JP2005018526A - Electronic document data distribution server, electronic document data display device, and electronic document data output device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for distributing data objects in an amount necessary and sufficient for a display device and an output device, while keeping electronic documents themselves independent of the ability of each device. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic document data distribution server, which is connected to an electronic document display device or an electronic document output device via a line, includes a means for receiving a data distribution request from the electronic document display device and a means for sending the requested data to the electronic document display device in response to the data distribution request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic document delivery server, an electronic document display device, and an electronic document output device, and more particularly to a method for transmitting electronic document data with an image through a communication line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a data format such as PostScript or PDF has been used as a data format that does not need to be conscious of the expression capability of a display device and an output device when distributing an electronic document.
[0003]
In these data formats, page description using a device-independent coordinate system is made in document data, and conversion to a device-dependent coordinate system is performed in processing by a corresponding display device or output device. For this reason, even when image data is included in an electronic document, the document creator does not need to be aware of the output resolution, and resolution conversion is performed in the processing of the display device and the output device.
[0004]
On the other hand, when an electronic document contains data such as an image, the electronic document does not hold the entity of the data object, but describes a reference to the data object, thereby reducing the weight of the electronic document and the server load. There is also a technology that can reduce the amount of data and simplify document updates. See Patent Document 1.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-007365
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, PostScript and PDF data are often created for high-quality printing, and if the above-mentioned electronic document is distributed using the Internet or the like, a large amount of time and communication costs are required depending on the performance of the communication line. It will take. Even if the high-quality data is downloaded with much effort, much information in the data is wasted when displayed on a low-resolution CRT device or output on a monochrome printer.
[0007]
If the electronic document is in the form of a reference rather than a data object, the electronic document itself must be downloaded in order to display and output all information, even if the electronic document itself is small. Don't be.
[0008]
In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for distributing a data object having a necessary and sufficient capacity for each display device and output device, while the electronic document itself is in a form independent of the capability of the device. Objective.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electronic document data delivery server of the present invention is mutually connected to an electronic document display device or an electronic document output device via a line, and the electronic document data delivery server includes means for receiving a data delivery request from the electronic document display device and the data And a means for transmitting the requested data to the electronic document display device in response to the delivery request.
[0010]
Means for acquiring a parameter added to the data delivery request and means for converting the requested data in accordance with the acquired parameter.
[0011]
The parameters added to the data delivery request are the image size, the color space to be input to the display / output device, and the gradation that can be represented by the display / output device. The electronic document data delivery server For converting image data by using a computer
It is characterized by providing.
[0012]
The electronic document display device and the electronic document output device of the present invention are connected to the electronic document data delivery server via a line, and use the reference to the external data described in the electronic document data. It is characterized by comprising means for requesting data transmission to the delivery server and means for receiving, displaying and outputting the requested data.
[0013]
In addition, the electronic document display device and the electronic document output device include means for adding a parameter to a data transmission request to the data delivery server.
[0014]
The parameter added to the data transmission request to the data delivery server includes the image size occupied by the device coordinate system when the requested data is displayed / output, the color space to be input to the display / output device, and the display / output The display / output device includes a means for automatically calculating and adding a parameter.
[0015]
Further, it is characterized by comprising means for enabling the user to select that the parameter is not automatically added and means for enabling the user to adjust the parameter.
[0016]
(Function)
Since the present invention includes the above technical means, the electronic document data delivery server receives a data delivery request from the electronic document display device and transmits the requested data to the electronic document display device in response to the data delivery request. It becomes possible.
[0017]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the electronic document data delivery server acquires the parameter added to the data delivery request and converts the requested data according to the acquired parameter. It becomes possible.
[0018]
According to another feature of the invention, the parameters added to the data delivery request are an image size, a color space to be input to the display / output device, and a gradation that can be expressed by the display / output device. The electronic document data delivery server can convert image data using the parameters.
