JP2004243573A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of printing the content displayed on the panel without re-displaying the content by converting it to a PDF file to store the same as a data base and also printing the PDF file even from another printer without relying on a device in which the PDF file is stored by storing the PDF file in the data base on a network. <P>SOLUTION: A host computer 1 transmits the printing data, which is present on the network such as an LAN or the like and formed by a printer driver or the like, to a printer 2. In the printer 2, the printing data is received by a printer controller 3 and subjected to predetermined processing to form an image in an image printing part 4 (printer engine). Further, an engine control part 5 controls the operation of the printer engine and also controls the operation of a paper feed means, a double-side paper feed means, a paper delivery means, a control panel or the like if necessary. In the network 6, a device such as a host computer, a printer, a copier, a facsimile or the like is arbitrarily connected to the network 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus connected to a network such as the Internet, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having a display unit for displaying operation details, advertisements, and information obtained by a user from the Internet, and a printing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional printing apparatus, the purpose of an image displayed on the display unit is only to be visually recognized by a user on the spot.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, the screen displayed on the display unit cannot be saved as a file by the user, and the displayed content is displayed on the display unit again, which is troublesome.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the contents displayed on the display unit are stored in the form of an electronic file so that the contents can be reused.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer which exists on a network such as a LAN and transmits print data created by a printer driver or the like to two printers. In the printer device of 2, the print data is received by the printer controller of 3, and after predetermined processing, the image is formed by the image printing section (printer engine) of 4. Further, the engine control unit 5 controls the operation of the printer engine, and controls the operation of a sheet feeding unit, a double-sided sheet feeding unit, a sheet discharging unit, a control panel, and the like as necessary. Reference numeral 6 denotes a network, which indicates that devices such as a host computer, a printer, a copier, and a facsimile are arbitrarily connected to the device.
[0006]
The figure shows a printer controller. Since the present invention relates to a printer controller, its operation will be described below.
[0007]
The printer controller 3 receives the print data sent from the one host computer. Reference numeral 11 denotes a reception buffer for recording print data transmitted from the host computer. Reference numeral 12 denotes an image forming unit which converts received print data into image data of a bitmap image and transfers the image data to an image printing unit 4.
[0008]
Reference numeral 13 denotes an image display unit / operation unit. In the printing apparatus, copy functions such as copy number designation, enlargement / reduction designation, paper feed port designation, double-sided print designation, network designation such as IP address and subnet mask, and initial supply are provided. A printing function such as paper port designation and smoothing designation, or a browser function such as a Web page using the network is realized. The image display / operation unit 13 is capable of not only displaying various images but also specifying various settings by touching the screen with a touch panel function or the like. In addition, information from the Internet is displayed by a built-in or externally mounted network card (not shown) in accordance with an operation on the operation unit.
[0009]
FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2 show examples of screen display. FIG. 3-1 shows a selection screen for various settings of the printing apparatus. Normally, such a screen is displayed to make settings according to the user's use situation and preferences. FIG. 3B is an example of a screen on which a map is displayed by the browse function.
[0010]
Reference numeral 14 denotes a display processing unit which manages image data displayed on the image display unit / operation unit 13 and performs processing according to the content of the operation. If there is a command to print the currently displayed image on the image display / operation unit, the image data is sent to the 12 image forming units, and if there is a command to create a PDF file, 15 PDF files are created. Send the image data to the module. The fifteen PDF file conversion modules have a function of converting image data sent from the fourteen display processing units into a PDF file. Then, the converted PDF file is registered in 16 databases. The 16 database is a readable and writable recording medium such as a hard disk in the printing apparatus.
[0011]
Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer controller 3 from the display of the screen to the printing of the screen, the creation of the PDF file, and the like, which will be described below.
