JP2002094736A - Information processing unit and scanner and data processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing unit that can simplify the storage structure of duplicating data or reduce the data transfer amount in the case of generating scan job data with a hierarchical structure, where data of a high-order layer can store a plurality of data of lower layers. SOLUTION: When scan job data are generated with the hierarchical structure, where data of a high-order layer can store a plurality of data of lower layers, the information processing unit is characterized, in such a configuration that a CPU 41 discriminates whether the attribute of a plurality of data of the same layer located one layer lower from an upper layer and stored in data of the upper layer in the scan job data has the same value in each of the data; and when the CPU 41 discriminates that the attribute of each of the data is the same value, the data of the upper layer stores a list of information denoting the attribute whose value is the same.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating a printer, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile apparatus, or an apparatus capable of processing the functions of these apparatuses in a complex manner with a scanner apparatus via a network. The present invention relates to a scanner device, a data processing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printers, scanners, copiers, F
A single scanner device such as an AX or a scanner device capable of processing these functions in a complex manner is connected to a host or connected to a plurality of hosts via a network so that images for each function can be processed. A processing system has been established.

In the above-described image processing system, even if the structure of job data input from the outside is a hierarchical structure in which higher-order data includes a plurality of lower-order data, information for utilizing this is not managed. In order to do so, all data had to be analyzed.

[0004]

However, job data having a plurality of data having a hierarchical structure may have the same attribute and the same value in all or some of the data. Some problems have been pointed out, such as overlapping attribute data occupying the buffer area on the scanner device side, making it impossible to efficiently use limited memory resources, and delaying data analysis processing. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a scanner apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner device capable of communicating via a network. In the information processing apparatus, when creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data of a lower layer in data of an upper layer, in the scan job data, the next lower data held in the data of the upper layer is stored. Judge whether the attribute of multiple data in the same layer of the same layer has the same value in any data, and when it is determined that the attribute has the same value, list information indicating the attribute having the same value in the upper layer. Data, or whether multiple data across different lower layers that are stored in higher layer data in scan job data have the same value. And, when it is determined that the attribute has the same value, by storing a list of information representing the attribute having the same value in data of a higher layer, or when the attribute of a plurality of data is By judging that the values are the same in the information, and by storing information for determining data having an attribute having the same value and a list of combinations of the attributes in data of an upper layer that holds the data, When creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure in which data of a lower layer can be stored in data of an upper layer, the structure for holding duplicate data can be simplified or the data transfer amount can be reduced, and scanning on the scanner device side can be performed. An information processing apparatus, a scanner apparatus, and a data processing apparatus capable of greatly shortening a job analysis processing time and quickly obtaining a normal processing result of a scan job. To provide a processing method and a storage medium.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, and in a scanner apparatus capable of processing data of a higher layer in the acquired scan job. When analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure that can hold a plurality of data in lower layers, a plurality of data in the same layer one level lower than the data in the upper layer in the scan job data to be analyzed is analyzed. In the data, the information representing the list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed. Based on the analysis result, the execution of the analysis of the lower data is skipped, and the lower data not analyzed by the skip is analyzed. By acquiring and supplementing attribute values from the analysis results of higher-level data or other data, or by scanning the scan job data to be analyzed. In a plurality of data stored in different lower layers held in data of a higher layer in the data, information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, a lower level is determined. By skipping the analysis execution of the data and acquiring and compensating for the attribute values of the lower data not analyzed by the skip from the analysis result of the upper data or other data, the lower layer data is added to the data of the upper layer. When creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure that can hold a plurality of layers of data, duplicated data is simplified, or scan job data that has been deleted is received, so analysis of the received scan job data is required. Duplicate attribute analysis processing can be omitted, and the analysis processing of scan job data is accelerated, and normal processing of scan jobs can be completed in a short time. The invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and the scanner device and a data processing method and a storage medium that can be constructed freely scan job processing system capable of obtaining.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, and comprising: Creating means for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data of a lower layer in the data; and one lower order data held in the data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creating means. First determining means (the CPU 41 shown in FIG. 4 executes a control program stored in the ROM 46, DISK 47, or the like to determine whether the attribute of a plurality of data in the same layer has the same value for any data). If the first determination unit determines that the values are the same, the list of information indicating the attributes having the same value is stored in the upper layer. Holding means for holding the chromatography data (Fig. 4
(Corresponding to a configuration in which the CPU 41 holds the RAM 42 and the DISK 47).

