JP2004358800A - Image formation method and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To directly acquire and output resources of a predetermined kind from a desired external device on a network in an image formation apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Date stored in the external device is browsed on the basis of a URL 706 which designates the desired external device on the network. The kind of the resource is detected on the basis of reference information 708 for referring to resources in the browsed data. In the case where the kind of the resource is the predetermined kind, the resource referred to by the reference information 708 is acquired, and an image is formed and outputted on the basis of the acquired resource. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system in which an image output device and an external device having a server function are connected via a transmission medium such as a network, in which the image forming device actively acquires resources from the external device and outputs the resources. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a WWW (World Wide Web) system combining an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document having a hyperlink mechanism, a Web server for managing document distribution, and a Web browser for interpreting and displaying an HTML document is used regardless of the Internet or the intranet. Widespread. The data exchanged on the WWW system is not limited to HTML documents, but also image files such as GIF and JPEG, document files such as PDF (Portable Document Format) and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), and application programs on the host computer. There are a wide variety of files, such as unique data files. The Web browser performs processing such as displaying itself, activating another application, and passing data according to the type of received data. Here, when printing the document data obtained on the WWW system, the document data obtained on the browser or another application is displayed, and the print data is printed on the printer using the print function of the browser or other application. The data is transmitted and printing is performed.
[0003]
On the other hand, in an image output apparatus typified by a page printer or a multi-function peripheral MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a designated URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on a network to a PDL (Page Description Language) document such as a PDL (Page Description Language) document. A “pull print technology” for downloading and printing an electronic document has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-134125
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in printing using the conventional web browser or another application started from the web browser, the data is once stored on the host computer as compared with the pull printing in which the URL is directly specified on the printer. It is inefficient and time-consuming to capture. In addition, there is a possibility that useless data format conversion may occur when data on the WWW system can be directly interpreted by a printer. For example, even if the printer itself can interpret SVG, the SVG viewer application on the host computer converts the SVG data into PDL data and sends it to the printer. In this case, naturally, a time for data conversion and a loss of information due to the data conversion occur.
[0005]
On the other hand, in the case of pull printing, there is a problem of operability for directly specifying a URL. An electronic document that a user wants to print is often located within a page that can be reached by tracing a hyperlink several times from an entry page that can be accessed by designating only the address of the Web server. In browsing, the URL to the page is not conscious. Therefore, in many cases, the user has to browse a desired electronic document using a Web browser on a host computer, and store or record the URL and specify a URL for pull printing. I can't say.
[0006]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that directly obtains and outputs a resource of a predetermined type from a desired external device on a network in an image forming apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming method according to the present invention, based on information specifying a desired external device on a network or data stored in the external device, indicates the content indicated by the data stored in the external device. Displaying the data so that the data can be browsed, and determining the type of the other data based on reference information referring to other data in the browsed data; and when the type of the other data is a predetermined type. A confirmation step of performing display for confirming whether to form an image, a step of acquiring the other data referred to by the reference information, and a step of forming an image based on the acquired other data And characterized in that:
[0008]
Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, based on information specifying a desired external device on the network or data stored in the external device, stores the data stored in the external device. Means for displaying the contents shown in a browsable manner, means for judging the type of the other data based on reference information referring to other data in the viewed data, and a method for determining whether the type of the other data is a predetermined type. In the case, there is provided a confirmation unit that displays confirmation of image formation, a unit that acquires the other data referenced by the reference information, and a unit that forms an image based on the acquired other data. .
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
[First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, a Web browser function is mounted on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and a user browses a desired electronic document using a Web browser, and prints a link destination resource in a printable type (PDF file). In some cases, the linked resource is acquired (downloaded) and printed.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 110 has a scanner unit 113 as an image input device, a printer unit 114 as an image output device, a control unit (Control Unit) 111, and an operation unit 112 as a user interface.
