JP2007317020A - Data processing device and license information management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost of license purchase by enabling data processing on, for example, a user basis. <P>SOLUTION: An image input/output system 100 inputs license information from a host computer 401, 402 to authenticate the license information, and switches data processing executed on target data in accordance with the authentication result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for executing data processing according to license information.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying machine having a composite function (hereinafter referred to as a composite machine) has been charged for each print output regarding copying and printing of print data transferred from a computer.

  In accordance with the higher performance of multifunction devices, the functions provided in multifunction devices are not limited to physical output such as simple print output, but scan image transmission and storage of print data corresponding to security, etc. The functions related to manuscript processing are also increasing. Until now, users have used these functions by purchasing a license for each device and each function.

  However, the conventional example has the following problems. In other words, as the functions of the multifunction peripherals increase as the performance of the multifunction peripherals increases, the license cost for each multifunction peripheral increases. For example, if not all users in the company where the MFP is installed use all functions, but some users want to use all functions, the company supports all functions of the MFP. Need to purchase a license. Furthermore, when there are a plurality of multifunction peripherals, the purchase cost is enormous, which may be disadvantageous for the user.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable data processing corresponding to each user, for example, and to reduce the cost required for license purchase.

The data processing apparatus of the present invention includes an input unit for inputting a print job to which license information is added, a specifying unit for specifying the license information added to the print job input by the input unit, and the specifying unit An authentication unit that authenticates the license information specified by the data processing unit, and a data processing unit that switches and executes data processing on target data according to an authentication result by the authentication unit.
A license information management apparatus according to the present invention is a license information management apparatus connected to an external apparatus via a communication line, and includes a management unit that manages license information, and a print job to which the license information is added. Transmission means for specifying the license information added to the job, authenticating the specified license information, and transmitting to the external device that switches data processing for the data according to the authentication result. And
According to a first aspect of the data processing method of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method by a data processing apparatus, wherein an input step of inputting a print job to which license information is added, and the print job input by the input step A specifying step for specifying the added license information, an authentication step for authenticating the license information specified by the specifying step, and switching data processing for target data according to the authentication result of the authentication step. And a data processing step to be executed.
According to a second aspect of the data processing method of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method by a license information management device connected to an external device via a communication line, wherein the license information is managed by the management means of the license information management device. For the external device that identifies the license information added to the print job, authenticates the identified license information, and switches the data processing for the data according to the authentication result And a transmission step of transmitting.

  In the present invention, the license information can be authenticated, and data processing can be switched according to the authentication result. Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, data processing corresponding to each user can be performed, and the cost required for license purchase can be kept low.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-First embodiment-
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image input / output system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image input / output system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a reader device (reader unit) 200, a control device (controller unit) 110, a printer device (printer unit) 300, and an operation unit 180. .

  The reader device 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader device 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit (DF unit) 250 having a function for transporting a document sheet.

  The printer apparatus 300 conveys a recording sheet, prints image data as a visible image on the recording sheet, and discharges the recording paper outside the apparatus. The printer apparatus 300 includes a paper feed unit 360 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 310 having a function of transferring and fixing image data onto recording paper, and sorting and stapling the printed recording paper. And a paper discharge unit 370 having a function of outputting to

  The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader device 200 and the printer device 300, and further connected to the host computers 401 and 402 via a network (LAN in the example of FIG. 1) 400.

  The control device 110 controls the reader device 200 to read the image data of the original paper, and controls the printer device 300 to output the image data of the original paper to the recording paper. As described above, the control device 110 performs control for providing the copy function.

  Further, the control device 110 provides a scanner function that converts image data read by the reader device 200 into code data and transmits the code data to the host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400.

  Further, the control device 110 provides a printer function that converts code data received from the host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400 into image data and outputs the image data to the printer device 300.

  The operation unit 180 is connected to the control device 110 and is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the reader device 200 and the printer device 300.
The document feeder unit 250 of the reader apparatus 200 feeds the documents one by one to the platen glass 211 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started, and exposure scanning for the document is performed. Reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217. Thus, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 218.

  A reader image processing circuit unit 222 performs predetermined processing on the image data output from the CCD 218 and outputs the processed image data to the control device 110 via the scanner I / F 501 (see FIG. 1).

  A printer image processing circuit unit 352 outputs an image signal sent from the control device 110 to the laser driver 317 via the printer I / F 502 (see FIG. 1).