[0012]
First, in step 101 (displayed as “S101” in the figure; the same applies hereinafter), the screen is displayed on the screen display unit / operation unit. If an instruction to print the screen being displayed is issued in step 102, the display screen is displayed in step 103. Whether or not to save to a PDF file is displayed on the screen display unit / operation unit 13 to allow the user to select. If it is only printing of the display screen, it is printed (step 107) and the processing is terminated. However, if the display screen is to be converted into PDF and saved, the screen display sent from the display processing unit 14 in step 104 is next sent. Is converted into a PDF file by the PDF file conversion module 15. Thereafter, in step 105, the user inputs the file name of the converted PDF file on the screen display unit / operation unit 13 to be stored in the database 16. In this case, the input of the file name may be realized by temporarily switching the display screen to the keyboard layout screen. Further, when there is no input by the user for a specific time (for example, 10 minutes), as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a function of stopping the file saving operation and the printing operation may be provided.
[0013]
In step 106, the PDF file is stored in 16 databases under the file name input in step 105. Finally, at step 107, the display screen is printed.
[0014]
As the reprinting of the file saved in step 106, for example, from "execute various functions" in FIG. Specify a file name. The display processing unit 14 obtains the designated file from the database 16 by designating and pressing the “print” button or the like, and sends it to the image forming unit 12, where a normal printing operation is performed.
[0015]
(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 shows a printer controller. Since the present embodiment relates to a printer controller, its operation will be described below.
[0016]
The printer controller 3 receives the print data sent from the one host computer. Reference numeral 21 denotes a reception buffer for recording print data transmitted from the host computer. Reference numeral 22 denotes an image forming unit which converts received print data into image data of a bitmap image, and transfers the image data to the image printing unit 4.
[0017]
Reference numeral 23 denotes an image display unit / operation unit. In the printing apparatus, copying functions such as copy number designation, enlargement / reduction designation, paper feed port designation, double-sided printing designation, network designation such as IP address and subnet mask, and initial supply A printing function such as paper port designation and smoothing designation, or a browser function such as a Web page using the network is realized. The image display section / operation section 23 not only displays various images, but also allows the user to specify various settings by touching the screen with a touch panel function or the like. In addition, information from the Internet is displayed by a built-in or externally mounted network card (not shown) in accordance with an operation on the operation unit.
[0018]
Reference numeral 24 denotes a display processing unit, which manages image data displayed on the image display unit / operation unit 23 and performs processing corresponding to the operated content. If there is a command to print the image being displayed on the image display / operation unit, the image data is sent to the 22 image forming units, and if there is a command to create a PDF file, 25 files are created. Send the image data to the module. Here, as a point different from the first embodiment, information obtained from the Internet (for example, a Web page or the like) also includes character information. In the first embodiment, the display data to be sent to the PDF filing module is bitmap data for display. In the present embodiment, however, the character information is “initialized” as information in a device managed internally. And the character data is transferred to the 25 PDF file conversion modules together with the font. Here, it is referred to as “page data” for convenience.
[0019]
The 25 PDF file conversion module has a function of converting the page data sent from the 24 display processing unit into a PDF file. Then, the converted PDF file is registered in 26 databases. The database 26 is a readable and writable recording medium such as a hard disk in the printing apparatus.
[0020]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the present embodiment.
[0021]
First, in step 201, a command is displayed on the screen display / operation unit 23, and in step 202, when an instruction to print the screen being displayed is issued, in step 203, it is determined whether the display screen is to be saved in a PDF file. It is displayed on the display / operation unit and the user is allowed to make a selection. If the display screen is merely printing, the printing is completed (step 209) and the process is terminated. However, if the display screen is to be converted into PDF and stored, whether character information is included in the display screen to be printed next in step 204 The display processing unit 24 determines whether or not it is. If it is determined that character information is included in the display screen, the font information and character information are stored in step 205 according to the setting of the “initial font” stored in another recording medium. To the page data. In step 206, the page data sent from the display processing unit 24 is converted into a PDF file by the PDF file conversion module 25. Then, in step 207, the user inputs the file name of the converted PDF file to be stored in the database 26 on the screen display unit / operation unit 23. In this case, the input of the file name may be realized by temporarily switching the display screen to the keyboard layout screen. Further, when there is no input by the user for a specific time (for example, 10 minutes), as in the first embodiment, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a function to stop the file saving operation and the printing operation is provided. You may.
