JP2006302039A - Image forming system, control method thereof, program, storage medium, image forming apparatus, and host computer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system which is capable of achieving direct print in a pseudo manner while maintaining operability equivalent to that for conventional direct print, in a host base printer. <P>SOLUTION: In the printer, a CPU processes a command of PictBridge standards requesting the print start to a CamCmd type command to transfer it to a language monitor of a local PC and a direct print server in response to receiving this command of PictBridge standards from a digital camera. The direct print server issues a command for the purpose of acquiring information of an image to the language monitor to transfer it to the printer and the digital camera. The digital camera transfers image data to the printer, the language monitor, and the direct print server. The direct print server starts a driver to convert the image data to image data in a normal format and parameters data of the image, and they are supplied to the printer through the language monitor, whereby a photographic image is printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a digital multi-function peripheral. In particular, the present invention includes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus called a host base, and a digital camera or the like is directly connected to the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming system capable of printing image data stored in a digital camera, a control method thereof, a program, a storage medium, an image forming apparatus, and a host computer.

  Conventionally, so-called host-based printers that execute rendering and print control of print image data on a host computer, and page description language printers that perform rendering themselves are known. The page description language printer has a sufficient memory for rasterizing print image information for one page. Compared to this, the host-based printer can be configured with an image memory having a very small capacity.

  In the host base printer, the print control is also performed by the host computer. Therefore, the functions of the ROM capacity and CPU processing capacity can be sufficiently satisfied with less capacity and lower performance than the page description language printer. This makes it possible to provide a printer at a lower cost than the above-described page description language printer.

  As another technique, in recent years, a so-called direct printing technique has been proposed in which a digital camera is directly connected to a printer and a photographic image taken by the digital camera is printed by this printer. According to this technique, it is possible to print a photographic image without using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, recently, for example, a technology that enables direct printing is proposed without being limited to the case where the manufacturer of the digital camera and the printer is the same, as represented by the PictBridge standard of CIPA.
JP 2002-94910 A

  However, as described above, the host base printer needs to execute rendering and print control of print image data on the host computer. Therefore, even if the printer has an interface for connecting directly to the digital camera, in order to realize the direct printing function, rendering and printing control that should be executed on the host computer are executed. The device must be installed inside the printer. However, if a device that executes rendering and print control is mounted inside the printer, the printer cannot be provided at a low cost, which is the original purpose of the host-based printer.

  One solution to the above problem is to connect a digital camera to a host computer. However, in this case, the operability is deteriorated compared to direct printing that employs the PictBridge standard. Also, it is good if the host computer and the printer are installed close to each other, but if the host computer and the printer are installed apart from each other like a network printer, the system becomes extremely difficult to use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize pseudo direct printing while maintaining operability equivalent to conventional direct printing in a host-based printer. An image forming system, a control method thereof, a program, a storage medium, an image forming apparatus, and a host computer are provided.

  To achieve the above object, an image forming system according to claim 1 is an image forming system comprising at least one host computer and an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is a first for connecting an image device. Interface means, second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer, and the first interface means configured in accordance with a first standard for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means A command having a first command system for transmission / reception via the host computer and a command having a second command system for transmission / reception to / from the host computer configured by the first standard, Are processed into a command having the command system and a command having the first command system, respectively. Command processing means and image printing means for printing an image based on print image data, and the host computer converts image data supplied from the image device into the print image data; A command restoring means for restoring the command having the second command system processed by the command processing means to a command having the first command system; and the first command system restored by the command restoring means. When the command having the restored first command system is a print request command for requesting printing of a desired image selected by the image device, the image device The image data of the desired image received via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image Data conversion means to control the second standard to convert the image data into corresponding print image data and to cause the image forming apparatus to print the desired image. An image printing function providing means for generating a print control command of a command system is provided.

  7. The image forming system control method according to claim 6, wherein at least one host computer, first interface means for connecting an image device, and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer; In an image forming system control method comprising: the image forming apparatus comprising: an image equipment housing step of housing the image equipment via the first interface means; and the image forming apparatus. A command having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means configured to be transmitted and received via the first interface means, and the first standard; A second command for transmitting to and receiving from the configured host computer A command processing step for processing a command having a system into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, and the second processed in the command processing step in the host computer. A command restoring step for restoring a command having the command system to a command having the first command system, and analyzing the command having the first command system restored in the command restoring step in the host computer, When the restored command having the first command system is a print request command for requesting printing of a desired image selected by the image device, the command is received from the image device via the image forming apparatus. The image data of the desired image An image printing function providing step of generating a print control command of the second command system in order to cause the image forming apparatus to execute printing of the desired image, and in the host computer, An image data conversion step of converting the image data converted into the second standard into corresponding print image data in the print function providing step; and the print image converted in the image data conversion step in the image forming apparatus. An image printing step of printing the desired image based on the data.

