JP2005275764A - Information service method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute information such that printing is performed in a print mode or a layout fit for already registered personal information. <P>SOLUTION: When performing user registration (S801), information collection is performed to each user by user registration information, collected information is edited/laid-out to produce a table of the personal information about the user necessary for the distribution (S802). Necessary information is retrieved/collected from a database on the basis of the user information table (S803). Retrieved/collected output data are edited/laid-out on the basis of the registered user information table (S804). When the layout is completed, the already laid-out data is transmitted to a contract user (S805). The user side receives the data, outputs a print instruction to a printer as a print job, and performs the printing (S806). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information service method and system, and in particular, to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and his / her personal information, print information of the information of the genre acquired from the information service provider is matched with the registered information of the user. The present invention relates to an information service method and system for performing layout, distribution, and printing.

  In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, various information providing services using the Internet environment have been considered.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that lays out and outputs output data acquired in accordance with a user's specification as an information providing service using a network environment. Here, the user designates an information-specific code called a P code, so that the service control unit collects and lays out output data corresponding to the P code, generates and transmits print data, and prints it on the terminal having the printing unit A possible system is disclosed.

  The layout method used in the service control unit of this system is as follows. First, the size of output data (size at the time of output) is determined from “Ease of viewing priority (output data output size original size)” and “Page number priority (output data reduction)”, and all the determined output data sizes and The paper size is determined from the advertisement ratio. Next, the advertisement area is secured from the advertisement ratio according to the layout for each service or the predetermined layout, and then the output data is arranged in a size that matches the above-mentioned "priority for viewing" and "priority for the number of pages" Control is made so as not to enter the area, and finally the advertisement area is determined and the layout is completed. In this series of layout processing, the user can specify the basic paper size, advertisement ratio, presence / absence of printing on the back side of the advertisement, separate sheet printing, priority on visibility, priority on the number of pages, etc. The layout is made by referring to it.

JP 2000-357068 A

  However, in the information output layout based on the user information reflecting the above-described user designation, there is no particular consideration when the output size of the acquired output data is small. In the above-described system, when an information provider registers output data, an allowable number of character points and an allowable enlargement / reduction ratio of image data can be set.

  However, the post-layout print result obtained by the user who obtains the final print data does not necessarily have the result desired by the information provider or user. For example, when the original output data is text data, if the preset character size is small, it is output in the same size or reduced, which makes it very difficult to see. There are challenges. This is because the data must be reduced when the data is large in order to reliably lay out the data specified by the user.

  In addition, the output layout setting that can be specified by the user is determined by only the selection items necessary for the actual physical layout, and the user registration information not directly related to the layout is reflected on the system side. Therefore, it is not possible to provide layout settings more suitable for the user.

  In addition, in recent years, printing apparatuses provided in recent years have two-sided printing paper that can be printed on both sides by inverting the paper that has been printed on one side so that printing can be performed on both sides of the printing paper. There are cases where a printing unit is prepared, but user registration information that is not directly related to the layout is reflected on the system side, and duplex / single-sided printing can be used as appropriate to improve convenience for the user. There wasn't.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information service method, an information service system, a printing apparatus, and a program that can solve the above-described problems.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information service method according to the present invention provides an information service method for distributing print information of information on a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information. A first step of registering information; a second step of searching for a data source to collect information on the genre; and editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information; and the edited information And a third step of transmitting the print information to the printing means.

  Also, the information service system according to the present invention is a registration means for registering the genre and the personal information in an information service system for delivering print information of the information of the genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and own personal information. And editing means for searching the data source to collect the information of the genre, editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information, and sending the print information of the edited information to the printing apparatus Transmitting means for performing the above-described processing.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention registers the genre and the personal information in a printing apparatus that performs printing according to the print information of the genre information distributed to the user who has registered the predetermined genre and personal information. A registration unit, a data source is searched to collect information of the genre, an editing unit that edits the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information, and print information of the edited information is printed And a printing unit.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer apparatus to execute the information service method.

  According to the present invention described above, personal information that has been pre-registered is obtained by acquiring information under pre-registered data acquisition conditions, editing the acquired information so as to be laid out under a predetermined layout condition set in advance. From the time of printing, according to the personal information, for example, according to the family structure, it is controlled appropriately so as to attach a ruby to a predetermined kanji of the character information, or the character information point, character interval, line interval is appropriately set according to the eyesight Depending on the day of the week to be controlled or the day of the week to be printed and holidays, it is possible to appropriately control to perform printing by either double-sided printing or single-sided printing.

First, the configuration of a system capable of implementing the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a system for providing an information service according to the present invention. In this configuration example, the data processing apparatus 1 collects a plurality of output data from the data source servers 2A, 2B, and 2C (hereinafter, data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C) based on user information registered in advance. In this system, output data is edited and laid out for printing, distributed to a user's home host computer 3 (hereinafter referred to as host PC 3), and printed by a printing apparatus connected to the host PC 3.

  First, the data processing apparatus 1 provides a service according to the present invention, and retrieves and collects output data from the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C according to user registration information related to a service contract. Then, in order to lay out the output data retrieved and collected for printing, the data processing apparatus 1 edits and lays out with reference to user registration information, and finally distributes the edited print data It is.

  The data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C are data source servers for distributing information. For example, a server having a database with a predetermined data format or a newspaper company transmits information via the Internet. It is a Web server for doing this. Also, the user side printing system in the home is surrounded by a dotted line. This is because the host PC 3 is a general-purpose personal computer that is connected to the Internet by a provider service through a line or can directly communicate with the data processing apparatus 1 through a modem, and a Centronics or USB is connected to the host PC 3. The printer 4 is connected via an interface such as (Universal Serial Bus) directly or via a home LAN.

Next, each part which comprises the said system is demonstrated.
<Data processing apparatus 1>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the data processing apparatus 1.
In FIG. 2, a CPU 201 is externally connected via a communication I / F controller according to a program ROM stored in a ROM 203 (a program shown in a flowchart described later) or a program stored in a large-capacity external memory 211. Search and acquire output data by communicating with devices, execute processing of output data mixed with figures, images, characters, tables, etc., and manage the database stored in external memory 211 To do. Then, the data processing apparatus 1 compresses or outputs the output data generated by processing, layout, or PDL (Page Description Language), HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XHTML (eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language), XML ( The data is converted into script format data such as eXtensible Markup Language (eXtensible Markup Language) + XSL (eXtensible Stylesheet Language) and transmitted to the user's host PC 3 in accordance with an information output protocol or communication protocol.

  In addition, when the information from the external data source is compressed data or the data in the script format described above, the data processing apparatus 1 performs the editing by decompressing the compressed data or converting the script format data into an image. Can do.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 204. In addition, an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS), which is a control program for the CPU 201, is stored in the program ROM in the ROM 203 or the external memory 211. The font ROM in the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 stores font data used for the output data processing. The data ROM of the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 stores various data used when the output data processing is performed. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls key input from a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 210. These are used by the administrator as needed. The present invention is not directly related.

  The external memory controller (MC) 207 is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Controls access to the external memory 211 such as (FD). The communication I / F controller 208 is connected to the host PC 3 and the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C, which are external devices, via a network, and executes communication control processing on the network.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 202, for example. The CPU 201 can be instructed by the user with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  Further, the data processing apparatus 1 stores a program for compressing / decompressing image data in the external memory 211, and compresses the image data using various compression methods and decompresses the compressed file. This is a possible configuration.

