JP2002112000A - Image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system capable of making compatible an increase in the image quality of an output image and a reduction in a processing time and a load of a network. SOLUTION: Image area designation means 102 designates a specific image area in a copy image based on image area designation information. External memory designation means 103 designates an external memory 120 storing original image data in correspondence to the specific image area based on external memory designation information. When a print mode is set to a high image quality mode and the external memory is designated by the external memory designation means 103, access control means 105 accesses the external memory. On the other hand, when the print mode is set to a high-speed mode or the external memory is not designated by the external memory designation means 103, control is carried out so as not to access the external memory. Print means 107 replaces a part of the specific image area among input image data with original image data fetched by external memory access means 104 to form an output image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming system that has two print modes, a high-quality mode and a high-speed mode, and forms an image in accordance with a print mode setting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-2329222 discloses that the state of a plurality of image output devices connected to a network is detected and the size and the image quality are determined at the time of printing. And a technique for setting priority on any one of the throughputs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-151836 discloses a technique for compressing print data and transmitting the compressed print data to a printing apparatus.

However, these devices communicate and process image data of the entire document surface, and process not only data of a necessary image area in the document surface but also data of an unnecessary image region. . For this reason, when the high image quality mode is set, there is a problem that the processing time is significantly increased in exchange for the improvement of the image quality of the output image. Generally speaking, making the output image high quality and shortening the processing time (high-speed output) are mutually contradictory technologies. Further, in the related art, since image data on the entire original surface is communicated and processed for each original, there is a problem that a load on a network increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system which has two print modes, a high image quality mode and a high speed mode, and forms an image in accordance with the print mode setting. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can achieve both reduction in processing time and reduction in network load.

[0005]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for reading an original image to obtain input image data.
An image area specifying means for specifying a specific image area in the document image based on the image area specifying information; and an external storage device storing original image data corresponding to the specific image area based on the external storage device specifying information. An external storage device designating unit, and an external storage device for accessing the external storage device designated by the external storage device designating unit via a network and extracting original image data corresponding to the specific image area from the external storage device When the access unit and the print mode are set to the high image quality mode, and the external storage device is specified by the external storage device specification unit,
While accessing the external storage device by the external storage device access means, when the print mode is set to the high-speed mode or when there is no designation of the external storage device by the external storage device designation means, the external storage device access Access control means for controlling not to access the external storage device by the means; and when the external storage device access means retrieves the original image data from the external storage device, the identification of the input image data obtained from the original image The image processing apparatus further includes a print unit that forms an output image by replacing the image area with the original image data extracted by the external storage device access unit.

In the image forming system according to the first aspect, first, the image reading means reads an original image to obtain input image data. Next, the image area specifying means specifies a specific image area in the document image based on the image area specifying information. At the same time, the external storage device specifying means specifies the external storage device storing the original image data corresponding to the specific image area based on the external storage device specification information. When there is no external storage device that stores the original image data corresponding to the specific image area on the network,
The external storage device designation means does not designate an external storage device.

The access control means controls the access to the external storage device by the external storage device access means when the print mode is set to the high image quality mode and the external storage device designation means designates the external storage device. I do. In response, the external storage device access means:
The external storage device designated by the external storage device designation means is accessed via a network, and the original image data corresponding to the specific image area is extracted from the external storage device. When the external storage device access unit retrieves the original image data from the external storage device, the printing unit retrieves the specific image area portion of the input image data obtained from the document image by the external storage device access unit. An output image is formed by replacing the original image data. Therefore, even when a so-called generation copy in which a copy is further performed from a copy image is performed, the specific image area is output using the original image data stored in the external storage device. Output image is obtained. At this time, since the original image data retrieved from the external storage device by the external storage device access means does not correspond to the entire original image but corresponds to a specific image area in the original image, the processing time is greatly increased. And the network load does not increase significantly.

On the other hand, when the print mode is set to the high-speed mode or when the external storage device is not designated by the external storage device designation unit, the access control unit accesses the external storage device by the external storage device access unit. Is performed. At this time, the printing means forms an output image without replacing the input image data obtained from the original image with other data. Therefore, the processing time does not increase, and the load on the network does not increase.

As a result, according to this image forming system, it is possible to achieve both high image quality of an output image, reduction of processing time, and reduction of network load.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the document image includes a watermark image representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information. And a watermark information recognizing means for recognizing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information from the watermark image of the document image read by the image reading means.

Here, the "watermark image" refers to other information embedded in the original image by intentionally changing a part or the whole of the image (original image). In many cases, it indicates information about the creator of the original image, etc., and is used to assert the right to an image that has been illegally used or copied. Here, the image area designation information and the external storage device are used. Indicates the specified information.

