JP2006205602A - Image output apparatus, image output method, and image output program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a deterioration in convenience of an electronic document in a format including separable information, even after the printout of the electronic document, by enabling the separable information to be separated and separately printed out, when the electronic document is printed out. <P>SOLUTION: An image output apparatus 20 comprises: a data acquiring means 21 for acquiring image data composed of object data capable of being classified into a plurality of attributes; a data converting means 22 for acquiring printing data in a printable format from the image data and acquiring the printing data by the attribute category of the object data; and a data output means 23 for printing out the printing data in the attribute category, acquired by the data converting means, by the attribute category. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus that prints out print data, an image output method, and an image output program.

  In recent years, electronic documents (hereinafter simply referred to as “electronic documents”) have been widely used with the spread of computer equipment. In such electronic documents, for example, annotation / sticky functions and annotation functions, There are formats that can hold and display information over the contents of a document. In the viewer that displays an electronic document, whether or not to display an annotation or a tag when the electronic document is displayed is switched, or whether or not an annotation or a tag is printed when the electronic document is printed. (For example, refer nonpatent literature 1).

Adobe Systems Incorporated "PDF Reference; Adobe Portable Document Format Version1.5" Chapter8.4 Annotations

  However, even if the electronic document has a format in which information such as annotations and sticky notes can be combined and displayed separately from the contents of the document, the convenience of the electronic document may be impaired after the printout is performed. . In the state of electronic documents, it is possible to separate information such as annotations and sticky notes from the contents of the document, and the presence or absence of the display of annotations and sticky notes can be switched as appropriate. Since only one of whether or not to combine and print can be selected, after print output, the information that can be separated is printed on one sheet and cannot be separated, or the information that can be separated is displayed. This is because the use of information that can be separated is greatly limited.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to separate and print out separable information separately when an electronic document having a format including separable information is printed out, and even after the printout. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image output apparatus, an image output method, and an image output program that do not impair convenience.

  The present invention provides an image output apparatus devised to achieve the above object, a data acquisition means for acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes, and a printable format from the image data Data conversion means for obtaining the print data for each attribute type of the object data, and data output means for printing out the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion means for each attribute type It is characterized by providing.

  Further, the present invention provides an image output method devised to achieve the above object, a data acquisition step for acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes, and printing from the image data Data conversion step for obtaining print data in various formats, obtaining the print data for each attribute type of the object data, and data step for printing out the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion means for each attribute type It is characterized by providing.

  Further, the present invention is an image output program devised to achieve the above object, and a computer mounted on an image output device that performs print output of print data or connected to the image output device. Data acquisition means for acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes, and data that obtains print data in a printable format from the image data, and obtains the print data for each attribute type of the object data It functions as a conversion means and a data output means for printing out the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion means for each attribute type.

  In the image output device having the above configuration, the image output method having the above procedure, and the image output program having the above configuration, when image data is acquired, print data in a printable format is obtained from the image data. It is designed to be obtained for each attribute type of object data. Here, as "by attribute type", for example, when image data is composed of a plurality of layers, the layer to which the object data belongs, the type of object such as image or text, the character color, etc. Another example of data content in object data is as follows. When print data is obtained for each attribute type of object data. The print data for each attribute type is printed out for each attribute type. Accordingly, the print data for each attribute type is printed out separately, so that even after the print output, the print result can be used separately for each attribute type, and any attribute type is not printed out. Things can be avoided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the print data for each attribute type is printed out separately for each attribute type. Therefore, it is possible to divide the separable information and print it out separately. However, there is no loss of convenience. In addition, since print output for each attribute type is performed in response to a single print output operation, there is no need to repeatedly perform print output processing with different settings in order to obtain a print output result for each attribute type. Thus, it is possible to realize a quick print output.

  Hereinafter, an image output apparatus, an image output method, and an image output program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an image output apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a system configuration including an image output apparatus according to the present invention. The system shown in the figure includes a host device 10, a printer device 20, and a network 30 that connects them.

  The host device 10 instructs the printer device 20 to print an electronic document, and includes a user interface unit 11 and a print job issuing unit 12 for that purpose. Each of these means 11 and 12 may be realized by utility software (print instruction tool) operating on the host device 10.

