JP2007261122A - Image forming apparatus and image formation control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To input lacking font data from the outside even if the font data used for image data lack at the input side when the image data of document data or the like are inputted from the outside. <P>SOLUTION: A font data storage part 33 stores the font data beforehand. A first-third input parts 40-60 input data which form the image data. A font data addition control part 32 detects lacking font information related to the lacking font data not present in the font data storage part among the font data used for the image data, and controls to store the lacking font data in the font data storage part 33 when the data are inputted. A font data search control part 34 controls to output the lacking font data to the font data addition control part 32 when the lacking font data are acquired by controlling to search a server and a host computer on a network 102 on the basis of the lacking font information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming control program, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and an image forming control program that are suitable for being installed in a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having a multi-function such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile.

  In recent years, in this type of MFP (MFP), devices that can be used in a plurality of languages such as English, Korean, and Chinese in addition to Japanese have been provided. For example, as shown below Is known.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the printer control unit 1 creates print image data from the input font data using the font data from the print font data storage unit 3 and outputs the print image data to the image control unit 5. Document data input from an external memory or the like via the interface is output as image data to the image control unit 5, and based on an instruction from the display panel 11 via the panel control unit 9, the print image data or The read image data is output to the print processing unit 13 to be printed, or the transmission control unit 15 performs output control, and the transmission font data from the transmission font data storage unit 17 is used to specify the name and ID of the transmission source and transmission destination. The header is added to the header and footer by the control unit 19 and is sent to the network (not shown) by FAX. It had a structure for displaying the over data to the display panel 11 via the panel controller 9.

  Reference numeral 21 in FIG. 3 denotes a display font data storage unit that stores display font data to be displayed on the display panel 11 and is read / written by the panel control unit 9, and reference numeral 23 reads image data and controls image data as image data. This is a scanner processing unit that outputs to the unit 5.

  In such a multi-function peripheral, in order to support a plurality of languages, the desired language font data must be stored in the print font data storage unit 3, the transmission font data storage unit 17, and the display font data storage unit 21, respectively. The print image data cannot be created, or characters cannot be added to the image data or displayed on the display panel 11.

  However, in order to store and prepare a plurality of language font data in advance, a large-capacity memory is required, which requires a considerable amount of money, and different languages are required for each user.

  Therefore, in the conventional multifunction device, in addition to the language of the country in which the device is installed, one or two main language fonts are stored in the display font storage unit 21 as a standard language (for example, Japanese or alphanumeric characters) and mainly displayed. The panel 11 is configured so that a plurality of languages can be switched and displayed, thereby reducing the trouble in panel operation.

Examples of configurations that can handle a plurality of languages and that connect to a network include, for example, JP-A-9-107453 (Patent Document 1) and JP-A-2002-281111 (Patent Document 2).
JP-A-9-107453 JP 2002-281111 A

  However, in the above-described multi-function peripheral, additional language display on the display panel 11 is possible by adding optional language font data to the display font storage unit 21, but font data that is not stored in the display font data storage unit 21. When document data using, such as an address book, is input, there is still a difficulty that cannot be displayed.

  In addition, adding optional language font data requires a considerable storage capacity of the internal storage unit, and is also uneconomical because font data that is not used is stored in the input image data.

  In particular, in a multi-function peripheral, an address book corresponding to a plurality of languages is required to transmit and receive data via a network, and it is extremely inconvenient if there are languages that cannot be used for each address book.

  Further, since there is no option language font data in the print font data storage unit 3 and the transmission font data storage unit 17, not only the address book input from the input unit 7 cannot be displayed, but also the transmission image data includes font data. It cannot be added, and if it is to be added, there is a difficulty limited only to the addition of a standard language.

  In recent years, the above-described multifunction peripherals have been used in various countries and connected via a network. Therefore, in order to smoothly transmit and receive data between multifunction peripherals having different font data, the above-described multifunction peripherals are used. There is a strong desire to improve these issues.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. When image data such as document data is input, even if the font data used for the image data is insufficient on the input side, the insufficient font is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming control program capable of capturing data from the outside.