In the image forming system according to the second aspect, the document image includes a watermark image representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information. The watermark information recognizing means recognizes the image area specifying information and the external storage device specifying information from the watermark image of the document image read by the image reading means. Therefore, the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information can be obtained simply and reliably without bothering the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the document image includes a bar code representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information. And bar code information recognizing means for recognizing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information from the bar code of the document image read by the image reading means.

In the image forming system according to the third aspect, the document image includes a bar code representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information. The bar code information recognizing means recognizes the image area specifying information and the external storage device specifying information from the bar code of the document image read by the image reading means. Therefore, the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information can be obtained simply and reliably without bothering the user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system of the first aspect, editor means for allowing a user to input and specify a specific image area in the document image, and the external storage device An operation panel input means for inputting designation information by a user is provided.

In the image forming system according to the fourth aspect, the user can input and specify the specific image area in the original image by the editor means, and can input the external storage device specification information by the operation panel input means.
Therefore, the user can freely specify the specific image area in the document image and the external storage device storing the original image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the print mode can be set for each user.

The "user" may be an individual,
For example, it may be a department of a company.

In the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, since the print mode can be set for each user, convenience for the user is improved.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 to which the present invention is applied and which is connected to a server 120 as an external storage device via a network 110. The image forming apparatus 100 has two print modes, a high image quality mode and a high speed mode, and forms an output image from a document image according to the print mode setting.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the original image 10 to be processed, a landscape (mountain and sun) is copied in an upper area 11 as a specific image area.
A watermark image 12 representing image area designation information and server designation information is embedded in a lower area of the document image 10. Here, the image area designation information is information for designating a specific image area in a document image, and the server designation information is information for designating a server that stores original image data corresponding to the specific image area. The server 120 on the network 110 stores various original image data. In this example, the server 120 stores the original image data corresponding to the upper area 11 of the original image 10, that is, the original image 1
It is assumed that the original data of the copy (landscape) represented in the upper area 11 of 0 is also stored.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 101 and a watermark information recognizing unit 1.
09, image area specifying means 102, and server specifying means 1
03, server access means 104, server access control means 105, print mode setting means 106,
A print unit 107. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a touch panel display 20.
1, an operation panel 200 having a keyboard 202 and a start key 203, and a touch panel display 3
01 and a display editor 300 as editor means having a pen 302.

The image reading means 101 is composed of a known type scanner for scanning a document surface, and optically reads a document image to obtain input image data.

The server access means 104 has a function of communicating with a server and various terminals (not shown) via the network 110.

The print mode setting means 106 sets the print mode of the image forming apparatus to one of a high image quality mode and a high speed mode. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, first, a message “Please select a print mode setting priority mode”, a speed priority key K1, and an image priority key K2 are displayed on the touch panel display 201 on the operation panel 200. And are displayed. Then, when the user presses the speed priority key K1, the high-speed mode is set, and when the user presses the image priority key K2, the high-quality mode is set.

FIG. 2 shows a flow from the start to the end (S201 to S211) of the copy processing by the image forming apparatus 100.

When the user presses the start key 203 on the operation panel 200, the following copy processing is started (S201). That is, first, the image reading unit 101
Performs a scanning operation to optically read a document image to be processed to obtain input image data (S202).

Next, the watermark information recognizing means 109 determines whether or not the watermark image is included in the original image (S203). Here, if the original image is the original image 10 as shown in FIG. 3A, it is determined that the watermark image 12 is included. Then, the watermark information recognizing unit 109 recognizes the image area designation information and the server designation information from the watermark image 12 of the document image 10 (S204).
In this example, information (including a position, a range, and the like) for designating the upper region 11 of the document image 10 is recognized as the image region designation information. Also, as server designation information, a server 1 storing original image data corresponding to the upper area 11 thereof from among servers and various terminals on the network 110.
Recognize information (including a holder name, a file name, etc.) for designating 20. Thus, the watermark information recognition means 1
Since 09 recognizes the image region designation information and the server designation information, the image region designation information and the server designation information can be obtained easily and reliably without bothering the user. The image area designating means 102 designates a specific image area in the upper area 11 of the document image 10 based on the image area designating information, and the server designating means 103 designates an original The server 120 storing the image data is designated.

When there is a designation of the server 120 by the server designation means 103 (YES in S205), the server access control means 105 determines whether the print mode is a high quality (quality priority) mode or a high speed (speed priority) mode. Is determined (S206). Here, when the print mode is set to the high image quality mode, the server access control unit 105 controls the server access unit 104 to access the server 120. In response,
The server access unit 104 accesses the server 120 specified by the server specifying unit 103 via the network 110, and extracts the original image data corresponding to the upper area 11 from the server 120 (S207). When the server access unit 104 retrieves the original image data from the server 120, the printing unit 107 replaces the upper area 11 of the input image data obtained from the document image with the original image data retrieved by the server access unit 104. (S
208), an output image is formed from the replaced image data (entire) (S210). Therefore, even when a so-called generation copy in which a copy is further made from a copy image is made, the upper region 11 is
Since the output is performed using the original image data stored in the server 120, a high-quality output image can be obtained. At this time, the original image data retrieved by the server access unit 104 from the server 120 does not correspond to the entire original image 10 but corresponds to the upper region 11 of the original image 10, so that the processing time greatly increases. And the load on the network 110 does not increase significantly.

