JP2007049608A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which user convenience is improved when collecting documents distributed in BOXes of a plurality of image forming apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus stores image data in its own storage region, communicates with another image forming apparatus via a predetermined communication medium and stores reference information of image data stored in a storage region of the other image forming apparatus in its own storage region. In a display section, indexes of information of image data stored in the storage region of the other image forming apparatus based on the reference information are displayed. Such an image forming apparatus includes a selection means for selecting image data of which the indexes are displayed on the display section, stored in the storage region of the other image forming apparatus, and a simultaneous external image data acquisition means for simultaneously acquiring one or more pieces of image data selected by the selection means from the other image forming apparatus and storing these acquired image data in its own storage region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention particularly relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having a network communication function and a document storage function.

  Conventionally, it has a function of storing image data read from a scanner or image data obtained by expanding PDL data transmitted from a host computer via a network into a bitmap in a storage such as an internal hard disk. A known image forming apparatus is known.

In addition, a plurality of such image forming apparatuses are connected via a network, and the image data reference information stored in the storage of each of the other image forming apparatuses is stored internally, thereby allowing the user to select which image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus system that can be referred to and printed from any image forming apparatus without being conscious of whether the image data is stored in the storage of the apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
JP 2003-345548 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, the image data desired by the user is distributed in the storages of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the user can perform specific image formation such as being installed nearby. It cannot be managed centrally by the device. Therefore, the user collects desired image data from another image forming apparatus and stores it in a specific image forming apparatus in consideration of the situation of the free space in the storage.

  In addition, if there are a plurality of image data of the same category, they may be considered to be handled as a single image data.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that improves user convenience in the above case.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Selection means for selecting image data stored in a storage area of another image forming apparatus displayed as an item on the display unit, and one or more pieces of image data selected by the selection means from the other image forming apparatus in a lump External image data batch acquisition means for acquiring and storing it in its own storage area.

  Preferably, the image data combining unit generates a single image data by combining a plurality of image data, and the image data stored in the storage area of another image forming apparatus by the external image data batch acquisition unit is stored. When acquiring all at once, a plurality of image data composed of the image data acquired by the image data combining means and the image data stored in the image data are combined and stored in its own storage area.

  According to the present invention, the image data stored in the storages of a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be easily collected, improving user convenience.

  Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

  This image forming system is connected to a scanner device as an image input device and a printer device as an image output device. Further, it is connected to a network such as a LAN or a telephone line, and can transmit or receive image data.

  A CPU 101 is a controller for controlling the entire image forming system. The CPU 101 is connected to each unit by a bus such as a data bus 102.

  The RAM 103 is a working memory for storing programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU 101, and stores temporary data at the time of image data conversion processing.

  The printer control unit 104 controls the printer device 105 to print image data on paper or the like. The printer device 105 prints image data as an image on a sheet of paper. The printer device 105 directly prints an image on a sheet of paper by discharging an ink from an electrophotographic printing method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt or a minute nozzle array. There is an ink jet method for printing and printing, but any method may be used.

  The scanner control unit 106 controls the scanner device 107 to acquire image data. The scanner device 107 scans an original such as paper using an optical reading device such as a CCD, and converts image information of the original into electrical signal data.

  The network control unit 108 performs control for transmitting or receiving image data to a network such as a LAN or a telephone line.

  The storage control unit 109 controls the storage unit 110 that is a storage device, stores data such as image data in the storage unit 110, and acquires the stored data. The storage unit 110 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory such as an HDD, and includes a program and setting data for controlling the entire system, scanned image data, image data obtained via a network, and the like. Is saved.

  The input control unit 111 inputs a user operation instruction from an operation input device 112 such as a touch panel or a hard key.

  The display control unit 113 controls the display device 114 such as an LCD or CRT to display a setting operation screen to the user.

  By the way, for description of the present embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the above-described three image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, and are referred to as image forming apparatuses 1 to 3, respectively.

  The image forming apparatus 1 stores image data 1 and image data 2 in its own storage 110, the image forming apparatus 2 stores image data 3 in its own storage 110, and the image forming apparatus 3 stores image data 4 and Assume that image data 5 and image data 6 are stored.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 1 stores the reference information of the image data 3, the image data 4, and the image data 6 in its own storage 110. The background is, for example, that the image data 2 obtained by the scanner device 107 of the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 due to a lack of free space in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 at that time, and the reference is made. Only the information is stored in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image data 4 and the image data 6 acquired by the scanner device 107 of the image forming apparatus 3 are sent to the image forming apparatus 1 that cooperates with the image forming apparatus 3. The image forming apparatus 3 transmits the reference information, and the image forming apparatus 1 that has received the reference information stores the information in its own storage 110. .

