JP2007243397A - Image processor, operation terminal, and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for processing and to reduce a burden on a network connected to an image processor when an image processed by the image processor such as a multifunction machine is saved and displayed. <P>SOLUTION: An image processor 10 transmits a discrimination information representing a device in which an original image is input, and a discrimination information which discriminates an image to be displayed, to an operation terminal 20. The operation terminal 20 determines whether the image to be displayed is stored in it or nor based on the information received from the image processor 10. In the former case, the operation terminal 20 reads it from its own memory region, and in the case of latter, the image processor 10 and a contents server 30 are requested for transferring of the image. Thus, the information amount transferred on the network decreases to reduce the time required for processing while a burden on the network is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for storing an image processed by an image processing apparatus and displaying the image.

  Some multifunction peripherals incorporating a facsimile machine, a scanner device, a printer device, or the like have a function of storing an image (hereinafter referred to as an original image) subjected to various processes such as scanning and printout as history information. . In most cases, the original image is not stored as it is, but the cover or the like of the original image is converted into a low resolution image (hereinafter referred to as a display image) smaller than the actual size and stored. The stored display image is displayed by an operation terminal such as a multifunction peripheral or a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS) connected to the multifunction peripheral as necessary.

However, if the processes executed by the multifunction peripherals are accumulated, the number of display images to be accumulated gradually increases. Therefore, an enormous storage area is required for the multifunction peripheral to store all the display images. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes the following method. First, when an original image is input to the multi-function peripheral, an index file is generated by reducing the image indicating the first and last pages of the original image, and this is stored in association with the original image. When an original image is requested from an operation terminal connected to the network, the original image and the index file are transmitted to the operation terminal. Then, after transmitting the original image and the index file, they are deleted according to the operator's instruction. Therefore, a capacity for the deleted data is newly secured.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173856

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to transmit all of the original image and the index file to the operation terminal, which requires considerable processing time. In addition, since data such as an original image having a large amount of data is exchanged between the multifunction peripheral and the operation terminal via a network such as a public network, a heavy burden is imposed on the network.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned background, and its purpose is to shorten the time required for processing when storing and displaying an image processed by an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral. The object is to reduce the burden on the network to which the image processing apparatus is connected.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a communication means for performing communication via a network, an input means for inputting original image data, and a display image obtained by reducing the original image represented by the original image data. Display image generation means for generating display image data representing the device, device identification information for specifying a device from which the original image data input by the input means is obtained, and the original image data by the display image generation means. A storage unit that associates and stores a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the data, and a transmission that transmits the device identification information and the data identifier stored in the storage unit using the communication unit And when the display image data is requested by designating the data identifier, the communication means is used to send the display image data to the request source. To provide an image processing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a providing means for signal to.

  The present invention also provides a communication means for performing communication via a network, apparatus identification information for specifying a source image data acquisition apparatus using the communication means, and a display generated based on the original image data. Receiving means for receiving a data identifier assigned to image data from an image processing device; determining means for judging whether to request display image data assigned with a data identifier received by the receiving means; When it is determined by the determination means that transmission of display image data is requested, a request means for requesting the display image data using the communication means to the apparatus assigned the received apparatus identifier; When the image data transmitted from the device in response to the request by the request unit is received by the communication unit, the display image data is recorded. Providing a storage means for storing the unit, the operating terminal, characterized in that it comprises a display control means for displaying on the display means the display image represented by the stored display image data in the storage unit.

  In addition, the present invention includes an image processing device and an operation terminal connected to the image processing device via a network, the image processing device including communication means that performs communication via the network, and original image data Input means, display image generation means for generating display image data representing a display image obtained by reducing the original image represented by the original image data, and original image data input by the input means Storage means for associating and storing device identification information for identifying the acquisition destination device and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data by the display image generation means; Transmitting means for transmitting device identification information and data identifier stored in the storage means to the operation terminal using the communication means; and And providing means for transmitting the display image data to the operation terminal using the communication means when the display image data is requested by designating a data identifier. A communication means for performing communication, device identification information for specifying a device from which the original image data is obtained using the communication means, and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data Receiving means from the image processing apparatus, determining means for determining whether to request display image data to which the data identifier received by the receiving means is assigned, and transmitting the display image data by the determining means Requesting the image data for display using the communication means to the device assigned the received device identifier. Requesting means, storage means for storing the display image data in the storage means when the communication means receives the image data transmitted from the apparatus in response to the request from the requesting means, and the storage means Provided is an image processing system comprising display control means for causing a display means to display a display image represented by stored display image data.

  According to the present invention, the image processing apparatus stores the apparatus identifier and the data identifier together with the display image data, and provides them to the operation terminal. The operation terminal determines whether or not it is necessary to obtain a display image from the device identifier and the data identifier provided from the image processing device, and if necessary, obtains the display image. Therefore, the amount of information transmitted over the network is reduced, the time required for processing is reduced, and the load on the network can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<1: Configuration of Embodiment>
<1-a> Overall Configuration of System FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 1 includes image processing apparatuses 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, an operation terminal 20, content server apparatuses 30a and 30b, a public line network 40, and LANs (Local Area Networks) 41 and 42. Yes. The image processing apparatuses 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are, for example, multifunction devices having a printout function, a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. The operation terminal 20 is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The content server devices 30a and 30b are, for example, personal computers (PCs) or workstations (WS), and store various types of content (original images and display images in the present embodiment).

  The image processing apparatus 10a and the image processing apparatus 10b are connected via a LAN 41. The content server device 30a is connected to the operation terminal 20 via the LAN 42, and the content server device 30b is connected to the operation terminal 20 via the public line network 40 and the LAN 42. The LANs 41 and 42 have a higher communication speed than the public line network 40, and the number of connected devices is much smaller than that of the public line network 40, so the line state is stable. Therefore, communication processing between devices connected only via the LANs 41 and 42 is performed more quickly than communication processing between devices connected via the public network 40. The public network 40 and the LANs 41 and 42 are collectively referred to as “network”. In FIG. 1, squares A, B, C, and D arranged in the storage areas of the image processing device 10, the operation terminal 20, and the content server device 30 are display image files or original image files stored in the respective devices. Names are shown and will be described in detail later. In addition, only four image processing apparatuses 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d and two content server apparatuses 30a and 30b are shown as apparatuses that communicate with the operation terminal 20, but actually, a larger number of apparatuses are provided. It may be a thing. There may also be a plurality of operation terminals. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatuses 10a to 10d are collectively referred to as “image processing apparatus 10” when it is not necessary to distinguish the image processing apparatuses 10a to 10d. Similarly, the content server devices 30a and 30b are collectively referred to as “content server device 30”.

<1-b> Configuration of Image Processing Device 10 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire apparatus, an operation unit 12 such as various buttons and a touch panel type liquid crystal display, and an operation terminal 20 and a content server via a network. A communication unit 13 that communicates with the apparatus 30; an image reading unit 14 that generates image data representing an image read by scanning a document; an image forming unit 15 that forms an image on a recording sheet; and an HD (Hard Disk) The memory | storage part 16 which memorize | stores various data like this, and the display part 17 which displays various information like a liquid crystal display are provided.

  When printout is executed in the image processing apparatus 10, image data transmitted via the public network 40 or the LANs 41 and 42 is received by the communication unit 13 and input to the image processing apparatus 10. Then, an image represented by the input image data is formed on the recording sheet by the image forming unit 15. When the image processing apparatus 10 receives a facsimile, image data transmitted from a not-shown facsimile terminal via the public network 40 is received by the communication unit 13 and input to the image processing apparatus 10. Is done. Then, an image represented by the input image data is formed on the recording sheet by the image forming unit 15. When facsimile transmission is performed in the image processing apparatus 10, image data transmitted via the network is received by the communication unit 13 and input to the image processing apparatus 10. The input image data is transmitted to the destination via the public network 40 by the communication unit 13. Further, when copying is executed in the image processing apparatus 10, image data representing the document image is input by reading the document image by the image reading unit 14. Then, an image represented by the image data is formed on the recording sheet by the image forming unit 15. When facsimile transmission is performed in the image processing apparatus 10, image data transmitted via the network is received by the communication unit 13 and input to the image processing apparatus 10. The input image data is transmitted to the destination via the public network 40 by the communication unit 13. The image represented by the image data input to the image processing apparatus 10 as described above or the image represented by the image data generated by the image reading unit 14 is hereinafter referred to as an “original image” and represents the original image. The data is called “original image data”. When the image forming process as described above is completed, the control unit 11 generates display image data in which the data size is reduced by thinning pixels from the original image data.