  Furthermore, the data processing apparatus 1 also stores a program for creating script format data in the external memory, thereby editing the data collected from the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C into script format data. It is possible. Here, the script format data refers to the above-described PDL format or the like.

<User side PC3>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the PC 3 on the user side.
The overall hardware configuration of the PC 3 is almost the same as that of the data processing device 1. The CPU 301 receives output data from the data processing device 1 via the network in accordance with a program ROM stored in the ROM 303 (a program shown in a flowchart described later) or a program stored in the large-capacity external memory 311. Then, the output data is output as print data to the printer 4 owned by the user.

  The CPU 301 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 304. Further, an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program of the CPU 301 is stored in the program ROM in the ROM 303 or the external memory 311. The font ROM in the ROM 303 or the external memory 311 stores font data used for the output data processing. Various data used when performing the output data processing or the like is stored in the data ROM of the ROM 303 or the external memory 311. The RAM 302 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 301.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 305 controls key input from a keyboard 309 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 306 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 310. These are used by users as needed. The present invention is not directly related.

  The external memory controller (MC) 307 is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Controls access to the external memory 311 such as (FD). The communication I / F controller 308 is connected to the data processing device 1 using a modem (not shown), and executes communication control processing on the network.

  Further, a printer interface controller (not shown) activates a printer driver stored in the external memory 311 and compresses the output data received from the data processing apparatus 1 via the network via this. Control is performed for conversion to the script format and output to the printer 4. As the printer interface, an interface for connecting to a home LAN network using TCP / IP, or a local interface such as Centronics or USB is used.

  Note that the CPU 301 enables display on the CRT 310 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 302, for example. Further, the CPU 301 opens various registered windows based on commands designated by the user with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 310 and executes various data processing such as user registration described later.

  The host PC 3 stores a program for compressing / decompressing the image data in the external memory 311. The host PC 3 can compress the image data using various compression methods, and can decompress the compressed file. It is a simple configuration.

  Further, the host PC 3 also stores a program for creating / displaying script-format data in the external memory, whereby data received from an external device such as the data processing device 1 or data created by an application in the host PC 3 is stored. Can be edited into script format data. Here, the script format data refers to the above-described PDL format or the like.

<Data sources 2A, 2B, 2C>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the servers of the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C.
Again, the basic hardware configuration is almost the same as that of the data processing apparatus 1. The CPU 401 controls operations for providing information via a network according to a program ROM in the ROM 403 or a program stored in the large-capacity external memory 407.

  In the following first to third embodiments, the data source server is accessed by the data processing apparatus 1 and transmits data stored in the external memory 407. In the fourth embodiment, it is accessed from the printer device.

  The CPU 401 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 404. The program ROM in the ROM 403 or the external memory 407 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program for the CPU 401. Font data or the like is further stored in the font ROM in the ROM 403 or the external memory 407. The data ROM of the ROM 403 or the external memory 407 also stores various data used when providing the above information. The RAM 402 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 401.

  An external memory controller (MC) 405 is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Controls access to the external memory 405 such as (FD). The communication I / F controller 406 executes communication control processing in the network in order to connect to the Internet via the network or transmit information requested from the outside by a modem (not shown).

  A keyboard and CRT are connected to the apparatus for use as needed when an operator inputs information, but the description is omitted because they are not particularly related to the present invention.

<Home printing system and printer 4>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a home printing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the host PC 3 functions as an image information supply source or a printer control device. In this configuration example, a laser beam printer (printer) is used as the printer 4. It goes without saying that the printing apparatus used in each embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a laser beam printer, but may be a printer of another printing system such as an ink jet printer.

  The printer controller 501 creates raster data for each page based on image information (for example, image data, page description language, etc.) supplied from the host PC 3 and sends it to the printer engine 502.

  The printer engine 502 forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum based on the raster data supplied from the printer controller 501, and transfers and fixes the image on which the toner is adsorbed on the recording medium according to the latent image (electronic Record an image by photographic process. In addition, the printer engine 502 also executes paper conveyance control in which a paper that has undergone printing processing on one side is reversed in the machine and printing processing is also performed on the back side.

  The panel unit 503 is used as a user interface. The user can instruct a desired operation by operating the panel unit 503. For example, when the printing apparatus has two modes, the image quality priority mode and the speed priority mode, any one of the modes can be designated by a menu operation on the panel.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer 4. In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes a printer housing. Reference numeral 602 denotes an operation panel on which a switch for giving various instructions by the user, an LED display, an LCD display, and the like for displaying messages, printer settings, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 603 denotes a board accommodating portion that accommodates boards constituting the electronic circuit portions of the printer controller 501 and the printer engine 502.

  Reference numeral 604 denotes a paper cassette that holds the paper (recording medium) S, and has a mechanism that electrically detects the paper size by a partition plate (not shown). Reference numeral 606 denotes a cassette clutch that takes out the uppermost sheet S of the sheets S placed on the sheet cassette 604 and feeds the removed sheet S. Reference numeral 608 denotes a paper sensor that detects the amount of paper S held in each paper cassette 604.

  The paper feed roller 610 is a roller that conveys the leading edge of the paper S to the registration shutter 611. The paper feed roller 612 is a roller that conveys the leading edge of the paper S to the paper feed roller 610. Reference numeral 611 denotes a registration shutter, which can stop paper feeding by pressing the paper S.

  Reference numeral 614 denotes a manual feed tray, and reference numeral 615 denotes a manual paper feed clutch. The paper feed clutch 615 is used to convey the leading edge of the paper S to the registration shutter 611. The paper S to be used for image recording is fed by selecting one of the paper cassettes 604 and the manual feed tray 614.

  The printer engine 502 communicates with the printer controller 501 in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, selects one of the paper cassettes 604 and the manual feed tray 615 in accordance with an instruction from the printer controller 501, and issues a print start instruction. Accordingly, the sheet S is conveyed from the corresponding sheet feeding means to the registration shutter 611. The printer engine 502 includes a paper feeding unit, a mechanism related to an electrophotographic process such as formation, transfer, and fixing of a latent image, a paper discharge unit, and a control unit thereof.

  Reference numeral 616 denotes an image recording unit having a photosensitive drum 617, a toner holding unit, and the like, and forms a toner image on the paper S by an electrophotographic process. On the other hand, reference numeral 618 denotes a laser scanner unit that provides image information by a laser beam to the image recording unit.

  In the laser scanner unit 618, reference numeral 619 denotes a laser unit that drives a built-in semiconductor laser and emits a laser beam in accordance with an image signal (/ VIDEO signal) sent from the printer controller 501. The laser beam emitted from the laser unit 619 is scanned by a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) 620 and forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum 617 via the imaging lens group 621 and the reflection mirror 622. A beam detector 623 detects a laser beam emitted from the laser unit 619 and outputs a main scanning synchronization signal. A light amount sensor 622 detects the light amount of the laser beam emitted from the laser unit 619.

  In the image recording unit 616, reference numeral 627 denotes a developing device that develops toner on the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 617 that is charged by the primary charger 625 and laser-exposed by the laser scanner unit 618. A transfer charger 626 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum developed by the developing unit 627 to the paper S fed by the registration roller 628. A cleaner 629 removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum 617. Reference numeral 630 denotes a pre-exposure lamp that performs static electricity removal on the photosensitive drum 617. A fixing device 631 heat-fixes the toner image formed on the paper S by the image forming unit 616 on the paper S. Reference numeral 632 denotes a conveyance roller that discharges and conveys the paper S. Reference numeral 633 denotes a paper discharge sensor that detects a paper discharge state of the paper S. Reference numeral 634 denotes a paper discharge flapper that switches the conveyance direction of the paper S on which image recording has been completed to the face-down paper discharge tray 635 side, or switches to a face-up paper discharge tray (not shown) or a paper discharge option unit side (not shown). .

  The operation of the duplex printing unit, which is a paper discharge unit characteristic of the present invention, will be described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 650 denotes a direction in which the paper S is transported when the paper discharge flapper 634 is switched to the opposite side to the face-down tray 635 and switched to a face-up paper discharge tray (not shown) or a duplex unit side (not shown). It is an arrow which shows. Therefore, it does not actually exist in the printer 4. When the sheet S is discharged in the direction of the arrow 650, the face-up discharge tray (not shown) is open, or the printer 4 without the face-up discharge tray or the face-up discharge tray is mounted on the housing. The sheet S passes through the open slit and is discharged to the outside of the printer 4. In this case, a duplex unit is installed so as to be adjacent to the printer 4, and the paper S discharged from the printer 4 is input to the duplex unit. Reference numeral 660 denotes an arrow indicating the transport direction when the paper S once discharged to the duplex printing unit is input again into the apparatus. Therefore, it does not exist in the printer 4.

  Reference numerals 636 and 637 denote discharge rollers that discharge the sheet S conveyed by switching the discharge flapper 634 to the face-down discharge tray 635. Reference numeral 638 denotes a discharge stack amount detection sensor that detects the stack amount of the sheets S stacked on the face-down discharge tray 635.

  The printer 4 can be further equipped with optional units such as an optional cassette and an envelope feeder.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printer controller 501. A panel interface unit 701 performs data communication with the panel unit 503. The CPU 709 can confirm the contents set / instructed by the user in the panel unit 503 via the panel interface unit 701. Reference numeral 702 denotes a host interface unit for two-way communication connection with a host PC 3 such as a host computer via a network. Reference numeral 706 denotes an engine interface unit for communication connection with the printer engine 502. The CPU 709 can control the signal via the engine interface unit 706 to recognize the state of the signal, that is, the state of the printer engine 502.

  Reference numeral 703 denotes an image data generation unit that generates (rasterizes) raster data to be supplied to the printer engine 502 based on image information supplied from the host PC 3. Reference numeral 705 denotes an image memory for temporarily storing the generated raster data. Reference numeral 709 denotes a CPU that controls a device connected to the CPU bus 711 based on a control program code held in the ROM 704. Reference numeral 707 denotes a RAM as a temporary storage memory used by the CPU 709. Reference numeral 710 includes a nonvolatile memory for holding control information such as a density correction table. Reference numeral 708 denotes a DMA control unit, which transfers raster data in the image memory 705 to the engine interface unit 706 according to an instruction from the CPU.

  Reference numeral 711 denotes a CPU bus including an address, data, and control bus. The panel interface unit 701, host interface unit 702, image data generation unit 703, ROM 704, image memory 705, engine interface unit 706, RAM 707, DMA control unit 708, CPU 709, and EEPROM 710 are all devices connected to the CPU bus 711. Is accessible.

  The operation of each embodiment by the above system will be described below.

<Overall description of the service provision of this system>
FIG. 8 shows an overall operation flowchart of service provision in this system. First, the user performs user registration in order to receive this service (step 801, the following steps are omitted in S). Here, the user accesses the web server of the data processing apparatus 1 provided by the service using the web browser from the host PC 3 by using the HTTP protocol, decides the contract form, and inputs the search condition of the desired information, personal information, etc. And register as a user.

  The data processing apparatus 1 collects information for each user based on the user registration information registered in S801, edits / lays out the collected information, and creates a table of user personal information necessary for distribution. (S802). Based on the user information table, the data processing apparatus 1 obtains necessary information directly from the server of the information provider existing on the network or from the output data database already created in the external memory of the own apparatus. Search and collect (S803). Thereafter, the data processing apparatus edits and lays out the output data obtained as a result of searching and collecting in S803 based on the user information table created in S802 based on the registered user information table (S804).

  Thereafter, when the layout of the output data is completed in S804, the data processing apparatus 1 transmits the laid-out data to the contract user based on the distribution time stored in the user information table (S805). The PC terminal on the user side receives the above-described laid-out data, outputs a print command as a print job to the printing apparatus, and performs printing on the printing apparatus. This printing process includes the double-sided printing process using the double-sided unit attached to the printing apparatus in the fourth embodiment (S806).

<Description of user registration>
FIG. 9 to FIG. 13 are diagrams showing a registration screen for inputting registration information when a user subscribes to receive service. The user accesses the data processing apparatus from the home host PC 3 or the like via the network, and inputs information necessary for registration on the registration screen as shown in FIGS. In the registration screen of FIG. 9, the user inputs a name, a contact address, and the like.

On the registration screen of FIG. 10, a password necessary for changing the contents of user registration after the contract is entered. In the case of new registration, the user sets a password. Thereafter, when changing the registration contents, the user inputs the password set at the time of new registration. Since the password change screen is not directly related to the present invention, it is omitted.
The personal information and password input in this way are stored in each column of the personal information table of the user information table shown in FIG.

  Next, the contract contents are input on the registration screen of FIG. Since it is difficult to lay out a lot of information on a limited sheet of paper, depending on the contents of the contract, the user instructs in advance to give priority to the genre. As shown in FIG. 11, the contract contents are composed of a contract period and contract conditions. Contract conditions can be selected from package contracts, genre contracts, and information collection contracts using keywords, and combinations of these are also possible. Package contracts, for example, domestic society, domestic politics, domestic sports pack 1, etc., can be selected from several packages. By combining the package contract and the keyword contract, the user can obtain various information. The contract information input in this way is stored in each column of the contract table of the user information table shown in FIG.

  The registration screen of FIG. 12 is a screen for the user to register personal information. Individually input information affects the editing and layout of output data in the present invention. As an example of performing single-sided printing or double-sided printing according to registration information, which is characteristic of the present invention, holiday information is used here. The usage method will be described later. The personal information input in this way is stored in each column of the personal information table of the user information table shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is an input screen for information necessary for laying out output data for information distribution. Here, information necessary for editing / laying out the output data retrieved / collected by the data processing apparatus 1 is input. For example, as shown in the figure, the paper size, orientation, color, number of sheets after layout, and the like can be set. The user can obtain a lot of detailed data by setting a large number of sheets after layout, but in this case, the information provision service fee is set to be high.

  Basically, when these inputs are completed, the basic fee setting is calculated and presented, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, the description of the fee is omitted. The layout information input in this way is stored in each column of the print layout table of the user information table shown in FIG.

<Create user information table>
The creation of the layout table will be described below.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of creating a layout table when creating a user information table that is performed after the input of the user registration is completed.

  This creates a table of basic items necessary for laying out the collected output data, and is performed at the time of user registration. Performing this operation when collecting and distributing data increases the load on the data processing apparatus 1. Therefore, by performing this operation in advance and registering it in the table, the number of times can be increased as long as the layout conditions are not changed. Can also be used. In steps S1401 to S1403, setting of the paper size is determined. In steps S1404 to S1406, the paper orientation is determined. When the orientation of the paper is determined, for example, a layout framework of a three-page spread layout as shown in FIG. 15 is set in advance. Each gray portion in FIG. 15 indicates a step, and in this case, it has six print areas. In S1407 to S1409, a printing area is determined. In S1410 to S1412, it is determined whether to perform double-sided printing. Further, in S1413 to S1415, it is determined whether to perform color printing. It is determined whether or not the data created by the data processing device 1 is color data depending on whether or not color printing is performed.