  Table 1 summarizes the relationship between each image forming apparatus and each image data. “Name” is the name of the image data, and “Reference holding presence / absence of image forming apparatus 1” is whether or not reference information is stored in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents on the display device 114 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the image data 1 and image data 2 stored in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the storage in the image forming apparatuses 2 and 3. The information of the image data 3 and the image data 4 and 6 stored in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 and stored in the storage 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes a selection state item, which indicates whether image data is selected. When the corresponding image data is selected by operating the touch panel, the check box is checked and the selected state is entered.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes an external image data item, which indicates whether the image data is stored in its own storage 110 or stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus. What is displayed as “R” indicates that the image data is stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a name item, which is the name of image data.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes an all selection key. When this key is pressed, all image data being displayed are selected. When all the image data are in the selected state, the selection key 207 is displayed as “release all selection”, and when pressed, the all selection state is released, and “select all” is displayed again.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes a transmission key. When this key is pressed, the screen changes to a screen (not shown), and the selected image data is transmitted via an e-mail attached document or FAX via the network control unit 108. . When the image data being selected is stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus, it is acquired and transmitted via the network control unit 108.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a print key. When this key is pressed, the screen changes to a screen (not shown), and the image data being selected from the printer device 105 is printed. If the image data being selected is stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus, it is acquired via the network control unit 108 and printed.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes an erase key. By pressing this key, the currently selected image data is erased from the storage 110. If the selected image data is stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus, an erasure request is sent to the image forming apparatus storing the corresponding image data in the storage 110 via the network control unit 108. At the same time, the reference information of the corresponding image data stored in its own storage 110 is deleted. The image forming apparatus that has received the erasure request erases the corresponding image data in its own storage 110.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes a document aggregation key. When this key is pressed, the selected image data stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus is received via the network control unit 108, Store in the storage 110.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure when the document aggregation key 211 in FIG. 2 is pressed.

  In S301, it is determined whether or not at least one image data stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus in FIG. 2 has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds to S302, and if it is not selected, the process proceeds to S312.

  In S302, the processes in S303 to S308 are performed only on the image data selected in FIG. 2 and stored in the storage 110 of the other image forming apparatus.

  In S303, based on the reference information stored in its own storage 110, the corresponding image data is stored in the storage 110 via the network control unit 108. Requests transmission of image data.

  In step S304, it is determined whether the image data requested to be transmitted in step S303 exists in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus. If it exists, the process proceeds to S305, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S305, the image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus that requested the transmission in step S303 via the network control unit.

  In S307, the received image data is stored in its own storage 110. In step S308, the received image data reference information is deleted from the storage 110.

  In S306, since the image data requested in S303 does not exist in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus, an error message is transmitted as an image data acquisition error.

  In step S <b> 309, the received image data acquisition error is stored in the RAM 103.

  In S <b> 310, it is determined whether an image data acquisition error is accumulated in the RAM 103. If it has been accumulated, the process proceeds to S311. In step S <b> 311, an image data acquisition error message stored in the RAM 103 is displayed on the display device 114. After the display, the error message in the RAM 103 is deleted.

  Since no image data is selected in S312, an error message is displayed on the display device 114 as an image data non-selection error, and the process ends.

  In the second embodiment, when a plurality of pieces of image data are acquired from another image forming apparatus, an embodiment of a method for combining the images and storing them as a single image data in its own storage 110 will be described.

  The configuration of the image forming system of the image forming apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment and is shown in FIG. The arrangement of the image forming apparatus and the storage status of the image data are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, the display contents on the display device 114 of the image forming apparatus 1 are the same as shown in FIG.

  When the document aggregation key 211 is pressed in FIG. 2, the selected image data includes at least one image data stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus, and a plurality of images. If data is selected, the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a screen for instructing whether or not to combine image data when acquiring image data from another image forming apparatus.

  Reference numeral 401 denotes a combination key. When this key is pressed, when image data is acquired, all the image data selected in FIG. 2 including these are combined and stored in the storage 110 as a single image data. It becomes.

  Reference numeral 402 denotes an individual key. When this key is pressed, when image data is acquired, the mode is such that they are stored in the storage 110 individually without being combined.

  When the join key 401 and the individual key 402 are pressed, they are selected and the display is inverted. However, these are exclusive and cannot be selected at the same time.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes a document name designation key. When this key is pressed, a screen (not shown) is displayed, and the name of the image data after combining the image data can be input and designated. This document name designation key 403 can be pressed only when the combination key 401 is selected.

  Reference numeral 404 denotes a cancel key. When this key is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG. 2 without acquiring or combining image data.

  Reference numeral 405 denotes an OK key. When this key is pressed, image data stored in the storage 110 of another image forming apparatus is acquired from the images selected on the screen shown in FIG. Is selected, all the image data selected on the screen shown in FIG. 2 are combined and stored in the storage 110 as a single image data.

Conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system of the present embodiment The figure which shows the screen display content of Example 1 The flowchart figure which shows the process sequence of Example 1. The figure which shows the screen display content of Example 2

Explanation of symbols

101 CPU
102 Data bus 103 RAM
104 Printer Control Unit 105 Printer Device 106 Scanner Control Unit 107 Scanner Device 108 Network Control Unit 109 Storage Control Unit 110 Storage 111 Input Control Unit 112 Input Device 113 Display Control Unit 114 Display Device 201 Selection Status Item 202 External Image Data Item 203 Name Item 207 Select all key 208 Send key 209 Print key 210 Delete key 211 Document consolidation key 401 Join key 402 Individual key 404 Cancel key 405 OK key

Claims (2)

The image data is stored in its own storage area, communicated with another image forming apparatus via a predetermined communication medium, and the reference information of the image data stored in the storage area of the other image forming apparatus is stored in its own storage area. In the image forming apparatus for storing information in the storage area and displaying the item of information of the image data stored in the storage area of the other image forming apparatus based on the reference information in the display unit,
Selecting means for selecting image data stored in a storage area of another image forming apparatus whose items are displayed on the display unit;
External image data batch acquisition means for acquiring one or more pieces of image data selected by the selection means in a batch from other image forming apparatuses and storing them in its own storage area;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Image data combining means for combining a plurality of image data to generate a single image data;
When the image data stored in the storage area of another image forming apparatus is acquired in a batch by the external image data batch acquisition means, the image data acquired by the image data combining means and the image data stored by itself An image forming apparatus comprising: combining a plurality of pieces of image data composed of: