JP2002077515A - Image input/output device, control method for image input /output device, image input/output system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input/output device, the control method of the image input/output device, an image input/output system and a storage medium for simplifying the operation by a user and preventing the decline of the entire productivity further. SOLUTION: This image input/output device 200 on a remote side manages the cassette information of the paper sheet cassettes of a printer 2295. In the case of outputting image data received from the image input/output device 200 on a local side by the printer 2295, the paper sheet cassette of the printer 2295 is selected based on the managed cassette information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image input / output device connected to an external device via a communication medium, a control method of the image input / output device, an image input / output system, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming system (hereinafter referred to as a "remote copy system") in which an image input device (for example, a scanner) and an image output device (for example, a printer) are connected by a transmission medium such as a network via a controller unit. Also, in order to enhance productivity, an image forming system (hereinafter, referred to as a “cascade copy system”) that transmits an image from a single image input device to a plurality of image output devices has been proposed.

As one of the operation modes using the image input device and the image output device, there is known an automatic cassette selection for selecting an optimum paper size when performing image formation.
This is an operation mode in which the size of an image input by the image input device is detected, and a cassette in which an optimum sheet is set is automatically selected from cassettes included in the image output device. By selecting the optimum paper size using the automatic cassette selection, the user can easily set the paper size and the like.

In such an image forming system, when an image is formed using the automatic paper selection, the cassette information of a plurality of image output devices is judged on the image input device side, and the automatic cassette selection is performed.

[0005]

However, in a remote copy system or a multiple copy system, when an image input device performs auto cassette selection of a remote image output device at the time of image input, a plurality of image cassettes are not provided on the image input device side. It is necessary to collectively manage the cassette information of the image output devices, and when the cassette is changed in each image output device, the image input device side requires the user or the device to change the cassette information. There was a problem that it became complicated.

When an error such as a case where paper is not set in the cassette selected by the automatic paper selection of the selected remote location by starting the cascade operation and the like occurs, the user operates the cassette located in the remote location. And it is necessary to return to the image input device side to interrupt the restart and the transmission of the image, thereby complicating the user error handling and reducing the overall productivity. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and since the management and selection of cassettes are performed by a remote device, the operation of the user can be simplified, and the image which does not decrease the overall productivity can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input / output device, an image input / output device control method, an image input / output system, and a storage medium.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image input / output apparatus according to the present invention has output means for outputting image data, and is connected to another image input / output apparatus via a communication medium. An image input / output device for managing cassette information of a paper cassette provided in the output unit; and outputting image data by the output unit based on the cassette information managed by the management unit. A first selection unit for selecting a paper cassette, wherein when the image data received from the other image input / output device is output by the output unit, the first selection unit is configured to output the image data based on the cassette information. The paper cassette is selected.

Further, a method for controlling an image input / output device according to the present invention is a method for controlling an image input / output device having an output unit for outputting image data and connected to the image input / output device via a communication medium. A management step of managing cassette information of a paper cassette provided in the output unit; and a first paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit based on the cassette information managed by the management step. Selecting the paper cassette based on the cassette information when the image data received from the image input / output device is output by the output unit. .

The image input / output system according to the present invention is an image input / output system in which a plurality of image input / output devices having output means for outputting image data are connected to each other via a communication medium. An output device that manages cassette information of a paper cassette provided in the output unit, and a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit based on the cassette information managed by the management unit. And when the image data received from another image input / output device is output by the output means, the first selection means selects the paper cassette based on the cassette information. Features.

[0011] The storage medium of the present invention has an output unit for outputting image data, and executes a control method of an image input / output device connected to another image input / output device via a communication medium. Is a storage medium readable by a computer, based on a management code for managing the cassette information of the paper cassette provided in the output unit, based on the cassette information managed by the management code,
A first selection code for selecting a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit, wherein the image data received from the other image input / output device is output by the output unit. Is characterized in that the paper cassette is selected based on the cassette information.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

The image input / output device 200 includes a scanner 2070 as an image input device, a printer 2095 as an image output device, a controller unit 2000, and an operation unit 2012 as a user interface. The scanner 2070, the printer 2095, and the operation unit 2012
Connected to 0. Controller unit 2000
Are connected to a LAN 2011 as a network transmission means.

Further, other image input / output devices 220 and 230 having the same device configuration as the image input / output device 200 are connected to the LAN 2011. Image input / output device 22
0 and 230 are scanners 2270 and 2370, printers 2295 and 2395, and
312, which are the controller units 220
0 and 2300, respectively. The offline finisher 240 performs post-processing of the print paper offline. The server computer 250 has a mass storage. Personal computer 260 is for individual users.

Here, for example, a case in which an image is read (image input) by the scanner 2070 of the image input / output device 200 and printed (image output) by the printer 2095 is called "local copy". The same applies to the image input / output devices 220 and 230. Further, for example, an image is read (image input) by the scanner 2070 of the image input / output device 200, and the image input / output device 22
The case where printing (image output) is performed by the printer 2295 of the printer 0295 or the printer 2395 of the image input / output device 230 is called “remote copy”. Further, for example, an image is read (image input) by the scanner 2070 of the image input / output device 200 and the printer 229 of the image input / output device 220 is read.
5 and printing (image output) by the printer 2395 of the image input / output device 230 is referred to as “cascade (cascade) copy”.

Hereinafter, the scanner 2 of the image input / output device 200 will be described.
In step 070, an image is read (image input), the image data is transmitted to the printer of another image input / output device, and the image input / output device 200 is transmitted based on the image data transmitted from the scanner of the other image input / output device. The printer 2095 performs printing (image output).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller unit 2000 of the image input / output device 200. The controller unit 2000 is connected via a bus 2071 to a scanner 2070 which is an image input device, and is connected via a bus 2096 to a printer 2095 which is an image output device. On the other hand, LAN 201
1 and the public line (WAN) 2051,
It controls input and output of image information and device information.

A CPU 2001 is a controller for controlling the entire system. RAM 2002 is CPU 2001
Is a system work memory for operation, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. ROM
Reference numeral 2003 denotes a boot ROM. The ROM 2003 stores a system boot program. HDD2
A hard disk drive 004 stores system software and image data.

An operation unit I / F 2006 includes an operation unit (UI).
2012 is an interface unit with the operation unit 2
012 is output to the operation unit 2012. In addition, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001. The network unit 2010 is connected to the LAN 2011 and inputs and outputs information. MODEM2050 is
It is connected to a public line 2051 and inputs and outputs information. Each of the above devices is arranged on a system bus 2007.