  The storage unit 16 stores a source management table as shown in FIG. 3 in addition to a program describing a procedure for the control unit 11 to execute an operation described later. The control unit 11 describes “device ID”, “image file name”, and “storage address” in association with each other in the acquisition destination management table every time display image data is generated. Here, the “device ID” is identification information assigned to a device that holds display image data. For example, when facsimile transmission or printout is performed in the image processing apparatus 10, the apparatus ID described in the acquisition destination management table indicates the original image data corresponding to the display image data to the image processing apparatus 10. This is the device ID assigned to the transmitted device. When the image processing apparatus 10 receives a facsimile, the apparatus holding the image data for display cannot be specified. Therefore, the apparatus ID described in the acquisition management table is the apparatus that received the facsimile. That is, the device ID assigned to the image processing device 10 itself. When copying is performed in the image processing apparatus 10, the apparatus ID described in the acquisition destination management table is the apparatus ID assigned to the apparatus that performed the copying (that is, the image processing apparatus 10 itself). The “image file name” is an identification name assigned to identify each of the display image data. The “storage address” is a memory address at which display image data is stored in the storage unit 16. In the following, “device ID” and “image file name” are referred to as image acquisition information.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the image processing apparatus 10 a reads the original image by the image reading unit 14 in order to perform copying, the image data for display is generated based on the original image data. The image file name “A” is assigned and stored in the storage unit 16. In the acquisition destination management table, the image file name “A”, the device ID “id01” of the image processing apparatus 10 itself, and the storage address “ad10001” in which the display image data is stored are stored in the acquisition destination management table. Described. Further, when the original image data transmitted from the operation terminal 20 is received by the communication unit 13, for example, for the image processing apparatus 10a to perform printout, display image data is generated based on the original image data. The image file name “B” is assigned and stored in the storage unit 16. In the acquisition destination management table, the image file name “B”, the device ID “id02” of the operation terminal 20, and the storage address “ad20001” in which the display image data is stored are described in the acquisition destination management table. .

<1-c> Configuration of Operation Terminal FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the operation terminal 20 according to the present invention. The operation terminal 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, a storage unit 24 for storing various data such as an HD (Hard Disk), An operation unit 25 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 26 that displays various information such as a liquid crystal display device, and a communication unit 27 that communicates with the image processing device 10 and the content server device 30 via a network are provided. Yes.

  When the display image data is requested from the operation terminal 20, the control unit 11 of the image processing apparatus 10 firstly lists “device ID” and “image file name” described in the acquisition destination management table of the storage unit 16. Is transmitted to the operation terminal 20. When the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 receives the “device ID” and the “image file name” via the communication unit 27, the CPU 21 stores them in the storage unit 24 as “search work information”. Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not display image data represented by the stored “image file name” is stored in the storage unit 24. If it is not stored, the “device ID” received together with the “image file name” is referred to, the “image file name” is designated for the device indicated by the “device ID”, and the display image data is Request. Then, when receiving the display image data transmitted in response to the request, the CPU 21 stores the display image data in the storage unit 24.

<2: Operation of Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the image processing apparatus 10 generates display image data and image acquisition information.
When the original image data is input or generated to perform scanning, facsimile transmission / reception, copying, printout, etc. (Step S101), the control unit 11 of the image processing apparatus 10 generates the original image data. Based on this, display image data is generated, and an image file name is assigned to the display image data and stored in the storage unit 16 (step S102). Next, the control unit 11 specifies the device ID of the device that is the source of the original image data (step S103). For example, when the image processing apparatus 10 itself generates original image data, its own apparatus ID is specified, and when original image data is input from another apparatus, the apparatus ID of the apparatus is specified. When original image data is input from another device, it is transmitted from the device with the device ID added to the original image data. Therefore, the device ID may be specified. Then, the control unit 11 specifies the storage address where the display image data is stored in the storage unit 16 (step S104), and writes the device ID, the image file name, and the storage address in association with each other in the acquisition destination management table ( Step S105).

  Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process in which the operation terminal 20 requests display image data from the image processing apparatus 10a and obtains it. When the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 requests display image data from the image processing apparatus 10a, a list of “apparatus ID” and “image file name” written in the acquisition destination management table is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 10a. This is received (step S201). The CPU 21 stores the received “device ID” and “image file name” in the storage unit 24 as search work information. The operation terminal 20 refers to the search work information and determines the acquisition type of the display image data (step S202). The acquisition type represents whether the original image is scanned or received by facsimile, or whether the original image is transmitted by facsimile or printed out.

  Here, as an example, the display image data with the image file name “A” will be described. The display image data with the image file name “A” is generated based on the original image data scanned by the image processing apparatus 10a. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the display image data with the image file name “A” is stored only in the storage unit 16 of the image processing apparatus 10a. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image processing apparatus 10a, the image file name “A” and the apparatus ID “id01” of the image processing apparatus 10a are stored in association with each other. Therefore, the image file name “A” and the device ID “id01” are associated with each other as search work information also on the operation terminal 20.

  In FIG. 6, the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 determines that the display image data with the image file name “A” is obtained by scanning (step S202; Scan / FAX reception). Then, the CPU 21 requests display image data from the image processing apparatus 10a with the apparatus ID “id01” included in the search work information, and the display image transmitted from the image processing apparatus 10a in response to this request. Image data is received (step S203). Note that the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 requests and acquires the data from the device storing the display image data through the same processing as described above even when the acquisition type is facsimile reception. Thereafter, the process proceeds to processing for the next display image data in the search work information (step S207).

  Next, as another example, description will be given focusing on display image data having an image file name “B”. The display image data with the image file name “B” is generated based on the original image data instructed from the operation terminal 20 to be printed out to the image processing apparatus 10a. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the display image data of the image file name “B” is stored in the storage unit 16 of the image processing apparatus 10 a, and the display image data or original image data is stored in the operation terminal 20. It is also stored in the storage unit 24. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image processing apparatus 10a, the image file name “B” and the apparatus ID “id01” of the operation terminal 20 are stored in association with each other. Therefore, the image file name “B” and the device ID “id02” are associated with each other as search work information also on the operation terminal 20.

  In FIG. 6, the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 determines that the display image data with the image file name “B” is obtained by printout (step S202; FAX transmission / printout). Then, the CPU 21 searches the storage unit 24 of the device to which the device ID “id02” included in the search work information is assigned, that is, the operation terminal 20 itself, and displays the image data for display of the image file name “A” or its It is confirmed that there is original image data corresponding to the display image data (step S204; YES). Thereafter, the process proceeds to processing for the next display image data in the search work information (step S207).

  As another example, a description will be given focusing on display image data having an image file name “C”. The display image data with the image file name “C” is generated based on the original image data transmitted for printing out from the content server device 30a to the image processing device 10a. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the display image data of the image file name “C” is stored in the storage unit 16 of the image processing apparatus 10a, and the display image data or original image data is stored in the content server apparatus 30a. Is also remembered. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image processing apparatus 10a, the image file name “C” and the apparatus ID “id03” of the content server apparatus 30a are stored in association with each other. Therefore, the image file name “C” and the device ID “id03” are associated with each other as search work information also on the operation terminal 20.

  In FIG. 6, the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 determines that the display image data having the image file name “C” is obtained by printout (step S202; FAX transmission / printout). When the CPU 21 determines that the display image data with the image file name “C” is not stored in the storage unit 24 (step S204; NO), the device ID “id03” included in the search work information is assigned. It is determined whether the received device is a device with good communication efficiency as viewed from the operation terminal 20 (step S205). For example, when the image processing apparatus 10a and the content server apparatus 30a are compared, the content server apparatus 30a is connected to the operation terminal 20 via a line with a large amount of information transmission such as the LAN 42. Compared to the image processing apparatus 10a connected via a line with a small amount of information transmission such as 40, it contributes to shortening of the processing time. Therefore, the CPU 21 compares the content server device 30a and the image processing device 10a that store the display image data or the original image data with the image file name “C” to determine whether there is a device with good communication efficiency. Judgment is made (step S205). Specifically, an apparatus having good communication efficiency as viewed from the operation terminal 20 may be designated in advance. If there is such a device (step S203; YES), the image data for display with the image file name “C” is requested to the device (content server device 30a) (step S206). In this case, when the content server device 30a stores only the original image data and does not store the display image data, the content server device 30a generates the display image data based on the original image data, and uses this as the operation terminal. 20 to send. Alternatively, the content server device 30a may transmit original image data to the operation terminal 20, and the operation terminal 20 may generate display image data based on the original image data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to processing for the next display image data in the search work information (step S207).