[0022]
In step 208, the PDF file is stored in 16 databases under the file name input in step 207. Finally, in step 209, the display screen is printed.
[0023]
As in the first embodiment, the reprinting of the file saved in step 206 includes, for example, changing the “execute various functions” in FIG. A part 23 is selected, and a specific file name is specified there. The display processing unit 24 obtains the specified file from the database 26 in response to the specification and pressing of the “print” button or the like, and sends it to the image forming unit 22, where a normal printing operation is performed.
[0024]
FIG. 8A shows an example in which a bitmap image data is converted into a PDF file, and FIG. 8B shows an example in which font information (designated by Courier in the figure) + page data with character information is converted into a PDF file.
[0025]
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 shows an overall conceptual diagram of the present embodiment, and FIG. 10 shows a configuration diagram of a printer controller 3 representing the present embodiment. The operation will be described below.
[0026]
The printer controller 3 receives the print data sent from the host computer (PC) 1 in FIG. Reference numeral 31 denotes a reception buffer for recording print data transmitted from the host computer. Reference numeral 32 denotes an image forming unit which converts received print data into image data of a bitmap image and transfers the image data to the image printing unit 4.
[0027]
Reference numeral 33 denotes an image display / operation unit. In the printing apparatus, copying functions such as copy number designation, enlargement / reduction designation, paper feed port designation, double-sided printing designation, network designation such as IP address and subnet mask, and initial supply are provided. A printing function such as paper port designation and smoothing designation, or a browser function such as a Web page using the network is realized. The image display / operation unit 33 not only displays various images, but also allows the user to specify various settings by touching the screen with a touch panel function or the like. In addition, information from the Internet is displayed by a built-in or externally mounted network card (not shown) in accordance with an operation on the operation unit.
[0028]
Reference numeral 34 denotes a display processing unit which manages image data to be displayed on the image display unit / operation unit 33 and performs processing corresponding to the operated content. If there is an instruction to print the image being displayed on the image display / operation unit, the image data is sent to the 32 image forming units, and if there is an instruction to create a PDF file, 35 image files are created. Send the image data to the module. At this time, information obtained from the Internet (for example, a Web page or the like) also includes character information. The character information has "initial font" as information in the device managed internally, and transfers character data together with this font to 35 PDF file conversion modules. Here, it is referred to as “page data” for convenience.
[0029]
The PDF file conversion module 35 has a function of converting page data sent from the display processing unit 34 into a PDF file. Then, the converted PDF file is registered in 36 databases. The database 36 is a readable and writable recording medium such as a hard disk in the printing apparatus.
[0030]
Reference numeral 37 denotes a user recognition unit which reads a cash card, a member's card, or the like, and which is input by a card reader (not shown) prepared separately from the image display unit / operation unit 33 or by the image display unit / operation unit 33. An inquiry is made as to whether the registered user information is a user registered as a user in the user data management database 103 prepared on the network 105. Further, for the registered user, a process for registering the PDF file stored in the database 36 in the user file management database 104 is performed.
[0031]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the present embodiment.
[0032]
First, in step 301, the screen is displayed on the screen display / operation unit 33. In step 302, when a command to print the currently displayed screen is issued, in step 303, it is determined whether the display screen is to be saved in the PDF file on the screen of the screen 33. It is displayed on the display / operation unit and the user is allowed to make a selection. If the display screen is merely printing, the printing is completed (step 309) and the processing is terminated. If the display screen is to be converted into PDF and stored, then, in step 304, the bit map is displayed as described in the first embodiment. Alternatively, the data sent in the format of image data and font information or character information shown in the second embodiment is converted into a PDF file by a PDF file conversion module. In step 305, the user inputs the file name of the converted PDF file on the screen display / operation unit 33 to be stored in the database 36. In this case, the input of the file name may be realized by temporarily switching the display screen to the keyboard layout screen. Further, when there is no input by the user for a specific time (for example, 10 minutes), as in the first embodiment, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a function to stop the file saving operation and the printing operation is provided. You may.