A second invention according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, wherein data of an upper layer is replaced with data of a lower layer. Creation means for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data (corresponding to a configuration in which the CPU 41 shown in FIG. 4 executes a control program stored in the ROM 46, DISK 47 or the like to perform creation processing); Second determining means (CPU 4 shown in FIG. 4) for determining whether or not a plurality of data in different lower layers held in data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the means have the same value.
1 corresponds to a configuration in which the control program stored in the ROM 46, the DISK 47, or the like is executed to perform the determination process), and when the second determination unit determines that the values are the same,
Holding means (RAM 42, D shown in FIG. 4) for holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer.
(Equivalent to the configuration in which the CPU 41 holds the ISK 47).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third determining means for determining that attributes of a plurality of data have the same value in some data, and the third determining means having the same value. And a holding unit for holding a list of combinations of attributes and information for identifying data having an attribute in data of an upper layer that holds the data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the holding means holds the information of the value together with a list of attributes having the same value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the information of the attribute having the same value is held in the data of the upper layer, the holding means omits the information of the attribute having the same value. It is possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing device via a network by communication, and includes a higher-ranking scan job in the acquired scan job. Means for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure such that a plurality of data of a lower layer can be held in the data of the lower layer (the CPU shown in FIG. 2).
21 executes a control program stored in the ROM 25, DISK 30, or the like, and performs analysis processing), and the next lower layer of the same layer held in data of an upper layer in scan job data to be analyzed. Control means for analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any of a plurality of data and skipping execution of analysis of lower-order data by the analysis means based on the analysis result (see FIG. 2); CPU 21 executes and executes a control program stored in ROM 25, DISK 30 or the like) and the attribute value of lower data not analyzed by skipping by the control means is replaced with the upper data or other data. Acquisition means for acquiring and supplementing from the analysis results (the CPU 21 shown in FIG. 2 is a control program stored in the ROM 25, DISK 30, etc.). Corresponds to the structure to be processed by executing the beam) and those having a.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing device via a network by communication, and includes a higher-ranking scan job in the acquired scan job. Means for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure such that a plurality of data of a lower layer can be held in the data of the lower layer (the CPU shown in FIG. 2).
21 executes a control program stored in the ROM 25, DISK 30, or the like, and performs analysis processing), and a plurality of layers extending over different lower layers held in data of upper layers in scan job data to be analyzed. In the data, the control means for analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data, and skipping the execution of analysis of lower-order data by the analysis means based on the analysis result; and Acquisition means for acquiring and supplementing attribute values of lower data not analyzed by skipping from analysis results of upper data or other data (FIG. 2)
Corresponds to a configuration in which the CPU 21 executes and executes a control program stored in the ROM 25, the DISK 30, or the like.
And

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the information indicating the list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the information indicating the held list is analyzed by the analysis. The means is to analyze.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the held list is analyzed by the analysis means. is there.

[0016] In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the control means holds that the same attribute of other data has the same value;
It is to judge whether or not the value is known from the fact that the upper data or other data has already been analyzed, and skip the analysis of the lower data by the analysis means.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is a data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, wherein the data processing method comprises the steps of: A creation step (step (101) shown in FIG. 12) for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data of lower layers, and data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creation step A first determination step (step (104) shown in FIG. 12) for determining whether or not the attribute of a plurality of data of the same layer one level lower than that of all data has the same value.
And a holding step (step (105) shown in FIG. 12) for holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer when it is determined that the values are the same in the determining step. Things.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network. A creation step (step (101) shown in FIG. 12) for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data of lower layers, and data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creation step A second determination step (step (104) shown in FIG. 12) for determining whether or not a plurality of pieces of data stored in different lower layers held at the same value has the same value. If it is determined that there is, a holding step of holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer ( Step shown in 12 (105))
And

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a third determining step of determining that the attributes of a plurality of data have the same value in some data, and the third determining step determines that the values are the same. And a holding step of holding a list of combinations of the attributes and information for determining data having an attribute in data of an upper layer that holds the data.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the holding step, the information of the value is held together with a list of attributes having the same value.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the holding step, when information of an attribute having the same value is held in data of a higher layer, the information of the attribute having the same value is omitted. It is possible.

A sixteenth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method in a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing device via a network by communication, and An analysis step (step (113) shown in FIG. 13) for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of lower layer data can be stored in the upper layer data in the job; and the scan job data to be analyzed In a plurality of data in the same layer one level lower than the data stored in the upper layer, the information representing the attribute list having the same value in any data is analyzed, and the analysis is performed based on the analysis result. A control step (step (114) shown in FIG. 13) for skipping execution of analysis of lower order data by the step; Those having an acquisition step to compensate for the value of the attribute of the lower data that was not analyzed is obtained from the analysis result of the higher data or other data (step shown in FIG. 13 (114)) by skipping.

A seventeenth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method in a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, and An analysis step (step (113) shown in FIG. 13) for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of lower layer data can be stored in the upper layer data in the job; and the scan job data to be analyzed In a plurality of data straddling different lower layers held in data of a higher layer in the data, information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, the analysis means A control step (step (114) shown in FIG. 13) for skipping the execution of analysis of lower-order data by That acquisition step of the value of the attribute of the lower data that was not analyzed by skipping supplement is obtained from the analysis result of the higher data or other data (Fig. 13
(114) shown in FIG.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the information indicating the list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in the data of the upper layer, and the information indicating the held list is analyzed by the analysis. Steps are what you analyze.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the held list is analyzed by the analysis step. is there.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, since the same attribute of other data holds the same value and the value of the higher-level data or other data has already been analyzed, It is determined whether or not it is known, and the execution of analysis of lower-order data in the analysis step is skipped.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network transmits data of a lower layer to data of an upper layer. A creation step (step (101) shown in FIG. 12) for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of pieces, and one of the scan job data created in the creation step held in the data of a higher layer. A first determination step (step (104) shown in FIG. 12) for determining whether the attribute of a plurality of data in the same lower layer is the same value for any data, and the first determination step uses the same value. When it is determined that there is an attribute, a holding step of holding a list of information indicating attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer (see FIG. 12). -Up (105)) and recording a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network transmits data of a lower layer to data of an upper layer. A creation step (step (101) shown in FIG. 12) for creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of scan job data, and a lower order job held in data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creation step. A second determination step (step (104) shown in FIG. 12) for determining whether or not a plurality of data over different layers have the same value;
A holding step of holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer when the second determination step determines that the values are the same (step (105) shown in FIG. 12). And a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the above.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, a third determining step of determining that the attribute of a plurality of data has the same value in some data, and the third determining step has the same value. And a holding step of holding a list of combinations of the attributes and information for determining data having an attribute in data of an upper layer that holds the data.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the holding step, the information of the value is held together with a list of attributes having the same value.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the holding step, when information of an attribute having the same value is stored in data of a higher layer, the information of the attribute having the same value is omitted. It is possible.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing device via a network by communication is provided in a higher layer in the acquired scan job. An analysis step (step (113) shown in FIG. 13) for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure such that a plurality of data of lower layers can be held in the data of the upper layer. In a plurality of data of the same layer one level below the data held, the information representing the list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, the lower level data is analyzed by the analysis means. A control step for skipping the analysis execution (step (114) shown in FIG. 13) and no analysis was performed due to the skip by the control step An acquisition step (step (113) shown in FIG. 13) for acquiring and supplementing the value of the attribute of the rank data from the analysis result of the higher-order data or other data, and a program for executing the program on a computer-readable storage medium. It is recorded.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, and providing a higher layer in the acquired scan job to a scanner apparatus. An analysis step (step (113) shown in FIG. 13) for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure such that a plurality of data of lower layers can be held in the data of the upper layer. In a plurality of data spanning different lower layers stored in data, information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, analysis of lower data by the analysis step is performed. The control step for skipping the execution (step (114) shown in FIG. 13) and the analysis by the skip by the control step are performed. Compensate the value of the attribute data which was not lower is obtained from the analysis result of the higher data or other data acquisition step (step shown in FIG. 13 (11
4)) is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the information indicating the list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in the data of the upper layer, and the information indicating the held list is analyzed by the analysis. Steps are what you analyze.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the held list is analyzed by the analysis step. is there.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, since the same attribute of other data holds the same value and the value of the higher-level data or other data has already been analyzed, It is determined whether or not it is known, and the execution of analysis of lower-order data in the analysis step is skipped.

[0037]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a scanner apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A composite image processing function for processing an image input function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function on a job basis. Corresponding to peripheral devices having.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a controller for controlling peripheral equipment, which will be described later in detail, and has hardware resources as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a communication interface for the controller 1 to communicate with the outside of the peripheral device. The communication interface 2 includes, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface, an IEEE 1284 interface, or another communication interface.

A scanner engine 3 is controlled by the controller 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a printer engine, which is controlled by the controller 1, and may be, for example, a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, or another printer.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a facsimile board for realizing a facsimile function such as communication control at the time of transmitting and receiving an image. Reference numeral 6 denotes a user interface, which includes an LCD display and a keyboard, displays information from the controller 1 and transmits an instruction from a user to the controller 1.

The peripheral device having the above configuration allows the controller 1 to select the printer engine 4,
Enables print jobs to be issued. In addition, the user is allowed to select the printer engine 4 and the scanner engine 3 to issue a copy job. Further, the user is allowed to select the printer engine 4, the scanner engine 3, and the facsimile board 5 to issue a facsimile reception job and a facsimile transmission job.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a detailed configuration of hardware resources for the controller 1 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 1
U21, RAM 22, LCD 23, and keyboard 2
4, a ROM 25, a communication interface 26, a scanner engine 27, a printer engine 28, a facsimile board 29, and a DISK 30, which are interconnected via a system bus 20.
The program for controlling the controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 is stored in the ROM 25 or the disk 30 and is read out to the RAM 22 as necessary,
Performed by

The ROM 25 and the DISK 30 store peripheral devices and jobs processed by the peripheral devices (including scan jobs and print jobs) in addition to the control programs.
Attribute information indicating functions and states, job data to be output, and the like are stored.

Further, the CPU 21 performs display through the LCD 23 and receives a user's instruction from the keyboard 24. The CPU 21 communicates with the outside through the communication interface 26.

In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, FIG.
In the peripheral devices, the CPU 21 receives a user's input from the keyboard 24 via the system bus 20, and
RAM 22, LCD 23, ROM 25, communication interface 26, scanner engine 27, printer engine 28, facsimile board 29, DISK
30 and is implemented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network system to which the peripheral device shown in FIG. 1 can be applied.

In FIG. 3, the MFP 31 indicates the peripheral device shown in FIG. 1, and the personal computer 32, the personal computer 33, and the personal computer 34 have hardware resources as shown in FIG. Shows a personal computer (personal computer). What is connected to the MFP 31 via the network 35 may be a workstation, other peripheral devices, or other devices. The driver software can request the MFP 31 from the personal computer 32, the personal computer 33, or the personal computer 34 via the network 35 for job processing such as print, scan, copy, or facsimile transmission / reception, and can make an inquiry about attribute information of the MFP 31. .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Personal computers 32 to 34 constituting the network system shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the configuration example of the hardware resource.

As shown in FIG. 4, the personal computers 32 to 34 in this embodiment include a CPU 41, a RAM 42,
An RT 43, a keyboard 44, a pointing device 45, a ROM 46, a DISK 47, and a communication interface 48 are provided.
Connected to each other.

A program for controlling the personal computers 32 to 34 is stored in the ROM 46 or the disk 47 and is loaded into the RAM 42 as necessary, and
This is executed by U41. Also, the CPU 41 is a CRT
A display is performed through 43, and a user's instruction is received from a keyboard 44 and a pointing device 45. Further, the CPU 41 communicates with the outside through the communication interface 48.

In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, FIG.
In the personal computer, the CPU 41 receives a user's input from the keyboard 44 and the pointing device 45 via the system bus 49, and stores the RAM 42 and the CRT 4
3, the ROM 46, the disk 47, and the communication interface 48 to perform processing.

The user's instruction to the peripheral device shown in FIG. 1 and the information display to the user may be performed through the local user interface 6 shown in FIG. 1, or the personal computer 32 or the personal computer 33 shown in FIG. It may be performed through a device such as a personal computer 34 which is a client connected via a network 35.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the personal computer 32 shown in FIG.
FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of job data having a hierarchical structure that is generated by the client and processed by the scanner device in the client devices.

In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the hierarchical structure is, for example, three layers, and is called job data, binder data, and document data in order from the data of the highest layer.

The job data is job data 1
A, binder data 1B, binder data 1C, document data 1D, document data 1E, document data 1F, document data 1G, document data 1H, and document data 1I.

Job data 1A includes binder data 1B,
It is the upper data of the binder data 1C and holds these data. The binder data 1B is higher-order data of the document data 1D, the document data 1E, the document data 1F, and the document data 1G, and holds these data.

The binder data 1C is higher data than the document data 1H and the document data 1I, and holds these data. Actually, the number of layers does not have to be three, and the name of data is not limited to this.

In the present embodiment, each data is composed of a plurality of pieces of attribute information, which is a set of three pieces of information: an attribute ID indicating the meaning of the attribute, an attribute value size indicating the size of the attribute value, and an attribute value. Have been.

For example, the job data 1A has the attribute ID 1A
01, attribute value size 1A02, attribute information as a set of attribute value 1A03, attribute ID 1A04, attribute value size 1A0
5. Attribute information, attribute ID 1A with attribute value 1A06 as a set
07, attribute value size 1A08, attribute value 1A09, and the like. Binder data 1B,
The binder data 1C, the document data 1D, the document data 1E, the document data 1F, the document data 1G, the document data 1H, the document data 1I, and the like have the same configuration. Each data may or may not be configured as in the present embodiment.