  8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: at least one host computer; first interface means for connecting an image device; and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer. In a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming system comprising: an image equipment housing module that houses the image equipment via the first interface means in the image forming apparatus; and A command having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means configured to be transmitted and received via the first interface means, and the first standard; Send / receive to / from the configured host computer A command processing module for processing a command having a second command system for processing into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, and the command processing module A command restoration module for restoring a processed command having the second command system to a command having the first command system; and the first command system restored in the command restoration step in the host computer. When the command having the restored first command system is a print request command for requesting printing of a desired image selected by the image device, the image device receives the image. The place received via the forming device An image printing function providing module that converts image data of the second image into a second standard and generates a print control command of the second command system in order to cause the image forming apparatus to print the desired image; In the host computer, an image data conversion module that converts the image data converted into the second standard in the image printing function providing module into corresponding print image data, and in the image forming apparatus, the image data conversion And an image printing module for printing the desired image based on the print image data converted by the module.

  9. A storage medium according to claim 8, comprising: at least one host computer; first interface means for connecting an image device; and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming system, wherein the program is stored in the image forming apparatus via the first interface unit. In the image equipment housing module to be housed, and in the image forming apparatus, a first for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means configured according to a first standard for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means. And a command having a command system of A command having a second command system for transmitting / receiving to / from the host computer configured according to the standard is processed into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, respectively. In the command processing module, in the host computer, a command restoration module that restores a command having the second command system processed in the command processing module to a command having the first command system, and the host computer, The command having the first command system restored in the command restoration step is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system requests printing of a desired image selected by the image device. If it was a print request command And converting the image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus into a second standard, and causing the image forming apparatus to print the desired image. An image print function providing module that generates a print control command of the command system of 2 and, in the host computer, converting the image data converted into the second standard in the image print function providing module into corresponding print image data An image data conversion module that performs the desired image based on the print image data converted by the image data conversion module.

  An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 is provided via a first interface means for connecting an image device, a second interface means for connecting at least one host computer, and the first interface means. Between a command having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means configured by the first standard for transmitting and receiving, and the host computer configured by the first standard Command processing means for processing a command having the second command system for transmission / reception into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, and an image based on the print image data And image printing means for printing.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host computer via an image data conversion unit that converts image data supplied from an image device into print image data, and a first interface unit that connects the image device included in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus configured according to the first standard has a command having a second command system for transmitting / receiving data to / from the image forming apparatus configured according to the first standard. A command restoring means for restoring to a command having a first command system for transmission / reception via one interface means, a command having the first command system restored by the command restoring means, and analyzing the restoration The command having the first command system is a print request for requesting printing of a desired image selected by the image device. If the command is a command, the image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image data conversion unit is controlled to control the second standard. Providing an image printing function for converting the image data into corresponding print image data and generating a print control command of the second command system for causing the image forming apparatus to print the desired image Means.

  According to the image forming system of claim 1, the control method of the image forming system of claim 6, the program of claim 7, and the storage medium of claim 8, the image forming apparatus connects the image equipment. First interface means for connecting to the image processing apparatus and second interface means for connecting at least one host computer via the first interface means for connecting image equipment in the image forming apparatus. Between a command configured with the first standard for transmitting and receiving and having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means, and a host computer configured with the first standard The command having the second command system for transmission / reception includes a command having the second command system and a command having the first system. They are respectively processed into command. In the host computer, the processed command having the second command system is restored to the command having the first command system, the restored command having the first command system is analyzed, and the restored first command system is analyzed. When the command having one command system is a print request command for requesting printing of a desired image selected by the image device, the image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is Print control of the second command system in order to convert the image data into the corresponding print image data, and to cause the image forming apparatus to print a desired image. Generate a command. Then, in the image forming apparatus, an image is printed based on the print image data. In this way, in the image forming system, the image forming apparatus performs printing as if the image device based on the first standard is directly communicating with only the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user can cause the image forming apparatus to print a desired photographic image by directly connecting the image apparatus to the image forming apparatus and performing a predetermined operation on the image apparatus. Therefore, in a host-based printer, pseudo direct printing can be realized while maintaining operability equivalent to that of conventional direct printing.

  According to another aspect of the image forming system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes host computer selection means for selecting an available host computer among at least one host computer. Therefore, in the image forming system, the host computer that can execute the printing of the image data of the image device can be selected from a plurality of host computers, so that the user can use the host computer regardless of the position of the host computer in the image forming system. By connecting the image device directly to the image forming apparatus and performing a predetermined operation on the image device, it is possible to cause the image forming apparatus to print a desired photographic image. Therefore, in the host-based printer, it is possible to reliably realize pseudo direct printing while maintaining the same operability as conventional direct printing. Further, it is possible to prevent the above-described printing function from being unavailable because the host computer adjacent to the image forming apparatus is turned off. In addition, since the host computer selection unit includes an interface control unit that disables the first interface unit when it is determined that there is no usable host computer, the operability of the image forming system can be improved. it can.

  According to another aspect of the image forming system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes host computer selection means for selecting an available host computer among at least one host computer. Therefore, in the image forming system, a host computer that can execute printing of image data of the image device can be selected from a plurality of host computers. By connecting the image device directly to the image forming apparatus and performing a predetermined operation on the image device, it is possible to cause the image forming apparatus to print a desired photographic image. Therefore, in the host-based printer, it is possible to reliably realize pseudo direct printing while maintaining the same operability as conventional direct printing. Further, it is possible to prevent the above-described printing function from being unavailable because the host computer adjacent to the image forming apparatus is turned off. In addition, when the host computer selection unit determines that there is no usable host computer, the first command configured in accordance with the first standard for notifying the image device that the image forming apparatus cannot be used. Since the notification means for transmitting the system notification command to the image device is provided, the operability of the image forming system can be improved.