The scanner unit 113, the printer unit 114, and the operation unit 112 are each connected to a control unit 111 and controlled by a command from the control unit 111. The control unit 111 is connected to a network transmission means such as a local area network (LAN) 100 or a wide area network (WAN), and has a function of browsing a Web page on an intranet or the Internet via a service provider or a dedicated line. .
[0012]
Further, other image forming apparatuses 120 and 130 having the same device configuration as the image forming apparatus 110 are also connected to the LAN 100. The image forming apparatus 120 includes a scanner unit 123, a printer unit 124, and an operation unit 122, each of which is connected to and controlled by the control unit 121. The image forming apparatus 130 includes a scanner unit 133, a printer unit 134, and an operation unit 132, each of which is connected to and controlled by the control unit 131.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a user interface (hereinafter, “UI”) module that mediates between an input / output device and a user operation when an operator performs various operations or settings on the image forming apparatus. This module transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data according to the operation of the operator.
[0014]
Reference numeral 202 denotes an address book (Address-Book) module, that is, a database module that manages data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like. The data managed by the address book module 202 is added, deleted, and acquired by the operation from the UI module 201. Also, the address book module 202 sends data and gives communication destination information to each module described later by an operation of the operator.
[0015]
Reference numeral 203 denotes an HTML interprinter (HTML-Interpreter) module, which is used for displaying an HTML document acquired from an external Web server by a Web browser function on the UI module 201.
[0016]
Reference numeral 204 denotes an integrated transmission unit (Universal-Send) module, that is, a module that manages data distribution. This module distributes the data specified by the operator via the UI module 201 to the communication (output) destination similarly specified. When the operator instructs to generate distribution data using the scanner function of the present apparatus, the apparatus operates the control API module to be described later to generate data.
[0017]
A printer module 205 in the integrated transmission module 204 is executed when a printer is designated as an output destination. An E-mail module 206 in the integrated transmission module 204 is executed when an E-mail address is specified as a communication destination. Reference numeral 207 denotes a database module in the integrated transmission module 204, which is executed when a database is specified as an output destination. A DP module 208 in the integrated transmission module 204 is executed when an image forming apparatus similar to the present image forming apparatus is designated as an output destination.
[0018]
A PDL module 209 implements a function of printing a PDL (Page Description Language) document transmitted from the outside using the print function of the present apparatus. It also provides a function of extracting and printing an electronic document stored in an external Web server using an HTTP module described later. A copy (copy) module 210 executes a copy operation based on an instruction from the UI 201 using the printer function and the scanner function of the apparatus. A box (Box) module 211 stores a scanned image or a PDL print image in the HDD, prints the stored image using a printer function, transmits the stored image using the Universal-Send function, deletes a document stored in the HDD, and performs grouping (individually). It provides management functions such as storing in a box), moving between boxes, and copying between boxes.
[0019]
Reference numeral 212 denotes an HTTP module. This module is used when the present apparatus performs communication by HTTP, and provides a communication function to the HTML interpreter module 203 using a TCP / IP communication module described later. 213 is an lpr module. This module provides a communication function to the printer module 205 in the integrated transmission module 204 using a TCP / IP communication module described later. Reference numeral 214 denotes an SMTP module. This module provides a communication function to an E-mail module 206 in the integrated transmission module 204 using a TCP / IP communication module described later. 215 is an SLM (Salutation-Manager) module. This module provides a communication function to the database module 207 and the DP module 208 in the integrated transmission unit 204 using a TCP / IP communication module described later. 216 is an LPD module. This module provides a communication function to the above-described PDL module using a TCP / IP communication module described later.
[0020]
217 is a TCP / IP communication module. This module provides a network communication function to the various modules described above using a network driver described later. A network driver 218 controls a part physically connected to the network.
[0021]
219 is a control API (Control API). This provides an interface to an upstream module such as the integrated transmission module 204 to a downstream module such as a Job-Manager module described later. As a result, the dependency between the upstream and downstream modules is reduced, and the applicability of each module can be increased. 220 is a job manager module. This module interprets various processes instructed from the various modules via the control API 219, and gives instructions to each of the modules (221, 225 to 227) described later. Further, the job manager module 220 centrally manages hardware processes executed in the image forming apparatus.
[0022]
Reference numeral 221 denotes a codec manager (CODEC-Manager) module. This module manages and controls various types of compression and decompression of data in the processing instructed by the job manager module 220. Reference numeral 222 denotes an FBE encoder module (FBE-Encoder). This module compresses data read by a scan process executed by the job manager module 220 or a scanner manager module described later using the FBE format.
Reference numeral 223 denotes a JPEG codec module (JPEG-CODEC). This module performs JPEG compression of data read in the scan processing executed by the job manager module 220 or the scanner manager module or the JPEG expansion processing of print data in the print processing executed by the printer manager module. Reference numeral 224 denotes an MMR codec (MMR-CODEC) module. This module performs MMR compression of the data read in the scan processing executed by the job manager module 220 or the scanner manager module or the MMR decompression processing of the print data in the print processing executed by the printer manager module.
[0023]
Reference numeral 225 denotes a scanner-manager module. This module manages and controls the scan processing specified by the job manager module 220. Reference numeral 226 denotes a printer-manager module. This module manages and controls the print processing instructed by the job manager module 220. Reference numeral 227 denotes a PDL interpreter, which interprets a PDL or electronic document format such as LIPS, PostScript (registered trademark), PCL, PDF, or SVG according to an instruction from the job manager module 220, and classifies the PDL or electronic document format. This is to generate a display list which is a common expression format independent of.
[0024]
Reference numeral 228 denotes a scanner interface (Scanner-I / F) module. This module provides an interface between the scanner manager module 225 and the scanner 113 connected internally. Reference numeral 229 denotes an engine interface (Engine-I / F) module. This module provides an interface between the printer manager module 226 and the printer 114. Reference numeral 230 denotes a render, which renders the display list generated by the PDL interpreter 227 into a raster image memory in accordance with an instruction from the printer manager 226.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 111 is connected to a scanner 113 which is an image input device and a printer 114 which is an image output device. On the other hand, the control unit 111 is connected to a LAN or a WAN to input image information or device information. It is a controller that performs output.
[0026]
In the control unit 111, a CPU 301 is a controller that controls the entire system. The RAM 302 is a system work memory used by the CPU 301 to operate. Note that the RAM 302 is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 303 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. An HDD 304 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data.
[0027]
An operation unit I / F 306 manages an interface with the operation unit (UI) 112 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 112 to the operation unit 112. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user via the operation unit 112 to the CPU 301.
[0028]
A network (Network) interface 308 manages connection with the LAN 100 and inputs and outputs information to and from the LAN 100. A modem (MODEM) 309 controls connection with the public line 101 and inputs and outputs information to and from the public line 101.
The above devices are arranged on the system bus 307.
[0029]
An image bus interface (Image Bus I / F) 305 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 307 and the image bus 310 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts a data structure. The image bus 310 is composed of, for example, a PCI bus or IEEE1394.
[0030]
The following devices are arranged on the image bus 310. A raster image processor (RIP) 311 expands the PDL code transmitted from the network into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 312 connects the scanner 113 or printer 114, which is an image input / output device, to the control unit 111, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.
[0031]
The scanner image processing unit 313 performs correction, processing, and editing on input image data. The printer image processing unit 314 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 315 rotates image data. The image compression unit 316 performs JPEG compression / expansion processing on multi-valued image data, and performs JBIG, MMR, and MH compression / expansion processing on binary image data.
[0032]
The card reader I / F unit 317 is an interface unit of the card reader 318 which is a reading device such as a magnetic card.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. A scanner 113 as an image input device shown in FIG. 4 optically reads an image on a document by scanning it with a CCD line sensor (not shown), and generates and outputs raster image data. When the user sets a document on the tray 406 of the document feeder 405 and gives an instruction to start reading on the operation unit 112, the controller CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner 113, and the feeder 405 feeds the document one by one. The reading operation of the image on the document is performed.