  The laser driver 317 of the printer apparatus 300 drives the laser light emitting units 313, 314, 315, and 316, and outputs laser light corresponding to the image data output from the printer image processing unit 352 to the laser light emitting units 313, 314, 315 and 316 are caused to emit light.

  This laser light is applied to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327 and 328 by mirrors 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350 and 351. As a result, latent images corresponding to the laser light are formed on the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328.

  321, 322, 323, and 324 are developing units for developing a latent image with black (Bk), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) toners, respectively. The toner is transferred to a sheet and printed out in full color.

  The recording paper fed from any of the paper cassettes 360 and 361 and the manual feed tray 362 at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation is attracted onto the transfer belt 334 via the registration roller 333 and conveyed. Then, the developer attached to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording sheet to which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 335, and the developer is fixed to the image recording sheet by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 335. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 335 is discharged by a discharge roller 336. The paper discharge unit 370 bundles the discharged recording sheets, sorts the recording sheets on the discharge tray 371, staples the sorted recording sheets, and discharges the recording sheets onto the discharge tray 371.

  If double-sided recording is set, the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 336, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 336 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 338 by the flapper 337. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 338 is fed to the transfer belt 334 at the timing described above.

<Detailed Description of Reader Image Processing Circuit Unit 222>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the reader image processing circuit unit 222.
In the reader image processing circuit unit 222, the image of the original paper on the platen glass 211 is read by the CCD 218 and converted into an electrical signal. In the case of a color sensor, the CCD 218 is a three-line CCD, in which R, G, and B filters are arranged for each CCD, even if RGB color filters are mounted in-line in RGB order on a one-line CCD. It does n’t matter. Further, the filter may be on-chip, or the filter may be configured separately from the CCD.

  The electrical signal (analog image signal) is input to the reader image processing circuit unit 222. The input analog image signal is clamped & Amp. & S / H & A / D section 401 first performs sample hold (S / H). Subsequently, the dark level of the analog image signal is clamped to a reference potential, amplified to a predetermined amount, and the amplified analog image signal is A / D converted, for example, into an RGB 8-bit digital image signal Is done. Note that the configuration name 401 is clamped & Amp. The & S / H & A / D section is used, but the processing order here is not necessarily the order of the structure names as described above. For example, RGB 8-bit digital image signals are subjected to shading correction and black correction in the shading unit 402 and then output to the control device 110.

<Description of Control Device 110>
Next, functions of the control device 110 will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The main controller 111 mainly includes a main CPU 112, a sub CPU 113, a bus controller 114, a serial communication controller 115, a rendering unit 116, and a serial bus controller 117.

  The main CPU 112, the sub CPU 113, and the bus controller 114 control the overall operation of the control device 110, and the main CPU 112 operates based on a program stored in the memory 121. The program also describes an operation of interpreting PDL (page description language) code data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data) received from the host computers 401 and 402 and developing it into raster image data. The interpretation of the code data is mainly performed by the sub CPU 113, and the raster image data development is processed by the rendering unit 116.

  The bus controller 114 controls data transfer input / output from each I / F, and performs arbitration at the time of bus contention and control of DMA data transfer.

  The serial communication controller 115 communicates with the CPUs of the reader device 200 and the printer device 300 by transmitting and receiving control commands via serial buses (synchronous serial I / F) 171 and 172.

  In the serial bus controller 117, communication with the host computers 401 and 402 and communication with various devices are performed via connectors 122 and 123. The serial bus is generally a USB, and is used as an I / F that receives PDL data from the host computers 401 and 402.

  The general-purpose high-speed bus 130 is connected to an expansion connector 135 for connecting an expansion board, an I / O control controller 136, an HD controller 131, and a codec 133. A general-purpose high-speed bus 130 is a PCI bus. The codec 133 compresses the raster image data stored in the memory 121 by a method such as MH / MR / MMR / JBIG / JPEG, and conversely decompresses the compressed and stored code data into raster image data. The codec 133 also has a function of converting the resolution of raster image data stored in the memory 121. The SRAM 134 is used as a temporary work area for the codec 133.

  The HD controller 131 is for connection to an external storage device, and in this embodiment, the hard disk drive 132 is connected via the HD controller 131 which is an I / F. The hard disk drive 132 is used for storing a program and storing image data.