  Here, the character size, line spacing, and character spacing are set by default.

  In the column structure in the layout framework shown in FIG. 15, line breaks frequently occur when the default font size is large. Therefore, the layout framework may be divided into two stages depending on the default font size, but here, a three-column example is given. The number of columns may be selectable by the user at the time of contract.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for creating additional layout information based on user registration information other than the registration information necessary for the layout. In order to distribute more information, it is necessary to lay out the output data with as small a font as possible and with spaces between lines and characters. However, if all users are laid out under the same conditions, the layout may be undesirable for each user. Therefore, user registration information not directly related to the layout information is also taken in as a parameter of layout information, so that the data processing apparatus 1 operates so that more output data can be inserted with a layout suitable for each user.

  Here, attention is focused on visual acuity information among user information, for example. In S1601, visual acuity information is extracted to check whether the visual acuity is 0.7 or more for both eyes. If the visual acuity is 0.7 or more, the document character is set to 8 points and the heading character is set to 16 points (S1602), and if it is less than that, the document character is set to 10 points and the heading character is set to 20 points (S1603). ).

  In step S1604, it is determined whether or not there is astigmatism. If there is no astigmatism, the character spacing and line spacing are set to small values (S1605). Further, if it is determined in S1604 that there is astigmatism, the strength of astigmatism is determined (S1606). Here, if astigmatism is weak, the character spacing and line spacing are set to medium values (S1607), and if astigmatism is strong, the character spacing and line spacing are set to large values (S1608). However, if there is no visual acuity input, the default value is set.

  In the data processing apparatus 1 described above, the layout basic table and the additional layout table are created, and the retrieved and collected output data is laid out by referring to them.

  FIG. 17 is an example of a user registration information management table.

  In this way, if the user only sets the minimum necessary data for the layout, and if registration information that is not directly related to the layout is set, it can be used for the layout setting, which is more suitable for each user. Output results with different layouts.

  In particular, it is not impossible for the user to set these in advance. However, if the user makes fine settings such as the character size, line spacing, and character spacing, the influence of the CRT resolution on the host PC 3 and the like. The size of the character to be viewed, the line spacing, and the character spacing may deviate from the output result sensibly, and it is preferable to decide on the system side rather than leaving it to the user.

<Data search / collection>
FIG. 18 shows the structure of data stored in the external memory 407 of the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C that provide information. In this embodiment, the data structure provided by each data source is unified. For each output data, “update time”, “heading sentence (text data)”, “summary sentence (text data)”, “details” Sentence (text data) "and" photograph (image data) ". Each output data is stored separately for each genre. Here, the summary sentence is generally a document in which the same information is collected with fewer characters than the detailed sentence of the same output data. In FIG. 18, “...” Omits the content of the text data and is not a lack of data.

  The data processing apparatus 1 can communicate with each of the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C via a network by transmitting / receiving a communication protocol in a lower layer and a command in a higher layer (session layer or higher). The data processing apparatus 1 controls the communication controller with programs and data in the ROM 203 and the external memory 211, and transmits and receives the above-described commands. Then, the data processing apparatus 1 transmits the command including search data (keyword, genre related to output data, etc.) to the data source. The data source receives the search data described above, extracts data that meets the conditions from the data stored in the external memory 407 using the program and data stored in the ROM 403 and the external memory 407, and transmits the data to the data processing apparatus 1. To do. The data processing apparatus 1 stores the output data received from the data source in the external memory 211 in the terminal itself.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in which the data processing apparatus 1 creates a database of output data in the external memory 211 of its own terminal. The data processing device 1 takes into account the information acquisition time calculated from the past data of the communication traffic in the distribution time zone, the layout processing described later, and the time required for the distribution so that it can be distributed according to the user's desired distribution time. To start this operation.

  First, contract content information is acquired from the user information table (S1901). Here, the data processing device 1 confirms conditions necessary for acquiring information such as a genre and a keyword group for which information needs to be acquired and an update time of necessary information. For example, under the conditions selected in FIG. 9, the genres of necessary output data are “domestic society”, “domestic politics”, “domestic economy”, “domestic sports”, “regional information”, and “international general”. is there. Further, the other condition of the necessary output data is that the distribution information is “daily” and the distribution is “once / day” and “6:00”. Therefore, the output data having the update date from 6:00 to the previous day That is.

  Next, the conditions for acquiring the output data determined in S1901 are transmitted to the data sources 2A, 2B, 2C (S1902). Each data source receives a condition for acquiring information (S1903), and searches for output data that meets the condition (S1904). Each data source transmits the retrieved output data to the data processing apparatus 1 (S1905). Thereafter, the data processing apparatus 1 receives from each data source (S1906) and analyzes the data.

  First, frequent keywords are extracted from the output data received as output data, and output data with similar contents is determined. Then, an output data group having a larger number of output data determined to be more similar is set to a higher priority (S1907). Here, when the number of similar output data is the same, the output data group with the most recent update time for each output data is set higher.

  Further, in step S1908, priority is given to each output data in each output data group. For example, the priority of the output data containing the most keywords used for similarity determination is raised in the output data group. Also, the priority of the output data in which many keywords used for similarity determination are included in the summary portion is raised. Alternatively, the priority of output data having the latest update time in the similar output data group is increased. Using the above-mentioned criteria, priorities are assigned to each output data group for each genre, and further, each output data is prioritized in each output data group and collected in a database (S1909).

  FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a database structure of output data created in the external memory 211 of the data processing apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the attribute information (determined priority, data source name) of each data can be held, and the actual data itself can be managed to be in the data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C. Also in FIG. 20, as in FIG. 18, “...” Is an expression in which the content of the text data is omitted, and the content is not lacking.

<Layout processing>
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the information acquired by the data processing apparatus is laid out. First, as a premise, the conditions of output data to be laid out for information distribution are as follows.

  i) The genre or keyword group with the highest priority includes detailed output data (detailed sentence element in this embodiment).

  ii) The output data of each genre should be laid out as “headline sentence + detailed sentence” or “headline sentence + summary sentence”.

  iii) Increase the number of genres that can be laid out as much as possible, rather than including a lot of output data in one genre.

  iv) The highest priority genre should be output data with the highest priority possible.

  v) When the output data of the highest priority genre becomes low priority output data due to layout reasons, increase the priority for the output data of other genres.

  The data processing device 1 lays out the distribution data to the user according to the layout conditions based on the conditions for the output data, the user information table, and the output data searched and collected from the data source.

  In FIG. 21, first, parameters and flags are initialized (S2101). After that, the output data with the highest priority is extracted for each genre or keyword group (hereinafter, unified by genre for the sake of brevity), and the headline sentence and detailed sentence of each output data are set as layout targets ( S2102). Then, in order to determine the priority of the layout target output data, i + 1 is set to the parameter i (S2103). Here, i = 1 first.

  Next, in each output data that is the current layout target in S2104, the headline sentence element extracted as the actual layout target element and the outline sentence element or the detailed sentence element that have not yet been subjected to character count extraction Extract the number of characters.