[0034]
The printer 114, which is an image output device, is a part that prints raster image data on paper. The method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an ink jet method in which an image is printed directly on paper by discharging ink from a minute nozzle array, and any method may be used. The printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 301.
[0035]
The printer 114 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has paper cassettes 401, 402, and 403 corresponding to the respective paper feed stages. The paper output tray 404 receives the printed paper.
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the operation unit 112 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a touch panel sheet 502 is affixed to the LCD display unit 501 on the LCD. The operation screen and soft keys of the system are displayed, and when the displayed key is pressed, the key is pressed. The position information indicating the performed position is transmitted to the controller CPU 301.
[0037]
A start key 505 shown in FIG. 5 is used to start a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key 505, there is a two-color LED display section 506 for green and red, and the color indicates whether the start key 505 is in a usable state or not. A stop key 503 functions to stop the operation during operation.
An ID key 507 is used to input a user ID of the user, and a reset key 504 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.
[0038]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. As described above, the operation unit 112 is connected to the system bus 307 via the operation unit I / F 306. The CPU 301, the RAM 302, the ROM 303, and the HDD 304 are connected to the system bus 307. The CPU 301 generally controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 307 based on control programs and the like stored in the ROM 303 and the HDD 304. Further, the CPU 301 reads input information from the scanner 113 connected via the device I / F 312, and outputs an image signal as output information to the printer 114 connected via the device I / F 312. The RAM 302 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 301.
[0039]
6, user inputs from the touch panel 502 and various hard keys 503, 504, 505, and 507 are passed to the CPU 301 via the input port 601. The CPU 301 generates display screen data based on the contents of the user input and the control program, and outputs the display screen to the LCD display unit 501 via the output port 602 for controlling a screen output device. Further, the CPU 301 controls the LED display 506 as needed.
[0040]
Next, Web browsing and PDF download printing by the operation unit 112, which are characteristic functions of the present invention, will be described using an operation screen example.
[0041]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a basic screen for Web browsing. As shown in FIG. 7, when the copy function switching button 701 is pressed, the display is switched to a basic screen (not shown) of the copy function. Pressing the box function switch button 702 switches the display to a box function basic screen (not shown). Then, when the basic screen of the copy function or the box function is displayed, by pressing the extended funk switching button 703, the display is switched to the basic screen of Web browsing.
[0042]
In the function switching buttons 701 to 703, the color of the button surface changes while the function is displayed, indicating that the function is being displayed. Nothing happens even if the function switching button of the currently displayed function is pressed.
[0043]
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 706 denotes a URL input button, and when the user presses this button, a keyboard screen (not shown) is displayed. A URL character string input on the keyboard screen is displayed in a URL display area 707, and a Web page referred to by the URL is displayed in a Web display area 709. An update button 704 updates the display of the currently displayed Web page. A return button 705 displays the Web page displayed immediately before.
[0044]
As in 708 shown in FIG. 7, in the Web display area 709, the link character string (character string representing a hyperlink to another resource on the Web) is underlined and distinguished from other character strings. When the system status / stop button 710 is pressed, a system status / stop screen (not shown) is displayed, and the status display of the apparatus and the operation of a job input into the apparatus can be performed.
[0045]
Next, in the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7, if the link destination of the link character string selected and pressed by the user is a PDF file, or if the input URL character string itself refers to the PDF file, FIG. The download print confirmation dialog 801 shown is overlapped and displayed on the Web browsing screen. If the user presses an OK button 802, the linked PDF file is downloaded to the apparatus and printing is performed. When the Cancel button 802 is pressed, the screen returns to the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7 without doing anything.
[0046]
Here, a Web browsing screen is displayed on the LCD display unit 501 of the operation unit 112, and if the selected link destination is a PDF file, or if the URL character string is a PDF file, the PDF file is downloaded. A process for performing printing will be described.
[0047]
FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing an example of an HTML document received from a Web server (not shown) when the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing of Web browsing and PDF download printing in the first embodiment. Here, the processing (flow chart) executed by the CPU 301 will be mainly described with reference to the HTML document examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 as appropriate.