  The I / O control controller 136 controls the data bus 191 and controls ports and interrupts. Further, the CPU 137 is mounted on the I / O control controller 136. The CPU 137 controls the port control unit 138, communication with the network controller 140 and the operation unit 180, communication with the modem 146, and the like.

  The network controller 180 is connected to the external network 147. The network is generally Ethernet (registered trademark), and is used for PDL data reception from the host computers 401 and 402, transmission of scanner images, remote management, and the like.

  The modem 146 is connected to the public line 149 and performs FAX communication. The memory 139 is used as a work memory for the CPU 137, a work memory for image data to be displayed on the operation unit 180, and the like.

  The operation unit I / F 145 includes an I / F for displaying on the liquid crystal screen of the operation unit 180 and a key input I / F for inputting hard keys and touch panel keys.

  The operation unit 180 includes a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device attached on the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. A signal input from the touch panel or a hard key is transmitted to the CPU 137 via the operation unit I / F 145 described above, and the liquid crystal display unit displays image data sent from the operation unit I / F 145. On the liquid crystal display unit, function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image input / output system 100 are displayed.

  The fan 148 is connected to the I / O controller 136 and is used to cool the controller 110. A boot ROM 142 stores a startup program for the CPU 137.

  The SRAM 141 is backed up by a backup battery 144, and stores user mode, various setting information, file management information of the hard disk drive 132, and the like.

  The real-time clock module 143 is for updating / saving the date and time managed in the device, and is backed up by a backup battery 144.

  The printer image processing unit 151, the scanner image processing unit 153, and the image processing unit 157 are connected to the main controller 111 via the high-speed bus 150. The high-speed bus 150 is connected in a device ring shape by one-way communication.

  The printer image processing unit 151 is connected to the printer device 300 via the connector 181, and has a function of performing predetermined image processing on the image data input from the main controller 111 and outputting the image data to the printer device 300. Further, the printer image processing unit 151 has a function of outputting a control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from the printer device 300 to the delay processing unit 161. The memory 152 is used as a work area for the printer image processing unit.

  The delay processing unit 161 temporarily stores an image for each CMYK image in the memory 162 in order to correct the distance between the photosensitive drums 325 to 328, and the image obtained by correcting the distance between the drums is connected to the printer device 181 via the connector 181. Send to 300.

  The scanner image processing unit 153 is connected to the reader device 200 via the connector 182, and has a function of performing predetermined image processing on an image received from the reader device 200 from the scanner bus 174. The memory 154 is used as a work area of the scanner image processing unit 153.

  The FIFO 155 is connected to the scanner image processing unit 153 and is used to perform line correction of the video signal transmitted from the reader device 200.

  The connectors 182 and 181 are connected to the reader device 200 and the printer device 300, respectively, and are composed of serial buses (tuning step synchronization serial I / F) 171, 172 and video I / Fs 173, 174.

  The image processing unit 157 performs processing such as image rotation, scaling, and color space conversion, and the memory 158 is used as a work area of the image processing unit 157.

<Description of Scanner Image Processing Unit>
Next, the scanner image processing unit 153 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a portion that bears the scanner image processing unit 153.

  For the image signal sent from the reader device 200 via the connector 182, the connection & MTF correction unit 601 adjusts the delay amount for each line according to the reading speed, and corrects the MTF that has changed according to the reading speed. When the CCD 218 is a 3-line CCD, the connecting process corrects the signal timing so that the reading positions of the 3 lines are the same. The FIFO 155 is used as a line delay buffer. The digital signal whose read position timing is corrected corrects the spectral characteristics of the CCD 218 and the spectral characteristics of the lamp 212 and the mirrors 214, 215, and 216 by the input masking unit 602. The output of the input masking unit 602 is sent to the ACS count unit 603 and the resolution conversion / rotation unit 604.

  The ACS counting unit 603 counts a chromatic color determination signal, and the count value is used for determination of a monochrome / color document.

  The resolution conversion / rotation unit 604 enlarges / reduces the input signal in the main / sub scanning direction, and performs rotation / mirror image processing in units of blocks.

  The memory controller 605 controls the memory 154, and the memory 154 is used as a work area for storing memory for a necessary line by the resolution conversion / rotation unit 604.