[0019]
According to another aspect of the invention, the electronic document display device and the electronic document output device request data transmission to the data delivery server using a reference to external data described in the electronic document data. And the requested data can be received, displayed and output.
[0020]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the electronic document display device and the electronic document output device can add a parameter to a data transmission request to the data delivery server.
[0021]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the parameter added to the data transmission request to the data delivery server includes the image size occupied by the apparatus coordinate system and the display / output when the requested data is displayed / output. The color space to be input to the apparatus and the gradations that can be expressed by the display / output apparatus. The display / output apparatus can automatically calculate and add parameters.
[0022]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the electronic document display device and the electronic document output device allow the user to select that the parameter is not automatically added, and allows the user to adjust the parameter. It becomes possible to do.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an electronic document data delivery server, an electronic document data display device, and an electronic document data output device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024]
(Embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic document delivery server, an electronic document data display device, an electronic document data output device, and a communication line connecting them according to the present invention.
[0025]
In FIG. 1, 101 represents the Internet. All data movement in this embodiment is performed using the Internet protocol on the Internet 101.
[0026]
An electronic document data distribution server 102 is connected to the Internet 101 through a built-in network interface, and performs processing such as transmission of requested electronic document data and conversion of requested image data.
[0027]
Reference numeral 103 denotes a personal computer that functions as an electronic document display device. The personal computer 103 is connected to the Internet 101 through a built-in network interface, and displays received electronic document data and requests for transmission of image data to the electronic document data delivery server 102. Do it.
[0028]
Reference numeral 104 denotes a printer that functions as an electronic document output apparatus. The printer 104 is connected to the Internet 101 through a built-in network interface, outputs received electronic document data to a paper medium, and transmits image data to the electronic document data delivery server 102. Make requests.
[0029]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a description format when a reference to image data is described in electronic document data.
[0030]
A dictionary value 201 indicates that this data is an image data format generated and transmitted by the electronic document data delivery server in response to a request from the electronic document display device or the electronic document output device.
[0031]
202 is a dictionary indicating whether or not to ask the user at the time of data request whether or not to use the image data attribute according to the capability of the display / output device when requesting the image data to the electronic document data delivery server Key and dictionary value. If / Confirm is false, the electronic document data delivery server is requested to automatically generate and transmit image data according to the capabilities of the display / output device without confirming with the user. If / Confirm is true, the user can check the default image when the high resolution device automatically requests large-capacity image data by checking with the user before automatically requesting the data. Allows you to choose.
[0032]
Reference numerals 203 to 206 are default values of the image data dictionary used when the user selects not to request data according to the capabilities of the display / output device. 203 indicates the width of the image, 204 indicates the height of the image, 205 indicates the number of bits indicating the gradation of the image, and 206 indicates the color space of the image data. A URL 207 collectively indicates a data transfer protocol required when requesting image data from the electronic document data delivery server, a location of the server on the Internet, and a location of the image conversion program in the server.
[0033]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a URL with an argument that is actually used when requesting image data from the electronic document data delivery server. Below the question mark are image data attributes determined by the display / output device and requested to the electronic document data delivery server. W is the width of the image, H is the height of the image, BCP is the number of bits indicating the gradation of the image, and CS is a production value indicating the color space. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the correspondence between CS values and color spaces.
[0034]
The values of W and H are determined from the image size in the device coordinate system of the display / output device. In the present embodiment, in the page generation process of the display / output device, the image data rendering process converts the unit square in the user coordinate system to the device coordinate system using the current transformation matrix (CTM) to generate an image. Think of a simple processing system. The CTM is a matrix composed of six elements necessary for the two-dimensional affine transformation, and is expressed in a format [a b c d Tx Ty] similar to PostScript and PDF.
[0035]
In this embodiment, in calculating the image size in the device coordinates, the skew conversion of the image is ignored and W = (a ² + C ² ) ^1/2 H = (b ² + D ² ) ^1/2 It is said.
[0036]
The value of BCP is determined from a numerical value representing the gradation that can be expressed by the display / output device by the number of bits.
[0037]
The value of CS is determined from the output color space of the display / output device.
[0038]
When the electronic document display device or the electronic document output device finds the image data description format shown in FIG. 2 in the electronic document data during the page description analysis in the page generation process, the image data is included in the electronic document data being analyzed. Does not exist and needs to be requested from the electronic document data delivery server. However, the CTM used when the image data is drawn cannot be determined until the image data is actually generated on the page memory. Therefore, the image data request to the electronic document data delivery server is made when the image data is drawn on the memory. At that time, the electronic document display device or the electronic document output device makes a data request using HTTP. At that time, the width and height size of the image data on the device coordinates are calculated from the CTM, and at the same time, the color space of the device and the number of expressed gradations of the device are added as URL arguments to the HTTP request.
[0039]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the electronic document data delivery server of the present invention.
[0040]
When receiving the HTTP connection request from the electronic document display device or the electronic document output device, the electronic document data delivery server opens an HTTP connection in step S501. In step S502, an HTTP request is received from the electronic document display device or the electronic document output device. This HTTP request includes an image conversion program and arguments in the server in the URL shown in FIG.
[0041]
In step S503, the image conversion program for which an HTTP request is being made is activated. This image conversion program converts the size, color space, and gradation of predetermined image data using given arguments. In step S504, it is determined whether there is a BCP value in the argument. If BCP is specified, the gradation of the image is changed in step S505. In step S506, it is determined whether or not the argument has a CS value. If CS is designated, conversion to the color space designated in step S507 is performed. In step S508, it is determined whether H or W is specified as an argument. If H or W is specified, the image is upsampled / downsampled to a specified size in step S509.
[0042]
In step S510, an HTTP response is transmitted to the connection source electronic document display device or electronic document output device. This HTTP response includes the image data generated in steps S504 to S509. When the HTTP response has been transmitted, the HTTP connection is closed in step S511.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a computer suitable for showing an example of the electronic document data delivery server and the electronic document display device of the present invention.
[0044]
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1200 denotes a computer PC. The PC 1200 includes a CPU 1201 and executes control software stored in a ROM 1202 or a hard disk (HD) 1211 or supplied from a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive (FD) 1212 and connected to the system bus 1204. Control overall. Each process of the above-described embodiment is executed by a program stored in the CPU 1201, the ROM 1202, or the hard disk (HD) 1211 of the PC 1200.
[0045]
A RAM 1203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 1201.
[0046]
A keyboard controller (KBC) 1205 controls input from the keyboard (KB) 1209 or the like.
[0047]
Reference numeral 1206 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) which controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 1210. A disk controller (DKC) 1207 is a hard disk (HD) 1211 that stores a boot program (startup program: a program for starting execution (operation) of hardware and software of a personal computer), a plurality of applications, user files, a network management program, and the like. , And access to the floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) 1212.
[0048]
Reference numeral 1208 denotes a network interface card (NlC) that performs bidirectional data exchange with other network devices or other PCs via the LAN 1220.
[0049]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image input / output system suitable for showing an example of an image output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0050]
A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit 250 having a function for transporting a document sheet.
[0051]
A printer unit (image output device) 300 conveys recording paper, prints image data as a visible image thereon, and discharges the recording paper out of the device. The printer unit 300 has a paper feed unit 310 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 320 having a function of transferring and fixing image data to the recording paper, and a function of outputting the printed recording paper to the outside of the apparatus. And a finisher unit 500 that performs stapling and sorting.
[0052]
The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and is further connected to host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400.
[0053]
The control device 110 controls the reader unit 200 to read image data of a document, and controls the printer unit 300 to output the image data to a recording sheet to provide a copy function. Further, the image data read from the reader unit 200 is converted into code data and transmitted to the host computer via the network 400. The code data received from the host computer via the network 400 is converted into image data. A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 300 is provided.
[0054]
The operation unit 150 is connected to the control device 110, is configured with a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.