  In order to solve such a problem, the present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a network, a font data storage unit for storing font data, an input unit for inputting data for forming image data, and the image Font data addition for detecting missing font information related to missing font data that is not in the font data storage portion of the font data used for the data, and additionally storing the font data storage portion when the missing font data is input A control unit, and a font data search control unit for controlling output of the information processing apparatus connected to the network based on the missing font information to the font data addition control unit when insufficient font data is acquired. It has.

  In the present invention, an address book can be used as the image data.

  In the present invention, a configuration having a font control unit that controls the format conversion of the font data in accordance with the display mode or the image forming mode is possible.

  In the image formation control program according to the present invention, the font data can be added to the font data storage unit for storing the font data, and the image formation control computer connected to the network inputs the data for forming the image data. Processing, font detection processing for detecting missing font information related to missing font data that is not in the font data storage unit among font data used for the image data, and an information processing apparatus connected to the network based on the missing font information. A font data search process for retrieving and acquiring the missing font data and a font data adding process for additionally storing and controlling the missing font data in the font data storage unit when the missing font data is acquired are executed.

  The image forming apparatus and the image forming control program according to the present invention store font data in the font data storage unit in advance, input data for forming image data from the input unit, and input the image data. The font data addition control unit detects the missing font information related to the missing font data that is not in the font data storage unit among the font data used for the font data, and the font data search control unit uses the network based on the missing font information. When an insufficient font data is acquired by searching for an information processing device connected to the, the output control is performed to the font data addition control unit, and when the missing font data is input, the font data addition control unit Since additional storage control is performed in the storage unit, images such as input document data For data, font data used for this even missing on the input side, via a network allows obtaining the missing font data from an external information processing apparatus, display of image data becomes possible.

  In addition, the configuration using the address book as the image data has advantages that the amount of image data is small, and there is also a shortage of insufficient font data that is not in the font data storage unit, so that the required storage capacity is small and the operation is fast.

  Further, in a configuration having a font control unit that controls the format conversion of the font data according to the display mode or the image formation mode, the font data is displayed or added to the image data, or the common font data is set according to the mode. It can be used in various ways.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus (multi-function peripheral) according to the present invention schematically includes a first input unit 40, a second input unit 50, a third input unit 60, a display centered on an image control unit 30. Unit 70, first output unit 80, second output unit 90, and network input / output unit 100.

  The image control unit 30 includes a font control unit 31, a font data addition control unit 32, a font data storage unit 33, and a font data search control unit 34, and detailed functions will be described later.

  The first input unit 40 includes a printer control unit 41. The printer control unit 41 inputs printer data from the computer (not shown) to the printer control unit 41, and the later-described font obtained by the printer control unit 41 via the font control unit 31. It has a function of creating print image data based on the data and outputting it to the image control unit 30.

  The second input unit 50 is an input for inputting document data such as an address book from an external storage medium such as a USB memory (not shown) or a network and the like to be output to the image control unit 30 under the control of the image control unit 30 A port 51 is provided.

  The third input unit 60 has a conventionally known scanner processing unit 61, and has a conventionally known function of reading document data, converting it into electronic image data, and outputting it to the image control unit 30.

  The display unit 70 includes a conventionally known display panel 71 having a panel display function and a touch-type input function, a keyboard data storage unit 72 that stores a plurality of keyboard layout data for each language displayed on the display panel 71, and a keyboard thereof. A panel control unit 73 that creates a display keyboard image based on the arrangement data and controls display on the display panel 71 is formed.

  The keyboard data storage unit 72 stores in advance keyboard layout data of a standard language such as Japanese and key font data used for the key positions.

  The panel control unit 73 also has a function of outputting instruction information input from the display panel 71 to the image control unit 30 by an operator's touch input.

  The first output unit 80 prints image data based on the data from the first to third input units 40, 50, and 60 output from the image control unit 30 on a sheet and outputs the print data. It is.

