JP2005229486A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device which facilitates image processing such as image printing without increasing a network's load. <P>SOLUTION: The device comprises an image reader 21 for reading images; a storage 23 for storing a file of the read images; a thumbnail image creator 242 for creating thumbnail images from the image file; a mail control unit 261 which integrates a program to return processing activating mail for activating predetermined processing on the image file into an HTML file to which the thumbnail images are pasted, attaches the HTML file to mail, sends it via a network, and receives the print activating mail; a transmit mail creator 262; a received mail analyzer 263; and a print data generator 221 which prints an image selected by the received print activating mail and an image printing part 222. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a scanner apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and a printer that can be connected to a network, and more particularly to an image distribution process and a printing process in the image processing apparatus.

  In an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus, a client apparatus, and a server apparatus are connected by a network, JPEG or PDF that is image data read by an image reading unit in an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a scanner apparatus, or a facsimile apparatus. The image file is stored in a storage in the image processing apparatus, transferred to the server apparatus and stored in the storage in the server apparatus, or transferred to a designated client apparatus. When printing an image from the client device, the image file is loaded into the client device, and then the print data is transmitted to the image processing device such as a copier, printer, or facsimile device, and the image printing of the image processing device is performed. Or printing is requested to the image processing apparatus or server apparatus in which the images are stored. In general, an image processing apparatus connected to such a network is shared by a plurality of client apparatuses connected to the network.

JP 2003-37700 A

  However, when an image file is transferred from the conventional image processing apparatus to the client apparatus, the size per file is large, which increases the traffic on the network, and even unnecessary files are batched. In some cases, the network load is further increased, and the load on the network is further increased, and the response of the network user is lowered. If the image file is stored in the storage in the image processing device or server device, the client device first looks into the image processing device or server device to find the necessary image and then transfers it to the client device. The search for the image file is cumbersome and time-consuming. Furthermore, application software for opening an image file needs to be installed in the client device.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a technique for displaying thumbnail images of reduced images stored in an image output device on a host device for convenience of selecting an image file. In general, when the original image (the image before being reduced for thumbnail display) is transferred from the image output device to the host device, the print is executed. Unnecessary files may be transferred all at once, increasing the load on the network and reducing the response of the network user.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus that can easily perform image processing such as image printing without increasing a network load. Is.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention
Storage means for storing image files;
Thumbnail image creating means for creating a thumbnail image from the image file;
A program for returning a process start command for starting a predetermined process for the image file is incorporated in the browsing file to which the thumbnail image is pasted, and a file transmission means for transmitting the browsing file is provided. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, a thumbnail file of an image file is pasted, and a browsing file incorporating a program for returning a process start command is transmitted, whereby a predetermined process such as printing is performed by the returned process start command. Since the image file can be activated and there is no need to transfer the image file and access to the storage means via the network, there is an effect that image processing such as image printing can be facilitated without increasing the load on the network.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The image processing system of FIG. 1 includes an image processing apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a mail server 12, a database server 13, and a plurality of client PCs 14, and these apparatuses are connected to a network (such as Ethernet). LAN).

  In the image processing system of FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 11 includes an image reading unit, an image printing unit, and the like as shown in FIGS. The mail server 12 is a general shared server that manages transmission / reception of electronic mail, and the database server 13 is a general shared server that manages image files read by the image processing apparatus 11. The client PC 14 is an apparatus that can be freely used by each individual, such as processing or distributing an image read by the image processing apparatus 11.

Embodiment 1
The image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention described below reduces the read image to create a thumbnail image, pastes the thumbnail image into an HTML file, and further selects an image in the HTML file. A program or a program for returning a print start mail is incorporated, and the HTML file is attached to a predetermined mail address and transmitted. When the client opens the HTML file attached to the received e-mail with Internet browser software or the like that can browse the web page, selects the image to be printed and presses the print button, the image of the first embodiment is displayed. A print activation mail is transmitted to the processing apparatus, and the selected image is printed. Here, HTML is an abbreviation for Hyper Text Markup Language, and is a language for describing web pages. An HTML file is a file in which data for browsing by Internet browser software or the like is described.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 includes an image reading unit 21, a print data generation unit 221, an image printing unit 222, a storage unit 23, an image processing unit 241, a thumbnail image creation unit 242, The network control unit 25, the mail control unit 261, the outgoing mail creation unit 262, the received mail analysis unit 263, the display unit 27, the operation panel unit 28, and the main control unit 29 are provided.

