JP2003348319A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an effective advertisement by outputting an image added with a route from a position of an apparatus to a target position of the advertisement while using a position detected by a means for detecting the position where the apparatus is installed and position information stored in association with an additional image such as an advertising image. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus has: a means for creating a source image; a means for forming the additional image; a means for switching whether or not the additional image is to be formed; and a means for outputting only the source image or the image added with the additional image, and further is provided with: a position detecting means for detecting information on the position where the apparatus is installed; a means for acquiring the position information stored in association with additional image data; a means for searching the route from the install position of the apparatus detected by the detection means to the position associated with the additional image acquired by the acquisition means; a means for forming a route image showing the route resulting from the route search means; and a means for outputting the route image resulting from the route image forming means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an original image,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of further synthesizing a path image when an additional image such as an advertisement image is synthesized and printed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of copying machines, a large number of copying machines having a charging device have been installed in convenience stores and the like. The copier installed in such a place is used by an unspecified number of users. Therefore, if a copy is made and printed with image information such as an advertisement, the advertiser can obtain a predetermined advertisement effect.

In view of such circumstances, a copier capable of additionally printing an advertisement image is provided on a margin or a back surface generated when the read original image is printed on paper, and the advertisement image is added and copied. There have been proposed various image forming apparatuses that charge users and advertisers according to whether or not they have done so.

[0004] This type of image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-9 / 1997.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0832, when a user desires to print an advertisement image and there is a margin in the original image, the user combines the advertisement image with the original image and prints it. Is known to be distributed based on the total number of sheets printed by the user and the number of sheets of the advertisement image synthesized and printed.

[0005] In general, many advertisement images show a map image. For example, a map image for indicating the position of a store to be advertised is included. These maps are map images included in advance in the advertisement image, and the same map image is output regardless of the output from any image processing apparatus. However, if the user of the image processing device is not always familiar with the surroundings, and even if a map around the store is shown, the user does not know where the location is, so that sufficient advertising effect can not be achieved There can be. In such a case, if the route information from the output position of the image processing apparatus is added, it is possible for a user who is not familiar with the surroundings to clarify the way to the store, and to have a higher advertising effect. It is possible.

[0006]

On the other hand, the present inventor searches for a route from the image processing apparatus using the position information of the image processing apparatus set by the user and the position information added to the advertisement. Proposed an image forming apparatus capable of outputting effective advertisement information by adding the route information. However, in this proposal, the user has to set the position of the image processing device, and if the user has not set the position of the image processing device, the route image cannot be added.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and requires a user to set a position by having position detecting means capable of detecting a position where an image processing apparatus is installed. So that there is no Image formation capable of searching for a route from the position of the image processing device detected by the position detecting means to the position given to the advertisement image and adding effective route information by adding route information It is intended to provide a device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an original image generating means for generating original image data; and an additional image receiving means for receiving additional image data via a network. Receiving means, additional image forming means for forming an additional image from the additional image data, switching means for switching whether or not to form an additional image using the additional image receiving means and the additional image forming means,
According to the switching unit, in an image processing apparatus having an output unit that outputs only an original image or an original image with an additional image added thereto, a position detection unit for detecting position information where the image processing device is installed, Acquisition means for acquiring position information stored in association with the additional image data, and path search means for searching for a path from the position of the image processing device set by the setting means to the position acquired by the acquisition means, A route image forming unit that forms a map image indicating the route obtained by the route searching unit; and an output unit that outputs the route image obtained by the route image forming unit.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 2070 serving as an image input device, a printer unit 2095 serving as an image output device, a Controller Unit 2000, an operation unit 2012 serving as a user interface, a fee box 2018 for collecting a fee from a user, and a position detecting unit. GPS receiver 201
Consists of seven. Scanner unit 2070, printer unit 2095,
Operation unit 2012, fee box 2018, GPS receiving unit is C respectively
connected to the ontroller Unit 2000 and the Controller Unit 200
0 is connected to the network 2011.

Further, another image forming apparatus 210 having the same device configuration as the image forming apparatus 200 is connected to the network 2011. The image forming apparatus 210 includes a scanner unit 2170, a printer unit 2195, an operation unit 2112, and a charge box 21.
18, having GPS2117 receiver, they are Controller Unit 2
Connected to 100.

[0011] These image forming apparatuses are copying machines which are usually placed in a convenience store and charge a charge of 10 yen per sheet. Although only two units are illustrated here, any number of digital copiers may be used.