Note that examples of information represented by attributes include data names, data sizes, the number of prints, designation of media, designation of margins, and the like. Some of the attributes are commonly held in each layer, but some are unique to the layer.

In this embodiment, the upper data has attribute information in which a list of identifiers of the held lower data is used as an attribute value in order to represent a relationship with the held lower data. For example, the job data 1A has attribute information in which a list of identifiers of the held binder data 1B and binder data 1C is an attribute value. Similarly, the binder data 1B includes lower-order document data 1D and document data 1
E, document data 1F, document data 1G
The binder data 1C has attribute information in which the identifiers of the lower order document data 1H and the document data 1I are attribute values.

Actually, the relationship between the upper data and the lower data may be expressed as in this example, or may be expressed differently.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a part of the job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the attribute of a plurality of data of the same layer one level lower and held in one data is any data. Here is an example of the same value.

In FIG. 7, an attribute ID 1A01 enumerates IDs of a plurality of data in the same layer one level below which the attribute information is held in the data, the attribute values of which are the same in any data. It is shown that. In addition,
1A02 is an attribute value size.

The attribute value 1A03 lists the attribute IDs having the same value in the binder data 1B and the binder data 1C, which are the next lower data held in the job data 1A. Binder data 1B and binder data 1C
Then, the attribute ID (= α) indicated in the attribute value 1A03, I
Attribute values 1B03 and 1C of attribute information corresponding to D (= β)
03 and the attribute values 1B06 and 1C06 have the same value.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining a part of the job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the attribute of a plurality of data of different lower layers stored in one data is which data. However, an example having the same value is shown below.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, attribute ID 1A01
Indicates that the attribute information enumerates the IDs of the attributes of a plurality of different lower-level data held in the data, which have the same attribute value in any data.

The attribute value 1A06 is the binder data 1 which is data of a different lower layer stored in the job data 1A.
B, IDs of attributes having the same value in the binder data 1C, the document data 1D, the document data 1E, the document data 1F, the document data 1G, the document data 1H, and the document data 1I are listed.

Binder data 1B, binder data 1
C, document data 1D, document data 1
E, document data 1F, document data 1
G, document data 1H, document data 1I
Here, the attribute values 1B03, 1C03, and 1D0 of the attribute information corresponding to the attribute IDs α and ID β shown in the attribute value 1A06
3, 1E03, 1F03, 1G03, 1H03, 1I0
3, 1B06, 1C06, 1D06, 1E06, 1
F06, 1G06, 1H06, and 1I06 have the same value.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of the job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where a part of the attributes of a plurality of data of the same layer one level lower and held in one data are the same. An example is shown in which a higher-order data has a value and information for identifying data having the same value.

In FIG. 10, an attribute ID 1B07 is a set of an identifier of a data having the same attribute value of a plurality of data in the same layer one level below the attribute information held in the data and an ID of the attribute. Are listed.

The attribute value 1B09 is an attribute IB of the same value in the next lower data held in the binder data 1B.
A list of D and their data identifiers is listed. 1B
In the document data 1D, document data 1E, document data 1F, and document data 1G in which identifiers are listed in pairs with the attribute IDs α and β in 09, attribute values 1D03, 1E03, and 1F0 of the corresponding attribute information.
3, 1G03, and attribute values 1D06, 1E06, 1F0
6, 1G06 have the same value.

The document data 1D and the document data 1 whose identifiers are listed in pairs with the attribute ID γ
F, the attribute values 1D09, 1F09, and 1G09 of the corresponding attribute information in the document data 1G are the attribute values of the corresponding attribute information in the document data 1D, the document data 1E, and the document data 1G in which the identifiers are listed in pairs with the attribute ID δ. 1D12, 1E12, 1G12
Have the same value.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of the job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, where the attribute of a plurality of data of the same lower layer held in one data is the same value for any data. Yes, there is shown an example of data having information on the value of higher data.

In FIG. 11, the attribute ID1C07 is the ID and the attribute value of the attribute of which the attribute information of the plurality of data of the same layer one level below which is held in the data is the same for all data. Are enumerated. The attribute value 1C09 is the document data 1 which is the next lower data held in the binder data 1C.
IDs of attributes having the same value in H and document data 1I and their values are listed.