  The image compression unit 606 compresses the signal sent from the resolution conversion / rotation unit 604 and transfers it to the main controller 111. As an image compression method here, there is generally a JPEG compression method, and multi-value irreversible compression is performed in units of blocks.

<Description of Printer Image Processing Unit>
Next, a detailed description will be given with respect to a portion that bears the printer image processing unit 151. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the printer image processing unit 151.

  Image data sent from the main controller 111 via the high-speed bus 150 is first input to the image expansion unit 701. The image expansion unit 701 converts the compressed image data into raster data. Next, the image rotation unit 702 performs image rotation processing in units of blocks and accumulates raster image data in the memory 152 via the memory controller 703. When the image data for one line is accumulated, the raster image data is input to the LOG conversion unit 704.

  The LOG conversion unit 704 converts the raster image data, which is an RGB signal, into CMY signals by LOG conversion. Next, the moire removing unit 705 removes moire from the CMY signal. A UCR & masking unit 706 generates a CMYK signal from the CMY signal subjected to moire removal processing by UCR processing, and corrects it to a signal suitable for the output of the printer by subsequent masking processing. The signal processed by the UCR & masking unit 706 is subjected to density adjustment by the γ correction unit 707 and then converted to 4/2 / 1-bit gradation by the halftone unit 708.

<Description of Image Processing Unit>
Next, the image processing unit 157 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image processing unit 157.

  The image processing unit 157 is a module (an image compression unit 802, an image expansion unit 803, an image rotation unit 804, an image compression unit, an image compression unit 802, an image expansion unit 803, an image rotation unit 804, an image compression unit, an image compression unit, an image expansion unit 803, an image rotation unit 804, an image A scaling unit 805, a color space conversion unit 806, a lookup table (LUT) 807, an image binarization unit 808, an image binary multi-value conversion unit 809, and an image composition unit 810) are included. The memory 158 is used as a temporary work area for each module via the memory controller 811. A work area is statically assigned to each module in advance so that the work area of the memory 158 used by each module does not compete.

  The image processing unit 157 is connected to the main controller 111 via the high-speed bus 150, and data transfer to and from the memory 121 is controlled by the bus controller 114 on the main controller 111 and is DMA-transferred.

  The bus controller 801 performs control for setting a mode or the like for each module of the image processing unit 157 and timing control for transferring image data to each module.

<Overview of the operation unit>
Next, an outline of the operation unit 180 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the operation unit 180.

  The LCD display unit 3001 has a touch panel sheet pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen, and transmits position information to the CPU 137 when a displayed key is pressed. A start key 3002 is used to start a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key 3002, there is a two-color LED of green and red, which indicates whether or not the start key can be used. A stop key 3003 performs a function of stopping an operation in operation. An ID key 3004 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 3005 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit 180.

  Next, a configuration example of a display screen on the LCD display unit 3001 of the operation unit 180 will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a display screen on the LCD display unit 3001.

  The functions that the image input / output system 100 can provide can be divided into six major categories: Copy / Send / Retrieve / Tasks / Management / Configuration. In the LCD display unit 3001, main tabs of COPY / SEND / RETREIVE / TASKS / MGMT / CONFIG 3011-3016 corresponding to these functions are displayed. By pressing these main tabs 3011 to 3016, switching to the function setting screen for each category is performed. If switching to another category is not permitted, the display color of the main tab changes, and pressing the main tab does not respond.

  Copy uses a function for copying an image on a normal document sheet using the reader device 200 and the printer device 300 of the own device, and uses the reader device 200 of the own device and a printer connected via a network. And a function of copying the image on the original paper. The latter function is called a remote copy function.

  “Send” is a function that performs e-mail transfer, remote printer transfer, fax transfer, file transfer (FTP), and database transfer on an image on a document sheet placed on the reader device 200 of its own device. Can specify multiple destinations.

  Retrieve is a function for acquiring an external image and printing it with the printer of the own device. The Internet, e-mail, file transfer and fax can be used as image acquisition means.

  Tasks is a function that automatically processes images sent from the outside such as fax and Internet print, and generates and manages tasks for periodically retrieving.

  Management is a function for managing jobs, address books, bookmarks, images, account information, and the like.

  Configuration is a function for performing settings (network, clock, etc.) regarding the own device.

<Sequence during image output>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image output procedure in the present embodiment. In addition, step S5001-step S5008 in a figure show each step.

