JP2006101445A - Image forming apparatus, control method and program of the image forming apparatus, image forming system, and control method of the image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide solidity and flexibility in the storage of storing the positional information of image data in an image forming apparatus capable of storing the image data. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises storage means for storing the image data relating to a first storage medium; a storing means for storing the storage position information of the image data in the first storage medium into a mobile second storage medium that is different from the first storage medium by relating to identification information of the image data; a display means for displaying the identification information stored in the second storage medium; an inputting means for inputting a reading indication for indicating any one of the pieces of the identification information displayed by the displaying means; a reading means for reading the memorizing position information related to the identification information, indicated by the reading indication from the second storage medium and for reading the image data from the first storage medium, based on the read memorizing position information; and image forming means for image forming relating to a storage member, based on the image data read by the reading means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data, a control method and program therefor, an image reading system that reads an image on a document, and an image forming apparatus, and a control method therefor It is about.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data is known. As one type of such an image forming apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses a copying machine that stores image data and encodes the storage position information into a barcode and prints it on a part of a printed matter. This copying machine reads and prints the corresponding image data by reading a barcode printed on a part of the printed matter with a scanner.
JP-A-10-308868

  However, in the above prior art, there are cases where desired image data cannot be read. For example, even if an attempt was made to read a barcode from a printed material, the barcode could not be read successfully if the printed material was damaged. In addition, the amount of information that can be recorded in the barcode is limited and the convenience is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of reliably and easily reading and outputting desired image data in an image forming apparatus. There is.

Storage means for storing image data in the first storage medium;
Storage means for associating the storage position information of the image data in the storage medium with the identification information of the image data and storing it in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
Display means for displaying the identification information stored in the second storage medium;
Input means for inputting a reading instruction designating any of the identification information displayed by the display means;
Reading out the storage location information associated with the identification information specified by the readout instruction from the second storage medium, and further reading out the image data from the first storage medium based on the readout storage location information Means,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read by the reading means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can read out desired image data and its output reliably and easily can be provided.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below by taking a digital multifunction peripheral as an example.

<Device configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment includes a printer 101 that is an image forming unit, a scanner 102 that is an image reading unit, and a control unit 103 that controls the entire apparatus and controls image data and devices. And an operation unit 104 for inputting various operation instructions to the control unit 103. The multi-function peripheral uses a copy function for printing image data read by the scanner 102 with the printer 101, a printer function for printing image data supplied from the outside via the LAN 105 with the printer 101, and a public network 106. Realizes the facsimile function.

  The control unit 103 has a CPU 111 and starts the system based on the start program stored in the ROM 113 and reads various control programs stored in the program storage area 141 in the information storage unit (for example, HDD) 140. Then, a predetermined process is executed using the RAM 112 as a work area. The information storage unit 140 includes an image data storage area 142 for storing image data read by the scanner 102 in addition to the program storage area 141 in which the various programs are stored. An external storage medium I / F 117 used to store information in the external storage medium 150 is also provided. In FIG. 1, the information storage unit 140 is illustrated as including a program storage area 141 and an image data storage area 142, but these storage areas may be physically different storage media. It doesn't matter. For example, the image data storage area may exist in a storage medium (for example, an external HDD or a database on a network) provided outside the multifunction peripheral.

  A RIP (raster image processor) 121 develops a PDL (printer description language) code into a bitmap image (raster image). The scanner 102 and the printer 101 which are image input / output devices are connected to the control unit 103 via a device I / F 123 that performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The image processing unit 122 performs correction (color conversion, etc.) and editing (compression / decompression / rotation, etc.) on input image data read by the scanner in accordance with a command from the CPU 111, and print output image data on the printer. Correction, resolution conversion, and the like can be performed, and JPEG for binary image data and JBIG, MMR, and MH compression / decompression processing can be performed for binary image data. The image processing unit 122 can also perform processing for generating a thumbnail image from input image data.

  The CPU 111, RAM 112, ROM 113, operation unit I / F 114, LAN I / F 115, modem 116, and information storage unit 140 are connected to each other via the system bus 110. On the other hand, the RIP 121, the device I / F 123, and the image processing unit 122 are connected to each other via the image bus 120. Furthermore, the system bus 110 and the image bus 120 are connected via a bus bridge 130 that converts a data structure.

  The operation unit 104 includes a touch panel display and the like, and includes a display unit for displaying a current setting state of each function relating to image formation and an information input screen for inputting setting information relating to each function, and setting information for each function. Input unit (button, touch panel, etc.).

  The LAN I / F 115 is connected to the LAN 105 and inputs / outputs information to / from other input / output devices (such as a PC) on the LAN 105. The modem 116 is connected to the public network 106 and inputs / outputs information via the public network 106 by facsimile communication or the like.

  The CPU 111 in the control unit 103 generally controls various devices connected to the system bus 110 based on a control program. For example, a document image is read from the scanner 102 via the device I / F 123, the generated image data is subjected to predetermined processing, and then the image data is output to the printer 101 via the device I / F 123. Take control.