Further, on the network 2011, there is a server 300 for providing an advertisement image. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatuses 200 and 2100 appropriately pull out the advertisement image data from the advertisement image server 300 via the network 2011, and the advertising mode is selected in the operation units 2012 and 2112 of the image processing apparatuses 200 and 210. If it is cheaper than usual, for example 1
A copy including an advertisement image is executed for a fee of 5 yen per sheet. The advertiser will bear 5 yen, which is the difference from the normal copy.

The charge boxes 2018 and 2118 connected to the image processing devices 200 and 210 communicate with the controller and perform processing such as display of charges according to the mode, charge input from the user, balance display, balance return, and the like. . Which advertisement images are output and how many are output are stored in a non-volatile memory in a device (not shown). Then, it is possible to charge the advertiser for the amount of the output advertisement at regular intervals such as one month.

It should be noted that, for example, the fee charged by the user and the fee charged by the advertiser may be changed depending on the size of the advertisement image, whether the image is color or monochrome, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a software block diagram of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1501 denotes a UI, that is, a user interface, which is a module that mediates with devices when an operator performs various operations and settings of the image forming apparatus. This module transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data in accordance with the operation of the operator. 1502 is Addr
The ess-Book is a database module for managing data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like.

The contents of the Address-Book are used to add, delete, and acquire data by operation from the UI 1501 and to provide data transmission / communication destination information to each module described later by the operation of the operator. It is. 1503
Denotes a Web-Server module, which is used to notify management information of the image forming apparatus in response to a request from a Web client (not shown).

The management information includes Universal-Send1504,
Remote-Copy-Print 1510 described later, Remote-Copy-Sc described later
an 1509, read via Controll-API1518 described below, HTTP1512, TCP / IP1516, Network-Driver151 described below
7 to be notified to the web client. 1504 is Univer
sal-Send, that is, a module that manages data distribution,
The data designated by the operator through the UI 1501 is distributed to the communication (output) destination designated in the same manner.

When the operator instructs to use the scanner function of the present apparatus to generate distribution data,
The device is operated via a Control-API 1518 to be described later to generate data. Reference numeral 1505 denotes a module that is executed when a printer is specified as an output destination in the Universal-Send 1504. Reference numeral 1506 denotes a module executed when an E-mail address is specified as a communication destination in the Universal-Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1507 denotes a module which is executed when a database is designated as an output destination in the Universal-Send 1504. Reference numeral 1508 denotes a module that is executed when an image forming apparatus similar to the present apparatus is designated as an output destination in the Universal-Send 1504. 1509 is a Remote-Copy-Scan module,
A module that uses the scanner function of the present image forming apparatus, sets another image forming apparatus connected via a network or the like as an output destination, and performs processing equivalent to the Copy function realized by the present image forming apparatus alone.

Reference numeral 1510 denotes a Remote-Copy-Print module which uses the printer function of the present image forming apparatus, receives another image forming apparatus connected via a network or the like as an input destination, and is realized by the present image forming apparatus alone. This module performs the same processing as the Copy function. Reference numeral 1511 denotes a box module (Box) that stores a scanned image or a PDL print image in the HDD, prints the stored image using the printer function, transmits the image using the Universal-Send function, deletes the document stored in the HDD, and groups (individual BOX) Storage), transfer between BOX, copy between BOX, etc. are provided.

Reference numeral 1512 denotes a module used when the image forming apparatus communicates by HTTP.
The module provides communication to the Web-Server1503 module described above. Reference numeral 1513 denotes an lpr module.
It provides communication to the printer module 1505 in the l-Send 1504. Reference numeral 1514 denotes an SMTP module, which will be described later.
The P / IP 1516 module provides communication to the E-mail module 1506 in the above-mentioned Universal-Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1515 denotes an SLM, that is, a Salutation-Manager module.
Database module 1517 in iversal-Send1504, DP
It provides communication to the module 1518, the Remote-Copy-Scan1509 module, and the Remote-Copy-Print1510 module. Reference numeral 1516 denotes a TCP / IP communication module which provides network communication to the above-described various modules by using a Network-Driver described later. Reference numeral 1517 denotes a network driver which controls a portion physically connected to the network.

Reference numeral 1518 denotes a Control-API, which is a Universal-Se
Job-Manager1 described later for upstream modules such as nd1504
It provides an interface with downstream modules such as 519, and reduces dependencies between upstream and downstream modules and enhances their applicability. 1519 is
It is Job-Manager and Control from various modules mentioned above.
It interprets the processing instructed via the l-API 1518 and gives an instruction to each module described later.