In the document data 1H and the document data 1I, the attribute values 1H03 and 1I03 of the attribute information corresponding to the attribute ID α shown in the attribute value 1C09 correspond to the attribute values α1 and β shown in the attribute value 1C09. The attribute values 1H06 and 1I06 of the attribute information are the attribute value β1. At this time, attribute information 1H01 to 1H03, 1H04 to 1H indicated by the attribute information 1C07 to 1C09
06, 1I01 to 1I03, and 1I04 to 1I06 may be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the job data generation processing procedure in the personal computers 32 to 34 (client) shown in FIG. . Note that (101) to (108) indicate each step.

First, when the generation of the job data is started,
All data at the lowest position in the hierarchical structure of the job data is generated (101).

At this time, when there is an attribute having the same value in a plurality of data and the information of the value is included in a higher-level attribute, the attribute information having the same value may be omitted from the data for generating the attribute information of the same value.

Next, preparations are made to generate the next higher data (102). Then, the attribute of lower data of the data to be generated is examined (103), and there is an attribute having the same attribute value, and it is determined whether or not information of the value is included in the upper attribute (104). When there is an attribute and the information of the value is included in the upper attribute, information of the attribute (1A01 to 1A01 to 1A1 to
A03, 1A04-1A06, 1B07-1B09, 1
C07 to 1C09) are added (105).

Next, target data is generated (1
06) If all data of the same rank as the generated data has not been generated (107), the process returns to the step (103) to generate other data of the same rank.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (107) that all data of the same rank has already been generated, it is determined whether the generated data is the highest-order data (10).
8) If it is determined that the data is not the highest-order data, the process returns to step (102), and preparations are made to generate higher-order data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (108) that the data is the highest-order data, the process ends.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the scanner according to the present invention, and corresponds to the job data analysis processing procedure in the scanner shown in FIG. Note that (111) to (11)
7) shows each step.

First, when the analysis of the job data is started,
The data located at the highest position in the hierarchical structure of the job data is analyzed (111). Next, preparations are made to analyze the next lower data (112).

Then, information (1A) indicating that the attribute value of the attribute of this data is the same value as the other data is included in the upper data.
01-1A03, 1A04-1A06, 1B07-1B
09, 1C07-1C09, etc.), it is determined whether the value has already been obtained from the analysis result of other data (113), and it is determined that the value has already been obtained from the analysis result of other data. If so, one of the data is analyzed without analyzing the attribute (114).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (113) that the value has not been obtained from the analysis result of other data, one data is analyzed (117), and the process proceeds to step (115).

Then, it is determined whether or not all the attributes at the same level as the analyzed data have been analyzed (11).
5) If it is determined that all the attributes at the same level as the analyzed data have not been analyzed, the process returns to step (113).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (115) that all the attributes at the same level as the analyzed data have been analyzed, it is determined whether the analyzed data is the lowest data in the hierarchical structure. (116) If it is not the lowest data, the process returns to step (112) to prepare for analyzing the lower data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (116) that the data is the least significant data, the processing is terminated.

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

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the print control device 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, An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 in this embodiment may be performed 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.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,
D-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, etc. can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program code, and the OS (Operating System) running on the computer is executed based on the instructions 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 instructions 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 functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

[0102]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirtieth aspect, in an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, an upper layer data can hold a plurality of lower layer data. When creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure, it is determined whether or not the attributes of a plurality of data in the same layer one level below that held in the data of the upper layer in the scan job data have the same value in any data. If it is determined that they have the same value, a list of information indicating attributes having the same value is stored in the data of the upper layer, or the lower level stored in the data of the upper layer in the scan job data. Determine whether multiple data across different tiers have the same value,
When it is determined that the values are the same, a list of information indicating attributes having the same value is stored in data of a higher layer, or the attribute of a plurality of data is the same value in some data. By judging that there is an attribute and determining the data having the attribute having the same value and storing a list of combinations of the attributes in the data of the upper layer holding the data, the data of the upper layer is stored. When creating scan job data with a hierarchical structure that can hold multiple data in lower layers, the structure for holding duplicate data can be simplified or the data transfer amount can be reduced, and the scan job analysis processing time on the scanner device side can be reduced. It is possible to obtain the processing result of the scan job promptly, greatly shortened, and quickly.