  According to the image forming system of the present invention, the image printing function providing means returns a response that is set in advance as appropriate according to the analysis result of the command having the first command system restored by the command restoring means. Therefore, the effect of claim 1 can be reliably achieved.

  According to the image forming system of claim 5, the image printing function providing unit is configured to send an image to the image device via the image forming apparatus when the restored command having the first command system is a print request command. An image data request command of the second command system is generated to request data transmission, and the image data received from the image device through the image forming apparatus is converted into the second standard in response to the image data request command Therefore, the effect of claim 1 can be more reliably achieved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment is connected to an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 1000 and a printer 1000 via a USB cable 6000 so as to be communicable. PC2000.

  The printer 1000 has a network connection function. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming system 10, the printer 1000 has an NTP server 3000, a client PC 4000 that is a PC of the client 1, and a client PC of the client 2 via the network 7000. Is communicably connected to a PC 5000 or the like. The printer 1000 has a USB host function and can be directly connected to the digital camera 8000 via the USB cable 6500. Note that the PC connected to the printer 1000 via the network 7000 is not limited to the client PCs 4000 and 5000, and a plurality of PCs can be connected to the printer 1000 via the network 7000.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer 1000 in the image forming system 10 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of software operating on the local PC 2000 in the image forming system 10 of FIG. The client PC 4000 of the client 1 and the client PC 5000 of the client 2 have the same software configuration as the local PC of FIG.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the configuration of the printer 1000 and the local PC 2000 in this embodiment and the general flow of the printing operation will be described.

  2 and 3, the printer 1000 includes a controller unit 1100, a network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC) 1200, and an engine unit 1300.

  The printer 1000 is a so-called host-based printer, and is designed on the assumption that rendering and print control of print image data are executed by the driver 2200 and the language monitor 2300 shown in FIG. 3 provided in the local PC 2000 and the client PC 4000, 5000. ing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller unit 1100 includes only a CPU 1110, ASIC 1120, SDRAM 1130, EEPROM 1140, USB connector 1150, and USB host connector 1160.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 1110 includes a ROM 1111 and a RAM 1112 that have extremely small capacities as compared with a printer that performs rendering and printing control, and a serial controller 1113 for performing serial communication with the engine unit 1300. Yes. The ROM 1111 stores various control programs and various initial values. In addition to the work area of the CPU 1110, the RAM 1112 is provided with an area for storing data excluding image data processed by the controller unit 1100. The RAM 1112 is a volatile RAM, and therefore limited information such as various counter values that must be retained even when the power is turned off is stored in the EEPROM 1140.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ASIC 1120 is a package in which a CPU I / F 1121, an image processing unit 1122, a memory controller 1123, a USB controller 1124, a NIC controller 1125, and a USB host controller 1126 are combined.

  The NIC 1200 is a CPU 1210 that controls the operation of the entire NIC 1200, a controller communication unit 1220 that controls communication with the controller unit 1100, and an SDRAM 1230 that holds values indicating various states such as the work area of the CPU 1210 and the state of each part of the NIC 1200. A flash RAM 1240 that stores programs executed by the CPU 1210 and various table values to be referred to, and a network communication unit 1250 that controls the entire network communication via the network 7000 based on TCP / IP.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engine unit 1300 receives a VIDEO signal transmitted from the CPU 1310 that controls the operation of the entire engine unit 1300, a serial controller 1320 that performs communication with the controller unit 1100, and the controller unit 1100. For storing a value indicating various states such as a VIDEO control unit 1330, a work area of the CPU 1310 and states of each unit of the engine unit 1300, a program executed by the CPU 1310, various table values to be referred to, and the like. The flash RAM 1350 includes a recording unit 1360 including a paper conveyance system, a toner supply system, a laser beam system, and a fixing device system.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the local PC 2000 includes an application 2100 for executing print processing, a driver 2200 for generating print image data, a language monitor 2300 for selecting various commands for controlling the print processing, and a printer 1000. A status window 2400 for displaying the status and print processing status on a display unit (not shown), a USB port monitor 2500 for communicating with the controller unit 1100 of the printer 1000, a network port monitor 2600 for communicating with the NIC 1200 of the printer 1000, And a direct print server 2700 for controlling the driver 2200 and the language monitor 2300. Note that the local PC 2000 connected to the printer 1000 via the USB cable 6000 may not include the network port monitor 2600, and the PCs 4000 and 5000 connected to the printer 1000 via the network 7000 may be USB ports. The monitor 2500 may not be provided.

  An example of operation in the image forming system 10 including the printer 1000 and the local PC 2000 having the above-described configuration will be described below.

  In the local PC 2000, when the application 2100 executes the printing process, the driver 2200 is activated to generate print image data from the image data. The generated print image data is transmitted from the driver 2200 to the language monitor 2300. The language monitor 2300 uses various commands for controlling print processing and the received print image data based on a preset protocol based on a USB port. The data is transferred to the printer 1000 via the monitor 2500 and the USB cable 6000.

  In the printer 1000, commands and data transferred from the local PC 2000 are received by the USB controller 1124 via the USB connector 1150 of the controller unit 1100.