  In step S2105, first, the basic layout framework, character size (for headings and documents), line spacing, and character spacing are referred to from the layout basic table information and the additional layout table information. Whether all the layout elements of the output data currently targeted for layout can be laid out based on the number of headline characters / document characters extracted in S2104 and the print area / character size / line spacing / character spacing data determined from the basic layout described above. Judge whether. If it is determined in S2105 that layout is possible, next, in S2106, the presence or absence of flag 1 is confirmed. The flag 1 is used to determine whether or not the layout has already been disabled in S2105. If it is determined that the layout is impossible once, the flag 1 is set. At this time, it means that the final layout is finished, and the actual layout processing (S2107) is performed, and the editing layout operation is finished.

  If there is no flag in S2106, all the current layout elements can be laid out, and more information may be laid out. In this case, the highest priority data of the output data group having the next priority of the output data currently targeted for layout for each genre is targeted for layout, and the heading text and detailed text of the output data are added to the layout target. The process returns to S2103 (S2108).

  Here, whether or not layout is possible is determined by determining the number of “heading text” characters in the layout target output data, the size of the heading character size, the character spacing, the line spacing, the number of “detailed text (summary text)” characters and the document. The size of the entire data area related to the entire output data is calculated by taking into account the blank area data obtained by not continuing the text after the heading in the area calculated from the character size, the character spacing, and the line spacing. It is determined whether the layout is possible or not by comparing the total data area calculated here with the printable area.

  If it is determined in S2105 that layout is impossible, the flag 1 indicating that the layout impossible determination is made is set in S2109, and the process proceeds to S2110. In S2110, the priority level of the output data currently undergoing layout processing is determined. When i = 1, there is no output data that can be laid out yet, and the current layout target output data has the highest priority level. If i ≠ 1 (i ≧ 2), the output data for which layout is already possible is included in each genre because the current layout target output data is the second or higher priority level. Indicates that one or more exist.

(A. When there is already output data that can be laid out)
If i.noteq.1 (i.gtoreq.2) in S2110, it is checked in S2111 whether there is at least one output data having the i-th priority (current layout target). If it is determined in step S2111 that there is no i-th priority output data, the process advances to step S2107 to lay out the output data determined to be laid out up to now, and the process ends. If it is determined in step S2111 that there is i-th priority output data, it is further determined whether there is any detailed sentence element that is subject to layout in the i-th priority output data of each genre. Confirm (S2112).

  If there is output data whose detailed sentence element is the layout target in S2112, the process proceeds to S2113. In S2113, among the output data in which the detailed sentence element is the layout target in the i-th priority output data of each genre, the priority i-th detailed sentence element of the genre having the lowest priority is excluded from the layout target. The summary sentence element of the same output data is retrieved and extracted, added to the layout target, and the process returns to S2104. In S2104, the number of characters of the newly added summary sentence element is detected.

  If the detailed sentence element is not the layout target in S2112, the output data (headline sentence and summary sentence) of the lowest priority among the genres in which the output data with the i-th priority exists exists from the layout target. Remove and return to S2105.

(B. When there is no output data that can be laid out yet)
When i = 1 in S2110, there is no output data that can be laid out yet, and the layout of the output data with the highest priority of each genre is not possible. First, in S2115, it is determined whether there are two or more detailed sentence elements of the layout target output data. Since a detailed sentence element is to be laid out in the genre having the highest priority as the output data condition, one minimum detailed sentence element needs to remain. If there are two or more genres whose detailed sentence elements are layout targets, the details related to the output data of the genre having the lowest priority among the genres whose detailed sentence elements of the output data are included in the layout target in S2116. The sentence element is excluded from the layout target, the summary sentence of the same output data is retrieved and extracted, and the process returns to S2104.

  If there is only one detailed sentence element of the layout target output data in S2115, the process proceeds to S2117, and another output data is extracted. By performing this operation, while leaving `` Heading sentence '' + `` Detailed sentence '' related to the highest priority output data of the highest priority genre, the detailed sentence of other genres is converted into the summary sentence, so that there is a margin in the layout. Try to be born.

  In this way, in the output data of each genre, if a detailed sentence cannot be arranged, it is possible to give a margin to the layout by exchanging with a summary sentence.

(Separate output data search processing)
Here, not only replace the summary sentence and detailed sentence data associated with the same content as described above, but also include the operation when a completely different output data is used as the layout target data. It becomes an operation flow.

  Next, the “separate output data search process” in S2117 will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the separate output data search process. First, the number of genres to be laid out is managed, and j = j + 1 is set to a parameter j necessary for changing the output data itself from a genre having a low priority (S2201). Next, it is determined whether the parameter j is the same as the total number of genres to be laid out (S2202).

  If j is not equal to the total number of genres in S2202, the process proceeds to S2203. In S2203, the genre having the jth lowest priority is selected. That is, the genre having the lowest priority is selected. Further, in S2204, in the genre selected in S2203, “headline sentence + outline” of other output data having a layout size smaller than that in the case where the “headline sentence + outline sentence” of the output data currently targeted for layout is laid out. Search the output data for “Sentence” or “Heading sentence + Detailed sentence”.

  Here, if there is no output data having a small layout size, the process returns to S2201. On the other hand, if it exists, in the genre currently selected in S2205, “headline sentence + summary sentence” of the output data that is currently the layout target is output data with a small layout size searched in S2204. Replace the output data with the highest priority. The output data to be replaced is preferably controlled so as to be extracted from the same output data group as much as possible.

  Here, the process returns to S2202. If j is the total number of genres to be laid out in S2202, if the output data is posted for all genres, the detailed sentence related to the highest priority output data in the highest priority genre is laid out. That is not possible. Therefore, if j = the total number of genres in step S2202, the process proceeds to step S2206, where it is determined whether there is a flag 2 or not. The flag 2 indicates whether the output data of the highest priority genre has been changed. As shown below, this flag 2 prevents the output data of the highest priority genre from becoming output data with a low priority, and outputs related to other genres when the output data priority of the highest priority genre is lowered. Used to make data high priority.

  If there is no flag 2 in S2206, flag 2 is set in S2207. In step S2208, “headline sentence + detail sentence” output data having a layout size smaller than that in the case where “headline sentence + detail sentence” of the output data currently targeted for layout in the highest priority genre is searched. In this case, similarly to S2204, it is preferable that the replacement output data is controlled so as to be extracted from the same output data group as much as possible.

  If there is output data having a small layout size in S2208, the layout size searched in S2208 for “headline sentence + detailed sentence” of the output data currently targeted for layout in the highest priority genre in S2209. The output data with the smallest priority is replaced with the output data with a small size. In step S2210, the output data of another genre is again replaced with “headline sentence + detailed sentence” related to the output data with the highest priority among all articles. By doing this, instead of changing the output data of the highest priority genre to output data with a lower priority, the output data of other genres is increased in priority and further detailed.

  Also, in S2208, if there is no output data having a small layout size with the highest priority genre, the flow proceeds to S2211. In S2211, the flag 2 is cleared and initialized. Next, the genre having the lowest priority among the genres currently targeted for layout is excluded from the layout targets, and the number of genres to be laid out is reduced (S2212). In step S2213, the remaining output data related to the genre to be laid out is again replaced with “headline sentence + detail sentence” related to the output data with the highest priority among all output data. However, although it is not described in the flowchart for the sake of complexity, the output data to be laid out eventually disappears by repeating S2212. In this case, control is performed so that it is processed as an error. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a layout result.