[0048]
First, in step S1101, the process waits for a user input (touch panel input). If there is a user input, the process advances to step S1102 to determine whether the Web resource referenced by the specified URL is a PDF file. Note that there are two methods of specifying a URL: selection of a link character string and input to a URL input field. Whether the Web resource referred to by the specified URL character string is a PDF file is determined based on whether the file extension in the file part in the URL character string is (.pdf). .
[0049]
In the HTML documents shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the link character strings correspond to 902, 1001, and the like indicated by a pair of <a> tag and </a> tag. Further, the character string indicated by the href attribute in the <a> tag is a relative path name from the currently displayed URL to the resource in the server, and is determined by the file extension of this part. More specifically, in the HTML documents shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, 902 has an extension (.pdf) and thus is determined to be a PDF file, and 1001 has an extension (.html). Not judge.
[0050]
If it is determined in step S1102 that the resource referred to by the specified URL is a PDF file, the process advances to step S1103 to display a download print confirmation dialog (screen 801 shown in FIG. 8). In other words, it is displayed that the URL selected by the operator is a PDF file, and that printing is to be performed.
[0051]
Upon confirming the user input, the process advances to step S1105 to determine whether the operator has selected printing (pressing the OK button 802) or not printing (pressing the Cancel button 803). Here, if print is selected, the process proceeds to step S1106, and if not print is selected, the process returns to step S1101.
In step S1106, an HTTP command (GET command) requesting the transfer of the PDF file is transmitted to the Web server of the designated URL, and in step S1107, a response from the Web server to the transmitted HTTP command is waited for.
[0052]
After that, when a response is received from the Web server, the process advances to step S1108 to interpret the received PDF and develop it into a print output raster image. In step S1109, a print request for a raster image is issued to the printer engine, and actual printing is performed.
[0053]
If it is determined in step S1102 that the resource referred to by the specified URL is not a PDF file, the process proceeds to step S1110, and an HTTP command (GET command) requesting the Web server of the specified URL to transfer the resource. Command). Then, in step S1111, a response from the Web server to the transmitted HTTP command is waited for, and upon receiving the response, the process proceeds to step S1112.
[0054]
In step S1112, it is determined whether or not the received resource is an HTML document by using a file extension. I do. Then, in step S1115, the developed data is transferred to the LCD display unit 501 (actual display is performed).
[0055]
Next, in step S1117, it is determined whether an image tag exists in the original HTML document. If an image tag exists, the process returns to step S1110, and requests the web server for image data. If not, the process returns to step S1101 to repeat the above processing. Note that, in the example of the HTML document shown in FIG. 9, the image tag 901 corresponds to the above-described image tag.
[0056]
If it is determined in step S1112 that the resource is not an HTML document, the flow advances to step S1114 to expand the received resource into a display bitmap memory. Perform), return to step S1101, and repeat the above processing.
[0057]
[Modification of First Embodiment]
Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In this modified example, a print button is further added to the link character string 708 displayed on the Web browsing screen 709 shown in FIG.
[0058]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a Web browsing screen according to a modification of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, when it is determined that the link destination is a PDF file, a print button 1201 is displayed to distinguish it from the case where the link destination is not a PDF file. In the screen example shown in FIG. 12, the original HTML document is the HTML document shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, as in the screen example shown in FIG.
[0059]
Here, when the user presses the print button 1201, the download print confirmation dialog shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and then the download print is executed. Therefore, the control is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, and the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 can be applied as it is. However, in step S1113, there is a difference in whether hyperlink information whose link destination is PDF is stored in a bitmap memory as an underlined character string or in a bitmap memory as an underlined character string and a print button.
[0060]
In addition, the present invention can realize almost the same function in a Web browser on a host computer. In other words, when the data at the hyperlink destination is a PDF file, printing is performed by transmitting the file to the printer registered in advance after downloading from the Web server using the LPR protocol. In this case, the data once passes through the host computer, and the data transfer path becomes longer, but the number of operation procedures leading to printing is reduced, and the operability is improved.