  In the controller unit 1100, the CPU 1110 constantly monitors the state of the USB controller 1124 via the CPU I / F 1121. If a command is received by the USB controller 1124, the CPU 1110 performs processing according to this command. Execute. If the received command is a command requesting a response, the CPU 1110 controls the USB controller 1124 via the CPU I / F 1121 and sends response status data corresponding to the command locally via the USB cable 6000. Reply to PC2000.

  In the local PC 2000, the returned status data is transmitted to the language monitor 2300 via the USB port monitor 2500. The language monitor 2300 notifies the status window 2400 of the contents of the received status data. The status window 2400 appropriately displays the status of the printer 1000 and the status of print processing on a display unit (not shown) of the local PC 2000 according to the content of the notified status data.

  When the USB controller 1124 receives a command for transferring print image data rendered on the local PC 2000, the CPU 1110 controls the USB controller 1124 and the memory controller 1123, and follows this received command. The transmitted print image data is stored in the SDRAM 1130.

  When a certain amount of print image data is stored in the SDRAM 1130, the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 issues an activation request command for the engine unit 1300. When the CPU 1110 recognizes the activation request command, the CPU 1110 controls the serial controller 1113 to notify the engine unit 1300 of the activation request. When the CPU 1110 is notified via the serial controller 1113 that the engine unit 1300 has been normally started and the recording unit 1360 has correctly conveyed the sheet, the CPU 1110 controls the memory controller 1123 and the image processing unit 1122. Then, the print image data stored in the SDRAM 1130 is converted into a VIDEO signal required by the engine unit 1300 for the actual printing operation, and the VIDEO signal is sent to the engine unit 1300.

  In the engine unit 1300, when the CPU 1310 receives a start request for the recording unit 1360 or a paper transport request from the controller unit 1100, the CPU 1310 appropriately controls the recording unit 1360 and notifies the controller unit 1100 of the state of the storage unit 1360 as necessary. To do. When image formation is started, the CPU 1310 controls the VIDEO control unit 1330 to supply the VIDEO signal received from the controller unit 1100 to the recording unit 1360 to cause the storage unit 1360 to form an image.

  With the above operation, a photographic image corresponding to the image data is printed.

  Although not shown, the engine unit 1300 in the printer 1000 according to the present embodiment includes a mechanical mechanism (not shown) such as a duplex unit for enabling duplex printing. For example, when a two-page document is printed on both sides of one recording sheet, the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 prints the sheet from the normal sheet feeding port when the recording unit 1360 of the engine unit 1300 prints the first side. A print control command in which a parameter for requesting paper feeding and conveyance of the fed paper to the duplex unit is set is issued to the printer 1000, and the first side is printed when the second side is printed. A similar command in which parameters for requesting paper feeding from the duplex unit and paper ejection to the normal paper ejection port are set is issued to the printer 1000.

  As described above, double-sided printing is realized. Note that the detailed operation of this double-sided printing is the same as the operation of the engine unit of a known electrophotographic image forming apparatus and is not directly related to the present invention, so a more detailed description is omitted.

  In the local PC 2000 according to the present embodiment, the status window 2400 (see FIG. 3) is configured to be able to receive a request for pausing or canceling printing by a predetermined operation by the user. The user's operation request in the status window 2400 is appropriately transmitted to the language monitor 2300. The language monitor 2300 transfers a command corresponding to the transmitted operation request to the printer 1000 via the USB port monitor 2500 and the USB cable 6000 based on the above-described protocol. When this command is received by the printer 1000, processing according to the command received by the controller unit 1100 is executed as described above.

  One of the functions of the NIC 1200 in the printer 1000 is to mediate between the client PC 4000 of the client 1 or the client PC 5000 of the client 2 and the controller unit 1100 of the printer 1000. This will be specifically described below.

  In the client PCs 4000 and 5000 of each client, in addition to the same software as the driver 2200 and the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000, a network port monitor 2600 is operating instead of the USB port monitor 2500. In the client PCs 4000 and 5000, various commands and print image data issued from the language monitor 2300 are transmitted to the NIC 1200 of the printer 1000 via the network port monitor 2600 and the network 7000.

  A command received by the NIC 1200 at the network communication unit 1250 is transmitted to the controller unit 1100 by controlling the controller communication unit 1220. In the controller unit 1100, the CPU 1110 always monitors the NIC controller 1125 as well as the USB controller 1124, processes the received command in the same manner as the USB controller 1124 described above, and passes the NIC controller 1125 as necessary. The status data is returned to the NIC 1200. The NIC 1200 receives the status data at the controller communication unit 1220, controls the network communication unit 1250, and returns the received status data to the client PC 4000 or the client PC 5000 that issued the command.

  In the client PC 4000 or the client PC 5000, the returned status data is transmitted from the language monitor 2300 to the status window 2400 in the same manner as in the case of the status data returned to the local PC 2000 via the USB cable 6000. Not displayed on the display. The operation relating to the print image data is also the same as the operation via the USB cable described above.

  Another function of the NIC 1200 is to access the NTP server 3000 based on the well-known NTP in RFC-1305 to acquire time information, and to transmit the contents to the controller unit 1100 as a command. The address information of the NTP server 3000 can be set to start the Web server installed in the NIC 1200. The set address information is stored in the flash RAM 1240 and is retained even when the power is turned off. Note that TCP / IP control and NTP processing are publicly known, and are not directly related to the present invention, so a more detailed description is omitted.