<Operation of the device>
Next, the operation of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment will be described below. FIG. 2 is a conceptual flow diagram schematically illustrating the flow of operations in the multifunction machine. FIG. 32 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of image reading.

  In step S201, the input of the reading start key by the user in the operation unit 104 is detected, the scanner 102 reads the image on the document, and the generated image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 112 (see the circle in FIG. 2). 1).

  In step S202, the user uses the operation unit 104 to select whether to store the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 112 in step S201 in the image data storage area 142. If the user selects not to store in step S202, the image data on the RAM 112 is discarded and the flow ends. When the user selects to store in step S202, the image is stored in the image data storage area 142 (step S203).

  In step S <b> 204, the user is made to use the operation unit 104 to select whether to store the storage position information together with the identification information in the external storage medium 150 (memory card or the like). If the user selects not to store in step S204, the identification information is discarded and the flow ends.

  In step S205, a reduced image is generated as identification information associated with the storage position information of the image data stored in step S203. Further, in step S206, the generated reduced image is stored together with the storage position information on the external storage medium 150 (memory card). Etc.) and the processing is terminated (circled 2 in FIG. 2). The reduced image generated here is basically a reduced image of the original image of the first page, but may be a reduced image of an arbitrary page or a reduced image of a plurality of pages as specified by the operator. Also good. As for the storage location information, at least information for identifying the MFP (for example, an IP address or a number uniquely assigned to the apparatus), a storage location in the image data storage area 142 in the MFP (for example, It includes the file name for specifying the image data, and may be in any data format (URL format character string or binary data). Further, image data storage is not limited to the image data storage area 142 but may be a storage device connected via the LAN 105 or the public network 106. Then, by repeatedly performing the processing of FIG. 3, it is possible to sequentially store the storage position information and identification information of the image data for a plurality of sets of documents in the external storage medium 150.

  FIG. 43 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the stored image data is read and printed.

  In step S211, in the state where the external storage medium 150 is connected to the external storage medium I / F 117, the external input via the external storage medium I / F 117 is triggered by the input of the reading start key by the user in the operation unit 104. The identification information in the storage medium 150 is read onto the RAM. Here, the reading of the identification information in the external storage medium 150 has been described by the trigger of the input of the reading start key. However, it is also possible to configure to automatically read the connection of the external storage medium 150 as a trigger. .

  In step S212, the CPU 111 displays a list of identification information (here, reduced images) corresponding to a plurality of image files based on the identification information on the RAM 112, for example, on the operation unit 104 configured with a touch panel (circled in FIG. 2). 3).

  In step S213, a reduced image to be printed is selected by a user pressing the reduced image displayed on the touch panel constituting the operation unit 104 (circled 4 in FIG. 2).

  In step S214, the CPU 111 derives the storage position information of the image image associated with the selected reduced image, and searches the corresponding image data storage area 142 or another storage device. If no image data exists in step S214, an error warning is output (step S218) and the process ends.

  In step S215, when there is image data in step S214, the user uses the operation unit 104 to select whether to store the storage position information of the image image on a medium (such as paper). If the user selects not to print the storage position information of the image image in step S215, only normal printing is performed (step S217), and the flow ends (circled 4 in FIG. 2). In step S215, when the user selects to print the storage position information of the image image, the storage position information (for example, a character string such as a URL or the format of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode image) is used together with normal printing. (Step S216) (circled 4 in FIG. 2). Note that the storage position information of the image image may be encoded by an arbitrary encoding method, and may be printed on a recording sheet or the like as a barcode image, for example.

  If storage of image data is selected in step S202 and storage of identification information is not selected in step S204, the user selects a specific image name in the MFP body on the operation unit. You will select and copy directly.

  In this embodiment, identification information (reduced image) of image data is generated in advance in step S205 and stored in the external storage medium 150 (memory card or the like), and the identification information in the external storage medium 150 is read in step S211. The operation has been described with the operation of displaying the identification information in S211. However, as another form, the identification information is stored together with the image data in the image data storage area 142 or another storage device at the time of image reading, and only the storage position information is stored in the external storage medium 150, and the external storage medium 150 is stored at the time of printing. The identification information is read out and displayed based on the storage position information in the memory, and only the storage position information is stored in the external storage medium 150 when reading the image, and is read based on the storage position information in the external storage medium 150 when printing. There is also a form in which identification information is generated from the image data and displayed.

In the present embodiment, the reduced image is used as the identification information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if a keyword or a file name is used as identification information, or such character information and a reduced image are combined, it becomes possible to narrow down by keyword search or the like in image data selection at the time of reprinting, and the target image Data selection can be made more efficient.
Further, in the present embodiment, the processing of FIG. 3 and the processing of FIG. 4 are executed by the same multifunction machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing of FIG. 3 and the processing of FIG. For example, the processing in FIG. 3 may be executed by an image reading apparatus that does not have a print function, and the processing in FIG. 4 may be executed by an image printing apparatus that does not have a scanner function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide robustness and flexibility by storing the storage position information of the image data and the reduced image in the external storage medium 150, and the reading problem due to damage, and Therefore, it is possible to avoid the limitation of the number of storable data due to the capacity limitation, and it becomes easy to reprint the stored image data.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by one device.