[0061]
Although the download print confirmation dialog (FIG. 8) is displayed when the print button 1201 is pressed, a configuration may be adopted in which a PDF file is directly downloaded and printing is performed.
[0062]
As described above, it is possible to provide a pull print function that is intuitive, has high reliability, and has high work efficiency and execution efficiency.
[0063]
According to the first embodiment, a web browser function is mounted on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and when the electronic data of the link destination is of a printable type, an operation unit for printing the electronic data of the link destination Is provided, the browsing operation and the printing operation can be performed seamlessly, and the electronic data is directly transferred from the Web server to the image forming apparatus, thereby providing a printing environment with high reliability and high execution efficiency. be able to.
[0064]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0065]
Conventionally, when an electronic document such as a PDL document or an HTML document is printed and distributed, the original information of the electronic document is lost, and the receiving side of the distributed output medium receives the benefits unique to the electronic document. Can not be done. This is because, if the electronic document remains as it is, electronic duplication and reprinting without processing / editing and information deterioration are possible, but when it is printed, information is lost due to conversion into image data, and due to printing. This is because information is deteriorated, and reusability as a distributed product is significantly reduced.
[0066]
Therefore, in the second embodiment, when performing pull printing, the URL information, which is the storage location of the electronic document, is converted into a bar code and printed over the end of the output medium, thereby printing the original electronic document on the output medium. It implements embedding of reference information in a document.
[0067]
Also, when copying an original with a bar-coded URL embedded, it recognizes the bar code, obtains the original electronic document, and prints it to prevent image degradation associated with the original copy. Is what you do.
[0068]
The configurations of the image forming system and the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0069]
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a download print confirmation dialog screen according to the second embodiment. This screen is displayed when the link destination of the link character string selected and pressed by the user is a PDF file on the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7, or when the input URL character string itself refers to the PDF file. Screen to be displayed. As shown in FIG. 13, a download print confirmation dialog 1301 is displayed overlapping with the Web browsing screen. Here, when the user presses an OK button 1302, as in the first embodiment, the linked PDF file is downloaded to the apparatus and printing is performed.
[0070]
Reference numeral 1304 denotes an on / off check box for setting whether or not to print a URL bar code. By pressing this check box, a selection state and a non-selection state can be set. In the selected state, a bar-coded URL is combined with the end of the document to be printed and printed. When the Cancel button 1303 is pressed, the screen returns to the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7 without doing anything. The URL may be converted into a bar code by a known bar code processing technique, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0071]
Here, a process of downloading and printing a PDF file according to the second embodiment will be described. As in the first embodiment, the HTML document shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is received from a Web server (not shown) when the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
[0072]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing of Web browsing and PDF download print according to the second embodiment. Here, the processing (flow chart) executed by the CPU 301 will be mainly described with reference to the HTML document shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the screen shown in FIG.
[0073]
First, in step S1401, the process waits for a user input (touch panel input). If there is a user input, the process advances to step S1402 to determine whether the Web resource referenced by the specified URL is a PDF file. Note that there are two methods of specifying a URL: selection of a link character string and input to a URL input field. Whether the Web resource referred to by the specified URL character string is a PDF file is determined based on whether the file extension in the file part in the URL character string is (.pdf). .
[0074]
In the HTML documents shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the link character strings correspond to 902, 1001, and the like indicated by a pair of <a> tag and </a> tag. Further, the character string indicated by the href attribute in the <a> tag is a relative path name from the currently displayed URL to the resource in the server, and is determined by the file extension of this part. More specifically, in the HTML documents shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, 902 has an extension (.pdf) and thus is determined to be a PDF file, and 1001 has an extension (.html). Not judge.
[0075]
If it is determined in step S1402 that the resource referenced by the URL specified is a PDF file, the process advances to step S1403 to display a download print confirmation dialog (screen 1301 shown in FIG. 13). In other words, it is displayed that the URL selected by the operator is a PDF file, and that printing is to be performed.