The ImageBus I / F 2005 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 2007 and the image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts the data structure. The image bus 2008 is a bus specified by a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

In each device arranged on the image bus 2008, a raster image processor (RIP) 2
060 expands the PDL code into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 2020 includes a scanner 2070
Alternatively, connect the printer 2095 to the controller unit 200.
0 to perform synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 2080 performs correction, processing, and editing on input image data. Printer image processing unit 2
090 is a printer 2 for print output image data.
Correction, resolution conversion, etc., matching 095 are performed. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. Image compression unit 20
40 performs JPEG compression / expansion processing on the multi-valued image data, and performs JBIG,
The compression / expansion processing of MMR and MH is performed. The HDD 2004 stores information such as an image output speed and an installation position of a node connected to the network (LAN 1000) for each address.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing the configuration of the image input / output device 200 as viewed from the outside. A scanner 2070, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as a document, and outputs
By scanning a CD line sensor (not shown), the reflected light from the document is converted into an electrical signal as raster image data, and transmitted to the controller unit 2000 via the bus 2071. Original paper is the original feeder 2072
Is set on the tray 2073 of the
When the CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000 gives an instruction to the scanner 2070 via the bus 2071 by issuing a reading start instruction from the scanner 2, the original feeder 2072 feeds the original sheets one by one, and the scanner 2070 reads the original image. I do.

Printer 2095 which is an image output device
Is connected to the controller unit 200 via the bus 2096.
The raster image data received from 0 is recorded as an image on paper. As the recording method, there are various methods such as an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an inkjet method of printing an image directly on paper by discharging ink from a minute nozzle array, and The system may be used.

The printing operation is performed by the controller unit 2
000 is started by an instruction from the CPU 2001 via the bus 2096. The printer 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that sheets of different sizes or in different directions can be selected.
1, 2102 and 2103 are provided. Also, the output tray 2
Reference numeral 111 denotes a portion for receiving a printed sheet.
The recording medium stored in the paper cassettes 2101, 2102, and 2103 is not limited to printing paper, but may be an OHP sheet or the like.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the scanner image processing unit 2080. Image bus I / F controller 2081
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls its bus access sequence, and generates control and timing of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2008. The filter processing unit 2082 performs a convolution operation using a spatial filter. The editing unit 2083 recognizes, for example, a closed area surrounded by the marker pen from the input image data, and performs image processing such as shadowing, shading, and negative / positive inversion on the image data in the closed area.

When changing the resolution of the read image, the scaling unit 2084 performs an interpolation operation to enlarge and reduce the raster image in the main scanning direction, and an image reading line sensor (not shown) in the sub-scanning direction. The magnification can be changed by changing the scanning speed of the camera.

The table 2085 is used for table conversion for converting image data which is read luminance data into density data. The binarizing unit 2086 binarizes the multi-value gray scale image by error diffusion processing or screen processing. The processed image data is transferred to the image bus 2 again via the image bus I / F controller 2081.
008.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printer image processing unit 2090. Image bus I / F controller 2091
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls its bus access sequence, controls each device in the printer image processing unit 2090, and generates timing.

The resolution converter 2092 is connected to the network 2
011 or the image data sent via the public line 2051 is converted into a resolution suitable for the printer 2095. The smoothing processing unit 2093 performs a process of smoothing jaggies (roughness of an image appearing at a black-and-white boundary such as an oblique line) of the image data after the resolution conversion.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image compression section 2040. Image bus I / F controller 2041
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, performs timing control for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and the output buffer 2045, and controls mode setting for the image compression unit 2043.

The CPU 2001 performs setting for image compression control on the image bus I / F controller 2041 via the image bus 2008. With this setting, the image bus I / F controller 2041 causes the image compression unit 204
The settings necessary for image compression (for example, MMR compression, JBIG decompression, etc.) are made for the image No. 3. After making the necessary settings,
Again, the CPU 2001 permits the image bus I / F controller 2041 to transfer image data. According to this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2041
Transfer of image data from the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008 is started. The received image data is temporarily stored in the input buffer 2042, and the input buffer 2042 transfers the image data at a constant speed in response to the image data request of the image compression unit 2043. At this time, the input buffer 2042 is connected to the image bus I /
It is determined whether or not image data can be transferred between the F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 2043, and reading of image data from the image bus 2008 and writing of image data to the image compression unit 2043 are impossible. In some cases, control is performed so that data transfer is not performed.
Such control is called handshake.)

The image compression section 2043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044. This is because several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing when performing image compression, and several lines of image data are prepared in order to perform the first one-line compression. Otherwise, image compression cannot be performed.

The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. Output buffer 204
Reference numeral 5 performs handshaking between the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 2043, and transfers image data to the image bus I / F controller 2041. The image bus I / F controller 2041 stores the transferred and compressed (or decompressed) image data in the RAM 2.
002 or each device on the image bus 2008.

Such a series of processing is performed until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed) or until a stop request is issued from the image compression unit 2043 (when an error occurs during compression and decompression). Etc.) are repeated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image rotation unit 2030. An image bus I / F controller 2031 is connected to the image bus 2008, controls a bus sequence thereof, sets a mode and the like in the image rotation unit 2032, and controls a timing for transferring image data to the image rotation unit 2032. I do.

The CPU 2001 sets the image bus I / F controller 2031 for image rotation control via the image bus 2008. With this setting, the image bus I
The / F controller 2031 makes settings (for example, image size, rotation direction, and angle) necessary for image rotation for the image rotation unit 2032.

After making the necessary settings, the CPU 20
01 permits the image bus I / F controller 2031 to transfer image data. In accordance with this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2031 starts transferring image data from each device on the RAM 2002 or the image bus 2008. In this embodiment, the image data is represented by 32 bits, and the image size to be rotated is 32 × 3.
When transferring image data to the image bus 2008, the image transfer is performed in units of 32 bits. It is assumed that the image to be handled is a binary image.

As described above, in order to obtain an image of 32 × 32 bits, it is necessary to perform the data transfer in the unit described above 32 times, and it is necessary to transfer image data from discontinuous addresses. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the address of the image data of the transfer source. The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is written to the RAM 2033 such that the image data is rotated to a desired angle at the time of reading. For example, 90
Degree counterclockwise rotation, the first 32b transferred
The image data of it is written in the Y direction as shown in FIG. By reading in the X direction at the time of reading, the image is rotated. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing writing and reading directions of image data.

Image rotation of 32 × 32 bits (RAM 20
33), the image rotation unit 2032
Reads the image data from the RAM 2033 by the above-described reading method, and transfers the image data to the image bus I / F controller 2031.