  In FIG. 2, the image reading unit 21 includes a mechanism for reading an image similar to that of a scanner. The image printing unit 222 includes a mechanism for printing an image similar to a printer or the like. When printing an image, the image data is transferred to the print data generation unit 221, and the print data generation unit 221 generates print data to be output (printed) by the image printing unit 222.

  The storage unit 23 indicates a storage such as an HD, stores information to be stored in the image processing apparatus such as a read image file, and manages the information. The image processing unit 241 processes the read image or processes an image according to a designated print mode. The thumbnail image creation unit 242 creates a thumbnail image that is a reduced image from each main image file that is the read image file.

  The network control unit 25 controls input / output of various data on the network. The mail control unit 261 controls electronic mail transmitted / received via the network. Mail transmitted by the SMTP protocol is created by the transmitted mail creating unit 262, and mail received by the POP protocol is analyzed by the received mail analyzing unit 263.

  The display unit 27 indicates monitors, displays the state of the image processing apparatus, and displays information for prompting the operator to perform an operation. The operation panel unit 28 is used to ask for instructions from an operator such as a keyboard and a mouse. Recently, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 27 may be used. The main control unit 29 controls the processing procedure of the entire image processing apparatus, such as the overall control of the procedure shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing an example in which an HTML file in the first embodiment of the present invention is opened and browsed by an Internet browser. The example HTML file with the thumbnail image pasted in FIG. 3 is an attached file of a mail transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the client, and the thumbnail image of the read image is pasted. Each of the images 31 is assigned a management serial number 32, and a check box 33 is added for each image. This check box 33 is for selecting an image to be printed. The check box 33 is preinstalled with an image selection program for displaying a check mark by clicking and selecting the image. As an operator operation, one or a plurality of images to be printed are checked, and then a “print image” button 34 is clicked. The “print image” button 34 detects the image selected by the operator, compares it with the serial number, creates a print start mail describing the print start command, and uses mailer software such as a mail application made by Microsoft Corporation. A print start mail return program for starting and returning the print start mail to the image processing apparatus is incorporated in advance.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print start mail in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The print activation mail example in FIG. 4 shows a text example of the print activation mail transmitted from the client PC 14 to the image processing apparatus. This body starts with a “@MAIL FUNCTION START” statement 41 indicating the start of a command by mail, and an “@ MAILPRINT = xxx” command statement 42 which is an image print command statement is inserted to indicate the end of the command “ @MAILFUNCTION END "statement 43 ends. The numerical value “XXX” included in the “@ MAILPRINT = XXX” command statement 42 is a numerical value indicating the serial number of the image. In order to print and start a plurality of images at once, the “@MAILPRINT” statement allows a description of a plurality of lines.

  The operation of the first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to HTML file mail transmission control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in steps 511 to 513 in FIG. 5, the image reading unit 21 reads images for the number of images set by the operator, and the image file (main image file) is registered in the storage unit 23. One image is read (step 511), the image file is registered in the storage unit 23 (step 512), and it is determined whether or not the read image is the final image (step 513). For example, the process returns to step 511 to read the next image, and if it is the final image, the process proceeds to step 52.

  In step 52, it is determined whether or not the HTML creation mode is set. If the HTML creation mode is not set, the process ends. If the HTML creation mode is set, the process proceeds to step 531. The operator sets whether or not to send an HTML file by designating a mail address at the start of reading (whether or not to enter HTML creation mode).

  In the case of the HTML creation mode, in steps 531 to 535, the thumbnail image of the main image file is pasted on the HTML file. First, an HTML file prototype is created (step 531), and the thumbnail image creation unit 242 creates a thumbnail image from one main image file (step 532), and pastes the thumbnail image into the HTML file (step 533). ) When a thumbnail image is pasted into the HTML file, a mail image management table for linking the image sequence number on the HTML file and main image information is created for the main image file (step 534). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining image to be pasted with the thumbnail image in the HTML file (step 535). If there is a remaining image, the process returns to step 532 and the next main image to be pasted in the HTML file. If the thumbnail images of the files are created and the pasting of the thumbnail images of all the main image files has been completed, the process proceeds to step 54.

  In step 54, the image selection program and the print activation mail return program are incorporated into the HTML file.