  As described above, if the extracted data cannot be laid out at the time of layout, the layout data is replaced with another data, thereby preventing the layout from becoming difficult to see due to a layout method that is inserted by forcibly reducing the data. It becomes possible. For example, it is realized by replacing the layout object from a detailed sentence to a summary sentence, or by operating completely different output data (article).

<Distribution / Printing>
FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the information laid out by the data processing apparatus 1 is distributed to the user and printed by the receiving home printing system.

  First, the data processing device 1 decides whether to send the edited editing data as image data or page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) data when a certain time before the distribution time registered by the user comes. . First, in step S2401, the edited data is converted into script format data. For example, if the printer model used by the user is registered as user information, it is determined whether or not PDL data that can be supported by the user registered printer can be created. This is determined by what kind of printer driver related to the printer registered by the user is stored in the data processing apparatus 1 in advance. In particular, if the printer is not designated for printing, it is transmitted as image data.

  In step S2402, the data processing apparatus 1 creates print data using PDL data or image data. For example, the data processing apparatus 1 passes the edited data after layout to the printer driver. The printer driver that has received the data performs an operation such as changing the object data included in the post-layout data created by the layout program into PDL data that can be interpreted by the printer controller. In addition, when it is determined that image data is transmitted in S2401, the data processing apparatus 1 creates compressed data when the edited data after layout is transmitted as image data.

  In this case, the editing data created by the layout program in the data processing apparatus 1 is created as bitmap data and becomes print data. Further, the bitmap data as the print data is compressed using a suitable compression method such as JPEG, JBIG, LZ, Packbits, and delta compression. These print data are stored once in the external memory 211 in the data processing apparatus 1 after being created.

  If it is detected in S2403 that the distribution time has come, communication of the print data described above is established to the host PC 3 of the user in the home printing system and the print data is sent in S2404. These processes are realized by controlling each device and each unit controller in the apparatus based on a program ROM in the ROM 203 in the data processing apparatus 1 and a program stored in the external memory 211.

  The above is the print data distribution operation in the data processing apparatus 1. The operations of the host PC 3 and printer 4 that have received the print data will be described below.

The host PC 3 receives the print data (S2405). Then, the host PC 3 transfers the received print data to the printer 4 (S2406). At this time, if the data processing apparatus 1 side creates compressed data in S2402, the data is decompressed by the host PC 3. The host PC 3 performs the above-described reception and transfer to the printer 4 connected through a local connection, a home LAN, or the like based on a program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 303, the external storage device 311 or the like.
Then, the printer 4 that has received the print data in S2407 performs printing based on the print data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the data processing apparatus 1 creates an output data database in the external memory 211, and operates to search the data in the database in the memory in the layout flowcharts of FIGS. 21 and 22. explained. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the memory 211 has only data for managing each genre, priority of each output data, and data for identifying a data supply source of each output data. In FIGS. 21 and 22, S2108, S2113, and S2114 are stored. , S2116, S2204, S2205, S2208, and S2209 can also be realized by the CPU 201 operating based on the program of the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 so as to obtain the actual output data itself from each data supply source.

  In the above embodiment, the print data is described as PDL or bitmap data. However, the edited data after layout is transmitted as script format data such as HTML, XML + CSS, or XSL, and browsed on the monitor of the host PC 3. You may browse with the application which has a function.

  In the first embodiment described above, the data processing apparatus, system, and method have been described that can set layout conditions according to the user and can change the output data itself in accordance with the layout conditions. In the present embodiment, a data processing apparatus that processes output data according to user registration conditions, and lays out and outputs the processed data will be described.

  FIG. 25 shows another process for creating the additional information table shown in FIG. 16 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where ruby is applied to a Chinese character will be described. In FIG. 16, “sight” data is extracted from user registration information not related to the layout, and customized so that the layout of output data is preferred by the user.

  Described here are other customized layout examples. The purpose of FIG. 25 is to lay out output data that can be read by a child, using child information obtained from user registration information.

  First, it is confirmed whether or not there is a child in the user information (S2501). If there is a child, the child's age information is further confirmed, and the grade is determined from an unillustrated age and grade table (S2502). In this example, it turns out that it is 10 years old and is a 4th grader of elementary school. In this case, the procedure for determining the school year from the age has been described, but this operation can be omitted by allowing the user to enter the school year at the time of user registration.

  Furthermore, it is determined whether there are children from the first grader to the third grader of the junior high school (S2503). In elementary school, the kanji that should be acquired in each grade is clearly determined as a guideline, and if it is a fourth grader, it is not necessary to apply ruby to the kanji acquired by the third grader. In addition, junior high school students cannot read all the common kanji, so they are controlled so that they use ruby for common kanji other than the kanji they learn at elementary school. In addition, it is unlikely that the information of the output data will be read by those younger than elementary school students, and even if there is no ruby, there is a high possibility that the output data can be read even by high school students or more.

  In S2503, it is determined whether there is a junior high school third grader from a first grader, and if so, grade information is set in S2404 (S2505). Then, the data between the ruby character point and the line is determined and set in the additional information table (S2506). The number of ruby character points is half the number of points of the document character size as default data. However, ruby is applied only to detailed sentence (document character) data, and control is performed so as not to touch kanji in the headline sentence. The correspondence table between the age and the school year, the kanji table for each school year, and the dictionary information required for ruby are stored in the external memory 211 of the data processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the operations shown in this flowchart are as follows. The CPU 201 is executed by a program such as the ROM 203.

  FIG. 26 is an example of a user information table created after the processing of FIG. 25 is performed.

  FIG. 27 is a conceptual diagram when ruby is used. When ruby is applied to a document, it is only between data lines of output data as in the first embodiment, whereas ruby character points that are half the number of document character points between each line. It is necessary to insert a line having a width of minutes + 1 point. One point is assumed to be inserted between output data and ruby characters. Here, it is assumed to be a ruby line including one character point plus one point. That is, “line spacing + ruby line + output data line” is repeated for each line feed.

  In actual layout, it goes without saying that it is necessary to determine whether or not output data can be laid out for the print area in consideration of the ruby lines in addition to the line spacing in S2105 of FIG. At this time, if the framework of the layout as shown in FIG. 15 is obtained, it can be determined how many characters the document is to be line-breaked. Therefore, it is necessary to consider that the number of ruby lines increases with each line break. Don't be. Although it is possible to determine whether or not layout is possible with a ruby line as one line, basically it is possible to determine by determining the size between lines assuming that the line spacing is large in addition to the data between the lines.

  In the first embodiment described above, the data processing apparatus, system, and method have been described that can set layout conditions according to the user and can change the output data itself in accordance with the layout conditions. In this embodiment, a data processing apparatus that processes output data in accordance with user registration conditions and performs duplex printing or single-sided printing will be described.

  First, the duplex unit will be described. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the duplex unit to which the sheet discharged in the direction of the arrow 650 is input when the discharge flapper 634 is switched to the opposite side of the face-down tray 635 in the printer 4 shown in FIG. In FIG. 28, reference numeral 2801 denotes a duplex unit. Reference numeral 650 denotes an arrow indicating the conveyance direction of the paper discharged from the printer 4. S is a single-side printed paper that has been discharged from the printer 4. Reference numeral 2802 denotes a conveyance roller that guides a single-side printed sheet into the duplex unit 2801. Reference numeral 2803 denotes a conveyance roller for conveying a single-side printed sheet.