The image bus I / F controller 2031 having received the rotated image data transfers the data to the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008 by continuous addressing. Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020. Image bus I / F controller 2021
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, controls each device in the device I / F unit 2020, and generates timing. Also, it generates control signals to external scanner 2070 and printer 2095.

The scan buffer 2022 is connected to the scanner 2
070 to temporarily save the image data sent from
The image data is output in synchronization with the image bus 2008.
Serial-parallel / parallel-serial converter 2023
The image bus 20082 arranges or decomposes image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order.
To the data width of the image data that can be transferred to The parallel-serial-to-serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 decomposes or arranges the image data transferred from the image bus 2008 and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer 2025. The print buffer 2025 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image bus 2008, and outputs the image data in synchronization with the printer 2095.

At the time of image scanning, the image data sent from the scanner 2070 is stored in the scan buffer 2022 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 2070.

When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, when image data enters the scan buffer 2022 in 32 bits or more, the image data is first-in first-out for 32 bits, and the serial-parallel / parallel-serial conversion unit is provided from the scan buffer 2022. 2023 and the serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 2023 sends
The image data is converted into 2-bit image data, and the converted image data is transferred to the image bus 2 via the image bus I / F controller 2021.
008.

The image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139
4, the image data in the scan buffer 2022 is sent from the scan buffer 2022 to the serial-parallel-parallel-serial conversion unit 2023 on a first-in first-out basis.
In step 3, the image data is converted into serial image data, and the converted image data is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021.

On the other hand, when printing an image, the image bus 2008
Is a PCI bus, 3 sent from the image bus
Image bus I / F controller 2 for 2-bit image data
021, and sends it to the parallel-serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 to decompose it into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095.
025.

The image bus 2008 is connected to the IEEE 139
4, the serial image data sent from the image bus 2008 is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 2021.
And sends it to a parallel / serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 to convert it into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095,
To save. The print buffer 20 is synchronized with the timing signal sent from the printer 2095.
25, the image data in the printer 25
Send to

FIG. 11 is an external view showing the structure of the operation unit 2012. The LCD display unit 2013 has a configuration in which a touch panel sheet 2019 is attached on an LCD. Further, while displaying the operation screen of the system and the soft keys, when the displayed key is pressed, the position information is transmitted to the CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000. A start key 2014 is used to start a reading operation of a document image. Start key 2014
A two-color LED 2018 of green and red is provided at the center of, and the color indicates whether the start key 2014 is in a usable state or not. A stop key 2015 functions to stop an operation in operation. An ID key 2016 is used to input a user ID of a user. A reset key 2017 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit 2012.

FIG. 12 shows the operation unit 2012 and the operation unit I /
It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of F2006. As described above, the CPU 2001 stores the program ROM 20
03, based on a control program and the like stored in the system bus 2007, access to various devices connected to the system bus 2007 is generally controlled. As shown in FIG.
The input information is read from the scanner 2070 via the I / F 2020 and the printer 2 is read via the device I / F 2020.
In step 095, an image signal is output as output information.

The CPU 2001 has a touch panel 201
9. The user input signal input from the hard keys 2014 to 2017 is input to the input port 20 of the operation unit I / F 2006.
061, and obtains the operation content. Then, display screen data is generated based on the acquired operation content and the above-described control program in the ROM 2003,
A display screen is output to the LCD display unit 2013 via the output port 20062 of the operation unit I / F 2006 that controls the screen output device.

Next, the operation of the image input / output device 200 will be described using a screen displayed on the LCD display unit 2013.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an initial screen displayed on the LCD display unit 2013. This screen is also a standard screen that returns after setting each image forming function.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 3101 denotes a soft key for setting an equal-magnification output without using a scaling function in image formation. Reference numeral 3102 denotes a soft key for setting a scaling function. Reference numeral 3103 denotes a soft key for setting an output paper size. Reference numeral 3104 denotes a soft key for setting an image output device. Reference numeral 3106 denotes a soft key for setting double-sided output. 3107
Are soft keys for setting output paper sorting. Reference numeral 3108 denotes a soft key group for setting an image output density. Reference numeral 3109 denotes a soft key for setting other applied functions. Reference numeral 3110 denotes a soft key for easily performing setting for distributing a read image to a plurality of image output apparatuses and printing the image (hereinafter, this is referred to as “cascade copy”). In addition, the soft key (not shown)
A remote copy mode in which the read image is printed by another image output device can be set. When each of these soft keys is pressed, a display screen for more detailed settings is displayed.

In the image input / output device 200, the LAN 201
1 can perform remote copy or cascade copy for output to image output devices (printers 2295, 2395) of distant image input / output devices 220, 230. Local copy). In accordance with setting of various operation modes such as whether to perform local copy, remote copy, or cascade copy, a display for confirming the setting status of the operation mode is performed in the display area 3105.

FIG. 14 shows the soft key 3110 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a setting screen displayed when is pressed. This setting screen is a setting screen for easily performing the cascade copy setting.

In the figure, reference numeral 3201 denotes a group of soft keys for designating an output medium (paper) size. In an initial state, an upper left A4 key is reversely selected. In the soft key group 3201, a toggle operation in which one of a plurality of keys is always inverted and selected is performed. Reference numeral 3202 denotes a soft key for narrowing down the number of image output apparatuses to two when performing cascade copy. Reference numeral 3203 denotes a soft key for reducing the number of image output devices to three when performing cascade copy. Reference numeral 3204 denotes a display screen that displays a list of combinations of image output devices that output images. When one of the soft keys 3202 and 3203 is pressed, a list of image output device combinations that can be output with the paper size selected by the soft key group 3201 is displayed on the display screen 3204. FIG. 14 shows soft key 3
3 of the image output device selected when button 202 is pressed
Are shown. The information about the paper size on which an image can be formed is stored in the memory of its own device or the memory of a management server on the network for each image output device of a plurality of image output devices including its own device and other image output devices. It is memorized and managed separately.
Based on the information managed, the combination information is displayed as a list on the display screen 3204.

The image output devices listed on the display screen 3204 are searched from a plurality of image output devices registered in advance. Here, the registration method of the image output device will not be described in detail. One of the combinations of the image output devices displayed in the list on the display screen 3204 can be highlighted and selected by touch input, and the selected image can be selected by pressing the setting confirmation key 3205. The setting of the cascade copy using the combination of the output devices is completed.