  The second output unit 90 is a transmission control unit 91 that converts the image data with fonts into a predetermined transmission signal and transmits the data to an external network by a predetermined protocol, for example, by FAX, and is output from the font control unit 31. A transmission image control unit 92 is provided for adding the transmission font data to the header or footer of the transmission image data as the name or ID of the transmission source or transmission destination.

  As will be described later, the network input / output unit 100 is a network control unit having an interface function for performing search control of the missing font data to the network 102 based on the missing font information from the font data search control unit 34 of the image control unit 30. 101.

  The image control unit 30 stores and reads the language font data in a readable and writable manner in the font control unit 31, the font data addition control unit 32, and the font data storage unit 33, and includes first to third input units. When image data is input and controlled from 40, 50, 60, font data corresponding to characters or the like for use in displaying the image data is recognized, the font data storage unit 33 is searched, and the font data storage unit 33 is searched. If there is no missing font data, a function for forming the missing font information related to the missing font data, and when the missing font data is input from the outside based on the missing font data is associated with the character or the like and additionally stored in the font data storage unit 33 have.

  In the font data search control unit 34, the image control unit 30 forms missing font acquisition information from the missing font information, sends it to the network 102 via the network control unit 101, and is connected to an external device (described later) connected thereto. It has a function of additionally storing and controlling the insufficient font data acquired from the information device via the network control unit 101 in the font data storage unit 33 via the font control unit 31. Details will be described later.

  The image control unit 30 creates display data for displaying the operation state and various selection instruction contents and outputs the display data to the panel control unit 73. Based on the instruction from the display panel 71, the image control unit 30 or the scanner processing unit 61 or It has a function of outputting image data from the input port 51 as print image data to the print processing unit 81 and outputting it as transmission image data to the transmission control unit 91.

  The font data addition control unit 32, the font data storage unit 33, and the font data search control unit 34 of the image control unit 30 have a configuration as shown in FIG.

  The font data addition control unit 32 includes a character processing unit 321 connected to the font control unit 31, and a character creation processing unit 322 and a character cache control unit 323 connected to the character processing unit 321, while the font control unit 31 has an external font control unit 324 connected to 31 and an external font registration processing unit 325 connected to the external font control unit 324, and has a function of controlling the font data storage unit 33 to read and write font data. Have.

  For example, when image data is input from the input port 51, the font data addition control unit 32 searches the font data storage unit 33 for font data used for the image data, and forms missing font information if there is missing font data. Then, the data is output to the font control unit 31, and if insufficient font data is obtained from the font control unit 31, the font data storage unit 33 has a function of additionally storing it.

  The font data storage unit 33 includes an internal font data storage unit 331, an external font data storage unit 332, and a cache data storage unit 333 connected to the character creation processing unit 322. The external font data storage unit 332 is an external font data storage unit 332. In addition to the registration processing unit 325, the cache data storage unit 333 is also connected to the character cache control unit 323, and stores font data corresponding to codes such as characters and symbols in association with the characters so as to be readable and writable. is there.

  Japanese or the like is stored in advance as standard language font data in the internal font data storage unit 331, and the font data addition control unit 32 stores a plurality of types of language font data for each language in the external font data storage unit 332. To manage and control.

  The font data search control unit 34 connected to the font control unit 31 forms missing font acquisition information from the missing font information from the font control unit 31 and controls output to the network control unit 101, and also via the font control unit 31. The font control unit 31 has a function of controlling output of the missing font data acquired in this way.

  The missing font acquisition information includes the IP address of the MFP 103 and the server 104 registered in advance connected to the network 102, the necessary missing font data, a search command for the missing font data, and the like. The MFP 103 and the server 104 connected to the PC are designated to instruct the missing font data search, and the corresponding missing font data is returned if there is any.

  The network control unit 101 sends missing font acquisition information and the like to a known network 102, and receives and decodes missing font data sent from, for example, the multifunction machine 103 or the server 104 as an external information device connected thereto. And an interface function for output to the font data search control unit 34.

  The multifunction machine 103 and the server 104 have a function of receiving missing font acquisition information and the like and returning the corresponding font data to the network control unit 101 via the network 102.