  As another example, the display image data with the image file name “D” will be described. The display image data with the image file name “D” is generated based on the original image data transmitted for printing out from the content server device 30b to the image processing device 10a. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the display image data with the image file name “D” is stored in the storage unit 16 of the image processing apparatus 10a, and the display image data or original image data is stored in the content server apparatus 30b. Is also remembered. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image processing apparatus 10a, the image file name “D” and the apparatus ID “id04” of the content server apparatus 30b are stored in association with each other. Therefore, the image file name “D” and the device ID “id04” are associated with each other as the search work information also on the operation terminal 20.

  In FIG. 6, the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 determines that the display image data having the image file name “D” has been obtained by printout (step S202; FAX transmission / printout). When the CPU 21 determines that the display image data with the image file name “D” is not stored in the storage unit 24 (step S204; NO), the device ID “id04” included in the search work information is assigned. It is determined whether the received device is a device with good communication efficiency as viewed from the operation terminal 20 (step S205). Here, since both the image processing apparatus 10a and the content server apparatus 30b are connected to the operation terminal 20 via the public network 40, there is no great difference in communication efficiency between them. Therefore, the CPU 21 determines that there is no device with good communication efficiency (step S205; NO), and requests the image processing device 10a for display image data with the image file name “D” (step S203). Thereafter, the process proceeds to processing for the next display image data in the search work information (step S207). As described above, the CPU 21 of the operation terminal 20 repeatedly executes the above-described processing steps S201 to S206 for all the display images to be processed. The display image obtained by the operation terminal 20 in this way is output to a recording sheet or the like by the image forming unit 15 of the image processing apparatus 10a as necessary, displayed as a list on the display unit 26, or a communication unit. 27. According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the time required for processing and reduce the load applied to the network.

<3: Modification>
The embodiment described above may be modified as follows.
When the operation terminal 20 requests display image data from the image processing apparatus 10 or the content server apparatus 30, it is possible to request transfer of display image data with a reduced data amount. For example, methods for reducing the amount of display image data include image compression processing that reduces the capacity of display image data, resolution conversion processing such as thinning out pixels, and steps for thinning out colors used in display images. Key conversion processing. However, in the process of reducing the data amount, it is necessary to keep it within a range where the user can visually recognize and understand the contents of the display image with the reduced data amount. When the image processing apparatus 10 or the content server apparatus 30 transmits display image data with a reduced data amount as described above, the display image data with a smaller data amount than the original display image data is transmitted. This may be displayed on the display unit 26 so that the user can understand this. Further, the user selects a display image in which the data amount displayed on the display unit 26 of the operation terminal 20 is reduced using the mouse of the operation unit 25 before the processing for reducing the data amount is performed. The original display image may be requested. In this case, the image processing apparatus 10 and the content server apparatus 30 display on the display unit 26 so that the user can understand that it is possible to provide display image data before performing the process of reducing the data amount. You may make it make it.

There are also the following methods.
The image processing apparatus 10 writes the image acquisition information into the acquisition destination management table in the order of the processing date and generates and stores the display image data in the order of the processing date. When the operation terminal 20 displays the display image data, the display is similarly performed on the display unit 26 in order of date and time. Moreover, you may display according to the order of the display frequency of the image for a display. For example, when the operation terminal 20 displays the processing history in the image processing apparatus 10a as a list of display image data, the number of times the display image is displayed is counted and stored in association with the search work information. Then, the operation terminal 20 displays the display image on the display unit 26 according to the display frequency order. In this case, since an image having a large number of times of browsing the display image often includes information highly important for the user, such a display image is first displayed on the display unit 26 of the operation terminal 20. By displaying, the user can easily view important information.

There are also the following methods.
The operation terminal 20 requests display image data from the image processing apparatus 10 and the content server apparatus 30 that store the original image data, but may request corresponding original image data. In this case, the operation terminal 20 may receive the original image data and generate display image data corresponding to the original image data. In this way, since the original image data has a higher resolution than the display image data, the user can view a clearer original image. In addition, when the user performs an operation such as clicking the display image displayed on the display unit 26 of the operation terminal 20 with the mouse of the operation unit 25, the user can view a clear original image having a larger size. May be.