  Reference numeral 2804 denotes a reversing roller that guides the single-side printed paper into the paper slot 2806 and then pulls out the paper from the paper slot 2806 to start conveyance toward the conveyance roller 2807. Reference numeral 2805 denotes a flapper for transporting the paper S once stored in the paper slot 2806 and drawn by the reversing roller 2804 not to the transport roller 2803 but to the transport roller 2807. Reference numerals 2807, 2808, and 2809 denote conveyance rollers for assisting conveyance of the single-side printed paper S. The single-side printed sheet S conveyed by the conveyance rollers 2807, 2808, and 2809 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 660. At this position, the paper feed roller 612 (see FIG. 6) of the printer 4 is printed. The sheet S is input again into the printer 4.

  FIG. 29 shows another process for creating the additional information table shown in FIG. 16 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a case where the printing method is switched to double-sided printing or single-sided printing will be described. Here, an embodiment will be described in which the printing method is switched to either single-sided printing or double-sided printing in accordance with user registration information.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart for creating processing information for single-sided printing or double-sided printing from user registration information other than registration information necessary for layout as processing for creating an additional information table.
If the printed material is of a nature that is provided in a newspaper, the printed material that has been printed at home in the morning is often read while commuting, but the public transportation is used for commuting, When reading, it is more convenient to have less printed matter, and for that purpose it is more convenient to print on both sides. On the other hand, such a situation does not occur on holidays, and it is a thing that you want to write down something when you live at home, and in such a case it is useful if there is paper that is printed on one side and the back side is white It is a thing. The following describes the procedure for controlling whether or not to perform double-sided printing for each day of the week based on this.

  When the process of creating the additional information table is started, holiday information registered as personal information is acquired (S2901). Subsequently, in the additional information table, “do one-sided printing” is set for holidays and “do two-sided printing” is set for work days (S2902).

  As described above, the data processing apparatus 1 creates the layout basic table and the additional layout table, refers to these, lays out the retrieved and collected output data for printing, and performs either double-sided printing or single-sided printing. You will control what to do.

  FIG. 31 shows another example of the user registration information management table. As is clear from FIG. 31, when holiday information is registered as user registration information, information to be distributed is double-sided printing or single-sided printing as information stored in the additional information table from this information. It can be seen that it is memorized every time.

  In this way, the user can control to perform either double-sided printing or single-sided printing from registered information that is not directly related to the layout by setting the minimum necessary data for the layout. The printed matter can be provided in a form suitable for the above.

  Although it is not impossible for the user to set these in advance, it is preferable to control them on the system side from the viewpoint of improving convenience.

  Next, processing in which the data processing apparatus described in this embodiment performs distribution, printing, and stapling will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 30 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the information laid out by the data processing apparatus 1 is distributed to the user and printed by the receiving home printing system.

  First, the data processing device 1 decides whether to send the edited editing data as image data or page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) data when a certain time before the distribution time registered by the user comes. . First, in step S3001, the editing data is converted into script format data. For example, if the printer model used by the user is registered as user information, it is determined whether or not PDL data that can be supported by the user registered printer can be created. This is determined by what kind of printer driver related to the printer registered by the user is stored in the data processing apparatus 1 in advance. In particular, if the printer is not designated for printing, it is transmitted as image data.

  In step S3002, the data processing apparatus 1 creates print data using PDL data or image data. For example, the data processing apparatus 1 passes the edited data after layout to the printer driver. The printer driver that has received the data performs an operation such as changing the object data included in the post-layout data created by the layout program into PDL data that can be interpreted by the printer controller. In addition, when it is determined in step S3001 that the data processing apparatus 1 transmits the image data, the data processing apparatus 1 creates compressed data when the edited data after layout is transmitted as image data.

  In this case, the editing data created by the layout program in the data processing apparatus 1 is created as bitmap data and becomes print data. Further, the bitmap data as the print data is compressed using a suitable compression method such as JPEG, JBIG, LZ, Packbits, and delta compression. These print data are stored once in the external memory 211 in the data processing apparatus 1 after being created.

  Subsequently, day information is acquired (S3003). For this purpose, a time measuring function (not shown) provided in the data processing apparatus 1 may be used. Subsequently, it is determined whether the day of the week is to be printed on one side or the day to be printed on both sides (S3004). This can be determined by referring to the additional information table column of the user information table illustrated in FIG. If the day of the week is a day for duplex printing, a duplex printing command is added to the print data (S3005). On the other hand, if it is a day of the week on which simplex printing is to be performed in step S3004, a simplex print command is added to the print data (S3006).

  If it is detected in S3007 that the distribution time has come, communication of the print data described above is established with the host PC 3 of the user in the home printing system and the print data is sent in S3008. These processes are realized by controlling each device and each unit controller in the apparatus based on a program ROM in the ROM 203 in the data processing apparatus 1 and a program stored in the external memory 211.

  The above is the print data distribution operation in the data processing apparatus 1. The operations of the host PC 3 and printer 4 that have received the print data will be described below.

  The host PC 3 receives the print data (S3010). Then, the host PC 3 checks from the received print data whether the designated printing method is double-sided printing or single-sided printing (S3011), and if double-sided printing is designated, the printer to execute double-sided printing. Print data is output to 4 (S3012). If single-sided printing is designated, the print data is output to the printer 4 to execute single-sided printing (S3013).

  FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the system for providing the service according to the present invention described in the first embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In this embodiment, the printer 4 realizes the function of the data processing apparatus 1. It is assumed that a staple finisher (not shown) is attached to the printer 4.

  A printer controller 501 shown in FIG. 33 communicates with a large capacity memory (HDD) 712 corresponding to an external memory included in the data processing apparatus 1 described in each of the embodiments in addition to the printer 4 described in FIG. / F controller 713 and further a time measuring means 714.

  In the configuration of FIG. 33, various programs executed by the data processing apparatus 1 described in the above embodiments are stored in the ROM 704 and the large-capacity memory 712, and a unique address on the network is given or communication by a modem is performed. By configuring the communication I / F controller 713 to control the above, the printer 4 can realize the function of the data processing apparatus 1. In this case, since the print data and print job are created inside the printer 4, it is not necessary to receive the data after layout through the host PC 3.

In this embodiment, the user's personal information is registered to the printer 4 by the user from the host PC 3 via a local connection or via a network. The printer 4 creates and registers an additional information table to complete the user information table. When the time measuring means 714 detects the determined time, it establishes communication with the data source server 2A and the like, and acquires data from the user registration information. Thereafter, the operation is performed so that the acquired data is laid out as in the above embodiments, and the layout data is created in accordance with the layout conditions from the user registration information. Further, the printing data is determined from the user registration information, the layout data is converted, and the print data is supplied to the printing unit (engine).
In this way, the printer 4 can perform the functions realized by the data processing apparatus 1 in the above embodiments.

  In each of the first to fourth embodiments described above, the printer 4 has been described as an electrophotographic printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an inkjet printer device, a copying machine with a scanner function, and a so-called composite having a FAX function. Needless to say, it can also be realized with a machine.