  Thereafter, in step 55, the thumbnail image is pasted to the designated mail address, the HTML file incorporating the image selection program and the print activation mail return program is attached, and the mail is transmitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to the reception control of the print activation mail (source is the client PC 14) in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, a new mail is received (step 61), the mail is analyzed (step 62), and it is determined whether the mail has an image print command (whether the mail is a print start mail). If it is not a print start mail, the process ends. If it is a print start mail, the process proceeds to step 641.

  In steps 641 to 646, the image selected by the print activation mail is printed. First, from one image print command “@ MAILPRINT = xxx” described in the print activation mail, a numerical value “xxx” indicating the image sequence number is extracted to determine the image sequence number (step 641). Then, the main image (main image to be printed) corresponding to the retrieved serial number is determined from the mail image management table created in step 534 of FIG. 5 (step 642). Thereafter, the image file is taken out from the storage unit 23 in accordance with the main image information in the mail image management table (step 643), is transferred to the print data generation unit 221 to generate print data (step 644), and the print data is transferred to the image printing unit 222. Are output and printed (step 645). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a print command for the next image (step 646). If there is a next print command, the process returns to step 641 to process the next print command, and if there is no next print command, The process ends.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, a thumbnail image of a read image file is pasted, and an HTML file incorporating a program for selecting an image and creating a print activation mail is transmitted to the client by mail. By starting printing with the print startup mail returned from the server, it is not necessary to transfer the image file to the client. Therefore, the network load is not increased and the image processing apparatus storing the image file is accessed. This makes it easy to print images without the troublesome operation of searching for image files to be printed. In addition, since the HTML file with the thumbnail image of the image file is sent to the client, even if the application software for opening the image file is not installed in the client environment, the image can be viewed with a browser. It becomes.

Embodiment 2
In the first embodiment, the method of starting printing from the HTML file has been described. However, in the second embodiment of the present invention described below, in order to reduce the load on the image printing unit in the shared image processing apparatus. Next, a method for specifying the print start time will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Components similar to those in FIG. 7 includes an image reading unit 21, a print data generation unit 221, an image printing unit 222, a storage unit 23, an image processing unit 241, a thumbnail image creation unit 242, A time management unit 71, a network control unit 25, a mail control unit 261, a transmitted mail creation unit 262, a received mail analysis unit 263, a display unit 27, an operation panel unit 28, and a main control unit 72 are provided. ing.

  In the image processing apparatus with the printing time designation shown in FIG. 7, in the image processing apparatus of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2), a time management unit 71 is added, and the main control unit 29 is used as the main control unit 72. Yes. The time management unit 71 stores the print start time obtained from the time designation command included in the print start mail, and starts printing for the print data generation unit 221 when the time is reached. The main control unit 72 controls the processing procedure of the entire image processing apparatus, such as the overall control of the procedure shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an HTML file in the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the same files as those in FIG. In the HTML file example in the case where the print time designation of FIG. 8 is provided, in the HTML file example of the first embodiment (see FIG. 3), a box 81 for designating the time until the start of printing (print start time) for each image. And several options 82 are prepared in each box 81. The option 82 is from “immediately” to start printing immediately, to how many hours later. In the box 81 for designating the print start time, a print start time designation program for displaying an option 82 by clicking and designating the print start time is incorporated in advance. As an operator operation, after checking one or a plurality of images to be printed, a time until printing is started for each selected image is designated, and a “print image” button 34 is clicked. The “print image” button 34 detects the image selected by the operator and the time until the start of printing specified by the operator for the image, compares it with the serial number, and adds the time until the start of printing specified by the operator. A print start mail in which the print start command is described is created, a mail program is started, and a time designation print start mail return program for returning the print start mail to the image processing apparatus is incorporated in advance.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a print activation mail in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. In the print start mail example in the case where the print time designation of FIG. 9 is provided, between the “@MAIL FUNCTION START” statement 41 indicating the start of the command in the mail and the “@MAIL FUNCTION END” statement 43 indicating the end of the command, A “@ MAILPRINT = XXX: TIME = XXX” sentence 91 which is a command sentence for printing a time-designated image is inserted. In this case, a command “TIME = xxx” for specifying a print start time is added after the command “@ MAILPRINT = xxx” for image printing. The numerical value “xxx” included in the command “TIME = xxx” for designating the printing start time is a numerical value indicating the time from the reception of the print activation mail to the printing start. In the case of 01, it indicates that printing is performed one hour after the reception of the print start mail, and in the case of 08, it indicates that printing is performed eight hours after the reception of the print start mail.