  A USB host controller 1126 and a USB host connector 1160 of the printer 1000 shown in FIG. 2, a USB cable 6500, a digital camera 8000, and a direct print server 2700 of the local PC 2000 shown in FIG. 3 are the main parts of the present invention. It is.

  The USB host connector 1160 is an I / F for connecting the printer 1000 and the digital camera 8000 via the USB cable 6500. The data transmitted / received to / from the controller unit 1100 via the I / F is similar to the case where the CPU 1110 and the USB controller 1124 process data transmitted / received to / from the local PC 2000 via the USB connector 1150 and the USB cable 6000. And processing by the USB host controller 1126.

  In addition, data received from the digital camera 8000 via the USB cable 6500, the USB host connector 1160, and the USB host controller 1126 by the CPU 1110 is transmitted to the host computer via the USB controller 1124, the USB connector 1150, and the USB cable 6000 as necessary. To the local PC 2000, or via the NIC controller 1125, the NIC 1200, and the network 7000 to the client PC 4000, 5000 as the host computer. In the host computer, any data transmitted from the digital camera 8000 is transmitted to the direct print server 2700 via the language monitor 2300 in FIG. Details of these will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when direct printing is performed using the digital camera 8000 in the image forming system 10.

  The digital camera 8000 in the present embodiment communicates with the printer 1000 using a protocol based on the PictBridge standard.

  In the printer 1000, the CPU 1110 monitors data reception from the digital camera 8000 via the USB host connector 1160 and the USB host controller 1126. If the received data is data that cannot be processed by the printer 1000 alone, the data is enclosed in commands that can be interpreted between the printer 1000 as a CamCmd and the language monitor 2300, and processed into a CmaCmd type command. To the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000.

  In this description, it is assumed that the local PC 2000 functions as a host computer, but the client PCs 4000 and 5000 may function as a host computer. In this case, the above-described CmaCmd type command is transmitted to the language monitor 2300 of the client PC 4000, 5000 via the network 7000. The host computer selection process in the printer 1000 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Hereinafter, the case where the printing process described in the PictBridge standard white paper is executed will be described in detail. In FIG. 4, solid arrows indicate the flow of data configured in accordance with the PictBridge standard, and broken arrows indicate the flow of data in the case of printing processing between a normal host computer and a printer.

  When a user requests printing of desired image data using a monitor (not shown) provided in the digital camera 8000 by a predetermined operation, the digital camera 8000 issues DPS_StartJob which is a command for requesting various print settings and printing start. .

  In the printer 1000, the CPU 1110 monitors a command received from the digital camera 8000 via the USB host connector 1160 and the USB host controller 1126. If the received command is a command that cannot be processed by the printer 1000, the command is processed into the above-mentioned CamCmd type command and transferred to the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000. If the received command is DPS_StartJob, as shown in FIG. 4, it is processed into a CamCmd type command and transferred to the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 in the form of CamCmd (DPS_StartJob).

  When the language monitor 2300 receives CamCmd (DPS_StartJob), the language monitor 2300 transmits an OpenSession, which is a command of a type issued when executing normal printing (hereinafter referred to as a normal type command), to the printer 1000, and performs digital processing. The printer 1000 is requested to occupy the printer 1000 for direct printing of the image data of the camera 8000.

  When the printer 1000 receives the OpenSession at the USB host connector 1126, the printer 1000 accepts the occupation and returns a normal type command CompleteOpenSession to the language monitor 2300.

  When the language monitor 2300 receives CompleteOpenSession, it extracts the DPS_StartJob portion from the received CamCmd (DPS_StartJob). That is, the language monitor 2300 restores CamCmd (DPS_StartJob) from the CamCmd type command to the normal type command. Next, the language monitor 2300 transfers the DPS_StartJob restored to the normal type command to the direct print server 2700.

  When receiving the DPS_StartJob, the direct print server 2700 issues DPS_GetFileInfo to the language monitor 2300 in order to acquire information of the image requested to be printed. Next, the language monitor 2300 processes the received DPS_GetFileInfo in the form of CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo) in the same manner as the printer 1000 and transfers it to the printer 1000. Upon receiving CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo), the printer 1000 cuts out DPS_GetFileInfo from CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo) and transfers it to the digital camera 8000.

  When the digital camera 8000 receives DPS_GetFileInfo, it returns FileInfo to the printer 1000. Upon receiving this FileInfo, the printer 1000 processes it into the form of CamCmd (FileInfo) and transfers it to the language monitor 2300 as described above. Subsequently, the language monitor 2300 cuts out FileInfo from CamCmd (FileInfo) and transfers it to the direct print server 2700.

  The direct print server 2700 issues DPS_GetFile to the language monitor 2300 following DPS_GetFileInfo, and the language monitor 2300 processes the received DPS_GetFile in the form of CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo) and transfers it to the printer 1000, similarly to DPS_GetFileInfo. Next, when receiving the CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo), the printer 1000 cuts out the DPS_GetFile portion from the CamCmd (DPS_GetFileInfo) and transfers it to the digital camera 8000.

  Upon receiving DPS_GetFile, the digital camera 8000 returns an ImageFile, which is image data corresponding to the image requested to be printed, to the printer 1000, and the printer 1000 that has received it processes it in the form of CamCmd (ImageFile) as described above. And transferred to the language monitor 2300. Upon receiving CamCmd (ImageFile), the language monitor 2300 cuts out the ImageFile portion from CamCmd (ImageFile) and transfers it to the direct print server 2700.