In the display screen 3204, the reverse display selection can be released by pressing the combination of the image output devices selected for reverse display again. Also,
With one combination highlighted and selected, the other 1
When one of the combinations is pressed and selected, the former reverse display selection is canceled, and the latter reverse display selection is performed.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a standard screen displayed when cascade copy setting is performed on the setting screen shown in FIG. 14 and the setting confirmation key 3205 is depressed. In the figure, reference numeral 3301 denotes an icon indicating that cascade copy has been set. A character string 3302 indicates that cascade copy has been set. in this way,
The setting contents are indicated by an icon 3301 and a character string 3302.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a software configuration of processing executed by the controller unit 2000. A program for executing each application shown in FIG. 16 is stored in the ROM 2003 in advance. This program is stored in the ROM 200 when the image forming apparatus is started.
3 and executed by the CPU 2001. During the operation of the image forming apparatus, each application illustrated in FIG. 16 is resident on the RAM 2002.

In the figure, reference numeral 4010 denotes a UI control unit for controlling the operation unit 2012. 4020 is a UI control unit 40
A copy application unit that receives an instruction from the MFP 10 and causes the device control unit to execute a copy job. 4
Reference numeral 030 denotes a common interface unit for absorbing a device dependent portion of the device control unit. 4040 arranges the job information received from the common interface unit 4030,
It is a job manager that transmits to the lower layer document processing unit.

In the case of local copy, the scan manager 4050 and print manager 4090 operate. If the job is a remote copy transmission job, the scan manager 4050 and the store manager 4100 operate. If the job is a remote copy reception job, the file read manager 4060 and print manager 4090 operate. LIPS and PostScri
For PDL printing such as pt, the PDL manager 40
70 and the print manager 4090 operate. Requests for synchronization and image processing between the document managers are made via the sync manager 4080. Image processing and image file storage during scanning and printing are performed by an image manager 4110.

First, the local copy software processing will be described. According to the user's instruction, the copy setting is transmitted from the UI control unit 4010 to the copy application unit 4020 together with the copy instruction. Copy application section 4
020 transmits the information from the UI control unit 4010 to the job manager 4040 that performs device control via the common interface unit 4030. Job manager 404
0 transmits job information to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090.

The scan manager 4050 issues a scan request to the scanner 2070 via the device I / F 2020. At the same time, it issues an image processing request to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 scans the scanner image processing unit 2 according to the instruction of the scan manager 4050.
080 is set. When the setting is completed, the completion of scan preparation is notified via the sync manager 4080. Thereafter, the scan manager 4050 operates as the scanner 2070.
To scan. The completion of the scan image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown).

Upon receiving the scan completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090 of the scan completion. At the same time, the sync manager 4080 instructs the image manager 4110 to file the image data stored in the RAM 2002 in the HDD 2004.

The image manager 4110 uses the image compression unit 2040, and according to the instruction, the TIFF JBI
G or TIFF MMR file to HDD 200
4 is stored. When storage in the HDD 2004 is completed and a scan completion signal is received from the scanner 2070, the image manager 4110
Is notified to the scan manager 4050 via. The scan manager 4050 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 receiving the notification notifies the common interface unit 403
0 is returned to the copy application section 4020.

The print manager 4090 has a RAM 2
When the image data is entered in 002, the device I / F 20
The print request is output to the printer 2095 via the printer 20.
Then, a print image processing request is made to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 for image processing settings. The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing unit 2090 and notifies the print manager 4090 via the sync manager 4080 that the print preparation is completed. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer 2095. The completion of the transfer of the print image is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown).

The sync manager 4080 having received the print completion from the image manager 4110 notifies the print manager 4090 of the print completion. When the print manager 4090 receives the paper ejection completion from the printer 2095, it returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns the same to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface unit 4030. Copy application unit 4020
Notifies the UI control unit 4010 of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

Next, software processing of a remote copy scan job (transmission job) will be described. Store manager 4100 instead of print manager 4090
Receives a request from the job manager 4040. At the point when the scan image is stored in the HDD 2004, the store manager 4100
, The copy application unit 402 receives the storage completion notification via the common interface unit 4030.
Notify 0.

Upon receiving this notification, copy application section 4020 requests network application section 4120 to transmit the file stored in HDD 2004. The network application unit 4120 that has received the request transmits the file. The network application unit 4120 receives setting information related to copying from the copy application unit 4020 at the start of a job, and also notifies the remote side (receiving side) thereof.

Next, the software processing of a remote copy print job (reception job) will be described. The image data from the transmission side is transmitted to the network application unit 412.
0 stores the job in the HDD 2004 and issues a job to the copy application unit 4020.

The copy application unit 4020 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface unit 4030. Unlike the local copy, the file manager 4060 replaces the scan manager 4050 with the job manager 4.
040. HDD 2004
From the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080
To do.

The image manager 4110 uses the image compression unit 2040 to perform TIFF JBIG or TI
The file of the FF MMR is decompressed and the image is developed on the RAM 2002. Upon completion of the development, the image manager 4110 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the completion of the development via the sync manager 4080.

The print manager 4090 has the RAM 2
When the image data is entered in 002, a paper feed tray designated by the job manager or a paper feed tray having the paper size is selected, and a print request is output to the printer 2095 via the device I / F 2020. For automatic paper,
The paper feed stage is determined based on the image size, and a print request is output.
Then, a print image processing request is made to the sync manager 4080.

Upon receiving a print image processing request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 to set image processing. At this time, if rotation is necessary, a rotation instruction is also requested separately. When a rotation instruction is given, the image manager 4110 rotates the image using the image rotation unit 2030.

The image manager 4110 makes settings for the printer image processing unit 2090, and
The print preparation completion is notified to the print manager 4090 via 080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer 2095. The completion of the transfer of the print image is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown).

The sync manager 4080 having received the print completion notification from the image manager 4110 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The file read manager 4060 sends an end notification to the job manager 404
Return to 0. The print manager 4090 uses the printer 2
095, the job manager 4
040 is returned with an end notification. Job Manager 40
40 returns an end notification to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface unit 4030. When printing is completed, the copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit 4010 of the job end.

In a multiple copy in which images are output to a plurality of remote devices, it is assumed that a plurality of remote copy transmission jobs and a plurality of remote copy jobs exist for one input image.

Next, transmission of information accompanying the image (image accompanying information) will be described. In the present embodiment, image data is converted into TIFF MMR or TIFF JBIG in page units.
The file is transmitted to the remote side, and the image accompanying information is transmitted using the free space of the TIFF header of the file. In the case of a double-sided document, the image accompanying information is set as one page for each of the front and back sides of the document.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the TIFF header used in this embodiment. Each tag shown here corresponds to the HDD 200 in the image manager 4110.
4, when the file is stored in the TIFF header, the file is written in the TIFF header in accordance with the instruction from the scan manager 4050.