[0033]
In step 306, the PDF file is stored in the database of 36 with the file name input in step 305. In step 307, a cash card or a member's card which proves that the user is who he or she is at this point is read into the card reader, or is input on the image display / operation unit 33, and the user on the network is The PDF file is also stored in the file management database 104 (step 308). Finally, at step 309, the display screen is printed.
[0034]
An example of the reprinting of the file saved in steps 306 and 308 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, from the “execute various functions” in FIG. Specify a specific file name. The display processing unit 34 acquires the specified file from the database 36 by the designation and pressing of the “print” button or the like, and sends it to the image forming unit 32, where a normal printing operation is performed.
[0036]
In addition, the file saved in step 308 is not limited to the printing device that has performed the saving operation, but may be transmitted from the user file management database 104 not only from the printing device that has performed the saving operation but also from another printing device that has the same function and is connected to the network 101. It is also possible to read a specific file and print it on the spot.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by saving the content displayed on the display unit to a file, the trouble of displaying the content on the display unit again can be omitted, and the file of the displayed content can be reused for other purposes, and added value can be added. Was completed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view illustrating a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an example of a screen display.
(2) Screen display example.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart 1 showing the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart 2 illustrating the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a detailed view illustrating a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment.
FIG. 8A shows an example of a file when a bitmap is saved.
(2) Example of file when saving with font information.
FIG. 9 is an overall conceptual diagram illustrating a third embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a detailed view illustrating a third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1 illustrating a third embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart 2 illustrating the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1.1102 Host computer (PC)
2.101 printing device 3 printer controller 4 image printing unit 5 engine control unit 6.105 network 11.21.31 reception buffer 12.22.32 image forming unit 13.23.33 screen display unit / operation unit 14.24. 34 Display processing unit 15, 25, 35 PDF file conversion module 16, 26, 36 Database 37 User recognition unit 103 User data management database 104 User file storage database

Claims (5)

An image processing unit that receives print data and creates image data based on the print data, and a printing device that performs a printing operation from the image data created by the image processing unit,
Sensing means for sensing that a person has touched, display means mounted with the sensing means and linked with display contents, setting means for performing various settings of the printing apparatus with the display means, and the display Display processing means for transmitting bitmap data of display contents of the means as print data to the image processing means, PDF file conversion means for converting display contents displayed by the display means as a PDF file, and PDF file conversion means Storage means for storing the PDF file converted by the means,
When an arbitrary screen is displayed by the setting unit on the content of the display unit, the display screen is converted by the PDF file conversion unit, and the data of the display content stored by the pre-storage unit is transmitted to the display unit. A printing apparatus characterized by being able to arbitrarily print by reading out and reading. In claim 1,
Character data is included from connection means for realizing a network connection such as the Internet, management means for managing various setting items of the printing apparatus, and data such as Web pages connected and obtained by the connection means. Detecting means for detecting that
The initial font setting is set and managed in the management unit, and if the detection unit detects whether or not the screen data of a Web page or the like includes character information, the character data and the initial font information are separately recorded. And a PDF file created by the PDF file conversion unit. In Claim 1 or Claim 2,
An authentication check unit 1 for performing user authentication by scanning a cash card, a membership card, or the like, and a verification unit for verifying the check contents of the authentication check unit 1 and user information on a database existing on a network,
When the user confirming that the user of the printing apparatus is a specific user registered in the database by the authentication confirming unit 1, the database is stored in a user-specific file storage database that exists separately on the network. A printing apparatus capable of storing a PDF file stored in the printing apparatus. In Claim 1 or Claim 2,
An authentication confirming means for performing user authentication by inputting a password on the display means, and a verifying means for verifying the confirmation contents of the authentication confirming means and user information on a database existing on a network;
When the user confirming that the user of the printing apparatus is a specific user registered in the database by the authentication confirming means 2, the file is stored in a user-specific file storage database that exists separately on the network. A printing apparatus capable of storing a PDF file stored in the printing apparatus. In Claim 3 or Claim 4,
Search means for searching for a file stored in the user-specific file storage database on the network, and file acquisition means for downloading the searched file from the user-specific file storage database,
A printing apparatus, wherein the image forming unit prints the PDF file acquired by the file acquiring unit.

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