  When the direct print server 2700 receives all the ImageFiles corresponding to the image requested to be printed, the direct server 2700 activates the driver 2200 and transmits the previously received FileInfo and ImageFile to the driver 2200. In the printing operation, the image data is converted into image image data (data) and image parameter data (param) in a format transmitted and received between the printer 1000 and the language monitor 2300.

  The converted image data and parameter data are appropriately supplied to the printer 1000 in the form of PrintImageInfo and PrintImage via the language monitor 2300 in the same manner as in a normal printing operation, and a desired photographic image is stored in the storage unit 1360 of the printer 1000. Printing is performed (see “Printing” in FIG. 4).

  When printing is completed, information for notifying that is transmitted from the printer 1000 to the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 in the form of CompletePrintImage. Further, the print end information is processed into information in the form of Private (CompletePrintImage) and is notified from the language monitor 2300 to the direct print server 2700.

  When the direct print server 2700 receives a print completion notification upon receipt of Private (CompletePrintImage), it issues DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus to the language monitor 2300, and the language monitor 2300 subsequently receives the received DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus as CamCmd (DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus) in the same manner as described above. ) And transferred to the printer 1000. Next, the printer 1000 extracts DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus from the received CamCmd (DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus) and transmits it to the digital camera 8000. At the same time, the language monitor 2300 transmits a CloseSession to the printer 1000 in order to release the printer 1000 from occupancy for direct printing. When the printer 1000 receives the CloseSession, it returns a CompleteCloseSession, and the monitor provided in the digital camera 8000. Printing of a series of photographic images using is completed.

  Next, host computer selection processing in the image forming system 10 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of I / F selection processing in the controller unit 1100 of the printer of FIG.

  In this I / F selection process, which I / F of the printer 1000 can be used by the PC including the language monitor 2300 that can process the PictBridge standard data received from the digital camera 8000, or the printer It is evaluated whether or not a PC having a language monitor 2300 that can be connected to 1000 exists on the system. The I / F selection process is executed when the digital camera 8000 is connected to the printer 1000.

  First, it is determined whether the controller unit 1100 is transmitting / receiving commands and responses to / from the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 via the USB cable 6000, the USB connector 1150, and the USB controller 1124 (step S1). That is, in step S1, it is determined whether the printer 1000 and the local PC 2000 are connected by USB.

  When the controller unit 1100 transmits and receives commands and responses to and from the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 via the USB cable 6000, the USB connector 1150, and the USB controller 1124, the local PC 2000 is connected to the printer 1000. Therefore, the USB is selected as the I / F (step S2), that is, the local PC 2000 is selected as the host computer, and this process ends.

  On the other hand, when the controller unit 1100 is not transmitting / receiving commands and responses to / from the language monitor 2300 of the local PC 2000 via the USB cable 6000, the USB connector 1150, and the USB controller 1124, the local PC 2000 via the USB cable 6000 is used. Is not connected to the printer 1000, or the local PC 2000 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S <b> 3, it is determined whether the controller unit 1100 is transmitting / receiving commands and responses to / from the client PC 4000 or client PC 5000 via the network 7000, the NIC 1200, and the NIC controller 1125. That is, in step 3, it is determined whether the printer 1000 and the client PCs 4000 and 5000 are NIC-connected.

  When the controller unit 1100 transmits and receives commands and responses to and from the client PC 4000 or the client PC 5000 via the NIC controller 1125, the client PC 4000 or the client PC 5000 is connected to the printer 1000. This is selected (step S4), and this process is terminated.

  When there are a plurality of client PCs on the network 7000, processing for selecting one of them is executed in the NIC 1200. The NIC 1200 according to the present embodiment simply uses a PC on which the language monitor 2300 is operating as a host computer at a timing when a predetermined CamCmd () type command is received from the controller unit 1100 among the PCs connected to the NIC 1200. select.

  On the other hand, if the controller unit 1100 does not transmit / receive commands and responses to / from the client PC 4000 or the client PC 5000 via the NIC controller 1125 in step S3, the user option NIC 1200 is not installed in the client PC 4000, 5000. It is determined that there is no PC on which the language monitor 2300 is operating on the network 7000 because the NIC 1200 is not connected to the network 7000 or the client PC 4000, 5000 is powered off.

  Next, the printer 1000 determines that the host computer is not connected to the printer 1000 (step S5), and ends this process. At this time, at the stage of the negotiation (DPS Discovery) command executed when the digital camera 8000 is connected to the printer 1000, the USB host controller 1126 is controlled as if the printer 1000 is not turned on. The digital camera 8000 is controlled not to permit direct printing of the image.

  It should be noted that the connection state confirmation by the I / F selection process is periodically performed and controlled so as to be always the latest state.

  As described above, by this I / F selection process, the image forming system 10 can select the host computer that can execute the direct printing of the image data of the digital camera 8000 from the local PC and the plurality of client PCs. Therefore, regardless of the position of the host computer in the image forming system 10, direct printing of the image data of the digital camera 8000 can be executed.

  In addition, since a plurality of client PCs connected via a network can also be used as a host computer, for example, it is possible to reduce the situation in which direct printing cannot be executed because the power of a nearby client PC is turned off. .