In a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, the data of the upper layer in the acquired scan job is replaced with the data of the lower layer. When analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of data items can be held, in the scan job data to be analyzed, the However, the information representing the list of attributes having the same value is analyzed, and based on the analysis result,
Because the analysis execution of the lower data is skipped, and the attribute value of the lower data not analyzed by the skip is acquired from the analysis result of the upper data or other data and supplemented, or the scan job to be analyzed is In a plurality of data spanning different lower layers held in data of a higher layer in the data, information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, the lower Data analysis execution is skipped, and attribute values of lower data not analyzed by the skip are obtained and supplemented from analysis results of higher data or other data. Duplicate data is simplified or deleted when creating hierarchically structured scan job data that can hold multiple data Since the scan job data is received, redundant attribute analysis processing required for analyzing the received scan job data can be omitted, and the scan job data analysis processing can be speeded up to obtain a normal scan job processing result in a short time. This provides an excellent effect that a scan job processing system capable of being constructed can be freely constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a peripheral device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of hardware resources for a controller illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network system to which the peripheral device shown in FIG. 1 can be applied;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of scan job data having a hierarchical structure processed by a scanner device generated by a client in the personal computer shown in FIG. 3;

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of scan job data having a hierarchical structure processed by a scanner device generated by a client in the personal computer illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a part of the scan job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a part of the scan job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a part of the scan job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a part of the scan job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of the scan job data shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the scanner device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which a print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Controller 2 Communication Interface 3 Scanner Engine 4 Printer Engine 5 FAX Board 6 User Interface

