JP2005169622A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device which can automatically deal with the recording process of an image in accordance with image data based on a GDI print and the recording process of an image according to image data based on a PDL print with the help of a common driver; can realize the miniaturization of a device configuration; and also improve the operability on the part of a user. <P>SOLUTION: In this recording device, both processing of the GDI print and processing of the PDL print can be dealt with in accordance with a postcommand for HTTP to be entered from an outside PC 30 through a communication line (LAN) L2. Further, it is judged whether the assignment by the PC30 is the GDI print or the PDL print by analyzing header information of a postcommand in a NIC part 13, and when the GDI print is assigned, receiving data from the PC 30 is sent to a GDI control part 14 to perform a recording control operation complying with the postcommand. On the other hand, when the PDL print is assigned, the receiving data from the PC 30 is sent to the PDL control part 15 to perform a recording control operation complying with the postcommand. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image according to image data from an external apparatus connected via a network.

  Facsimile multifunction devices equipped with various functions such as a printer function, a copying function, a scanning function, and a facsimile function have been put into practical use. This facsimile composite apparatus is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and functions as a recording apparatus by receiving image data for recording from the PC. To do.

As such a printer function, conventionally, an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) command information from a PC is used to record an image corresponding to image data based on GDI (Graphical Device Interface) printing ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2000-59556 A JP 2003-67982 A

  The conventional recording apparatus (facsimile multifunction apparatus) has a problem that it has only an image recording function corresponding to image data based on GDI printing, and is inconvenient. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile multifunction devices equipped with a function that can cope with a command by PDL (Printer Description Language) from a PC as an option have become widespread, and an image corresponding to image data based on PDL printing can be recorded. In such a case, it is conceivable that image data based on PDL printing is received from a PC using a protocol different from that of image data based on GDI printing, and an image corresponding to the image data is recorded. However, in this case, in order to receive the image data protocol based on the GDI print and the image data protocol based on the PDL print, it is necessary to provide a driver corresponding to each and select one of them. In addition, there is a problem in that an increase in the size of the apparatus configuration cannot be avoided and user operability is not good.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in addition to the conventional image recording processing according to image data based on GDI printing, the image recording according to image data based on PDL printing is performed. An object is to provide a recording apparatus capable of processing.

  Another object of the present invention is that a common driver can automatically cope with image recording processing according to image data based on GDI printing and image recording processing according to image data based on PDL printing. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that can be miniaturized and can improve user operability.

  The recording device according to claim 1 is connected to an external device via a network, and in the recording device for recording an image according to image data from the external device, image data based on GDI printing from the external device. And a second recording means for recording an image according to image data based on PDL printing from the external device.

  The first recording unit performs image recording processing according to image data based on the GDI print sent from the external device, and the second recording unit sends the PDL print sent from the external device. The image recording process is performed according to the image data based on. Therefore, both GDI printing and PDL printing can be performed, and user convenience is enhanced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising means for inputting, from the external device, identification information for identifying image data based on GDI printing or image data based on PDL printing.

  In claim 2, identification information for identifying whether the image data is based on GDI printing or image data based on PDL printing is input from an external device, and which image data is automatically determined based on the identification information. To recognize. Therefore, a common driver can be used, and the device configuration is reduced.

  A recording apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the identification information is incorporated in header information of a command from the external apparatus.

  According to the third aspect, the image data based on the GDI print or the image data based on the PDL print is identified based on the identification information incorporated in the header information of the HTTP protocol command from the external device. Therefore, it can be easily recognized which image data.

  In the present invention, since the first recording means for recording the image according to the image data based on the GDI print and the second recording means for recording the image according to the image data based on the PDL print are provided, the external device Thus, it is possible to perform image recording processing according to both image data based on the GDI print and PDL print sent from the user, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  In the present invention, since an external device is provided with identification information for identifying image data based on GDI printing or image data based on PDL printing, image data based on GDI printing or PDL printing is provided. Can be automatically recognized and can be handled by a common driver, so that the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, since the identification information is incorporated in the header information of the command from the external device, it is possible to easily identify the image data based on the GDI print or the image data based on the PDL print.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile composite apparatus 20 as a recording apparatus of the present invention.

  The facsimile composite apparatus 20 includes a main control unit 1, a reading unit 2, a recording unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, an encoding / decoding unit 6, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, an image memory 9, a modem 10, an NCU (Network Control). Unit) 11, an interface unit 12, a NIC (Network Interface Card) unit 13, a GDI control unit 14, a PDL control unit 15, and the like. The facsimile multifunction device 20 responds to a reading function for reading an original by the reading unit 2 to obtain image data, read image data, image data received by facsimile communication, or image data received from the PC 30 via the interface unit 12. The recording unit 3 has a recording function and a transmission function for facsimile transmission of the read image data or the received image data.

  The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the facsimile multifunction peripheral 20 via the bus 16 and controls them and is stored in the ROM 7. Various software functions are executed according to the control program. The reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD, for example, and outputs the read image data.

  The recording unit 3 is an electrophotographic printer device, and is an image corresponding to image data of a document read by the reading unit 2, image data received by facsimile communication, image data sent from an external PC 30, and the like. On the paper. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display, displays the operating state of the facsimile multifunction device 20, displays a screen prompting the user to input an operation, or reads an image of a document read to be transmitted. Data, image data transmitted from another facsimile machine or the PC 30 are displayed. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, numeric keys, abbreviated dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile composite apparatus 20. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 by using the display unit 4 as a touch panel system.

