image forming apparatus to another image forming apparatus. Input data storing step of storing in the storage device, and based on the input / output data management table Control method for an information processing apparatus characterized by having an output data transmitting step of transmitting the output data from the storage device acquires the output data, to any of the image forming apparatus of the other image forming apparatus. 9. An image processing system comprising: an image input unit; an image output unit; and a storage device for storing input data input from the image input unit and output data output from the image output unit. A notification step of notifying the storage device information including the storage capacity of the storage device and data information stored in the storage device to any one of the external devices, to the image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the external device; An input data transmitting step of transmitting input data input by the image input unit to an external device that has notified storage device information according to: Computer-readable program for executing the output data receiving step of receiving output data to be output A storage medium that stores. 10. A storage capacity of a storage device notified from each image forming apparatus to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of image forming apparatuses having a storage device for storing input / output data via a predetermined communication medium. And a storage device information receiving step of receiving storage device information composed of data information stored in the storage device; and storing the storage devices of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as one logical storage based on the received storage device information. A management table generating step of generating an input / output data management table to be managed as a device; and a storage device of another image forming apparatus, based on the generated input / output data management table, input data received from the certain image forming apparatus. An input data storing step of storing the other image based on the input / output data management table. It acquires the output data from the storage device formed device, either the output data transmitting step and a storage medium having a computer is capable of storing read the program for executing the to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus output data.