JP2006163707A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize whether the print result of print data transmitted to a printer that is separated physically from an upper-level device and connected by a network or the Internet is normal or not. <P>SOLUTION: The upper-level device previously stores image data before conversion to a print language to transmit it to the printer, the printer makes a scanner connected to itself read the print result (print sheet), and the read image data is returned to the upper-level device. The returned image data is compared with the stored image data, and whether the printing is normally performed is recognized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly, for example, when performing print processing, a print job is issued by a server communicating with a specific protocol, a printer administrator, a printer support person, etc. The present invention relates to an image forming system such as a network printer that can notify the addressee and display the contents of image data indicating a printing result.

  In a conventional printing system, when image data is created from a document received via a network and printed in a document processing apparatus, the result of the printing process is not notified to the print request source (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In recent client-server type remote printing, in order to determine whether printing has been performed by a printer, the print server under control of the printer leaves a job history after sending print data to the printer. Determines whether the print data sent to the printer has been printed by polling the printer, and sends a print end notification to the client that sent the print data for the printed job based on the determination result and the job history. The mechanism to put out is considered. However, even if this mechanism is used, the client that issued the job is only notified of the end of printing, and it has not been possible to determine what kind of output has been made by the printing process.

  In addition, processing is difficult only on the printer side, and a certain degree of realization is possible in a system in which a host computer is sharing a network with a locally connected printer.

  For example, when a host computer receives a print notification from a locally connected printer, it analyzes whether the printing process has succeeded or failed based on the print notification, and notifies the analysis result by e-mail or the like (for example, Patent Documents) 2). The content notified by e-mail here is only the result of the printing process.

In addition, a printing apparatus that can access the WWW (World Wide Web) has been conceived in recent years. If a print job is received from the WWW and printing is performed based on the print job, a print job is requested. The client is expected to give an instruction via the Web, and it is considered that it is impossible to determine whether printing has been performed normally or whether the print output has been different from what the client has expected.
JP-A-9-171506 JP-A-8-130554

  However, in the above-described conventional example, when printing is performed via the network, the notification indicating the print result is not performed or the image image of the print result is not transmitted to the print job issuer. ) To (d) arise.

  (A) Since the notification indicating the print result is not performed, it is necessary to make an inquiry to a relational database or the like that manages print images after printing.

  (B) The actual print result cannot be visually confirmed only by confirming the result of the print process (processing status indicating success or failure, information such as the number of prints, and the print time).

  (C) In the case of remote printing, the print job issuer and the network printer are often located at a distance from each other, and in order to visually confirm the print result, the print result is moved to the network printer. There is no choice but to confirm or send the print result to the print job issuer by means of mail or the like, which requires travel time or transmission time. Further, a client that transmits a print job via the WWW may request a print job from a completely different location, for example. In such a case, it is necessary to contact the office of the print output destination and ask if the desired contents have been output.

  (D) If the print result is different from the desired print result, the raster image data created by the network printer cannot be reused.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system including an information processing apparatus capable of quickly and easily confirming an output result of visual printing or the like at a job issuer such as printing.

  An image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that analyzes and prints a print job received from the information processing apparatus. Generating a reading means, a converting means for converting the format of the output image based on the reading result by the reading means, a transfer means for transferring the output image format-converted by the converting means to the information processing apparatus, An image processing unit that outputs the output image to a printing unit, and the information processing apparatus holds a print content relating to the print job after the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming unit. Receiving means for receiving an output image relating to a printing result from the apparatus, printing contents held in the holding means, and the receiving means received by the receiving means Characterized in that it comprises comparison means for comparing the power image, and informing means for informing the result of comparison by said comparing means.

  The information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus can communicate with each other via the Internet.

  According to the present invention, when a network printer executes a print job, the communication server on the network printer publishes image data for displaying a print result, and the print job including the network resource identifier indicating the image data is displayed. Since the result is notified to the print job issuer, the print job issuer can visually confirm the print result through the image data displaying the print result from the network resource identifier.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Overview)
First, an outline of the present invention will be described.

  (First invention) A first invention is a system in which a print job is transmitted and received between a print job issuer such as a host computer as a print client and a print job issuer such as a network printer as a print server. Generating print result display data for displaying the print result from the raster image data, storing the print result display data, publishing the print result display data with a specific protocol, and notifying the print job issuer of the print result In this case, the image forming apparatus or the print server performs a process of controlling to include the network resource identifier indicating the print result display data in the notification information.