Tag names and sizes are described in US Ald
us standard "TIFF Revision 6.0
Final June 3, 1992 ".
Hereinafter, only a tag which is not described in this standard and newly added for transmitting image accompanying information to a remote device will be described.

Tags MarginTop, MarginB
“tm”, “MarginLft”, and “MarginRit” are tags each defining the amount of blank space (margin) attached to the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the image by the number of pixels. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the position of the margin added in the scan image. FIG.
18A shows a document image, and FIG. 18B shows a scanned image.

That is, the image rotation unit 2030 cannot perform image rotation unless both the number of pixels in the main scan and the number of pixels in the sub-scan are in units of 32 pixels due to hardware restrictions. Therefore, when scanning an image and loading the image into the RAM 2002, it is necessary to add a margin for setting the image size to a unit of 32 pixels in the document image area. Typically, the right (MarginRit) and bottom (MarginRit) of the image
Btm) with a margin.

In FIG. 17, the tag ImageKind
Is a tag indicating the type (type) of the document specified by the user from the operation unit 2012. From the operation unit 2012, text (text), text / photo (text / photo),
Three types of photos (photo) are specified in page units.

The tag MediaCode is a tag for storing the size of a document. For example, if it is A4, 0x
In the case of 0001 and A3, the original size is expressed using lower 8 bits such as 0x0002. In the case of A4R even with the same size, the direction of the document is expressed as 0x0101.

The tag Side is a tag for identifying the front side and the back side of the document. Tags WithOutZoomW
When the image size is corrected by zoom fine adjustment, the tag WithoutZoomL is a tag indicating the image size before correction by the number of pixels after excluding a blank portion. That is, in the zoom fine adjustment, the user is -1.0%
The zoom can be fine-tuned from 0.1% to + 1.0% in increments of 0.1%. The image size before such fine-tuning is determined by the tags WithOutZoomW and TagWit.
Set as houtzoomL as follows.

WithZoomW = ImageWidthMarginRit (1) WithZoommL = ImageLengthMarginBtm (2) Next, a TIFF header part having image accompanying information loaded as such a tag is received by the remote side that has received the image accompanying information as such a tag. First, the usage of the tag Margin will be described. In the remote copy of the present embodiment, based on the tag Margin,
It is possible to adjust the printing position of the image on the paper.

On the remote side, the print manager 40
90, the image manager 4110
Determines the image position in consideration of the margin amount (margin).
Image position adjustment can be easily realized by changing the image output timing to the printer 2095 by setting of the printer image processing unit 2090.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a printing process when "out of paper" is selected when an A4 image is printed and B4 paper is selected. In FIG. 19A, reference numeral 7010 denotes an A4 paper size area, and reference numeral 7020 denotes an image area including a margin. Here, there is no problem when an A4 size image is printed on one side of A4 paper, but when “no paper” occurs and the user selects B4 paper, the print manager 4
The image is rotated by 90 degrees in accordance with the request of 090 (because the image will run off the paper if it does not rotate, and will be chipped). At this time, as shown in FIG.
Margins image 7030 to B4 paper area 7040
The position is shifted to the left by inBtm to correct the image position.

In the same case, in the case of double-sided printing on an A4 document, the back side is rotated by 180 degrees. At this time, it moves to the position of “MinginBtm” and moves to the left by “MarginRit”.

The image position control is the same as that of the local copy, and an image output of the same quality as that of the local copy is realized in the remote copy and the cascade copy.

Next, the usage of the tag ImageKind will be described. In the remote copy according to the present embodiment, it is possible to adjust the image quality of an image to be printed based on the tag ImageKind.

For local copy, the document type (type)
Is used as image processing information. Specifically, the type of the document is set to execute / not execute the smoothing for making the jaws inconspicuous or the degree of the smoothing (strength).
Is used in the decision.

When performing smoothing by remote copy, the image manager 4110 determines the image processing method in consideration of the document type in accordance with the instruction of the print manager 4090 on the remote side. That is, the smoothing strength for removing jagged characters is switched for each document type. Smoothing is performed by the printer image processing unit 2
090 can be easily realized. In the character mode, the smoothing is turned on (executed) so that jaggedness of the character becomes inconspicuous. In the case of the text / photo and photo modes, the density of the photo part may be changed by the smoothing. Therefore, the smoothing is turned off (not executed). As a result, the same image quality as that of the local copy can be obtained.

Next, the usage of the tag Side will be described. In the remote copy according to the present embodiment, it is possible to adjust the print position of the image on the sheet based on the tag Side. As shown in FIG. 20, when printing on both sides of a document is designated by the operation unit 2012 and printing is performed on one side, and the binding margin is set on the front side and the back side, as shown in FIG.
In local copying, when printing the front side of a document, a binding margin is created by the binding margin of the front side, and when printing the back side of the document, a binding margin is created by the binding margin of the back side. So, on the remote side,
In order to create such a binding margin, information indicating the front and back of the page is required. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation unit 2012 when printing from a two-sided document to one side is designated. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the operation unit 2012 when the left binding is set.

On the remote side receiving the tag Side from the TIFF header, the print manager 4090
Determines the front and back sides and sets the remote copy mode as the network application unit 4120, the copy application unit 4020, the common interface unit 4
030, the job manager 4040, and the print manager 4090, and instruct the image manager 4110 of the shift amount for the binding margin in accordance with the instructions transmitted in this order. The image position setting in the image manager 4110 can be easily realized by changing the image output timing to the printer 2095 by setting in the printer image processing unit 2090.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a print result when the A4 document image table 8301 and the A4 document image back 8302 are copied in the remote copy mode. In FIG. 22A, reference numeral 8310 denotes a front surface image, and reference numeral 8320 denotes a front A4 paper position. By shifting the image upward by 10 mm with respect to the sheet, a binding margin on the document surface can be obtained.

In FIG. 22B, reference numeral 8330 denotes an image on the back surface, and reference numeral 8340 denotes an A4 paper position on the back surface. By shifting the image upward by 12 mm with respect to the sheet, a binding margin for the back side of the document can be obtained. In this way, a binding margin setting equivalent to that of the local copy is performed in the remote copy.

Next, how to use the tags WithOutZoomW and the tag WithOutZoommL will be described. In the remote copy according to the present embodiment, the tag
Paper feed stage selection, paper selection, and rotation control can be performed based on outZoomW and the tag WithOutZoomL.