[0055]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300. The document feeding unit 250 of the reader unit feeds the documents one by one on the platen glass 211 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 to the discharge tray 219 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started to expose and scan the document. Reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217. Thus, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 218. Image data output from the CCD 218 is transferred to the control device 110 after being subjected to predetermined processing.
[0056]
A laser driver 321 of the printer unit 300 drives the laser light emitting unit 322, and causes the laser light emitting unit 322 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the control device 110. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 323, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 323. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323 by a developing device 324.
[0057]
The recording paper is fed from any of the cassette 311, the cassette 312, the cassette 313, the cassette 314, and the manual paper feed stage 315 at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, and is transferred to the transfer unit 325 by the conveyance path 331. The developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 327 by the conveyance belt 326, and the developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 327. Thereafter, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 327 passes through the conveyance path 335 and the conveyance path 334 and is discharged. Alternatively, when the print surface is reversed and discharged, the paper is guided to the transport path 336 and the transport path 338, and the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction, and passes through the transport path 337 and the transport path 334.
[0058]
If double-sided recording is set, after passing through the fixing unit 327, the recording paper is guided from the conveyance path 336 to the conveyance path 333 by the flapper 329, and then the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction. Thus, the sheet is guided to the conveyance path 338 and the refeed conveyance path 332. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 332 passes through the conveyance path 331 at the timing described above and is fed to the transfer unit 325.
[0059]
The recording paper discharged from the conveyance path 334 is conveyed to the finisher unit 500.
[0060]
The conveyed recording paper is first sent to the buffer unit 501. Here, the recording paper conveyed according to circumstances is wound around a buffer roller for buffering. For example, if processing such as stapling that takes place downstream takes time, using this buffer unit can keep the transport speed of the recording paper transported from the main unit constant, which helps improve throughput. Is possible.
[0061]
Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the stack tray 507a by the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and the downstream discharge roller pair 503.
[0062]
In the staple mode, the sheet is conveyed by the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and immediately after the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through this, it is pulled back by the knurled belt 504 and discharged to the staple tray 505.
[0063]
Then, after a predetermined number of recording sheets are stacked, a stapling process is performed by the staple unit 506, and then the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 507a by the downstream discharge roller pair 503.
[0064]
The discharge tray has two bins 507a and 507b, and these can be moved up and down in conjunction with a drive unit (not shown).
[0065]
In FIG. 2, the recording paper is at a position where the recording paper is discharged onto the discharge tray 507a.
[0066]
In addition, when the insert unit 510 is mounted, the paper supplied from the insert unit does not pass through the developing device unlike the normal recording paper and passes through the paper supply rollers 511 and 512 to the finisher. It becomes possible to discharge directly.
[0067]
Next, the operation unit 150 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0068]
Reference numeral 600 denotes an LCD touch panel, and main mode setting and status display are performed here. Reference numeral 601 denotes a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value from 0 to 9. Reference numeral 602 denotes an ID key which is used when a department number and a reef mode are input when the apparatus is under department management.
[0069]
603 is a reset key for resetting a set mode, 604 is a guide key for displaying an explanation screen for each mode, 605 is a user mode key for entering a user mode screen, and 606 is for performing interrupt copying. It is an interrupt key.
[0070]
Reference numeral 607 denotes a start key for starting a copy operation, and reference numeral 608 denotes a stop key for stopping a copy job being executed.
[0071]
Reference numeral 609 denotes a soft power supply SW, and when pressed, the backlight of the LCD 600 is turned off and the apparatus falls into a low power state. Reference numeral 610 denotes a power saving key, which is pressed to enter a power saving state and is pressed again to return from the power saving state.
[0072]
Reference numerals 611, 612, and 613 denote function keys for shifting to copy, box, and extended functions. In FIG. 3, the standard screen for copying is displayed, and by pressing the other function keys 612 and 613, the standard screen for each function is displayed.
[0073]
Reference numeral 614 denotes an adjustment key for adjusting the contrast of the LCD touch panel.