  Hereinafter, the first invention will be described in detail.

  This system transmits and receives a print job between a print job issuer (print client: corresponding to the information processing apparatus of the present invention) and a print job issue destination (image forming apparatus or print server). It has.

  (1) means for transmitting / receiving a print job with a specific communication protocol via a network (print job communication means); (2) means for reading and storing the received print job and communication protocol (print job storage means). And (3) means for creating print data (print data creation means) from the received print job and protocol information, and (4) reading the network resource identifier included in the received print job and using the corresponding communication protocol. Means for communicating with a server on the network and downloading the network resource (print data download means), and (5) means for storing status information of the print job (print status storage means).

  In the system including these (1) to (5), the print job communication unit is a print client (information processing apparatus) that is a print job issuer and a print job issue destination for a requested print job. A specific communication protocol determined with the print server (image forming apparatus) is used to send the print job from the print client to the print server. It is assumed that the print client holds the print contents of the print job in the holding unit in the print client even after the print job is transmitted.

  The print job storage means operates on the print server side, stores the received print job, and operates to store information used in the protocol as protocol information.

  The print data creation means is as follows depending on the case of push printing (when print data is included in the print job) and pull printing (when print data is not included in the print job): To work.

  In the case of push printing: the print text and protocol information to be printed are cut out from the print job and protocol information stored in the print job storage means, the print text and the protocol information are poured into a print form (print format), and printing is performed. Works like creating data. In this case, the print data download means is not used.

  In the case of pull printing: a network resource identifier indicating print data to be printed is cut out from the print job stored in the print job storage unit, and the network resource is transmitted with a communication protocol corresponding to the network resource identifier using the print data download unit. The network resource is downloaded, the network resource is downloaded, a print text is created from the downloaded data, the print text and the protocol information are poured into a print form (print form), and print data is created. To work.

  If the download is successful, information indicating that the download was successful is stored in the print status storage means. If not, information indicating that the download has failed is stored.

  The print server transmits the created print data to the printing apparatus. The print server stores information indicating that the printing has been normally performed in the print status storage unit when printing is normally performed, and stores information indicating that the printing has failed otherwise.

  The print form may be sent to the print server separately from the print data, may be included in the print data as a form separate from the body to be printed, or the default form on the print server in advance. You may prepare and use as.

  In addition, the system further includes the following configuration requirements in order to publish the print result using a specific communication protocol when notifying the print job issuer of the print result.

  (6) means for converting raster image data for displaying print results into a specific image format (raster image conversion means), (7) means for storing the converted image data (image data storage means), and (8) Means for publishing the stored image data with a specific protocol (image data publishing means).

  In the system further including these (6) to (8), the print job communication means, for the requested print job, between the print client that is the print job issuer and the print server that is the print job issue destination. The print job is transmitted from the print client to the print server using a specific communication protocol determined between them.

  In addition, the system further includes the following configuration requirements in order to notify the print job issuer of the print result.

  (9) means for cutting out the address of the job issuer from the information stored in the print job storage means (address cutout means), and (10) means for taking out the print status information from the print status storage means and creating data to be notified (notification Data generation means) and (11) means for notifying the notification data to the address (data notification means).

  In the system further including (9) to (11), the notification data creating unit operates to include the network resource identifier published by the image data publishing unit in the data to be created.

  The data notification unit operates to transmit the data created by the notification data creation unit to the address cut out by the address cutout unit using a specific protocol.

  The protocol used by the data notification means may be the same as a specific communication protocol determined between the print client and the print server that is the print job issue destination, or may use another protocol. Good.

  (Second invention) In the second invention, in addition to the structure of the first invention, when data is created and printed, the print status information indicating the result of the printing process is analyzed, and the print error information is disclosed. When a print error occurs, the print server performs a process for notifying the administrator or supporter of the printer as an error notification and controlling the print error information to be referred to via the network. It is performed by the side.

  This system has the following configuration requirements to notify print error information to an appropriate destination.