  The encoding / decoding unit 6 encodes and compresses image data and decodes the image data that has been encoded and compressed. The ROM 7 stores in advance various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile composite apparatus 20. The RAM 8 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when software is executed. The image memory 9 is constituted by a DRAM or the like, and stores image data obtained by reading and encoding a document, image data received from another facsimile device or the PC 30, and encoded.

  The modem 10 is connected to the bus 16 and includes a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. Similarly, the modem 10 is directly connected to the NCU 11 connected to the bus 16. The NCU 11 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line L1 with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and connects the modem 10 to the PSTN as necessary. The facsimile composite apparatus 20 is connected to other facsimile apparatuses by PSTN so that normal facsimile communication can be performed.

  The interface unit 12 is connected to an external PC 30 via a communication line L2 such as a LAN, and exchanges data with the PC 30 using HTTP. Various image data created and edited by the external PC 30 are transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20 (interface unit 12) via the communication line L2, and an image corresponding to the transmitted image data is transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20. Printed out on paper.

  The NIC unit 13 performs HTTP transmission / reception control processing via the interface unit 12, HTTP data analysis processing, and data creation processing. When a GDI control command based on GDI printing is input from the external PC 30, the GDI control unit 14 as the first recording unit performs a recording control operation according to the command. On the other hand, when a command for recording processing based on PDL printing is input from the external PC 30, the PDL control unit 15 as the second recording unit performs a recording control operation according to the command.

  The facsimile composite apparatus 20 of the present invention can cope with both GDI print processing and PDL print processing in response to an HTTP post command input from an external PC 30 via a communication line L2 such as a LAN. . The header information of the post command includes identification information that designates either GDI printing or PDL printing. By analyzing the identification information by the NIC unit 13, whether the designation from the PC 30 is GDI printing. It is determined whether the print data is PDL print. If GDI print is designated, the received data from the PC 30 is sent to the GDI control unit 14 and a recording control operation is performed in accordance with the post command. Is specified, the received data from the PC 30 is sent to the PDL control unit 15, and a recording control operation corresponding to the post command is performed.

  The operation will be described below. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are flowcharts showing an operation procedure of recording processing according to an HTTP post command, which is a characteristic part of the present invention.

  The main control unit 1 determines whether or not HTTP data is received by the NIC unit 13 from the external PC 30 via the communication line L2 and the interface unit 12 (step S1), and when not received (S1: NO). Continue monitoring that reception. When HTTP data is received (S1: YES), the main control unit 1 receives a post command from the external PC 30 by the NIC unit 13 (step S2).

  The NIC unit 13 analyzes the header information of the received post command and determines whether GDI printing is designated (step S3). When GDI printing is designated (S3: YES), the NIC unit 13 receives HTTP main body data from the external PC 30 (step S4), and sends the received HTTP main body data to the GDI control unit 14 (step S4). Step S5). The main control unit 1 determines whether or not reception of all HTTP body data has been completed (step S6). If not completed (S6: NO), the operation returns to S4, and the body data The reception process is continued.

  When reception of all HTTP body data is completed (S6: YES), recording attribute information such as paper size and resolution obtained by analyzing the body data is stored in the memory in the NIC unit 13 (step S7). Then, the obtained image data for recording is separated and stored in the memory in the NIC unit 13 (step S8). Then, the obtained recording attribute information is sent to the main body side and stored in the RAM 8 (step S9), and the obtained recording image data is sent to the main body side and stored in the image memory 9 (step S10). . The main control unit 1 determines whether or not such storage processing has been completed (step S11), and if not completed (S11: NO), the operation returns to S9 to perform these storage processing. continue.

  When these storage processes are completed (S11: YES), the main control unit 1 determines whether or not the recording process in the recording unit 3 on the main body side is possible (step S12). (S12: NO), the recording process is continuously monitored. When the recording process in the recording unit 3 is possible (S12: YES), the recording unit 3 executes a recording process based on the GDI print (step S13), and the operation ends.

  On the other hand, when the GDI print is not designated (S3: NO), that is, when the PDL print is designated, the NIC unit 13 receives the HTTP main body data from the external PC 30 (step S14), and receives the received HTTP. Is sent to the PDL control unit 15 (step S15). The main control unit 1 determines whether or not reception of all HTTP body data has been completed (step S16). If not completed (S16: NO), the operation returns to S14, and the body data The reception process is continued.

  When reception of all HTTP body data is completed (S16: YES), the main control unit 1 determines whether or not recording processing by the PDL control unit 15 is possible (step S17). (S17: NO), the monitoring of the recording process is continued. When the recording process in the PDL control unit 15 is possible (S17: YES), the recording process based on the PDL print is executed (step S18), and the operation is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the facsimile composite apparatus has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to all recording apparatuses that are connected to a network and record images according to image data transmitted from an external apparatus. Yes.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile composite apparatus (recording apparatus) according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a recording process according to an HTTP post command in the facsimile multifunction peripheral (recording apparatus) of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a recording process according to an HTTP post command in the facsimile multifunction peripheral (recording apparatus) of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Main controller 7 ROM
13 NIC unit 14 GDI control unit (first recording means)
15 PDL control unit (second recording means)

Claims (3)

  A recording apparatus that is connected to an external device via a network and records an image according to image data from the external device, a first that records an image according to image data based on GDI printing from the external device. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit; and a second recording unit that records an image according to image data based on PDL printing from the external device.   2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for inputting identification information for identifying image data based on GDI printing or image data based on PDL printing from the external device. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information is incorporated in header information of a command from the external apparatus.

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