[0076]
Upon confirming the user input, the process advances to step S1405 to determine whether the operator has selected printing (pressing the OK button 1302) or not printing (pressing the Cancel button 1303). Here, if print is selected, the process proceeds to step S1406, and if not print is selected, the process returns to step S1401. In step S1406, an HTTP command (GET command) requesting the transfer of the PDF file is transmitted to the Web server at the specified URL, and in step S1407, a response from the Web server to the transmitted HTTP command is waited for.
[0077]
After that, when a response is received from the Web server, the process advances to step S1408 to interpret the received PDF and develop it into a print output raster image. Next, in step S1409, it is determined whether or not a designation 1304 for converting the URL shown in FIG. If the URL has been set, the process advances to step S1410 to convert the URL into a barcode, and synthesizes the URL with the end of the output raster image. If not set, the process directly proceeds to step S1411. In step S1411, a print request for a raster image is issued to the printer engine, and actual printing is performed.
[0078]
If it is determined in step S1402 that the resource referred to by the specified URL is not a PDF file, the process advances to step S1412, and an HTTP command (GET command) requesting the Web server of the specified URL to transfer the resource. Command). Then, in step S11413, a response from the Web server to the transmitted HTTP command is waited for, and when the response is received, the process proceeds to step S1414.
[0079]
In step S1414, it is determined whether the received resource is an HTML document based on the file extension. If the resource is an HTML document, the process proceeds to step S1415, where the received HTML document is interpreted and expanded into a display bitmap memory. I do. Then, in step S1417, the developed data is transferred to the LCD display unit 501 (actual display is performed).
[0080]
Next, in step S1419, it is determined whether an image tag exists in the original HTML document. If an image tag exists, the process returns to step S1412, and requests the web server for image data. If not, the process returns to step S1401 and repeats the above processing. Note that, in the example of the HTML document shown in FIG. 9, the image tag 901 corresponds to the above-described image tag.
[0081]
If it is determined in step S1414 that the resource is not an HTML document, the flow advances to step S1416 to expand the received resource into a bitmap memory for display. In step S1418, the expanded data is transferred to the LCD display unit 501 (the actual display is displayed). Do) and repeat the above process.
[0082]
As described above, when the electronic document is downloaded from the designated URL and printed, the URL is converted into a barcode and the combined print is performed, whereby the identity information can be added to the printed matter.
[0083]
Next, when a copy is instructed to the original on which the bar-coded URL is combined at the end of the page according to the setting of the URL bar code printing described above, the copy is not performed by the normal copy operation but embedded. A description will be given of a process of realizing copying by performing download printing with a URL.
[0084]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a copy process according to the second embodiment.
First, in step S1501, a document is scanned, and a raster image obtained by the scan is temporarily stored in the HDD. Next, in step S1502, it is checked whether a bar-coded URL is combined with the end of the raster image. If not combined, the flow advances to step S1509 to send a scan raster image output request to the printer engine, perform a normal copy output operation, and end this processing.
[0085]
If it is determined in step S1502 that the URL converted into a bar code has been synthesized, the process advances to step S1503 to determine the URL from the bar code. Then, in step S1504, an HTTP protocol GET command is transmitted to request a PDF file from the Web server of the designated URL, and in step S1505, the system waits for the arrival of a response. Thereafter, when a response arrives, the process advances to step S1506 to spool the received PDF file to the HDD. Next, in step S1507, the spooled PDF file is interpreted, all pages are expanded into a raster image for output, and temporarily stored in the HDD. In step S1508, an output request for the raster image is sent to the printer engine, printing is performed, and the process ends.
[0086]
As described above, by reading the barcode indicating the printed URL, the original electronic document specified by the URL can be easily obtained. When a copy is instructed for a document on which a bar-coded electronic document has been combined and printed, by downloading and printing the original electronic document, a copy without any image deterioration can be realized. When the output quality such as the output resolution of the image forming apparatus is higher than the output quality of the image output apparatus that has output the original document, the image quality may be improved by copying.