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner device capable of communicating via a network, wherein the upper layer data can hold a plurality of lower layer data. Creating means for creating scan job data having a structure; and in the scan job data created by the creating means, attributes of a plurality of data in the same layer one level below and held in data of an upper layer are the same in any data. And a list of information representing attributes having the same value in the data of the upper layer when the first value is determined to be the same by the first determining means. An information processing apparatus comprising: holding means for holding; 2. An information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner device capable of communicating via a network, wherein the upper layer data can hold a plurality of lower layer data. Creating means for creating scan job data having a structure; and determining whether or not a plurality of data in different lower layers held in data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creating means have the same value. Holding means for holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer when the second determining means determines that the values are the same, An information processing apparatus comprising: 3. A third judging means for judging that attributes of a plurality of data have the same value in some data, and data having an attribute having the same value by the third judging means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit configured to store a list of combinations of information to be determined and attributes thereof in data of an upper layer that stores the data. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit causes the information of the value to be held together with a list of attributes having the same value. 5. When the information of the attribute having the same value is stored in the data of the upper layer, the holding unit can omit the information of the attribute having the same value. The information processing device according to claim 1. 6. A scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, wherein a lower layer is added to data of an upper layer in the acquired scan job. Analysis means for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of pieces of data of the same layer, and a plurality of pieces of data of the same layer one level below which are held in data of an upper layer in scan job data to be analyzed. A control unit for analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data, and skipping the execution of analysis of lower-level data by the analysis unit based on the analysis result; Acquiring means for acquiring and compensating for the value of the attribute of the lower data that has not been performed from the analysis result of the upper data or other data. A scanner device characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. A scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, wherein a lower layer is added to data of an upper layer in the acquired scan job. Analysis means for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data of a plurality of data, and a plurality of data spanning different lower layers held in data of an upper layer in scan job data to be analyzed, A control unit that analyzes information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data, and based on the analysis result, skips analysis execution of lower-level data by the analysis unit; Acquisition means for acquiring and compensating for the value of the attribute of the lower data that did not exist from the analysis result of the upper data or other data, A scanner device comprising: 8. Information indicating a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer,
8. The scanner device according to claim 6, wherein the analysis unit analyzes information indicating the held list. 9. A list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the held list is analyzed by the analysis means. The scanner device as described in the above. 10. The control means determines whether or not the same attribute of other data holds the same value and the value is known from analyzing higher-order data or other data. The scanner device according to claim 6, wherein the execution of analysis of lower-order data by the analysis unit is skipped. 11. A data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner device capable of communicating via a network, wherein a plurality of lower layer data are stored in an upper layer data. A creating step of creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure such that the attributes of a plurality of data in the same layer one level below and one held in data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creating step A first judging step of judging whether or not the data has the same value; and, when the first judging step judges that the data has the same value, a list of information representing attributes having the same value is placed in a higher order. And a holding step of holding the data of the layer. 12. A data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner device capable of communicating via a network, wherein a plurality of lower layer data are stored in a higher layer data. A creating step of creating scan job data having a hierarchical structure as possible, and in the scan job data created by the creating step, a plurality of data in different lower layers held in data of an upper layer have the same value. A second determining step of determining whether the values are the same, and when the values are determined to be the same, a list of information representing attributes having the same value is stored in data of a higher layer. And a holding step. 13. A third judging step of judging that attributes of a plurality of data have the same value in some data, and data having an attribute whose value is the same as a result of the third judging step. 13. The data processing method according to claim 11, further comprising: a holding step of holding a list of combinations of information to be determined and attributes thereof in data of an upper layer holding the data. 14. The data processing method according to claim 11, wherein in the holding step, information of the value is held together with a list of attributes having the same value. 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein the storing step stores information of an attribute having the same value in data of a higher layer.
14. The data processing method according to claim 11, wherein information of an attribute having the same value can be omitted. 16. A data processing method in a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, wherein data of a higher layer in the acquired scan job is provided. An analysis step of analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure that can hold a plurality of data of a lower layer in the same layer; and In a plurality of data, a control step of analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data, and skipping analysis execution of lower-order data by the analysis step based on the analysis result; Analysis of the value of the attribute of the lower data that was not analyzed by the skip by the upper data or other data An acquisition step of acquiring from the result and supplementing the result. 17. A data processing method in a scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing device via a network by communication, wherein data of an upper layer in the acquired scan job is provided. An analysis step of analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure that can hold a plurality of data of lower layers in the scan job data, and a plurality of data that are stored in data of an upper layer in the scan job data to be analyzed and span multiple different lower layers. In the data of the above, a control step of analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data, and skipping the execution of analysis of lower-order data by the analysis step based on the analysis result; The value of the attribute of the lower data that was not analyzed by the skip is changed to the upper data or other data. An acquisition step of acquiring and compensating from the result of the analysis. 18. The information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the analysis step analyzes information indicating the held list. The data processing method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein a list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of an upper layer, and the held list analyzes the held list. Data processing method described. 20. The control step determines whether or not the same attribute of other data holds the same value, and whether the value is known from already analyzing upper data or other data. 18. The data processing method according to claim 16, wherein the execution of analysis of lower-order data in the analysis step is skipped. 21. An information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, wherein the information processing apparatus has a hierarchical structure in which data of an upper layer can hold a plurality of data of a lower layer. A creating step of creating scan job data; and in the scan job data created by the creating step, attributes of a plurality of data of the same layer one level below and held in data of an upper layer have the same value for any data. A first judging step of judging whether or not the same value is determined in the first judging step, a list of information indicating attributes having the same value is held in data of a higher layer A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the holding step. 22. An information processing apparatus capable of submitting a generated scan job to a scanner apparatus capable of communicating via a network, has a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of lower layer data can be stored in an upper layer data. A creating step of creating scan job data; and a step of determining whether a plurality of pieces of data across different lower layers held in data of an upper layer in the scan job data created by the creating step have the same value. And a holding step of holding a list of information representing attributes having the same value in data of a higher layer when it is determined that the values are the same in the second determining step. Computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for recording. 23. A third judging step of judging that attributes of a plurality of data have the same value in some data; and data having an attribute whose value is the same as a result of the third judging step. 23. The storage medium according to claim 21, further comprising: a holding step of holding a list of combinations of information to be determined and attributes thereof in data of a higher layer that holds the data. 24. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said holding step causes the information of the value to be held together with a list of attributes having the same value. 25. The storing step, when information of an attribute having the same value is stored in data of a higher layer,
24. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein information of an attribute having the same value can be omitted. 26. A scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network by communication, wherein data of an upper layer and data of a lower layer are included in the acquired scan job. An analysis step of analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure that can hold a plurality of pieces of data. Analyzing information representing a list of attributes having the same value in the data, based on the analysis result, a control step of skipping the analysis execution of lower-order data by the analysis step, and is not analyzed by the skip by the control step. Acquisition step to acquire and supplement attribute values of lower data from analysis results of higher data or other data And a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program. 27. A scanner device capable of acquiring and processing a scan job generated by an information processing apparatus via a network through communication, wherein data of an upper layer and data of a lower layer in the acquired scan job are provided. Analysis step for analyzing scan job data having a hierarchical structure capable of holding a plurality of data, and which data is included in a plurality of data spanning different lower layers held in data of an upper layer in scan job data to be analyzed. However, based on the analysis result, information representing a list of attributes having the same value is analyzed, and based on the analysis result, a control step of skipping execution of analysis of lower-order data by the analysis step; Acquisition and supplementation of attribute values of lower data from analysis results of higher data or other data A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the obtaining step. 28. Information representing a list of attributes having the same value in any data is stored in data of a higher layer, and the analysis step analyzes information indicating the stored list. The storage medium according to claim 26 or 27, wherein 29. A list of attributes having the same value in any data is held in data of a higher layer, and the held list analyzes the held list. The storage medium according to the above. 30. The control step determines whether the same attribute of other data holds the same value, and whether the value has been determined from analyzing higher-order data or other data. 28. The storage medium according to claim 26, wherein the execution of analysis of lower-order data in the analysis step is skipped.