  The present invention can also be achieved by supplying a program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. The Accordingly, the program code itself installed in the computer in order to realize the functional processing of the present invention by the computer is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in 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.

It is an apparatus block diagram in 1st Embodiment. It is a flow conceptual diagram of a 1st embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of the first image reading in 1st Embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of copying using the stored image data in 1st Embodiment.

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
Storage means for storing image data in the first storage medium;
Storage means for associating the storage position information of the image data in the first storage medium with the identification information of the image data and storing it in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
Display means for displaying the identification information stored in the second storage medium;
Input means for inputting a reading instruction designating any of the identification information displayed by the display means;
Reading out the storage location information associated with the identification information specified by the readout instruction from the second storage medium, and further reading out the image data from the first storage medium based on the readout storage location information Means,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read by the reading means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
Storage means for storing image data in the first storage medium;
Storage means for storing storage position information of image data in the first storage medium in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
Display means for reading the image data from the first storage medium based on the storage position information stored in the second storage medium, and further displaying identification information of the read image data;
Input means for inputting a reading instruction designating any of the identification information displayed by the display means;
Reading means for reading the image data associated with the identification information designated by the reading instruction;
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read by the reading means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores, as the identification information, reduced image data obtained by reducing an image indicated by the image data in association with the storage position information.   4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit automatically reads and displays the identification information in a state where the identification information can be read from the second storage medium. 5. The image forming apparatus described. A control method for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
A storage step of storing image data in a first storage medium;
A storage step of associating the storage position information of the image data in the first storage medium with the identification information of the image data and storing it in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
A display step of displaying the identification information stored in the second storage medium;
An input step of inputting a read instruction designating any of the displayed identification information;
Reading out the storage location information associated with the identification information specified by the readout instruction from the second storage medium, and further reading out the image data from the first storage medium based on the readout storage location information Process,
An image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read in the reading step;
A control method for an image forming apparatus. A control method for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
A storage step of storing image data in a first storage medium;
A storage step of storing storage position information of image data in the first storage medium in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
A display step of reading the image data from the first storage medium based on the storage position information stored in the second storage medium, and further displaying identification information of the read image data;
An input step of inputting a read instruction designating any of the displayed identification information;
A reading step of reading the image data associated with the identification information designated by the reading instruction;
An image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read in the reading step;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising: A control program for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
In the processor of the image forming apparatus,
A storage step of storing image data in a first storage medium;
A storage step of associating the storage position information of the image data in the first storage medium with the identification information of the image data and storing it in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
A display step of displaying the identification information stored in the second storage medium;
An input step of inputting a read instruction designating any of the displayed identification information;
Reading out the storage location information associated with the identification information specified by the readout instruction from the second storage medium, and further reading out the image data from the first storage medium based on the readout storage location information Process,
An image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read in the reading step;
A control program characterized by causing A control program for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
In the processor of the image forming apparatus,
A storage step of storing image data in a first storage medium;
A storage step of storing storage position information of image data in the first storage medium in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium;
A display step of reading the image data from the first storage medium based on the storage position information stored in the second storage medium, and further displaying identification information of the read image data;
An input step of inputting a read instruction designating any of the displayed identification information;
A reading step of reading the image data associated with the identification information designated by the reading instruction;
An image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read in the reading step;
A control program characterized by causing An image forming system having an image reading device that reads an image on a document and an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material based on image data.
The image reading device includes:
Reading means for reading an image and generating image data corresponding to the image;
Storage means for storing the image data generated by the reading means in a predetermined storage position of the first storage medium;
Generating means for generating a reduced image of at least one page of the image indicated by the image data stored in the storage means;
Storage means for associating storage position information representing a storage position where image data is stored in the storage means with the reduced image generated by the generation means, and storing it in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium And
The image forming apparatus includes:
Display means for displaying the reduced image stored in the second storage medium;
Input means for inputting an instruction to read out image data corresponding to the reduced image displayed by the display means;
Reading means for reading the storage position information associated with the reduced image in response to the reading instruction from the second storage medium, and reading the image data from the first storage medium based on the read storage position information When,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the image data read by the reading means;
An image forming system comprising: A control method of an image forming system having an image reading device that reads an image on a document and an image forming device that forms an image on a recording material based on image data,
In the image reading apparatus,
Read an image, generate image data according to the image,
Storing the generated image data in a predetermined storage position of the first storage medium;
Generating a reduced image of at least one page of the image indicated by the stored image data;
The storage position information representing the storage position storing the image data is associated with the generated reduced image and stored in a portable second storage medium different from the first storage medium,
In the image forming apparatus,
Displaying the reduced image stored in the second storage medium;
Input an instruction to read image data corresponding to the displayed reduced image,
In response to the read instruction, the storage position information associated with the reduced image is read from the second storage medium, and the image data is read from the first storage medium based on the read storage position information.
An image forming system control method, wherein an image is formed on a recording material based on the read image data.

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