This module is for centrally managing hardware processes executed in the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 1520 denotes a CODEC-Manager, which manages and controls various types of data compression / decompression in the processing instructed by the Job-Manager 1519. 1521 is FBE-Encoder, Job-Manag
er1519, which compresses data read by the scan processing executed by the Scan-Manager 1524 in the FBE format.

Reference numeral 1522 denotes a JPEG-CODEC, and Job-Manager 151
9, scan processing executed by Scan-Manager 1524,
In the print processing executed by the Print-Manager 1526, JPEG compression of the read data and
It performs JPEG expansion processing. Reference numeral 1523 denotes an MMR-CODEC, which performs MMR compression of the read data and MMR decompression processing of the print data in the scan processing performed by the Job-Manager 1519 and the Scan-Manager 1524 and the print processing performed by the Print-Manager 1526. Things.

Reference numeral 1524 denotes a Scan-Manager, and Job-Manager 1
It manages and controls the scan processing designated by 519. Reference numeral 1525 denotes a SCSI driver for communicating between the Scan-Manager 1524 and the scanner unit internally connected to the image forming apparatus. 1526 is Print-Manager, Job
-Manager 1519 manages and controls the printing process instructed. 1527 is an Engine-I / F driver, Print-Mana
It provides an interface between the ger1526 and the printing unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus. The Controller Unit 2000 is connected to the scanner 2070, which is an image input device, and the printer 2095, which is an image output device.
51 is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information by connecting. The CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system.

The RAM 2002 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 2002, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. HDD2004
Is a hard disk drive, system software,
Stores image data. The operation unit I / F 2006 is the operation unit (UI) 201
2 and the interface unit output image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012.

Further, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user of this system from the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001. Network
2010 is connected to LAN2011 to input and output information. Modem20
50 is connected to a public line 2051 to input and output information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 2007. Image
Bus I / F 2005 is a bus bridge that connects a system bus 2007 and an image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts a data structure. Image bus 2008 is PCI bus or I
It consists of EEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 2008.

The raster image processor (RIP) 2060 is a P
Expand DL code into bitmap image. device
The I / F unit 2020 is a scanner 2070 that is an image input / output device.
And the printer 2095 and the controller 2000 are connected to perform synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data.

The image compression section 2040 converts the multi-valued image data into JPE
G, binary image data undergoes JBIG, MMR, and MH compression / expansion processing. Price box 20 for the user to enter a fee
16 is system bus 20 via serial interface 2015
Connected to 07, communication is performed to reduce the balance due to copying. GPS2017 has an antenna that receives signals from GPS satellites, and detects the position where the image processing device is installed based on the received signals.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus. A scanner unit 2070, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert the image into raster image data 2071 into an electric signal. The manuscript paper is set on the tray 2073 of the manuscript feeder 2072, and when the apparatus user instructs reading and starting from the operation unit 2012, the controller CPU 2001 causes the scanner 2070 to operate.
(2071), and the feeder 2072 feeds the original sheets one by one and performs an operation of reading the original image.

Printer unit 2095 as an image output device
Is a part that converts raster image data 2096 to an image on paper.The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array to directly print an image on paper. There is an ink jet system for printing, but any system may be used. The start of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and includes paper cassettes 2101, 2102, and 2103 corresponding thereto. The paper discharge tray 2111 receives printed paper.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the operation unit 2012. The LCD display unit 2013 has a touch panel sheet 2019 affixed on the LCD, displays an operation screen and soft keys of the system, and transmits the position information to the controller CPU 2001 when a displayed key is pressed. The start key 2014 is used to start an original image reading operation. In the center of the start key 2014, there is a two-color LED 2018 of green and red,
The color indicates whether the start key 2014 is ready for use. The stop key 2015 serves to stop a running operation. The ID key 2016 is used to input a user ID of a user. The reset key 2017 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, a control CPU 2001 includes a program ROM 2003 and a 2004 HDD.
System bus based on control programs stored in
It controls overall access to various devices connected to 2007, reads input information from the scanner 2070 connected via the image input unit interface 2071, and sends it to the printing unit 2095 connected via the printing unit interface 2096. An image signal is output as output information.