In the image input / output device 200 of this embodiment, the magnification of the image is changed at the time of scanning. The scaling in the main scanning direction is performed by setting the scanner image processing unit 2080, and the scaling in the sub-scanning direction is realized by changing the scanning speed of the scanner 2070. When zoom fine adjustment is set from the operation unit 2012, the scan manager 4050 performs magnification by transmitting magnification information to the scanner 2070 and the image manager 4110.

Therefore, the image size differs depending on the magnification at the time of scanning. If the image size becomes slightly larger than the paper size due to the fine zoom adjustment, the user may select an undesired paper size during automatic paper selection. For example, A4 image size is 100% magnification
At this time, it becomes 7015 pixels × 4960 pixels. When the magnification becomes 101%, it becomes 7086 pixels × 5010 pixels, and the A4 paper size (70
Since it does not fit in 15 pixels x 4960 pixels, B4 (6
(071 pixels × 8598 pixels), and if there is no B4, a large-sized sheet such as A3 (7015 pixels × 9920 pixels) is selected. In a conventional copying machine (local copy), when fine zoom adjustment is performed, the paper size is selected based on the adjusted image size.

In this embodiment, when automatic paper selection is set in the operation unit 2012 in remote copy, when paper size is selected in the remote printer, the image size after the fine adjustment is ignored, and the fine zoom adjustment is ignored. Paper selection is performed using a tag WithOutZoomW and a tag WithOutZoomL indicating the image size before adjustment. As a result, even if the image size slightly increases due to the fine zoom adjustment, the paper size according to the image size before the fine zoom adjustment is selected, and the image is not output to an unnecessarily large paper. it can. In this way, in remote copy and cascade copy, the same paper selection as in local copy is performed.

If A4 size paper is selected by paper selection, but the selected paper feed stage is out of paper,
Selection of other paper source, paper selection and rotation control (for example,
It is necessary to perform the control for selecting the B4 paper shown in FIG. Also in this case, the paper feed stage selection and the rotation control are performed by the tag W
itoutZoomW and the tag WithoutZo
You may make it perform based on omL.

In the above embodiment, the image accompanying information is mounted on the TIFF header as a tag and transmitted. However, these may be transmitted and received between network applications as information separate from the image. Good. Although the transmission of the image accompanying information in the remote copy has been described, the case of the continuous copy can be similarly described.

Next, remote copy processing in the image forming system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the remote copy processing procedure. Here, the image input / output device 200 is on the local side, and the image input / output device 220 is on the remote side.

First, the image input / output device 2 on the local side
At 00, the UI control unit 4010 notifies the copy application information to the copy application unit 4020 according to the remote copy setting and start instruction to the operation unit 2012 (step S2301). The copy application unit 4020 generates a copy job based on the received copy setting information (Step S2302).

The copy application unit 4020 submits the generated copy job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface unit 4030, and also notifies the job manager 4040 of the copy setting information (step S2303).

The job manager 4040 includes a lower layer document processing unit (scan manager 4050, sync manager 4080, image manager 4110).
Etc.) is notified of the copy setting information of the input job. The document processing unit includes a job manager 4040
, And the copy job is processed based on the notified copy setting information. At this time, as in the case of the local copy described above, a document image is input from the scanner 2070, and the input image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 200.
2 (step S2304).

The scan image stored in the RAM 2002 is converted into a TIFF file and stored in the HDD 2004 (step S2305). At this time, in the header portion of the TIFF file, copy setting information (such as binding margin information in FIG. 21) that has been notified in advance and information obtained by the processing of the document processing unit (such as front and back side information of the document) are displayed as images. It is added as accompanying information.

When the scan image is stored in the HDD 2004, the copy application unit 4020
It requests the network application unit 4120 to transmit the file stored in 2004. The network application unit 4120 that has received the request transmits the TIFF file to which the image accompanying information has been added to the remote side (the image input / output device 220) (step S2306).

The image data processed by the image input / output device 200 on the local side is transmitted to the image input / output device 220 on the remote side, and the image input / output device 220 starts processing.

In the image input / output device 220, the network application unit 4120
The image data in the TIFF file from 00 is received (step S2307). Then, the received image data is stored in the HDD 2004, and a job is issued to the copy application unit 4020 (step S2308).

The copy application unit 4020 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface unit 4030 (step S23).
09). The job manager 4040 instructs a document processing unit (a file read manager 4060, a sync manager 4080, an image manager 4110, a print manager 4090, etc.) to execute a job. Based on instructions and control from the job manager 4040, the document processing unit decompresses the received TIFF file image stored in the HDD 2004,
(Step S2310).

When the development is completed, the job manager 4040 instructs the document processing unit to perform a process based on the image accompanying information added to the header of the TIFF file. Print Manager 409
0, the sync manager 408, and the image manager 4110, as described above,
Paper feed stage selection, image position setting, margin setting, image processing setting, etc. are performed, and the received image is printed out by the printer 2295 (step S2311).

When the paper ejection from the printer 2295 is completed, the copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit 4010 of the end of the job (step S231).
2). Thereafter, the process ends.

Similar to the case of the remote copy in such an image forming system, the case of the continuous copy can be processed in the same manner. That is, the image input / output device 220 and the image input / output device 230 are set to the remote side, and these two
The processing after step S2306 may be performed on one input / output device.

Next, the operation of paper cassette management and automatic cassette selection in the remote image input / output device, which is the main part of the image forming system of this embodiment, will be described. Conventionally, when performing image output, auto cassette selection for selecting an optimum paper size has been performed in a local image input / output device. Then, a print output instruction using the selected paper cassette has been transmitted to the image output device on the remote side. That is, auto cassette selection is not autonomously performed in the remote image input / output device, but is controlled by the local image input / output device.

Here, the conventional automatic cassette selection will be briefly described. The automatic cassette selection is an operation mode in which the size of an image input by the image input device is detected, and a paper cassette in which optimal paper is set is automatically selected from cassettes included in the image output device. By selecting the optimum paper size using the automatic cassette selection, the user can easily set the paper size and the like.

Also in this embodiment, the scanner of each image input / output device is provided with a sensor for detecting the size of the original. The document size information obtained by this sensor is notified from the scanner to the controller unit and managed.

The paper cassette management in this embodiment will be specifically described. In the image input / output device 200 of the present embodiment,
As shown in FIG.
03 is provided in the printer 2095. Cassette information relating to these paper cassettes is transmitted and received to and from the controller unit 2000 via the bus 2096.

The cassette information obtained from the printer 2095 by the CPU 2001 is held in the RAM 2002. The cassette information includes size information held by each paper cassette, presence / absence of paper in each paper cassette, and the like. Each paper cassette is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper. When printing, C
The PU 2001 checks the detection result of the sensor sent from the printer 2095 every time one image is output. Then, when the out-of-paper information is detected, the print output is temporarily stopped, and a predetermined error process is started.