  Further, the present I / F selection process allows the user to recognize that the direct printing of the image data of the digital camera 8000 cannot be executed when the host computer does not exist in the image forming system. 10 operability can be improved.

  As described above, in the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment, the printer 1000 behaves as if the digital camera 8000 based on the PictBridge standard is directly communicating with the printer 1000 only, and executes printing. Therefore, the user can cause the printer 1000 to print a desired photographic image by directly connecting the digital camera 8000 to the printer 1000 and performing a predetermined operation on the digital camera 8000.

  Therefore, according to the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment, the host base printer 1000 can realize pseudo direct printing while maintaining the same operability as that of the conventional direct printing.

  In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the PictBridge standard is targeted as a protocol for realizing direct printing. However, in the present invention, the protocol for realizing pseudo direct printing as described above is PictBridge. It is not limited to the standard.

  In this embodiment, USB and network are adopted as I / F. However, in the present invention, I / F is not limited to USB and network, and the present invention is limited to types of I / F. Is not to be done. In the present invention, the number of I / F types is not limited to a plurality, and may be one.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the language monitor 2300 issues a command (OpenSession) for identifying the DPS_StartJob and occupies the printer 1000, and the language monitor 2300 identifies the DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus and the printer. A command (CloseSession) for releasing 1000 is issued. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the direct print server 2700 instructs the driver 2200 to convert image data into print image data, and the driver 2200 and the language monitor 2300 communicate directly to transmit / receive print image data. Depends on the configuration to do.

  Assuming that the direct print server 2700 instructs the driver 2200 to convert the print image data in exactly the same way as the normal application 2100, the driver 2200 is configured to spool the print job to the OS print spooler, and the language related to printing. If the normal processing is used for the occupation and release processing of the printer 1000 by the monitor 2300, the time between DPS_StartJob and DPS_NotifyDeviceStatus transmitted from the digital camera 8000 is spooled in the spooler. Although it may change depending on the number of print jobs, the same effect can be obtained by correcting the language monitor 2300 as little as possible.

  In the present embodiment, in step S3 of the I / F selection process of FIG. 5, it is determined only whether or not a command and a response are transmitted / received via the NIC 1200. However, depending on the client PC connected to the network 7000, the CPU capability may be low, and when the direct print server 2700 operates in the background, other foreground processing may be affected. In contrast, for example, the direct print server 2700 can be set not to be used for an unspecified number of processes as a client PC connected via the network 7000 by a predetermined operation in the status window 2400. The setting table of each client PC updated by communicating with the language monitor 2300 of each client PC is provided in the NIC 1200, and the direct print server 2700 can be provided for print processing from this setting table and the current communication state A solution for selecting a specific PC as a host computer is also conceivable.

  In the present embodiment, if it is determined in step S5 of the I / F selection process in FIG. 5 that there is no host computer, the printer 1000 is turned on at the PictBridge standard negotiation (DPS Discovery) stage. It is configured to control the USB host controller 1126 as if there were none. However, for example, although DPS_Discovery is normally executed, a similar effect can be obtained even if the DPS_ConfigurationPrintService command is a method of notifying the digital camera 8000 that the current printer 1000 cannot provide the direct print service.

  In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a plurality of computers each having a corresponding driver and language monitor exist for one printer 1000. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a driver or a language monitor corresponding to each of a plurality of host-based printers may be installed in a high-performance host computer. In this case, the above-described direct print background processing can be executed in the high-performance host computer regardless of which printer is used. Further, if this is developed, a module equivalent to the direct print server 2700 of FIG. 3 is prepared in a specific server, and application to a business that provides a direct print function via the Internet can be considered.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus. It is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

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

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Includes a case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is expanded based on the instruction of the next program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer in the image forming system in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of software that operates on a local PC in the image forming system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when direct printing is executed using a digital camera in the image forming system of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart of an I / F selection process in a controller unit of the printer of FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image Forming System 1000 Printer 1100 Controller 1110 CPU
1111 ROM
1112 RAM
1113 Serial Controller 1120 ASIC
1121 CPU I / F
1122 Image processing unit 1123 Memory controller 1124 USB controller 1125 NIC controller 1126 USB host controller 1130 SDRAM
1140 EEPROM
1150 USB connector 1160 USB host connector 1200 Network interface card 1210 CPU
1220 Controller communication unit 1230 SDRAM
1240 Flash RAM
1250 Network communication unit 1300 Engine unit 1310 CPU
1320 Serial Controller 1330 VIDEO Control Unit 1340 SDRAM
1350 flash RAM
2000 Local PC
2100 Application 2200 Driver 2300 Language Monitor 2400 Status Window 2500 USB Port Monitor 2600 Network Port Monitor 2700 Direct Print Server 3000 NTP Server 4000, 5000 Client PC
6000,6500 USB cable 7000 Network 8000 Digital camera

Claims (10)