  When the user outputs an image to the image input / output system 100, for example, the user performs print settings for the image output job on the host computer 401 (step S5001). The contents of the print settings include the number of copies, the paper size, one side / both sides, page output order, sort output, presence or absence of stapling.

  Subsequently, when the user gives a print instruction to the host computer 401, in step S5002, the driver software installed in the host computer 401 converts the code data to be printed into PDL data.

  Thereafter, in step S5002, the host computer 401 transfers the print setting parameters set in step S5001 and the license information for the image input / output system 100 to the control device 110 of the image input / output system 100. Also, the PDL data is transferred together with the license information.

  The license information is managed, for example, in a RAM in the host computer 401 or an external recording device. Further, the license information in the present embodiment is license information relating to print processing, and is information given to each user. When a user who wants to perform print processing purchases this license and inputs the license information to the host computer 401, the host computer 401 manages the license information. In step S5002, when PDL data is transferred from the host computer, license information is also transferred to the image input / output system 100.

  In step S5003, the control device 110 authenticates the license information added to the print job transferred from the host computer 401. Then, the license information added to the print job is specified, and it is determined whether to perform printing.

  The license information is included in the PDL data in the print job transferred from the host computer 401, for example, as shown in FIG. The control device 110 determines whether or not to perform printing based on this license information. If it is determined that printing is to be performed, the control device 110 proceeds to step S5004. If the license information is not included or if the license information is invalid, the printing process ends.

  The license authentication may be determined by holding the license information in the main controller 111 in the control device 110, or the license information may be authenticated by an external authentication server.

  In step S5004, the main controller 111 develops (rasterizes) the PDL data into image data based on the print setting parameters. The development of the image data is performed on the memory 121.

  In step S5005, the main controller 111 transfers the image data expanded on the memory 121 to the image processing unit 157.

  In step S5006, the image processing unit 157 performs image processing on the transferred image data. At that time, image processing independent of the print setting parameter may be performed. For example, when the paper size specified by the print setting parameter is A4 and the paper feed units 360, 361, and 362 of the printer apparatus 300 have only A4R paper, the image processing unit 157 performs image processing. Rotate 90 degrees. As a result, it is possible to output an image that matches the output paper. When the image processing of the image data is completed, the process proceeds to step S5007.

  In step S5007, the image processing unit 157 transfers the image data after image processing to the main controller 111. The main controller 111 stores the transferred image data on the memory 121.

  In step S5008, the main controller 111 transfers the image data on the memory 121 to the printer device 300 at an appropriate timing while controlling the printer device 300 via the printer image processing unit 151, the delay processing unit 161, and the connector 181. To do.

  In step S5009, the control device 110 controls the printer device 300 to print out image data. When the transfer of the image data is finished, the print output is finished.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not to execute the print process requested by the corresponding user is switched according to the authentication result of the license information transferred from the host computer 401. In other words, in the present embodiment, print processing is permitted for a user who has purchased a corresponding license for which print processing is to be performed, and print processing is prohibited for users who are not. As described above, in this embodiment, if only a user who wants to perform print processing purchases the license, the user can perform print processing. Therefore, the license cost for the user is sufficient, and the cost required for purchasing the license. Can be kept low.

  In addition to the image input / output system 100, it is a matter of course that the license information can be authenticated by any apparatus that can execute the processing shown in FIG. That is, if a plurality of apparatuses capable of executing the processing shown in FIG. 11 including the image input / output system 100 are prepared and are connected to the host computer 401, print processing is performed only for the plurality of apparatuses with only the license information. Can be done. Therefore, once a license is purchased, it is possible to perform print processing for a plurality of units, and the license cost can be kept low.

-Second Embodiment-
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Sequence during image output>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an image output procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, step S6001-step S6016 in a figure show each step. The configuration of the image input / output system 100 according to the present embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS.

  When the user outputs an image to the image input / output system 110, the user performs print settings for the image output job on the host computer 401 (step S6001). The print setting contents include the number of copies, the paper size, one side / both sides, page output order, sort output, presence / absence of stapling, and the like.

  Subsequently, when the user gives a print instruction to the host computer 401, in step S6002, the driver software installed in the host computer 401 converts the code data to be printed into PDL data.

  Thereafter, in step S6002, the host computer 401 transfers the print setting parameters set in step S6001 and license information for the image input / output system 100 to the control device 110 of the image input / output system 100. Also, the PDL data is transferred together with the license information.