  The font control unit 31 described above outputs the missing font information for the font data used for the image data to the font data search control unit 34, while if the missing font data is obtained from the font data search control unit 34. Additional storage is performed in the external font data storage unit 332 via the font data addition control unit 32.

  The font control unit 31 reads font data corresponding to a character code or the like from the internal or external font data storage units 331 and 332 via the character processing unit 321 and the character creation processing unit 322, and stores the font data on the display panel 11. The format is converted according to the display mode to be displayed and the output is controlled to the panel control unit 73, while the format is converted according to the image forming mode of the print image data and the output is controlled to the printer control unit 41, and the address book and other documents are also controlled. The transmission image control unit 91 has a function of converting the format according to the addition mode to the header and footer in the transmission image data as data and controlling the output to the transmission image control unit 91.

  That is, the font control unit 31 also has a function of controlling conversion from the acquired font data according to a display mode and a mode used for image data such as print image data or transmission image data.

  Next, the operation of the above-described image forming apparatus will be briefly described.

  First, an additional registration operation of language font data will be described.

  For example, when an external storage medium such as a USB memory storing document data is connected to the input port 51 of the second input unit 50, under the control of the image control unit 30 based on an instruction from the display panel 71, It is input to the image control unit 30 as image data.

  In the image control unit 30, the font data addition control unit 32 searches the internal and external font data storage units 331 and 332 through the character processing unit 321 and the character creation processing unit 322 for font data used for the image data, If there is missing font data, the missing font information relating to the missing font data is created, and the font control unit 31 passes this to the font data search control unit 34.

  The font data search control unit 34 forms insufficient font acquisition information including IP addresses related to the MFP 103 and the server 104 registered in advance based on the insufficient font acquisition information, and the external MFP via the network control unit 101. 103 and the server 104 are searched.

  When the corresponding missing font data exists in the MFP 103 or the server 104 and is returned, the font data search control unit 34 outputs the missing font data to the font control unit 31, and the font control unit 31 outputs the external font control unit 324. Only the missing font data is associated with the character code via the external font registration processing unit 325 and additionally stored in the external font data storage unit 332.

  For example, when the input image data is displayed on the display panel 71, the panel control unit 73 reads out and displays desired keyboard layout data and the like from the keyboard data storage unit 72 based on a selection instruction on the display panel 71. The control unit 31 acquires the font data corresponding to the character code via the character processing unit 321 and the character creation processing unit 322 from the external font data storage unit 332 or the cache data storage unit 333 via the character cache control unit 323. The image data is converted into a display mode and output to the panel control unit 73 to display an image including additional font data.

  By the way, when the print image data is formed from the printer data using the font data, the font control unit 31 responds via the character processing unit 321 and the character creation processing unit 322 based on an instruction from the printer control unit 41. Font data is acquired from the internal or external font data storage units 331 and 332, or the cache data storage unit 333 via the character cache control unit 323, and the format conversion is performed in accordance with the print image data formation mode, and the converted font data is converted to the printer. Output to the control unit 41.

  The printer control unit 41 forms print image data using the converted font data and outputs it to the image control unit 30. The same applies to the font data added to the transmission image data.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above, the font data storage unit 33 that stores font data, and the first to third input units 40, 50, and 60 that input data for forming image data, Detecting missing font information related to missing font data that is not in the font data storage unit among the font data used for the image data, and when the missing font data is input, the font data storage unit 33 additionally stores and controls this. When the font data addition control unit 32 and the MFP 103 or the server 104 (information processing apparatus) connected to the network 102 are searched based on the missing font information and the missing font data is acquired, the font control unit 31 is A font data search control unit for controlling the output to the font data addition control unit 32 It is and a 4.

  For this reason, even if there is a shortage of font data used for the input image data such as document data on the input side, only the missing font is imported from the MFP 103 or server 104 connected to the network 102 and used. Therefore, there is no problem in displaying or printing the input image data.

  If the image data is an address book, the amount of image data is small, the font data that is not in the font data storage unit 33 is extremely small, and font data already stored on the input side is not taken in. Therefore, there is an advantage that a small storage capacity is required and operation is not slowed down.