  The user interface means 11 designates an electronic document to be printed out by the printer device 20 and how to print the electronic document, for example, an instruction regarding an output mode such as the presence / absence of double-sided printing and the number of copies. Each is for input. Note that the user interface means 11 also accepts a selection instruction as to whether or not to perform print output for each attribute type, details of which will be described later.

  When an electronic document is designated by the user interface unit 11, the print job issuing unit 12 transmits image data for the electronic document to the printer device 20 together with a print output request for the image data. In other words, the print job issuing unit 12 issues a print job to the printer device 20. The image data transmitted by the print job issuing unit 12 may be generated by the host device 10, stored in the host device 10, or received from an external device via the network 30. . In addition, the image data to be transmitted is added with an instruction regarding the output mode input by the user interface unit 11 and a selection instruction as to whether or not to perform print output for each attribute type.

  For such a host device 10, the printer device 20 performs processing of a print job issued from the host device 10, that is, printout of an electronic document related to the print job. It functions as a device. More specifically, a data acquisition unit 21, a data conversion unit 22, a data output unit 23, and a paper supply unit 24 are provided to perform the print output. Each of these means 21 to 24 is a control software operating on the printer device 20, that is, a program for controlling how hardware (printer engine, image processing ASIC, etc.) in the printer device 20 is operated. It may be realized by using.

When the data acquisition means 21 is transmitted from the print job issuing means 12 of the host apparatus 10, the data acquisition means 21 acquires the image data and uses it as image data to be printed out.
Here, the image data acquired by the data acquisition unit 21 will be briefly described. The image data acquired by the data acquisition means 21 specifies the contents of the electronic document, and consists of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes. “Object data” refers to data that can be classified by object, such as images, text, graphics, and the like. The “attribute” of the object data includes data contents such as the display color of the object in addition to the object type such as image and text. Furthermore, when the image data is composed of a plurality of layers, which layer the object belongs to corresponds to the “attribute” here.

  The data conversion means 22 converts the image data acquired by the data acquisition means 21 into print data in a format that can be printed by the data output means 23. Specifically, for example, processing is performed such as converting image data described in PDL (Page Description Language) into print data in bitmap format. However, the data conversion means 22 obtains the print data according to the attribute type of the object data constituting the image data when converting the image data into the print data. For example, object data of a certain attribute type and object data of another attribute type are developed as print data on different pages even if they are included in the same page portion of the same image data.

  The data output unit 23 controls the operation of a printer engine (not shown) in the printer device 20 and prints the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion unit 22 on a recording sheet for each attribute type. Output. Therefore, for example, when there are two attribute types, each attribute type is printed on a different recording sheet.

  The paper supply means 24 supplies (conveys) recording paper to the printer engine whose operation is controlled by the data output means 23. However, the paper supply means 24 can supply a plurality of types of recording paper to the data output means 23 by using a plurality of types of paper feed trays or a manual feed tray in addition to the paper feed trays. It shall be. It should be noted that at least one of the plurality of types of recording paper is preferably non-transparent paper such as plain paper, and at least one other type is preferably transparent paper for OHP paper.

  Next, a processing operation example in a system including the printer device 20 configured as described above, that is, an image output method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the image output method according to the present invention. Here, the image data to be printed out consists of object data that can be classified into a body part of an electronic document and a tag part (annotation) part attached to the body, and is classified by attribute type such as the body part and the tag part. Take the case of print output as an example.

  When performing print output using the printer device 20, first, in the host device 10, the user designates an electronic document to be printed out and gives instructions regarding the output mode. When these instructions are input, the user interface unit 11 displays a “separate printing of sticky note” switch on a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen, and causes the user to switch the switch. Thereby, the user can select whether or not to perform separate printing of the tag. When there is an electronic document designation, an output mode instruction, and a separate print selection instruction, the print job issuing unit 12 in the host device 10 sends image data about the electronic document together with various instruction information to the printer device 20. Send to. In this way, the host device 10 issues a print output job to the printer device 20.

  When a print output job is issued from the host device 10, in the printer device 20, the data acquisition unit 21 acquires image data related to the print output job, that is, image data to be printed together with various instruction information. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the data conversion means 22 starts conversion processing to print data for one page of recording paper of the image data while using a page memory or the like in the printer apparatus 20 (step 101, the following steps are abbreviated as “S”). However, at this time, the data conversion means 22 determines whether or not the instruction for “separate printing of sticky notes” is “ON” based on the information regarding the selection instruction of separation printing transmitted together with the image data ( S102).