Reference numeral 2002 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 2001. User input is received from the touch panel of 2019 and the hard keys of 2014 to 2017, and the operation content is obtained via the operation input unit I / F 20061. Display screen data is generated in the CPU 2001 based on the acquired operation content and the above-described control program,
Output device controller that controls screen output devices
A display screen is output to a screen output device 2013 such as an LCD or a CRT via the 20062.

Next, a method for detecting the position of the image processing apparatus by GPS will be described with reference to FIG. Originally, GPS was originally a system concept for military use centered on the US Department of Defense, but GPS
Since satellites can be used to measure positions anywhere on the earth, many private uses, such as car navigation systems, are currently being used.

The GPS satellite is composed of a total of 24 satellites each having 4 satellites arranged in 6 orbits. Satellites should be at altitudes to provide visibility over a wide area on the earth and to be unaffected by the atmosphere.
It orbits about 20,200 km with a cycle of about 12 hours. The orbit is set so that four GPS satellites can always be seen from anywhere on the earth.

From the GPS satellites, together with an ID signal unique to each satellite, signals such as satellite orbit information, signals related to time, and the like,
Sent regularly. The GPS receiving unit of the image processing device 301 receives this signal, and obtains distances r1, r2, and r3 from the satellites 302, 303, and 304, respectively, from the time until the signal from the satellite reaches the GPS receiver. The orbit of the satellite is calculated from the orbit information included in the signal from the satellite, and the positions of the GPS satellites 302, 303, and 304 are obtained. The image processing device is located at three satellites 302, 303, 304
Since the distance from is r1, r2, r3, the radius r1, r
It can be obtained as the intersection of three spheres with 2, r3.

Touch panel 2019 or hard key 2014 ~
When the mode for confirming the position information is instructed from 2017, the screen shown in FIG. On this screen, the user can check the position information detected by GPS. At 401, latitude is displayed at latitude 402, respectively.

Next, means for adding a route image will be described. When the additional image receiving unit receives the image, the additional image receiving unit inquires of the advertisement image server whether or not position information is added to the received additional image. The advertisement image server returns the position information if the position information is registered in response to the inquiry, and notifies that the position information is not registered if the position information is not registered in the image. The image processing apparatus obtains position information, for example, “East 123.45.67”.

Position information received from the advertisement image server;
The installation position information of the image processing device detected by the GPS is passed to the route searching means. The route searching means searches a route from the installation position of the image processing device to the position received from the advertisement image server based on the map information stored in a storage device such as a hard disk. Route search, HDD2004 and ROM
This is realized by the CPU 2001 reading and executing the program code stored in 2003. The search method is used in a car navigation system and the like, and is well-known and will not be described in detail here. The searched route is added to the map data with a thick line or color, and a route image is generated. The received additional image and the route image are added to the margin of the original image, the back side, or another sheet, and output.

Next, the operation when copying is performed by the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 601, the user sets an advertisement mode.
In step 602, the charge corresponding to the mode is displayed on the charge display section of the charge box. When the fee is entered, the user can set various copy modes and press the start key. When the user sets an original and presses down the start key (step 603), the advertisement mode is determined in step 604.
Proceed to 605, and if there is an advertisement, proceed to step 606.

In step 605, a normal copy operation for reading the original by the original reading device and copying the original image is performed. If the advertisement mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 606 to acquire an advertisement image from the advertisement image server. Subsequently, in step 607, the advertisement server is inquired of the position information.
As a result of the inquiry, if the positional information related to the received image is not registered, the process proceeds to step 610. If the position information has been registered, the process proceeds to step 609. Step 609
In, a route search is performed from the detected installation position information of the image processing apparatus and the position information received from the advertisement image server.
In steps 610 and 611, the position (margin, back side, another sheet) where the advertisement image and the map image are added is determined based on the sizes of the original image, the advertisement image, and the map image. Steps
At 612, an advertisement image is added to the original image and output. In step 613, a map image is further added and output.

FIG. 10 shows an output example when an advertisement image and a map image are added. In this example, the advertisement image and the map image are added to the blank portion of the original image and output.
701 is an original image, 702 is an advertisement image, and 703 is a map image.

The advertisement image is not acquired from the advertisement image server every time there is a print request with advertisement, but is acquired in advance and stored in a storage device such as a hard disk in the image processing apparatus, and the image data is read therefrom. May be read.

The advertisement image server is inquired as to whether or not the advertisement image data has been changed. If the change has been made, the advertisement image data is acquired from the advertisement image server, and if not changed, stored in the image processing apparatus. It may be configured to use data.