  (12) Take out the print status information from the print status storage means, convert it to a format that can be made public, create data to be released (error information creation means), and (13) extract error information from the print status information, Data to be notified from means for assigning an address for each corresponding error type (address assignment means), (14) print status information, and error information created by the error information creation means And (15) means for notifying the notification data to the address assigned by the address assigning means (data notifying means).

  In a system further including these (13) to (15), when a printing error (or an error relating to download in the case of pull printing) occurs, not only the print job transmission source but also the maintenance or management of the printer. A notification message about the printing error is transmitted to a destination corresponding to the administrator who performs the printing or the support.

  Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.

(First example)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  (System Configuration) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network printer to which the present invention is applied.

  A client 100 includes a host computer that issues a print job. In the present embodiment, the print job is print data composed of a page description language such as LIPS (registered trademark of Canon Inc.) or JL (Job Language) that encloses the page description language, and printing for actual printing. It is used to mean both the location information indicating the location of the print data and the print command command without including data.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a network printer that receives a print job issued by the client 100 and controls printing based on the print job. In this embodiment, a network printer will be described for the sake of simplicity. However, this network printer has an image reading unit such as a scanner.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes a network interface unit for communicating with the client 100 connected via the network.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a protocol analysis unit that analyzes a print job protocol. For example, when the print job includes print data, the print data is analyzed according to the page description language, and internal intermediate data for generating a raster image is generated.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a raster image data generation unit that generates raster image data for actual output based on intermediate data generated from a print job.

  A printing unit 104 prints the generated raster image data. This printing unit is a printing engine controlled by a known technique, and is realized by electrophotographic transfer in this embodiment. The transfer method may be any of an intermediate transfer method, a transfer drum method, and a transfer belt method. A printed matter of raster image data printed by the printing unit is read by a scanner unit (not shown), and the read image data is stored in a storage unit as a print result image.

  A notification data creation unit 105 creates data for notifying the status of the print job. There are three types of status. The first is status information indicating whether or not the resource to be printed has been successfully downloaded based on the location information when pull printing is performed with a print job that does not include print data, as described above. . The second is status information indicating whether the printing unit 104 has successfully printed or failed. This status information allows the client to know in detail whether printing has succeeded or failed. For example, printing was executed after the toner of a certain color ran out, an overrun error occurred due to inadequate development of the image image at the transfer speed, or image degradation resulting in insufficient resolution or gradation due to insufficient memory Or a stapling instruction has been given but the needle has been lost. The third is the actual print result, which is information on the print result image read by the scanner unit as described above.

  106 converts the print result image read by the scanner unit into a format suitable for the client application so that the client that requested the print job can visually grasp the image format of the raster image data as a result of the printout. And an image data management unit to be stored. As the image format, a JPEG image format or a PDF image format is suitable. Also, the image data management unit needs to color-convert raster image data, which is a YMCK color attribute, into RGB color attributes during image format conversion.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a print job from the network, a print job as Internet printing from a client (not shown) having a browser via the Internet, a notification of the result of the print job to the print job issuer, a network This is a WWW server that downloads data corresponding to resource identifiers from an external WWW server via a database (not shown) on the network or the Internet, and publishes stored image data using a specific protocol. In this embodiment, the network printer having the WWW server has the host name “www.foo.co.jp”.

  A notification address management unit 108 manages a notification destination address for notifying the result of the print job from the received print job. In this embodiment, the notification destination address is the address of the client that issued the print job. When the print job is received via the network (LAN), it corresponds to the IP address or e-mail address. It is managed by cutting out the address from. Also, when a print job is received via the Internet, it corresponds to the e-mail address, and is managed by cutting out the address from the print job in the same manner.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a network that transmits print jobs, notifications, and data to be downloaded. Although not shown, there are a plurality of clients on the network 109 and a print server that controls the order of sending print jobs to the network printer.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples of protocol information and a print text when HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is used as a protocol for relaying a print job.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes an example of information (protocol information) transmitted from the client 100 to the network printer 110 when HTTP is used.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a table indicating contents obtained by analyzing the protocol information 201.

  The analyzed content of the protocol information 201 is a network printer that uses “HTTP / 1.1” as the communication protocol and uses the HTTP method “POST” and is specified by the host name “www.foo.co.jp”. For 110, printing is performed using a printing program whose URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) is specified by “/cgi-bin/print.cgi”.