[0087]
[Modification of Second Embodiment]
Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described. In this modified example, a bar-coded URL is transmitted at the end of the page according to the above-described URL bar code print setting, and the document is transmitted (the specified document is scanned and the specified address is specified). When a transmission function for transmitting in a format is instructed, transmission is realized by downloading from an embedded URL and developing the image, instead of transmission using a normal scan image.
[0088]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission process according to a modification of the second embodiment. First, in step S1601, a document is scanned, and a raster image obtained by scanning is temporarily stored in the HDD. Next, in step S1602, it is checked whether a bar-coded URL is combined with the end of the raster image. If the images have not been combined, the process advances to step S1609 to convert the scan image into the specified format, transmit it to the specified destination, and end this processing.
[0089]
If it is determined in step S1602 that the URL converted into a bar code has been synthesized, the process advances to step S1603 to determine the URL from the bar code. In step S1604, an HTTP protocol GET command is transmitted to request a PDF file from the Web server of the determined URL. In step S1605, the system waits for the arrival of a response. Thereafter, when a response arrives, the process proceeds to step S1606, and the received PDF file is spooled in the HDD.
Next, in step S1607, the spooled PDF file is interpreted, all pages are expanded into a raster image for output, and temporarily stored in the HDD. Then, in step S1608, the converted raster image is converted into the specified format, and transmitted to the specified destination, and this processing ends.
[0090]
As described above, the same effect as the above-described copy can be expected in transmission by scanning.
[0091]
Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), the present invention can be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile device, etc.) including one device. May be applied.
[0092]
Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the recording medium in the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code thus read.
[0093]
In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0094]
As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.
[0095]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0096]
Further, after the program code read from the recording 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, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0097]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the convenience of the user can be improved by directly acquiring and outputting a predetermined type of resource from a desired external device on the network in the image forming apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit 112 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a basic screen for Web browsing.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a download print confirmation dialog.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML document received from a Web server (not shown) when the Web browsing screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTML document received from a Web server (not shown) when the Web browsing screen illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing of Web browsing and PDF download print according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a Web browsing screen according to a modification of the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a download print confirmation dialog screen according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing of Web browsing and PDF download print according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a copy process according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission process according to a modification of the second embodiment.

Claims (11)

Based on information specifying a desired external device on the network or data stored in the external device, a step of browsing and displaying contents indicated by the data stored in the external device,
In the browsed data, based on reference information that refers to other data, a step of determining the type of the other data,
When the type of the other data is a predetermined type, a confirmation step of performing a display for confirming whether to form an image,
Obtaining the other data referred to by the reference information,
Forming an image based on the acquired other data. The displaying step specifies a desired external device on the network or electronic document data stored in the external function by a predetermined browser function, and causes the display means to display the electronic document data stored in the external device. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein the electronic document stored in the external device is an HTML document. 4. The image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a display step of displaying information indicating the data of the predetermined type. The image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a step of setting whether or not to output a barcode of reference information that refers to the predetermined type of data. 6. The image forming method according to claim 5, wherein when the bar coding is set, the bar-coded reference information is added to the predetermined type of data to form an image. When copying of a document including the bar-coded reference information is instructed, the reference information read from the document is determined, data is acquired, and an image is formed based on the acquired data. 7. The image forming method according to 6. When transmission of a document including the bar-coded reference information is instructed, the reference information read from the document is determined, data is acquired, and an image is formed based on the acquired data and transmitted. The image forming method according to claim 6. Means for displaying the contents indicated by the data stored in the external device based on the information specifying the desired external device on the network or the data stored in the external device,
Means for determining the type of the other data based on reference information referring to other data in the browsed data,
When the type of the other data is a predetermined type, a confirmation unit that displays confirmation of image formation,
Means for acquiring the other data referred to by the reference information,
Means for forming an image based on the acquired other data. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the image forming method according to claim 1. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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