There are also the following methods.
When original image data is input to the image processing apparatus 10, the original image data is temporarily stored and deleted if the display image data is generated in order to generate display image data with a small amount of data. . However, the image processing apparatus 10 may store the input original image data if the storage area has a margin. In this way, a user can browse a clear original image with a larger size, for example, by clicking the display image displayed on the display unit 26 of the operation terminal 20 with the mouse of the operation unit 25. It becomes possible. Further, the image processing apparatus 10 can perform facsimile transmission processing and printout processing using the stored original image data, and the user does not need to re-input the original image data.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the image processing apparatus in the system. It is the figure which showed an example of the acquisition place management table which the image processing apparatus memorize | stored. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the operating terminal in the system. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which the control part of the image processing apparatus performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which CPU of the same operating terminal performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing system, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d ... Image processing apparatus, 20 ... Operation terminal, 30a, 30b ... Content server apparatus, 40 ... Public network, 41, 42 ... LAN, 11 ... Control part, 12, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 25 ... Operation part, 13, 27 ... Communication part, 14 ... Image reading part, 15 ... Image formation part, 16, 24 ... Memory | storage part, 17, 26 ... Display part, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM.

Claims (6)

A communication means for communicating via a network;
Input means for inputting original image data;
Display image generating means for generating display image data representing a display image obtained by reducing the original image represented by the original image data;
Device identification information for identifying a device from which the original image data input by the input unit is obtained, and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data by the display image generating unit, Storage means for associating and storing
Transmitting means for transmitting device identification information and data identifier stored in the storage means using the communication means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a providing unit configured to transmit the display image data to the request source using the communication unit when the display image data is requested by designating the data identifier. . Conversion means for converting the display image data stored in the storage means into display image data having a smaller data amount;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit transmits display image data obtained by the converting unit. A communication means for communicating via a network;
Reception that receives from the image processing device device identification information that identifies a device from which the original image data is obtained using the communication means, and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data Means,
Determining means for determining whether to request display image data to which the data identifier received by the receiving means is assigned;
When it is determined by the determination means that transmission of display image data is requested, a request means for requesting the display image data using the communication means to a device assigned with the received device identifier;
A storage unit that stores the display image data in the storage unit when the communication unit receives the image data transmitted from the apparatus in response to the request by the request unit;
An operation terminal comprising: display control means for causing a display means to display a display image represented by display image data stored in the storage means. A counting means for counting the number of times the display image data is displayed on the display means;
4. The operation terminal according to claim 3, wherein the display control means causes the display means to display a display image represented by the display image data in accordance with the order of the number of times counted by the counting means.   It is determined whether or not the device assigned the received device identifier is a device with high communication efficiency specified in advance, and if it is determined that the device with high communication efficiency specified in advance is determined, the request means Requesting the display image data to the device to which the received device identifier is assigned, while determining that the device to which the received device identifier is assigned is not a device with high communication efficiency designated in advance. 4. The operation terminal according to claim 3, wherein the request unit requests the display image data from the image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus, and an operation terminal connected to the image processing apparatus via a network,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Communication means for performing communication via the network;
Input means for inputting original image data;
Display image generating means for generating display image data representing a display image obtained by reducing the original image represented by the original image data;
Device identification information for identifying a device from which the original image data input by the input unit is obtained, and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data by the display image generating unit, Storage means for associating and storing
Transmitting means for transmitting device identification information and data identifier stored in the storage means to the operation terminal using the communication means;
Providing means for transmitting the display image data to the operation terminal using the communication means when the display image data is requested from the operation terminal by designating the data identifier;
The operation terminal is
A communication means for communicating via a network;
Reception that receives from the image processing device device identification information that identifies a device from which the original image data is obtained using the communication means, and a data identifier assigned to the display image data generated based on the original image data Means,
Determining means for determining whether to request display image data to which the data identifier received by the receiving means is assigned;
When it is determined by the determination means that transmission of display image data is requested, a request means for requesting the display image data using the communication means to a device assigned with the received device identifier;
A storage unit that stores the display image data in the storage unit when the communication unit receives the image data transmitted from the apparatus in response to the request by the request unit;
An image processing system comprising: display control means for causing a display means to display a display image represented by display image data stored in the storage means.

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