  The transmission source of the print job is that the e-mail address is “taro@foo.co.jp”, the content type is “application / x-www-form-urlencoded”, the content length is 19 bytes, and the content content is “data” = Hello + World. ”Indicates that a print job for printing data is issued.

  Here, the line feed code is 2 bytes of CR LF (decimal code 13, 10). The connection “close” indicates that the communication channel is disconnected when the communication session ends.

  Further, by the printing program, the data whose content type is “application / x-www-form-urlencoded” is divided into a form name and a form value by “=” characters, and the form value “Hello + World.” Is “ + "Indicates that the character is decoded to blank SP" "(decimal code 32) and converted to" Hello World. "

  The printing program generates the character string “Hello World.” As a raster image and sends it to the printing unit 104.

  Further, the user name “taro” is extracted from the e-mail address, the generated raster image is converted into the JPEG image format, and the URL “http://www.foo.co.jp/taro” is used as a network resource identifier. /Print.jpg "is saved in a form that can be referred to and published.

  The notification data creation unit 105 creates a message including the print status information and the URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and notifies the address to the e-mail address.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram mainly showing the configuration of the storage unit of the network printer 110 shown in FIG.

  A ROM (readout memory) 301 stores a program for controlling the network printer 110 by a CPU.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a main memory (MM: Main Memory).

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 303 controls the hardware configuration of the network printer based on a control program stored in the ROM 301.

  Reference numeral 304 denotes a network interface (Network Interface). This is the same as 101 in FIG.

  Reference numeral 305 denotes an HD interface unit for reading and writing data stored in the secondary storage device.

  Reference numeral 306 denotes an HD (hard disk) as an external secondary storage device. In this network printer, the print result is held in this HD.

  The printer may be connected to the network 109 via the network interface 304, or may be directly connected to the print server with a serial cable or a printer cable. Further, communication to the WWW is not always necessary.

  The control program according to the present invention (see flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 to be described later) may be stored in the ROM 301, the main storage unit 302, the HD 306, or the like. ) It may be stored on a disk or the like.

  (System Operation) The operation of this system will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the printing processing of the network printer 110 shown in FIG. 1, particularly push processing. Note that the pull printing processing form branches off in the middle of FIG.

  First, in step S 401, the print job communication unit (1) receives a print job from the client 100 via the Internet or the network interface unit 101.

  In the subsequent step S402, the received print job information is spooled in the print job storage means (2) in the MM 302.

  In step S403, the protocol analysis unit 102 analyzes (2) spooled print job information in the print job storage unit, cuts out the protocol information, and determines whether the print job is a push print including print data or a print data holding destination. It is determined whether or not the pull printing includes the indicated location information. If the spooled print job is determined to be push printing, the process proceeds to step S404. If it is determined to be pull printing, the process proceeds to step S410. The pull printing process in step S410 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 404, the protocol analysis unit 102 analyzes the spooled print job information and cuts out a print data portion that is information including a print text.

  The raster image data generation unit 103 (corresponding to the print data creation means (3) of the first invention) creates printer-specific intermediate data from the cut-out protocol information and information consisting of the print text. Raster image data of the output image is created based on the intermediate data.

  Next, in step S405, it is determined whether or not the print data has been successfully created in step S404. If the print data has been successfully created, the process proceeds to the next step S406. If the print data has failed, the process proceeds to step S407. .

  In step S406, the raster image, which is the created print data, is sent to the printer (printing unit 104 in FIG. 1).

  In step S407, if printing is successful, the raster image conversion means (6) converts the YMCK color attribute to the RGB color attribute based on the raster image data used for printing, and converts the format to the JPEG image format. Thus, image data for displaying the print result is created and published to a specific client by the image data publication means (8). If the printing is not normally performed, the error information creating means (12) cuts out an error from the status information, converts the format, creates error information, and publishes it.

  In step S408, the notification data creating means (10) creates a notification message from the print status, the protocol information, and the network resource identifier indicating the image data.

  In step S409, the address cutout unit (9) cuts out the notification destination address from the print job, and creates a notification destination table corresponding to the status. The created notification message is notified to the address corresponding to the print status. For example, if it prints normally, it notifies the print job issuer. If it is a minor error such as out of paper, out of toner, or paper jam (jam), it notifies the address addressed to the printer administrator. If the error is serious, such as an error of unknown cause, it is notified to the address addressed to the printer support staff. Then, the process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a pull printing process form of the network printer 110 shown in FIG. This is performed following the processing of step S410 in FIG.

  First, when it is determined that pull printing is performed, in step S501, information on the print job spooled in the print job storage unit (2) is analyzed, and location information indicating the location of data to be printed in the print job is used. Cut out a network resource identifier.

  In step S502, the print data download unit (4) accesses the Internet via the WWW server based on the extracted protocol information and the network resource identifier (URL, etc.), and downloads the print data indicated by the network resource identifier. Create raster image data for printing.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the raster image data of the print data has been successfully created. If the raster image data has been successfully created, the process proceeds to the next step S503, and if it has failed, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S503, raster image data based on the print data created in step S502 is sent to the printing unit 104, which is a printer.

  In step S504, if printing is successful, the raster image conversion means (6) converts the YMCK color attribute to the RGB color attribute based on the raster image data used for printing, and converts the format to the JPEG image format. Thus, image data for displaying the print result is created and published to a specific client by the image data publication means (8). If the printing is not normally performed, the error information creating means (12) cuts out an error from the status information, converts the format, creates error information, and publishes it.

  In step S505, the notification data creating unit (10) creates a notification message from the print status, the protocol information, and the network resource identifier indicating the image data.

  In step S506, the address cutout unit (9) cuts out the notification destination address from the print job, and creates a notification destination table corresponding to the status. The created notification message is notified to the address corresponding to the print status.

  For example, if it prints normally, it notifies the print job issuer. If it is a minor error such as out of paper, out of toner, or paper jam (jam), it notifies the address addressed to the printer administrator. If the error is serious, such as an error of unknown cause, it is notified to the address addressed to the printer support staff. Then, the process ends.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing communication processing of the network printer 110 shown in FIG.

  The vertical axis indicates the passage of time, and communication between the client 100 and the network printer 110 is indicated by a horizontal arrow between the vertical axes. However, the transmission of the print job response and the e-mail notification may be reversed, or may be performed simultaneously by the server processing in parallel.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st Embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol.

  In this example, the image data management unit 106 creates a thumbnail image for each image data that displays each printed page, and places each thumbnail image in appropriate display data, thereby printing the printed page. Can be listed.

  For example, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is used as an appropriate display data format, and each thumbnail image is displayed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-2nd embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol.

  In the above example, HTTP / 1.1 is used as a print job transfer protocol. However, in this example, the print job is not limited to HTTP / 1.1. It applies to any communication protocol to be transferred.

  For example, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used as a print job transfer protocol. In this case, an e-mail address can be attached to the network printer, and an SMTP server can be activated on the network printer to send and receive e-mail.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-3rd embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol.

  In this example, when a printed page is published, an authentication function is added so that only a client that has issued a print job can view it.

  For example, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is used as an appropriate display data format, and a site where the display data can be browsed is limited to the host that issued the print job. The communication server creates an information table composed of the display data and a host name indicating the client, and displays only the display request issued from the client when displaying the display data. In this case, there is an advantage that the print result can be viewed only from the host that issued the print job.

  Further, for example, the notification is transmitted by e-mail using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and a user name and a password are specified in the e-mail transmission message. The notification data creation unit 105 embeds a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is a network resource identifier, the user name and the password in the transmission message of the e-mail, and includes the URL, the user name, and the password. Create an information table.

  When the notification is received, when referring to the URL that is a network resource identifier included in the notification, the communication server prompts the user name and password, refers to the information table, The published print result can be browsed only when the user name and the password included therein are correctly entered. In this case, since a different user name and password can be issued for each print job, there is an advantage of improving the security of the authentication function.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-4th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol.

  In this example, if the image data management unit 106 does not refer to the image data after printing or notifying each image data for displaying each page that has been created and printed, it is necessary to refer to the image data after that. The server deletes it after a certain period of time. There is an effect of saving the storage area of the server (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.).

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-5th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, after the image data management unit 106 prints or notifies each image data for displaying each page that has been created and printed, it is not necessary thereafter if the client issuing the communication job refers to the image data. As a thing, the server deletes the image data. There is an effect of saving the storage area of the server (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.).

  Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-6th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, the image data management unit 106 calculates the size of the free area in the storage area of the server after printing or notifying each image data for displaying each page created and printed, and the size of the free area When the value falls below a certain value, the server deletes the image data. There is an effect of saving the storage area of the server (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.).

  Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-7th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, the image data management unit 106 deletes image data when there is a deletion request from an authenticated client after notifying each image data for displaying each created and printed page. It is. There is an effect of saving the storage area of the server (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.).

  Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-8th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol.

  As described in the above embodiment, the raster image conversion means (6) converts the format of all pages of the raster image generated based on the print job, and the image data storage means ( 7) and open to specific clients. It is not always necessary to check the print results of all pages to determine whether the print job has been executed correctly, but it may be sufficient to check that the first page is printed correctly as a simplified method. is there. In such a case, if the print result is saved only for the first page, if the result of the print job is multiple pages, the size of the image data indicating the print result is reduced and the processing is further simplified. There is. Therefore, in order to reduce the memory capacity for storing images in the printer, in this example, only the first page of the print job is saved.

  The processing flow is as follows. That is, in the case of normal printing in step S407 of FIG. 5 and step S504 of FIG. 6, the raster image data of the first page is held until the printing process and the paper discharge process are completed, and the paper discharge is completed. The raster image conversion means (6) converts the YMCK color attribute to the RGB color attribute based on the raster image data of the first page used for printing later, converts the format to the JPEG image format, and displays the print result. Image data is created and published to a specific client by the image data publication means (8). The specific client referred to in the present invention is a client having an IP address or an e-mail address of a print job request source, and a network administrator set in the network printer. When the print image data request in FIG. 7 is requested from the client to the network printer, the request source address is authenticated. That is, when the request is made via the LAN, the determination is made from the IP address, and when the request is made via the Internet, the determination is made from the electronic mail address. When it is determined that the client is correct as a result of this authentication, the print image of the first page whose format has been converted is returned as a response.

  Thus, since the print image is stored only after the first page is printed, there is an effect of saving the storage area (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.) of the network printer as the print server.

Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-9th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, a client accesses a WWW server of the network printer 110 using a Web browser, references a Web page, inputs text data into a form on the Web page, and uses an HTTP method “POST”. Are transmitted to the host of the network printer 110. The Web page specifies a program whose URI is specified by “/cgi-bin/print.cgi” in the form. For example, enter a print string from the following HTML file form:
<! DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-// IETF // DTD HTML i18n // EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE> Network Print Page </ TITLE>
</ HEAD>
<BODY>
<H1> Network print page </ H1>
<FORM METHOD = “POST” ACTION = “/ cgi-bin / print.cgi”>
<P><INPUT TYPE = “submit” VALUE = “Print”></P>
<P><INPUT TYPE = “reset” VALUE = “Reset”></P>
<P> Enter the text you want to print:
<TEXTAREA NAME = "inputstring" ROWS = "12" COLS = "50">
Character string to be printed </ TEXTARE></P>
<P> Please enter your email address:
<INPUT NAME = “address” SIZE = “40” VALUE = “youname@foo.co.jp” >></P>
</ FORM>
</ BODY>
</ HTML>
A print job is transmitted to the network printer 110 by inputting characters to be printed and an e-mail address on the UI of a client browser on the Internet as shown in FIG. 9 and specifying a print button. For example, when “Hello World.” Is input as the character string that the client wants to print and “taro@foo.co.jp” is input as the e-mail address, and printing is executed from the Web browser of the client, 801 in FIG. The WWW server 107 of the network printer 110 receives the data input via HTTP, and the protocol analysis unit 102 analyzes the header portion and the data portion of the HTTP data to obtain the URI “/ Data “inputstring=Hello+World.&address=taro@foo.co.jp” is passed to the print program specified by “cgi-bin / print.cgi”. According to the printing program, the input data is first divided into “inputstring = Hello + World.” And “address=taro@foo.co.jp” by “&” characters, and each divided character string is “=”. “The character is divided into a form name and a form value, and the form value“ Hello + World. ”Is decoded to“ Hello World. ”By decoding“ + ”character into a blank SP” (decimal code 32). , Stored in association with the form name “inputstring”, and the form value “taro@foo.co.jp” is stored in association with the form name “address” as in FIG. .