  The operation of the second embodiment will be described below. The procedure relating to the HTML file mail transmission control in the first embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, in the second embodiment, in step 54 of FIG. 5, the image selection program, the print start time designation program, and the time designation print activation mail return program are incorporated into an HTML file.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart regarding the reception control of the print activation mail (source is the client PC 14) in the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG.

  First, a new mail is received (step 61), the mail is analyzed (step 62), and whether or not there is an image print command (time-designated image print command), that is, the mail is a print start mail. It is determined whether it is (time-designated print start mail) (step 63). If it is not a print start mail, the process is terminated. If it is a print start mail, the process proceeds to step 101.

  In step 101, from the print start time designation command “TIME = xxx” added to one time designation image print command “@ MAILPRINT = xxx: TIME = xxx” described in the print activation mail. Then, the numerical value “xx” indicating the time until the start of printing is taken out, the time until the start of printing is determined, it is determined whether or not immediate printing is specified, and if immediate printing is specified, step 641 is performed. If printing is not designated immediately, the process proceeds to step 102.

  If printing is specified immediately, a numerical value “xxx” indicating the image sequence number is taken out from the “command @ MAILPRINT = XXX: TIME = xxx” to determine the image sequence number (step 641), a main image (main image to be printed) corresponding to the retrieved serial number is determined from the mail image management table created in the procedure relating to the mail transmission control of the HTML file (step 642). Thereafter, the image file is extracted from the storage unit 23 in accordance with the main image information of the mail image management table (step 643), is transferred to the print data generation unit 221 to generate print data (step 644), and the print data is transferred to the image printing unit 222. Are output and printed (step 645). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a print command for the next image (step 646). If there is a next print command, the process returns to step 101 to process the next print command, and if there is no next print command, The process ends.

  When printing after one hour is designated (when printing is not designated immediately), the command “@ MAILPRINT = xxx: TIME = xxx” is used to obtain a numerical value indicating the serial number of the image “ “XXX” is extracted to determine the serial number of the image (step 102), and a main image (main image to be printed) corresponding to the extracted serial number is created in the procedure related to HTML file mail transmission control. It is determined from the mail image management table (step 103). Thereafter, the current time is acquired from the time management unit 71, the print start time is calculated (step 104), and the print start time and the main image information are registered in the print JOB information table existing in the time management unit 71. (Step 105). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a print command for the next image (step 646). If there is a next print command, the process returns to step 641 to process the next print command, and if there is no next print command, The process ends. After that, the arrival of the print start time designated by the time management unit 71 is always determined. When the designated time has arrived, the image file is taken out from the storage unit 23 according to the main image information and passed to the print data generation unit 221. Print data is generated, and the print data is output to the image printing unit 222 and printed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by specifying the printing time, it is possible to avoid the time when printing from a plurality of clients is concentrated in the case of printing a non-urgent image, and to be shared. The image processing apparatus can be operated efficiently. In addition, since the system reserves printing, it is not necessary to wait until the time when printing is desired to be started, and the operability on the client side can be improved.

Embodiment 3
In the first and second embodiments, the method for starting printing from the HTML file has been described. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the method for causing other clients to perform the same printing start is also described. explain. Specifically, one or a plurality of groups each composed of a plurality of client mail addresses are registered in the image processing apparatus, and all the mail addresses registered in the group are registered in the first embodiment or Broadcast transmission HTML file similar to 2 HTML file is broadcast.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Components similar to those in FIG. The image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11 includes an image reading unit 21, a print data generation unit 221, an image printing unit 222, a storage unit 23, a broadcast mail address book 111, and an image processing unit 241. , Thumbnail image creation unit 242, time management unit 71, network control unit 25, mail control unit 261, outgoing mail creation unit 262, received mail analysis unit 263, display unit 27, and operation panel unit 28. The main control unit 112 is provided.

  In the image processing apparatus provided with the broadcast transmission designation in FIG. 11, the broadcast mail address book 111 is added and the main control unit 72 is controlled in the image processing apparatus of the second embodiment (see FIG. 7). This is part 112. In the image processing apparatus, a plurality of e-mail addresses are input, one or a plurality of groups are designated for these e-mail addresses, and registered in the broadcast e-mail address book 111. The main control unit 112 controls the processing procedure of the entire image processing apparatus, such as the overall control of the procedure shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example HTML file according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same files as those in FIG. In the example of the HTML file in the case where the broadcast transmission designation of FIG. 12 is provided, the “send image list to group broadcast” button 121 is added to the example of the HTML file of the second embodiment (see FIG. 8). A box 122 for selecting a group to be broadcasted is prepared, and group options are prepared in the box 122. As an option, the number of the group already registered in the broadcast mail address book 111 when the HTML file of FIG. In the box 122 for selecting the group, a broadcast transmission group selection program for displaying a group number option by clicking and selecting a group number for broadcast transmission is incorporated in advance. As an operator operation, a group to be broadcast is selected without checking an image, and then a “send image list to group” button 121 is clicked. In this “send image list to group” button 121, a broadcast transmission start mail describing the broadcast transmission start command with the group number selected by the operator is created, and the mailer software is started to A broadcast transmission activation mail return program for returning the broadcast transmission activation mail to the image processing apparatus is incorporated in advance.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a broadcast transmission activation mail in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 4 or FIG. In the example of the broadcast transmission start mail in the case where the broadcast transmission designation of FIG. 13 is provided, the “@MAIL FUNCTION START” statement 41 indicating the start of the command in the mail and the “@MAIL FUNCTION END” statement 43 indicating the end of the command are included. A “MAILBROADCAST = xx” command statement 131, which is a command statement for broadcast transmission, is inserted between them. The numerical value “xxx” included in the “MAILBROADCAST = xx” command statement 131 is a numerical value indicating the group number selected as the group to be broadcasted. This indicates that the image list mail is sent to the destination by broadcast transmission.

  The operation of the third embodiment will be described below. The procedure related to the HTML file mail transmission control in the third embodiment is the same as the procedure in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5) or the procedure in the second embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, the broadcast transmission group selection program and the broadcast transmission activation mail return program are further incorporated into the HTML file.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart regarding the reception control of the broadcast transmission activation mail (source is the client PC 14) according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. It is.

  First, a new mail is received (step 61), the mail is analyzed (step 62), and it is determined whether the mail has an image print command (whether the mail is a print start mail). If it is not a print activation mail (step 63), the process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step 141. If it is a print activation mail, the process is terminated after performing the process A of FIG. 6 of the first embodiment or the process B of FIG. 10 of the second embodiment (step 148).

  In step 141, it is determined whether there is a broadcast transmission command in the mail (whether the mail is a broadcast transmission start mail). If it is not a broadcast transmission start mail, the process is terminated. If it is a transmission activation mail, the process proceeds to step 142.

  In the case of broadcast transmission start mail, in steps 142 to 144, the thumbnail image of the main image file that has already been created in the procedure related to HTML file mail transmission control is pasted into the broadcast transmission HTML file. First, in the same manner as the HTML file prototype in the procedure for HTML file mail transmission control, a broadcast HTML file prototype is created (step 142), and one main image file already created in the thumbnail image creation unit 242 is created. Are pasted into the broadcast transmission HTML file (step 143). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining image to which a thumbnail image is to be pasted in the broadcast transmission HTML file (step 144). If there is a remaining image, the process returns to step 143 to return to the next main image file. If the thumbnail images are pasted to the broadcast transmission HTML file and the pasting of the thumbnail images of all main image files has been completed, the process proceeds to step 145. As the mail image management table for linking the image serial number on the broadcast transmission HTML file and the main image information, the mail image management table already created in the procedure relating to the mail transmission control of the HTML file can be used as it is.

  In step 145, the image selection program and the print activation mail return program, or the image selection program and the print are added to the broadcast HTML file in the same manner as the procedure for mail transmission control of the HTML file of the first or second embodiment. A start time designation program and a print start mail return program with a print time designation added are incorporated.

  Subsequently, in step 146, a numerical value “xxx” indicating the selected group number is extracted from the broadcast transmission command “MAILBROADCAST = xx” described in the broadcast transmission activation mail to determine the group number. All mail addresses of the group corresponding to the selected group number are taken out from the broadcast mail address book 111.