On the other hand, when the watermark image is not included in the document image to be processed (NO in S203), and even when the watermark image is included in the document image, the server 120 specifies the specific image area of the document image. Is not stored (NO in S205), the server specifying unit 103 does not specify the server 120. Then, when there is no designation of the server 120 by the server designation unit 103, the server access control unit 105 performs control not to access the server 120 by the server access unit 104. Also, when the print mode is set to the high image quality mode (NO in S206), the server access control unit 105 performs control so that the server access unit 104 does not access the server 120. At this time, the printing unit 107 forms an output image from the input image data (read image data) without replacing the input image data obtained from the original image with other data (S209, S210). Therefore, the processing time does not increase, and the load on the network 110 does not increase.

As a result, according to this image forming system, it is possible to achieve both high image quality of the output image, reduction of the processing time, and reduction of the load on the network 110.

In the above example, as shown in FIG.
Although the watermark image 12 is embedded in the document image 10 to be processed, it is a matter of course that the watermark image 12 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a barcode 13 representing image area designation information and server designation information may be included instead of the watermark image 12. In this case, however, bar code information for recognizing image area designation information and server designation information from the bar code 13 of the document image 10 read by the image reading means 101 instead of the watermark information recognition means 109 shown in FIG. Recognition means is provided. Also in this case, the image area designation information and the server designation information can be obtained simply and reliably without bothering the user. The point is that it is sufficient that the image area specifying information and the server specifying information are included in the original image 10 in some form, and these can be extracted from the input image data of the original image 10 read by the image reading unit 101.

On the other hand, when the user desires,
The user can also directly input the image area designation information and the server designation information. That is, the display editor 300 displays the document image 10 read by the image reading unit 101 on the touch panel display 301. The user draws a closed area 311 on the touch panel display 301 with the pen 302 as a specific image area. As a result, image area designation information can be obtained by a known method. Further, the user can directly input the server designation information using the keyboard 202 as an operation panel input unit on the operation panel. In this case, the user can relatively freely select the specific image area in the original image and the server.

If the print mode can be set for each user, the convenience of the user is improved.

In this embodiment, the external storage device is the server 120. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The external storage device only needs to store the original image data in a readable manner.

[0037]

As is clear from the above, according to the image forming systems of the first to fifth aspects, it is possible to achieve both high image quality of output images, reduction of processing time and reduction of network load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of an image forming apparatus connected to a server via a network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a copy process performed by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a document image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print mode setting screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 image forming apparatus 120 server 200 operation panel 300 display editor

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03G 21/00 396 G06T 1/00 500B 5C076 G06T 1/00 500 G03G 21/00 382 F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HJ06 HM01 HM03 HN20 HQ17 2C087 BA03 BB10 BB11 BC18 BD07 BD40 2C187 BH19 2H027 EE08 EJ04 EJ15 FA30 FA35 FB05 FD01 FD03 FD08 ZA07 5B057 AA11 CA12 CA16 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 5C076 AA01 BA0304

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading means for reading an original image to obtain input image data; an image area specifying means for specifying a specific image area in the original image based on the image area specifying information; External storage device specifying means for specifying an external storage device that stores original image data corresponding to the specific image area, and accessing the external storage device specified by the external storage device specifying device via a network, External storage device access means for retrieving the original image data corresponding to the specific image area from the storage device, and when the print mode is set to high image quality mode and the external storage device designation means is designated by the external storage device designation means While the external storage device is accessed by the external storage device access means, the print mode is Access control means for controlling not to access the external storage device by the external storage device access means when the external storage device is specified by the external storage device designation means or when the external storage device designation means is not designated; When the storage device access means retrieves the original image data from the external storage device, the specific image area portion of the input image data obtained from the original image is replaced with the original image data retrieved by the external storage device access means. An image forming system comprising printing means for forming an output image. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the document image includes a watermark image representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information, and the image reading unit reads the watermark image. An image forming system comprising a watermark information recognizing means for recognizing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information from a watermark image of a document image. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the original image includes a bar code representing the image area designation information and the external storage device designation information, and the image reading unit reads the bar code. An image forming system comprising a bar code information recognizing means for recognizing the image area specifying information and the external storage device specifying information from a bar code of a document image. 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an editor means for inputting and specifying a specific image area in the document image, and a user inputting the external storage device specifying information. An image forming system comprising an operation panel input unit. 5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the print mode can be set for each user.