  The printing program generates a character string “Hello World.” Stored in association with the name “inputstring” of the form as a raster image and sends it to the printing unit 104.

  Further, the user name “taro” and the host name “foo.co.jp” are extracted from the character string “taro@foo.co.jp” stored in association with the form name “address” using the “@” character. The generated raster image is converted into a JPEG image format, stored as a network resource identifier in a form that can be referred to by URL “http://www.foo.co.jp/taro/print.jpg”, and published. To do.

  The notification data creation unit 105 creates a message including the print status information and the URL, and stores an email address “taro@foo.co.jp” stored in association with the name “address” of the form. Notify to.

  Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-10th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, in the first embodiment, the protocol analysis unit 102 of the network printer 110 analyzes the address of the transmission source, determines a job from a specific client, stores only the print result of the job, and otherwise The print result of this job is not left but is erased together with the paper discharge.

  For example, as a corporate LAN, a private address (192.168.1.x) is used, and a domain (foo1.foo.co.jp) is changed from an IP address 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.255. Print job from a domain (foo1.foo.co.jp) or a print job from a client whose IP address is from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.255 Does not leave the print result as a local job via the LAN, but erases it together with the paper discharge. Otherwise, the print result is left in the image file. In this case, the client information that does not leave the printing result is stored in a table and is operated so as to be referenced from the protocol analysis unit 102.

  Therefore, for print jobs received by the WWW server via the Internet, the print image is converted in format and stored. This process is performed as follows. That is, in step S407 in FIG. 5 and step S504 in FIG. 6, first, the print job is analyzed to cut out the address of the request source, and the address is communicated via the LAN network 109 or the WWW via the Internet. It is determined whether the print job is received from the server 107. If it is determined that the print job is received from the network client, the raster image data is deleted. As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the print job is via the Internet, the print data is discharged by the printing unit 104 and then the raster image data is format-converted and held in the image data management unit 106 to store the print job. Publish to the requesting client. In addition, as described in the ninth embodiment, the image file generated by converting the format of the raster image data held at this time is more efficient by holding the raster image data of the first page. Become.

  In the case of a specific client (for example, a network printer in the LAN and the print result can be checked immediately), there is no need to leave the print result. In such a case, detailed processing that does not leave the print result is performed. This has the effect that the printing result can be left only when necessary.

  Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the description about the same part as the example of 1st-11th embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and attaches | subjects the same code | symbol. In this example, if the client authenticated in the fourth example refers to the image data in combination with the fourth and sixth examples, the server deletes the image data as no longer necessary. It is a thing. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, after a print image data response is sent from the network printer to the client, the print result can be notified to the client. Is deleted. By doing so, it is possible to delete the image file after confirmation from the client, which has the effect of saving the storage area (main storage unit 302, HD 306, etc.) of the server.

  In each of the above-described examples, the relationship between the host computer and the network printer is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other information devices such as a copying machine and a facsimile can be used as an output device other than a printer. Good.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the printing process, and it is possible to obtain the same operation effect with other information processing. Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer Information screen sent to network printer Protocol information screen sent to the network printer Block diagram of storage unit of network printer flowchart Flowchart following FIG. Conceptual diagram showing communication processing of the network printer shown in FIG. HTML file information screen Network print page screen

Explanation of symbols

100 Client 101 Network Printer Face Unit 103 Raster Image Data Generation Unit 104 Printing Unit 105 Notification Data Creation Unit 106 Image Data Management Unit 107 WWW Server 108 Notification Address Management Unit 110 Network Printer

Claims (2)

An image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that analyzes and prints a print job received from the information processing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a printed output;
Conversion means for converting the format of the output image based on the reading result by the reading means;
A transfer means for transferring the output image format-converted by the conversion means to the information processing apparatus; and an image processing means for generating and outputting the output image to a printing unit,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A holding unit that holds the print contents of the print job even after the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus;
Receiving means for receiving an output image relating to a printing result from the image forming apparatus;
Comparison means for comparing the print content held in the holding means with the output image received by the receiving means;
An image forming system comprising: notifying means for notifying a comparison result compared by the comparing means.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus can communicate with each other via the Internet.

Images