  Note that a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus stores program codes stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions according to the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. Can do.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, the present invention also includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the above-described processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a data processing apparatus 1 and an overall system in Embodiments 1 to 3 of a system according to the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a data processing device 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of host PC3 by the side of a user. It is a block diagram of a server configuration of data sources 2A, 2B, and 2C. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a printing apparatus. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer controller. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the service provision in the system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the first screen of user registration. It is a figure which shows the screen for inputting the password at the time of user registration. It is a figure which shows the screen for inputting the contract content at the time of user registration. It is a figure which shows the screen for a user to input personal information. It is a figure which shows the screen for a user to input conditions required for a layout. It is a flowchart for creating a table of conditions necessary for layout. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the framework of the layout determined by the layout conditions. It is a flowchart for creating a layout additional information table from personal information of a user. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the management table of user registration information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the data structure which data source 2A, 2B, 2C which provides information has. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement which the data processing apparatus 1 collects output data, and produces a database. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the database structure of the output data produced in the memory of the data processor. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a layout operation for the data processing apparatus 1 to lay out output data. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of another output data search process performed during a layout operation by the data processing apparatus 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the layout result of output data. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which the data processing apparatus 1 distributes a layout result and prints it by a printer 4. It is a 2nd flowchart for creating an additional information table from a user's personal information. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the user information table produced after performing the process of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram in the case of ruby. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a double-sided unit 2801. FIG. It is a flowchart for creating a layout additional information table from personal information of a user. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which the data processing apparatus 1 distributes a layout result and the printer 4 performs single-sided printing or double-sided printing processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the user information table produced after performing the process of FIG. It is the system configuration figure for explaining the data processor 1 in the example 4 of the system concerning the present invention, and the whole system. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer controller according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Data processing device 2A Data source server 2B Data source server 2C Data source server 3 Host PC
4 Printer 201, 301, 401, 709 CPU
208, 308, 406, 713 Communication I / F controller 501 Printer controller 502 Printer engine 715 Option controller 2801 Duplex unit

Claims (25)

In an information service method for distributing print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
A first step of registering the genre and the personal information;
A second step of searching for a data source, collecting information of the genre, and editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information;
A third step of sending the print information of the edited information to the printing means;
An information service method comprising: The information service method according to claim 1,
The personal information includes information about the user's family structure,
The second step refers to information on the family structure, and if the user has a family of a predetermined school age or less, a ruby is added to a predetermined kanji character information in the information of the genre. And editing the predetermined layout. In an information service method for distributing print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
A first step of registering the genre and the personal information;
A second step of searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, processing the collected information based on the personal information, and editing the information into a predetermined layout;
A third step of transmitting the print information of the processed and edited information to the printing means;
An information service method comprising: The information service method according to claim 3,
The personal information includes information about the eyesight of the user,
The second step refers to information about the visual acuity, and when the user is myopic, the character information point of the information of the genre is processed to be larger than the case of non-myopia. An information service method comprising editing to a predetermined layout. The information service method according to claim 4,
In the second step, when the user is astigmatism, the line spacing and / or character spacing of the character information in the information of the genre is processed to be larger than that in the case of non-myopia and edited into the predetermined layout. An information service method comprising: In an information service method for distributing print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
A first step of registering the genre and the personal information;
A second step of searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information, and creating print attribute data based on the personal information; ,
Sending the edited print information and the print attribute data to the printing means, and printing the print information in a mode according to the print attribute data;
An information service method comprising: The information service method according to claim 6,
The printing means has a single-sided printing function and a double-sided printing function,
The information service method, wherein the printing attribute data indicates whether the printing unit performs printing in a single-sided printing mode or a double-sided printing mode in the third step according to the personal information. The information service method according to claim 7,
The personal information includes information about the user's holiday days;
The second step refers to information on the day of the holiday, and if the print information is transmitted on the holiday day of the user, prints in the duplex printing mode and transmits on the other day of the week. If so, the printing attribute data includes printing in the single-sided printing mode. In an information service system that distributes print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Editing means for searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, and editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information;
Transmission means for transmitting print information of the edited information to a printing apparatus;
An information service system comprising: The information service system according to claim 9,
The personal information includes information about the user's family structure,
The editing means includes a means for referring to information on the family structure, and if the user has a family of a predetermined school age or less, a ruby is attached to a predetermined kanji character information in the information of the genre. Means for editing the predetermined layout. In an information service system that distributes print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Processing editing means for searching a data source, collecting information on the genre, processing the collected information based on the personal information, and editing the information into a predetermined layout;
Transmitting means for transmitting print information of the information that has been edited and edited to a printing apparatus;
An information service system comprising: The information service system according to claim 11,
The personal information includes information about the eyesight of the user,
The processing editing unit is configured to process the predetermined point by processing a point of character information in the information of the genre larger than that of non-myopia when the user is myopic when the user is near-sighted. An information service system comprising means for editing the layout of the information. The information service system according to claim 12,
When the user is astigmatism, the processing and editing means further edits the line spacing and / or character spacing of the character information in the information of the genre to be larger than the case of non-myopia and edits the predetermined layout. And an information service system. In an information service system that distributes print information of information of a genre to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Editing means for searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information, and creating print attribute data based on the personal information;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print information of the edited information and the print attribute data to a printing apparatus, and printing the print information in a mode according to the print attribute data;
An information service system comprising: The information service system according to claim 14,
The printing apparatus has a single-sided printing function and a double-sided printing function,
The information service system, wherein the printing attribute data indicates whether the printing apparatus performs printing in a single-sided printing mode or a double-sided printing mode. The information service system according to claim 15,
The personal information includes information about the user's holiday days;
The editing means refers to information on the day of the holiday, and when the print information is transmitted on the holiday day of the user, prints in the duplex printing mode and is transmitted on another day of the week. And a means for including in the print attribute data printing in the single-sided printing mode. In a printing apparatus that performs printing in accordance with print information of information on the genre distributed to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Editing means for searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, and editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information;
Printing means for printing the print information of the edited information;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 17.
The personal information includes information about the user's family structure,
The editing means includes a means for referring to information on the family structure, and if the user has a family of a predetermined school age or less, a ruby is attached to a predetermined kanji character information in the information of the genre. Means for editing the predetermined layout. In a printing apparatus that performs printing in accordance with print information of information on the genre distributed to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Processing editing means for searching a data source, collecting information on the genre, processing the collected information based on the personal information, and editing the information into a predetermined layout;
Printing means for printing the print information of the information that has been edited and edited;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein
The personal information includes information about the eyesight of the user,
The processing editing unit is configured to process the predetermined point by processing a point of character information in the information of the genre larger than that of non-myopia when the user is myopic when the user is near-sighted. And a means for editing the layout. The printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein
When the user is astigmatism, the processing and editing means further edits the line spacing and / or character spacing of the character information in the information of the genre to be larger than the case of non-myopia and edits the predetermined layout. Means for printing. In a printing apparatus that performs printing in accordance with print information of information on the genre distributed to a user who has registered a predetermined genre and personal information of the user,
Registration means for registering the genre and the personal information;
Editing means for searching for a data source, collecting information on the genre, editing the collected information into a predetermined layout based on the personal information, and creating print attribute data based on the personal information;
Printing means for printing the print information of the edited information in a mode according to the print attribute data;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein
A single-sided printing unit and a double-sided printing unit;
The printing apparatus, wherein the printing attribute data indicates whether the printing unit performs printing in a single-sided printing mode or a double-sided printing mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein
The personal information includes information about the user's holiday days;
The editing means refers to information on the day of the holiday, and when the print information is transmitted on the holiday day of the user, prints in the duplex printing mode and is transmitted on another day of the week. The printing attribute data includes means for including printing in the single-sided printing mode.   A program causing a computer device to execute the information service method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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