[0074]
Reference numeral 615 denotes a counter confirmation key. When this key is pressed, a count screen for displaying the total number of copies specified so far is displayed on the LCD.
[0075]
616 is an LED indicating that the job is being executed and the image is being stored in the image memory, 617 is an error LED indicating that the device is in an error state such as a jam or a door open, and 618 is that the main switch of the device is ON. The power LED indicates
[0076]
(Other embodiments of the present invention)
The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, an external storage device, a video camera, a microphone, etc.) or an apparatus composed of a single device. good.
[0077]
In addition, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments for an apparatus or a computer in the system connected to the various devices. A program implemented by supplying software program code and operating the various devices in accordance with a program stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the scope of the present invention.
[0078]
In this case, the program code of the software itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code are stored. This storage medium constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0079]
Further, by executing the program code supplied by the computer, not only the functions described in the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system in which the program code is running on the computer. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions described in the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with application software or the like.
[0080]
Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit based on the instruction of the program code The present invention also includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the electronic document is a form having a reference rather than an entity of the data object, the electronic document itself is a form independent of the capability of the display / output device, and the data request In this case, the document data delivery device is notified of the capabilities of the display device / output device, and the data converted into the necessary format is transmitted, so that it becomes possible to distribute a data object having a necessary and sufficient capacity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection relationship among an electronic document data delivery apparatus, an electronic document display apparatus, and an electronic document output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of a description format of image data processed in an electronic document display device and an electronic document output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example of a URL specified when an image conversion request is issued to the electronic document data delivery apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a color space definition of a CS value used for a URL specified at the time of an image conversion request according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the electronic document data delivery apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer used as an electronic document data delivery apparatus and an electronic document display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic document output apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a mechanism of the electronic document output apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit of the electronic document output apparatus according to the embodiment of this invention.

Claims (11)

An electronic document data delivery server connected to an electronic document display device or an electronic document output device via a line,
An electronic document data delivery server comprising: means for accepting a data delivery request from an electronic document display device; and means for sending the requested data to the electronic document display device in response to the data delivery request. 2. The electronic document data delivery server according to claim 1, further comprising means for obtaining a parameter added to the data delivery request and means for converting the requested data in accordance with the obtained parameter. The parameter added to the data delivery request is
The image size, the color space to be input to the display / output device, and the gradation that can be expressed by the display / output device,
3. The electronic document data delivery server according to claim 2, further comprising means for converting image data using the parameters. An electronic document display device connected to an electronic document data delivery server via a line,
An electronic document display comprising: means for requesting data transmission to the data delivery server using a reference to external data described in the electronic document data; and means for receiving and displaying the requested data apparatus. 5. The electronic document display device according to claim 4, further comprising means for adding a parameter to the data transmission request to the data delivery server. The parameters added to the data transmission request to the data delivery server are the image size occupied in the device coordinate system when the requested data is displayed, the color space to be input to the display device, and the gradation that can be expressed by the display device. 6. The electronic document display device according to claim 5, further comprising means for automatically calculating the parameter and adding it to a data transmission request. 7. The electronic document display device according to claim 6, further comprising means for enabling a user to select that the parameter is not automatically added and means for enabling the user to adjust the parameter. An electronic document output device connected to an electronic document data delivery server via a line,
An electronic document output comprising: means for requesting data transmission to the data delivery server using a reference to external data described in the electronic document data; and means for receiving and outputting the requested data apparatus. 9. The electronic document output apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for adding a parameter to the data transmission request to the data delivery server. The parameters added to the data transmission request to the data delivery server are the image size occupied in the device coordinate system when the requested data is output, the color space to be input to the output device, and the gradation that can be represented by the output device. 10. The electronic document output apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for automatically calculating the parameter and adding it to a data transmission request. 11. The electronic document output apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for enabling a user to select that the parameter is not automatically added and means for enabling the user to adjust the parameter.

Images