  Furthermore, since the font control unit 31 that controls the format conversion of the font data according to the display mode or the image formation mode is provided, it is easy to add or change the character font data. Display data, print image data, and transmission image data can be easily created using font data.

  Since the font data addition control unit 32 manages and stores a plurality of types of language font data for each language, the addition and change of the plurality of language font data is simplified and printing is performed using the changed language font data. There is an advantage that image data and transmission image data can be easily created, and use in a plurality of countries can be promoted.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, not only the configuration in which the insufficient font data is output to the font data addition control unit 32 via the font control unit 31, but the missing font data is directly or indirectly received from the font data search control unit 34. A configuration in which output control is performed on the font data addition control unit 32 side is possible.

  In addition, the second output unit 90 as the output unit and the network input / output unit 100 are illustrated separately, but in actual products, these functions are often provided with the same configuration.

  Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the input port 51 of the second input unit 50 is used as the data input unit for forming the image data. However, the first and third input units 40 and 60 and the network input / output unit are used. A configuration in which 100 is the input unit is also possible.

  The font addition control apparatus according to the present invention can be implemented not only for character font data but also for font data for characters, symbols, and other codes.

  Then, referring to the additional control program according to the present invention, in the image formation control computer having the font data addition control unit 32, the font data storage unit 33, and the font data search control unit 34, data for forming image data is input. Input processing, font detection processing for detecting missing font information related to missing font data that is not in the font data storage unit 33 among font data used for the image data, and information connected to the network 102 based on the missing font information A font data search process for searching for a processing device and acquiring the missing font data, and a font data adding process for additionally storing and controlling the font data in the font data storage unit 33 when the missing font data is acquired. It is.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention together with a multifunction peripheral. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the image control part in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the conventional multifunction peripheral.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer control part 3 Print font data storage part 5 Image control part 7 Input part 9 Panel control part 11 Display panel 13 Print processing part 15 Transmission control part 17 Transmission font data storage part 19 Transmission control part 21 Display font data storage part 23 Scanner Processing unit 30 Image control unit 31 Font control unit 32 Font data addition control unit 321 Character processing unit 322 Character creation processing unit 323 Character cache control unit 324 External font control unit 325 External font registration processing unit 33 Font data storage unit 331 Internal font data Storage unit 332 External font data storage unit 333 Cache data storage unit 34 Font data search control unit 40 First input unit (input unit)
41 Printer Control Unit 50 Second Input Unit (Input Unit)
51 Input port 60 Third input section (input section)
61 Scanner Processing Unit 70 Display Unit 71 Display Panel 72 Keyboard Data Storage Unit 73 Panel Control Unit 80 First Output Unit (Output Unit)
81 Print processing unit 90 Second output unit (output unit)
91 Transmission Control Unit 92 Transmission Image Control Unit 100 Network Input / Output Unit (Input Unit, Output Unit)
101 Network Control Unit 102 Network 103 Multifunction Device (Information Device)
104 Server (information equipment)

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus connected to a network,
A font data storage unit for storing font data;
An input unit for inputting data for forming image data;
Among the font data used for the image data, the missing font information related to the missing font data not in the font data storage unit is detected, and when the missing font data is input, the font data storage unit is additionally stored and controlled. A font data addition control unit;
A font data search control unit that performs search control of an information processing apparatus connected to the network based on the missing font information, and controls output to the font data addition control unit when the missing font data is acquired;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is an address book. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a font control unit that controls the format conversion of the font data according to a display mode or an image forming mode. In an image formation control computer connected to a network and capable of adding font data to a font data storage unit for storing font data,
An input process for inputting data for forming image data;
Insufficient font detection processing for detecting insufficient font information related to insufficient font data that is not in the font data storage unit among the font data used for the image data;
A font data search process for searching for an information processing apparatus connected to the network based on the missing font information and obtaining the missing font data;
Font data addition processing for additionally storing and controlling the missing font data when it is acquired in the font data storage unit;
An image formation control program for executing

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