  If “separate printing of tag” is “OFF” as a result of this determination, there is no need to perform separate printing. Therefore, the data conversion means 22 classifies the image data to be printed into a body part and a tag part. Even if it is composed of possible object data, conversion is made to print data by combining the object data of each of these attribute types on the same page (S103, S104). When the conversion to print data for one page of recording paper is completed, the data output means 23 operates the printer engine to print out the print data on the recording paper (S105). At this time, it is assumed that the non-transparent paper is supplied to the printer engine by the paper supply means 24. The printer device 20 repeatedly performs such a series of processes until the end of the last page of image data to be printed (S106).

  On the other hand, when “separate printing of sticky note” is “ON”, it is necessary to perform separation printing. Therefore, the data conversion unit 22 uses the data output unit based on preset device specification information and the like. Whether the output destination of the recording paper of No. 23 is a face-down tray (the printing surface is discharged downward, so that the output result is obtained in the same order as the original document by discharging the document in page order) If it is a face-down tray, first of all the object data constituting the image data to be printed out, the object data of the tag part is converted into the print data (S108). . When the conversion to print data for one page of recording paper is completed, the data output means 23 prints out the print data on the recording paper (S109). At this time, it is assumed that transparent paper is supplied by the paper supply means 24 to the printer engine operated by the data output means 23.

  Thereafter, the data conversion unit 22 converts only the object data of the body note portion of the object data constituting the image data to be printed out into print data (S110). When the conversion to print data for one page of recording paper is completed, the data output means 23 prints out the print data on the recording paper (S111). At this time, it is assumed that the non-transparent paper is supplied by the paper supply means 24 to the printer engine operated by the data output means 23.

  If the output destination of the recording paper by the data output means 23 is not the face-down tray, the data conversion means 22 firstly selects only the object data of the body note portion of the object data constituting the image data to be printed out. Conversion to print data is performed (S112). When the conversion to print data is completed for one page of recording paper, the data output means 23 prints out the print data on the recording paper (S113). At this time, it is assumed that the non-transparent paper is supplied by the paper supply means 24 to the printer engine operated by the data output means 23.

  Thereafter, the data conversion unit 22 converts only the object data of the tag portion from the object data constituting the image data to be printed out into the print data (S114). When the conversion to print data is completed for one page of recording paper, the data output means 23 prints out the print data on the recording paper (S115). At this time, it is assumed that transparent paper is supplied by the paper supply means 24 to the printer engine operated by the data output means 23.

  In the printer device 20, the above-described series of processing is completed for the last page of image data to be printed out, regardless of whether the output destination of the recording paper is the face-down tray or not. This is repeated (S106).

  As described above, according to the printer device 20 and the image output method executed using the printer device 20 described in the present embodiment, when the image data transmitted from the host device 10 is received, the image data is printed. Convert to print data in a possible format and print it on recording paper. At that time, print data is obtained for each attribute type of object data, and print output is performed for each attribute type. The print data for each attribute type is printed out separately. Therefore, information that can be separated by attribute type can be separated and printed separately by attribute type, and the print results can be separated and used by attribute type even after printing. It is possible to avoid not being printed out, and it is possible to avoid the loss of convenience for information separable by attribute type. Furthermore, since print output for each attribute type is performed in response to a single print output operation, it is necessary to perform print output processing repeatedly with different settings in order to obtain a print output result for each attribute type. Therefore, a quick print output can be realized.

Specifically, the following usage forms are possible.
For example, for documents that require description by the user, such as an application form, instead of preparing an example of the entry as a separate sheet, if it is pasted to the body of the electronic document as sticky information, the user should describe it on the electronic document By switching between displaying / hiding the tag information when inputting the contents, it is possible to input the contents while browsing the example of entry easily. However, when the user writes the contents to be described on the printed paper instead of on the electronic document, when the conventional technology is applied, the user writes that the tag information of the entry example is added. It is necessary to print out two copies of the text only. Therefore, since each is output on a separate sheet, there is a possibility that the user may make a mistake in the entry position when writing while looking at the entry example. That is, after printing out, it can be enjoyed at the time of electronic document, and convenience is lost.
However, according to the printer device 20 and the image output method in this embodiment, it is possible to separate and print separable information in an electronic document. Therefore, for example, if sticky note information as an entry example is printed out on transparent paper and the body part is printed out on non-transparent paper, the printed result can be combined or separated like electronic information even after printing out. Is possible. In other words, it is possible to refer to the entry example by superimposing it on the actual entry position, making it easy to associate the entry position with the entry example to that part, and to reduce errors in the reference position. Can do. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to change the setting of whether or not to print the tag information and perform the print output process twice, it is possible to realize quick print output.