  In step 147, the broadcast transmission HTML file is attached to all the addresses of the group (all the mail addresses of the group taken out from the broadcast mail address book 111), and the mail is broadcast. Note that the broadcast transmission HTML file includes only a function for starting printing, but this is to prevent the broadcast destination client from further broadcasting to other groups.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to easily inquire for an image to be shared with a plurality of clients by providing distribution designation of an image list to other clients. However, it is possible to print an image without troublesome operations.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image processing apparatus including the image reading unit and the image printing unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus that can be connected to a network, and a scanner apparatus that can be connected to a network. It can also be applied to integrated / separate type multifunction devices, facsimile machines, printers, and the like. In the third embodiment, all the thumbnail images pasted into the HTML file are pasted into the broadcast transmission HTML file, but only the selected thumbnail image is pasted from the thumbnail images pasted into the HTML file. It is also possible to affix to the broadcast transmission HTML file and transmit the broadcast.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system to which an image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an HTML file in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a printing starting mail in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding the mail transmission control of the HTML file in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding reception control of the print start mail in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an HTML file in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a printing starting mail in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding reception control of the printing start mail in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an HTML file in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a broadcast transmission starting mail in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding reception control of the broadcast transmission start mail in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Image Processing Device 12 Mail Server 13 Database Server 14 Client PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Image reading part 221 Print data generation part 222 Image printing part 23 Storage part 241 Image processing part 242 Thumbnail image creation part 25 Network control part 261 Mail control part 262 Transmission mail creation part 263 Received mail analysis part 27 Display part 28 Operation panel part 29 Main Control Unit 71 Time Management Unit 72 Main Control Unit 111 Broadcast Mail Address Book 112 Main Control Unit

Claims (16)

Storage means for storing image files;
Thumbnail image creating means for creating a thumbnail image from the image file;
A program for returning a process start command for starting a predetermined process for the image file is incorporated in the browsing file to which the thumbnail image is pasted, and a file transmission means for transmitting the browsing file is provided. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
An image processing apparatus further comprising image reading means for reading an image and storing the image file in the storage means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the program enables selection of an image and returns a print activation command for activating printing of the selected image.
. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
An image processing apparatus, wherein the program generates a predetermined command sentence for starting print of a selected image, and returns the command sentence as a print start mail. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
Command receiving means for receiving the print start command;
An image processing apparatus, further comprising: a printing unit that prints an image selected by the received print activation command. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The above-mentioned program enables selection of an image and designation of the printing time of the image, and returns a print activation command for activating printing of the selected image at the designated time. . The image processing apparatus according to claim 6.
An image processing apparatus, wherein the program generates a predetermined command sentence for starting printing of a selected image at a specified time, and returns the command sentence as a print starting mail. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6.
Command receiving means for receiving the print start command;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints an image selected by the received print activation command at a time designated by the received print activation command. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The above-mentioned program enables designation of a group to broadcast an image and returns a broadcast transmission start command for starting broadcast transmission of an image addressed to the designated group. . The image processing apparatus according to claim 9.
An image processing apparatus, wherein the program generates a predetermined command sentence for starting broadcast transmission addressed to a specified group, and returns the command sentence as a broadcast transmission start mail. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9.
Command receiving means for receiving the broadcast transmission start command is further provided,
When the broadcast transmission activation command is received, the file transmission means enables the selection of an image in the browsing file pasted with the thumbnail image, and activates printing of the selected image. A broadcast transmission browsing file is generated by incorporating a program that returns a print start command, and the broadcast transmission browsing file is broadcast to all destinations of the group specified by the received broadcast transmission start command. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9.
Command receiving means for receiving the broadcast transmission start command is further provided,
When the broadcast transmission start command is received, the file transmission means allows the browsing file pasted with the thumbnail image to select an image and specify the printing time of the image. A program for sending back a print start command for starting image printing at a specified time is incorporated to create a broadcast transmission browsing file, and all destinations of the group specified by the received broadcast transmission start command are received. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the broadcast transmission browsing file is broadcast. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The above program
A program for enabling selection of an image and returning a print start command for starting printing of the selected image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a program that enables a group to broadcast an image to be designated and returns a broadcast transmission start command for starting broadcast transmission of an image addressed to the specified group. . The image processing apparatus according to claim 13.
Command receiving means for receiving the print activation command or the broadcast transmission activation command;
Printing means for printing an image selected by the print activation command when the print activation command is received;
When the broadcast transmission activation command is received, the file transmission means enables the selection of an image in the browsing file pasted with the thumbnail image, and activates printing of the selected image. A broadcast transmission browsing file is generated by incorporating a program that returns a print start command, and the broadcast transmission browsing file is broadcast to all destinations of the group specified by the received broadcast transmission start command. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the browsing file is a file described in HTML. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the file transmission means transmits a file attached to an e-mail.

Images