The automatic cassette selection in this embodiment will be specifically described. Conventionally, in a remote copy mode or a multiple copy mode, an image input / output device on a local side acquires cassette information on a remote side in advance. Then, based on the acquired cassette information, an automatic cassette selection is performed by selecting a remote-side paper cassette that is optimal for image output on the local side.

In the present embodiment, the local side does not select the remote side paper cassette, but selects the remote side paper cassette. That is, the image input / output device on the remote side detects the size of the received image and automatically selects the paper cassette in which the optimum paper is set from the paper cassettes.

Here, the image input / output device on the local side is
The image data in the TIFF file format is transmitted to the image input / output device on the remote side. As shown in FIG.
In the header of the file, a tag Ima indicating the size of the image
geoWidth and a tag ImageLength are added.

The image input / output device on the remote side analyzes the header of the received TIFF file, and checks the tag ImageW
The image size is determined from the value of the id and the tag ImageLength. Then, the determined image size and R
The paper size information stored in the AM 2002 is compared with the paper size information, and a paper cassette containing paper of a size most suitable for print output is selected. The image size may be determined by temporarily storing the received image data and counting the number of pixels of the image after the reception is completed.

Next, a case where the automatic cassette selection processing of this embodiment is applied to remote copy in an image forming system will be described. Here, the image input / output device 200 is on the local side, and the image input / output device 220 is on the remote side. That is, the image read by the scanner 2070 is
The case where the automatic cassette selection is performed when outputting to 095 and 2295 is shown.

Here, the printers 2095 and 2295 are black-and-white printers capable of double-sided printing, and the printer 2395 is a black-and-white printer which is not capable of double-sided printing. The operation unit 2012 of the controller unit 2000 is provided with a start key for starting reading.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an image output processing procedure by the controller unit 2000 of the image input / output device 200 on the local side. This processing program is stored in the ROM 20 in the controller unit 2000.
03 and executed by the CPU 2001.

First, it is determined whether or not the start key has been pressed (step S2401), and the process waits until the start key is pressed. When the start key is pressed, the document is fed (step S2402), the image of the document is read by the scanner 2070, and at the same time, the image is transferred to the monochrome printer 2095 on the local side. The image is transmitted to the monochrome printer 2295 via the LAN 2011 (step S2403).

In order to print the read image on the local black-and-white printer 2095, the black-and-white printer 2095 selects an auto cassette (step S2404), and prints out the paper in the selected cassette (step S2405). Then, it is determined whether or not all pages have been completed (step S2406). If all pages have not been completed, the process returns to step S2402 to process all originals. On the other hand, if all pages have been completed in step S2406, the process returns to step S2401 to determine the start key.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are flowcharts showing the image output processing procedure in the image transmission input / output device 220 on the remote side. This processing program is stored in the storage medium (ROM 2003 or HDD
2004) and executed by the CPU 2001. The black-and-white printer 2295 includes a plurality of cassettes in which sheets of different sizes are stored, and stores information (cassette information) about these cassettes in a RAM in advance.
And the like.

First, a case will be described in which the printer 2295 performs normal output processing without an error, such as when there is no optimum paper size due to automatic cassette selection.

First, it is determined whether or not an image has been received via the LAN 2011 (step S2501). If no image has been received, the process waits until an image has been received. If an image has been received, one page of the image is received via the LAN 2011 (step S2502).

Then, it is determined whether or not an error flag relating to a paper selection error is ON (step S250).
3). Here, the error flag is a flag that is turned ON after it is determined in step S2505 that a paper selection error has occurred, and is OFF until a paper selection error is determined. Therefore, the error flag is OFF.

If an image for one page has been received, automatic cassette selection is performed, and a cassette to be fed is selected (step S2504). It is determined whether there is a paper selection error (step S2505). If there is no optimum paper size due to the automatic cassette selection, that is, if an error occurs, the flow shifts to error processing after step S2601 in FIG. As the error processing, first, a warning display indicating that there is no optimum size for the printer is performed. Then, in this case, the next cassette which is determined to be appropriate may be selected, or the user may be prompted to replace the cassette. Further, when replacement of the cassette is prompted, the replacement may be detected by a sensor or the like by a user, and the optimum paper size may be selected again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2505 that no error has occurred, paper is fed from the selected cassette and printout is performed on the fed paper (step S2506). Then, it is determined whether or not all pages have been completed (step S2507). If not all pages have been completed, the process returns to step S2502 to receive the next page. On the other hand, if all pages have been completed, the process returns to step S2501 to determine whether an image has been received.

Next, referring to FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, there will be described a case where an error such as the absence of an optimum size occurs when selecting an auto cassette on the remote side. The processing from the reception of the image of the first page to the selection of the automatic cassette is the processing of steps S2501 to S2504, similar to the normal printing processing in which no error occurs. Is shown.

If a paper selection error occurs as a result of the determination in step S2505, a print stop warning is displayed on the display screen of the operation unit 2212 in the image input / output device 220, and the above-described error flag is turned on (step S2).
601). Then, it is determined whether or not all the images for one page sent from the local side have been received (step S2602). If all of the images have been received, the process proceeds to the error release processing, and all have been received. If not, step S2
Returning to the process of 502, an image of the page that has not been received yet is received. As described above, when not all the images of the page have been received, the process returns to step S2502,
Continue receiving the page image.

Then, it is determined whether or not the error flag is ON (step S2503).
As shown in step S2601, the error flag is set to O
Since it is N, step 2503 (YES), and again 1 in step S2602 via step S2601.
A process is performed to determine whether all the images for the page have been received.

Therefore, the above determination and the image reception are performed until the image input / output device 220 receives all the images for one page, and when all the images on the page have been received, the error processing by the user in the error processing is performed. The release is determined (step S2603). Here, as described above, the error is released by the user going to the installation location of the image input / output device 220 on the remote side and selecting the next appropriate cassette, or exchanging the cassette by the user. This is performed by the following procedure.

If the error has not been cleared in step S2603, it is determined whether or not images of all pages have been received (step S2604). If so, the process returns to step S2603, and if not received, Then, the process returns to step S2502 to receive the image of the next page, and waits for execution of error cancellation by the user.

When the user releases the error using the remote image input / output device 220, the error flag is set to O.
FF is set (step S2605), and printout is performed using the cassette set by the printer 2295 by error cancellation (step S2606).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the pages have been output. If all the pages have not been output, the process returns to step S2502 to receive the next page. On the other hand, if all pages have been completed, step S2
Returning to the processing of 501, the apparatus enters a reception standby state for determining whether or not an image has been received.