Instead of searching for the route information every time a request is made, map information including the route information may be stored in a storage device in the image processing apparatus and read out therefrom. .

In the first embodiment, the apparatus is configured to have the route search unit inside the device. However, the route search server is provided outside the image processing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus communicates with the route search server. It is also possible to configure so as to obtain route information. This is a second embodiment. FIG. 11 shows the second
An embodiment will be described.

The image processing apparatus is the same as the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment except for the route search unit, and will not be described in detail here. Image processing devices 200 and 210 are route search servers
400 and connected via network 2011. The image processing device extracts the advertisement image from the advertisement image server 300 and checks whether or not the position information is added to the advertisement image, and if so, extracts the position information. If the position information has been added, the image processing apparatus accesses the route search server 400, and sends the position information of the image processing apparatus detected by GPS and the position information added to the advertisement data. The route search server performs a route search between the two sent locations based on the map information stored in the server.
Image data in which the route of the search result is added to the map image is sent to the image processing device. The image processing device adds the sent map image data and outputs it.

In the second embodiment, the route search section is not provided in each image processing apparatus, and a common route search server is used by a plurality of image processing apparatuses on the network, so that the map data used for the route search can be easily updated. As long as the map information of the route search server is kept up to date, the latest route information can always be added.

In the first and second embodiments, the GPS is used as the position detecting means. However, a position information service of a mobile phone or a PHS can be used instead of the GPS. This is a third embodiment.

The third embodiment has a portable telephone function or a PHS function instead of the GPS 2017 shown in FIG. Mobile phones and PHS always communicate with a plurality of base stations, and their positions can be detected from the intensity of radio waves from each base station.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a function of adding an additional image received from a network to an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, a printer, a scanner, and the like, and an image processing apparatus are provided. By providing a function to detect the position where the image processing device is located and a function to search for a route from the installation position of the image processing device and the position information added to the advertisement image data, and to add a map image to which the route is added, the advertisement effect is improved. It is possible to perform high advertising. The advertiser only needs to store the position information together with the advertisement image data in the advertisement server, and provides an advertisement to which the path information from the image processing devices installed at various positions is added to the user of the image processing device. Is possible.

Further, by updating the map information used for the route search, the latest route information can be automatically output even when there is a change such as the opening of a new road.

Further, since the installation position is automatically detected by the position detecting means, even when the installation position of the image processing apparatus is changed, a route from the new installation position is automatically added.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration inside a controller unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an input / output device of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an external view of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining GPS.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a position information confirmation screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when adding an advertisement image and a map image.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image to which an advertisement image and a map image are added.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

200, 210 Image forming apparatus 300 Ad Server 2000, 2100 Controller Unit 2011 Network 2012, 2112 operation unit 2017, 2117 GPS 2018, 2195 Price box 2070, 2170 Scanner 2095, 2195 Printer

Continuation of front page    F term (reference) 2C032 HB03 HB15 HB22 HB31 HC27                       HC32 HD16                 5C062 AA05 AA13 AA14 AA16 AA35                       AB22 AB41 AB42 AB53 AC04                       AC24 AC58 AE15 AF08 BB02                 5C076 AA13 BA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An original image generating means for generating original image data, an additional image receiving means for receiving additional image data via a network, an additional image forming means for forming an additional image from the additional image data, Switching means for switching whether or not to form an additional image using the additional image receiving means and the additional image forming means, and output means for outputting only the original image or a result of adding the additional image to the original image according to the switching means In the image processing apparatus having: the position detecting means for detecting the position information where the image processing apparatus is installed, the obtaining means for obtaining the position information stored in association with the additional image data, the setting by the setting means A route searching means for searching for a route from the position of the image processing apparatus obtained to the position obtained by the obtaining means; The image processing apparatus characterized by comprising: a route image forming means for forming a map image showing the route obtained by the search means, and output means for outputting the route image obtained by the route image forming means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting means is a GPS (Global Posit
2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an ion processing system. 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said position detecting means is a mobile phone. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original image generating unit is a document reading unit. 5. An original image generation means, comprising: communication means for performing communication by connecting to a computer external to the apparatus; and raster image generation means for generating a raster image based on data transmitted via the communication means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: generating an original image based on data transmitted from the computer. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data received by the communication unit is a page description language, and the raster image generation unit performs raster image development of the page description language.