In an image forming system comprising at least one host computer and an image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
First interface means for connecting an imaging device;
Second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer;
A command having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means configured to be transmitted and received via the first interface means, and the first standard; Command processing means for processing a command having a second command system for transmission / reception to / from the configured host computer into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, respectively. When,
Image printing means for printing an image based on the print image data,
The host computer
Image data conversion means for converting image data supplied from the image device into the print image data;
Command restoring means for restoring a command having the second command system processed by the command processing means to a command having the first command system;
The command having the first command system restored by the command restoration unit is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system requests printing of a desired image selected by the image device. When the command is a print request command, the image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image data conversion unit is controlled to control the second data. Image printing that converts the image data into corresponding print image data and generates a print control command of the second command system in order to cause the image forming apparatus to print the desired image An image forming system comprising: a function providing unit.   The image forming apparatus further includes a host computer selection unit that selects an available host computer among the at least one host computer, and a host computer selection unit that determines that there is no host computer that can be used. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface control unit that disables the first interface unit.   The image forming apparatus further includes a host computer selection unit that selects an available host computer among the at least one host computer, and a host computer selection unit that determines that there is no host computer that can be used. A notification unit configured to transmit a notification command of the first command system configured in the first standard for notifying the image device that the image forming apparatus cannot be used, to the image device. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein:   The image printing function providing means returns an appropriately preset response according to the analysis result of the command having the first command system restored by the command restoration means. 4. The image forming system according to any one of items 3.   The image print function providing means requests the image device to transmit the image data via the image forming apparatus when the restored command having the first command system is the print request command. In order to do so, an image data request command of the second command system is generated, and the image data received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into the second standard according to the image data request command The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system. An image forming system comprising: at least one host computer; and the image forming apparatus having first interface means for connecting an image device and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer. In the control method,
In the image forming apparatus, an image equipment housing step of housing the image equipment via the first interface means;
In the image forming apparatus, a command having a first command system for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means configured according to a first standard for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means, and A command having a second command system for transmitting / receiving to / from the host computer configured by the first standard is changed to a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system. Command processing step to process each,
In the host computer, a command restoration step for restoring the command having the second command system processed in the command processing step to the command having the first command system;
In the host computer, the command having the first command system restored in the command restoration step is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system is selected by the image device. The image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image forming apparatus is An image printing function providing step for generating a print control command of the second command system in order to execute printing of a desired image;
In the host computer, an image data conversion step of converting the image data converted into the second standard in the image printing function providing step into corresponding print image data;
A control method for an image forming system, comprising: an image printing step for printing the desired image based on the print image data converted in the image data conversion step. Control of an image forming system comprising: at least one host computer; an image forming apparatus having first interface means for connecting an image device; and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer. In a program for causing a computer to execute a method,
In the image forming apparatus, an image equipment housing module that houses the image equipment via the first interface means;
In the image forming apparatus, a command having a first command system for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means configured according to a first standard for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means, and A command having a second command system for transmitting / receiving to / from the host computer configured by the first standard is changed to a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system. Command processing module to process each,
A command restoration module for restoring a command having the second command system processed in the command processing module to a command having the first command system in the host computer;
In the host computer, the command having the first command system restored in the command restoration step is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system is selected by the image device. The image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image forming apparatus is An image printing function providing module for generating a print control command of the second command system in order to execute printing of a desired image;
In the host computer, an image data conversion module that converts the image data converted into the second standard into the corresponding print image data in the image printing function providing module;
The image forming apparatus includes: an image printing module that prints the desired image based on the print image data converted by the image data conversion module. Control of an image forming system comprising: at least one host computer; an image forming apparatus having first interface means for connecting an image device; and second interface means for connecting the at least one host computer. In a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method, the program includes:
In the image forming apparatus, an image equipment housing module that houses the image equipment via the first interface means;
In the image forming apparatus, a command having a first command system for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means configured according to a first standard for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means, and A command having a second command system for transmitting / receiving to / from the host computer configured by the first standard is changed to a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system. Command processing module to process each,
A command restoration module for restoring a command having the second command system processed in the command processing module to a command having the first command system in the host computer;
In the host computer, the command having the first command system restored in the command restoration step is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system is selected by the image device. The image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image forming apparatus is An image printing function providing module for generating a print control command of the second command system in order to execute printing of a desired image;
In the host computer, an image data conversion module that converts the image data converted into the second standard into the corresponding print image data in the image printing function providing module;
A storage medium comprising: an image printing module that prints the desired image based on the print image data converted by the image data conversion module. First interface means for connecting an imaging device;
A second interface means for connecting at least one host computer;
A command having a first command system for transmitting and receiving via the first interface means configured to be transmitted and received via the first interface means, and the first standard; Command processing means for processing a command having a second command system for transmission / reception to / from the configured host computer into a command having the second command system and a command having the first command system, respectively. When,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image printing unit that prints an image based on print image data. Image data conversion means for converting image data supplied from an image device into print image data;
A second command system for transmitting / receiving to / from the image forming apparatus configured according to the first standard for transmitting / receiving via the first interface means for connecting the image equipment included in the image forming apparatus. Command restoring means for restoring the command having the first command system for the image forming apparatus configured according to the first standard to transmit and receive via the first interface means;
The command having the first command system restored by the command restoration unit is analyzed, and the restored command having the first command system requests printing of a desired image selected by the image device. When the command is a print request command, the image data of the desired image received from the image device via the image forming apparatus is converted into a second standard, and the image data conversion unit is controlled to control the second data. Image printing that converts the image data into corresponding print image data and generates a print control command of the second command system in order to cause the image forming apparatus to print the desired image A host computer comprising function providing means.

Images