In this way, when information that can be separated by attribute type is separately printed separately by attribute type, at least one type of print data by attribute type is printed on non-transparent paper as described in this embodiment. It is desirable to output and print out other types on transparent paper. This is because, even after print output, by combining the print output result on the non-transparent paper and the print output result on the transparent paper, it is possible to realize composition / separation similar to the case of the electronic document. .
However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the case where the separate printing is performed on each of the non-transparent paper and the transparent paper. When the separation printing is performed using only the non-transparent paper, or only the transparent paper is used. Even when separation printing is performed using the same, it is possible to apply the same in the same manner.

  In addition, when the user interface unit 11 can be used to select whether or not to perform separate printing for each attribute type, such as the instruction for “separate printing of sticky notes” described in the present embodiment, the attribute type It is possible for the user to select whether to perform separate printing separately or to output on the same sheet for each attribute type, and the printer device 20 can appropriately handle either case. Therefore, further improvement in convenience can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, the preferred specific examples of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the contents, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist thereof.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the tag part and the body part are separated is described as an example in the separation printing for each attribute type, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other attribute types If the image data is composed of multiple layers, the content of the data in the object data such as the layer to which the object data belongs, the type of object such as image or text, the character color, etc. It is possible to apply the same in the same way. Further, the number of classifications in the separation printing is not limited to two, that is, the tag part and the body part as described in the present embodiment, and may be three or more. However, what kind of attribute type is to be separated is selected from the user interface unit 11 if the setting related to the separation (separation criteria of the attribute type) is set in advance before the separation printing process is performed. It shall be instructed.

  Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a system in which the host device 10 and the printer device 20 are connected via the network 30 is taken as an example, but other image output devices, Specifically, it can be considered that the same applies to a copying machine, a multifunction machine, and the like.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the above-described separation printing process is realized by providing each of the units 21 to 24 for performing print output by the printer device 20 functioning as an image output device has been described as an example. These means 21 to 24 may be constituted by software that operates on the function of a computer. That is, it can be configured as a printer driver that operates on the host device 10. In this case, the software configuration is not installed in the host device 10 but is provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or a wired or wireless communication means is provided. It may be distributed via the Internet. That is, the image output apparatus described in the present embodiment can also be realized by an image output program that causes a computer to function as an image output apparatus.

It is explanatory drawing which shows a specific example of the system configuration | structure containing the image output device which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a specific example of the image output method which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Host apparatus, 11 ... User interface means, 12 ... Print job issuing means, 20 ... Printer apparatus, 21 ... Data acquisition means, 22 ... Data conversion means, 23 ... Data output means, 24 ... Paper supply means, 30 ... Network

Claims (5)

Data acquisition means for acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes;
Data conversion means for obtaining print data in a printable format from the image data, and obtaining the print data by attribute type of the object data;
An image output apparatus comprising: data output means for printing out the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion means for each attribute type. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the data output unit prints out at least one type of the print data for each attribute type on non-transparent paper and prints out another type on transparent paper. 3. Output device. 3. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an output selection unit configured to select whether or not the print output of the print data by the data output unit is performed for each attribute type of the print data. A data acquisition step of acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes;
A data conversion step of obtaining print data in a printable format from the image data, and obtaining the print data for each attribute type of the object data;
An image output method comprising: a data step of printing out the print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion unit according to the attribute type. A computer that is mounted on an image output device that performs print output of print data or that is connected to the image output device is used.
Data acquisition means for acquiring image data composed of object data that can be classified into a plurality of types of attributes;
Data conversion means for obtaining print data in a printable format from the image data, and obtaining the print data by attribute type of the object data;
An image output program that functions as data output means for printing out print data for each attribute type obtained by the data conversion means for each attribute type.

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