In this embodiment, even if an error such as the absence of an optimum size occurs during the selection of the auto cassette, the cassette is selected by the printer 2295 located at a remote place in the present embodiment. And the operation of the user can be simplified.

That is, the remote image input / output device in the image forming system manages the cassette information of the paper cassette provided in the printer unit, and when the image data received from the local side is output on the remote side, the received image data Based on the image size of, the automatic paper selection is performed under its own management. As a result, it is possible to control the automatic paper selection and paper selection on the remote side.

When an error occurs in the remote output, the operator operates the operation panel on the remote side so that the user can select a cassette different from the cassette in which the error has occurred, thereby recovering the error only on the remote side. Becomes possible.
Further, since the reception of the image data from the local side is continued until the selection is made by the operator, the time for error recovery can be shortened. Furthermore, since image data is received in units of pages and waiting for selection by the operator, the operator can perform error recovery in consideration of the contents of each page, providing flexibility in printout during error recovery. improves.

Although the above is an explanation of the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment, and the functions described in the claims or the functions of the embodiment are not limited. Any configuration that can achieve the function of the configuration is applicable.

For example, in the above embodiment, the size including the size and orientation of the paper is referred to as the size, but instead of selecting the cassette by the size, the cassette may be selected by the type of paper. Further, the material of the paper used for image formation is not limited to paper, but may be a film sheet or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the output is performed to the printer 2295 located at a remote place is shown. However, the case where the output is performed to the printer 2395 located at a remote place can be similarly applied. The management may be performed to select the optimum cassette, and if there is no optimum cassette, a warning may be displayed. In addition, the present invention may be similarly applied to a printer 2095 locally connected to the controller unit 2000.

Further, the image output device at the remote place may be a single printer or a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.).

It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus using a recording medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. . In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the program codes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 to 26 are stored in a storage medium. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a ROM, a flexible disk,
Hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-
A ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0152]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the management and selection of cassettes are performed by the remote device, the operation of the user can be simplified and the overall productivity is not reduced. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a controller unit of the image input / output device.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a configuration of the image input / output device as viewed from the outside.

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

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

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

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

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating addresses of transfer source image data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating writing and reading directions of image data.

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

FIG. 11 is an external view illustrating a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an operation unit and an operation unit I / F.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an initial screen displayed on the LCD display unit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a setting screen displayed when the soft key shown in FIG. 13 is pressed.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a standard screen displayed when cascade copy setting is performed on the setting screen shown in FIG. 14 and a setting confirmation key is pressed down.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a process executed by the controller unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a TIFF header used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a position of a margin in a scan image.

FIG. 19 shows “out of paper” when printing an A4 image,
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printing process when a sheet is selected.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation unit when printing on both sides of a document is designated on one side.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the operation unit when setting left binding.

FIG. 22 shows an A4 document image table 8301, A4 document image back 8
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print result when the image data 302 is copied in a remote copy mode.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a remote copy processing procedure in the image forming system.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an image output processing procedure performed by the controller unit 2000.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an image output processing procedure in the image input / output device 220 on the remote side.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating the image output processing procedure in the image input / output device 220 on the remote side, following FIG. 25;

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 image input / output device 220 image input / output device 230 image input / output device 2000 controller unit 2011 LAN 2012 operation unit 2070 scanner 2095, 2295, 2395 printer 4010 UI control unit 4020 copy application unit 4030 common interface unit 4040 job manager 4050 scan manager 4060 File read manager 4070 PDL manager 4080 Sync manager 4090 Print manager 4100 Store manager 4110 Image manager 4120 Network application section

Claims (16)

[Claims] An output unit for outputting image data;
An image input / output device connected to another image input / output device via a communication medium, wherein the management unit manages cassette information of a paper cassette provided in the output unit, and the cassette information managed by the management unit Based on
A first selecting unit for selecting a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit, wherein the image data received from the other image input / output device is output by the output unit. The selection means of
An image input / output device, wherein the paper cassette is selected based on the cassette information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second selection unit that selects a paper cassette in accordance with an operation input by an operator, wherein an image output using the paper cassette selected by the first selection unit is not possible. 2. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image output is started using a paper cassette selected by said second selection means. 3. The image input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein reception of the image data sent from said another image input / output device is continued until the selection by said second selection means is performed. Output device. 4. The image input / output device according to claim 3, wherein the reception of the image data is performed in page units. 5. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when an image output using the paper cassette selected by said first selecting means cannot be performed, a warning display is performed. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image size of the received image data is determined based on image accompanying information sent together with the received image data.
An image input / output device according to claim 1. 7. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting a document image. 8. A method for controlling an image input / output device having an output unit for outputting image data and connected to the image input / output device via a communication medium, wherein: cassette information of a paper cassette provided in the output unit A management step of managing the information, based on the cassette information managed by the management step,
And a first selection step of selecting a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit. When the image data received from the image input / output device is output by the output unit, the first selection is performed. In the control method, the paper cassette is selected based on the cassette information. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a second selection step of selecting a paper cassette in accordance with an operation input by an operator, wherein an image output using the paper cassette selected in the first selection step is not possible. The control method according to claim 8, wherein image output is started using the paper cassette selected in the second selection step. 10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein reception of image data sent from said another image input / output device is continued until the selection in said second selection step is performed. . 11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the image data is received in page units. 12. The control method according to claim 8, wherein when the image output using the paper cassette selected in the first selecting step cannot be performed, a warning display is performed. 13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image size of the received image data is determined based on image accompanying information sent together with the received image data.
The control method described in 1. 14. The control method according to claim 8, further comprising an input step of inputting a document image. 15. An image input / output system in which a plurality of image input / output devices having output means for outputting image data are connected to each other via a communication medium, wherein the image input / output device is provided in the output means Management means for managing the cassette information of the paper cassette; based on the cassette information managed by the management means,
A first selection unit for selecting a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit, wherein the image data received from another image input / output device is output by the output unit. Wherein the selecting means selects the paper cassette based on the cassette information. 16. An image processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs image data;
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for executing a method of controlling an image input / output device connected to another image input / output device via a communication medium, wherein the output unit includes a paper cassette. A management code for managing cassette information; and a first selection code for selecting a paper cassette for outputting image data by the output unit based on the cassette information managed by the management code; When the image data received from the image input / output device is output by the output unit, the first selection code is:
A storage medium for selecting the paper cassette based on the cassette information.