  The license information here is license information related to color printing. When the license information is authenticated by the control device 110, color printing is permitted. If the license information is not authenticated, color printing is impossible. The license information in the present embodiment is also managed for example in the RAM in the host computer 401 or in the external recording device, and is information given to each user. When a user who wants to perform color printing purchases this license and inputs the license information to the host computer 401, the host computer 401 manages the license information. In step S6002, when the PDL data is transferred from the host computer, the license information is also transferred to the image input / output system 100.

  In step S6003, the control device 110 authenticates the license information added to the print job transferred from the host computer 401, and determines whether color printing is permitted.

  The license information is included in the PDL data transferred from the host computer 401 as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

  If the license information is not authenticated in step S6003, the control device 110 sets the authentication flag to “0” in step S6004, and if authenticated, sets the authentication flag to “1” in step S6005.

  In step S6006, the control device 110 determines whether the print document is color or black and white. If the print document is a black and white document, the color flag is set to “0” in step S6007, and if it is determined to be a color document, the color flag is determined in step S6008. Is "1". Note that when the host computer 401 creates a print job, the identification information indicating whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document is incorporated in the PDL data and transferred. Therefore, the control information 110 uses this identification information. Whether the color original is a black and white original is identified.

  The license authentication may be determined by holding the license information in the main controller 111 in the control device 110, or the license information may be authenticated by an external authentication server.

  In step S6009, the main controller 111 develops (rasterizes) the PDL data into image data based on the print setting parameters. The development of the image data is performed on the memory 121.

  In step S6010, the main controller 111 determines based on the color flag and the authentication flag whether the document is a color document and the license information is not authenticated.

  If it is a color original and it is determined that the license information is not authenticated (step S6010 / YES), the process proceeds to step S6014. On the other hand, if the determination result is other than that, the process proceeds to step S6011.

  In step S6014, the main controller 111 transfers the image data expanded in the memory 121 to the image processing unit 157.

  In step S6015, the image processing unit 157 performs image processing on the transferred image data. In this case, since the license information related to color printing has not been authenticated, even if the transferred image data is for a color document, the image processing unit 157 converts the color document image data into a monochrome image. Convert to data.

  In step S6015, image processing independent of the print setting parameter may be performed. For example, when the paper size specified by the print setting parameter is A4 and the paper feed units 360, 361, and 362 of the printer apparatus 300 have only A4R paper, the image processing unit 157 performs image processing. Rotate 90 degrees. As a result, it is possible to output an image that matches the output paper.

  In step S <b> 6016, the image processing unit 157 transfers the image data after the image processing to the main controller 111. The main controller 111 stores the transferred image data on the memory 121.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds from step S6010 to step S6011, first, in step S6011, the main controller 111 transfers the image data expanded in the memory 121 to the image processing unit 157.

In step S6012, the image processing unit 157 performs image processing on the transferred image data. In this case, the following three types of image processing can be considered from the combination of the color flag and the authentication flag.
1. When the color flag is “1” and the authentication flag is “1”, image processing along the image data of the color original is performed.
2. When the color flag is “0” and the authentication flag is “0”, image processing is performed along with the image data of the monochrome document.
3. When the color flag is “0” and the authentication flag is “1”, image processing along with the image data of the black and white original is performed.

  Of course, in step S6012, as in step S6015, image processing independent of the print setting parameters may be performed.

  In step S <b> 6013, the image processing unit 157 transfers the image data after image processing to the main controller 111. The main controller 111 stores the transferred image data on the memory 121.

  In step S6017, the main controller 111 controls the printer device 300 via the printer image processing unit 151, the delay processing unit 161, and the connector 181 and transfers the image data on the memory 121 to the printer device 300 at an appropriate timing. And forward.

  In step S6018, the control device 110 controls the printer device 300 to print out the image data. When the transfer of the image data is completed, it is determined in step S6019 whether all the printing processes related to the print job are completed. If it is determined that the print processing related to the print job remains, the sequence is repeated from step S6006. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the printing processes related to the print job have been completed, the printing process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not to execute the color printing process requested by the corresponding user is switched according to the authentication result of the license information transferred from the host computer 401. In other words, in the present embodiment, color printing is permitted for a user who has purchased a corresponding license for which color printing processing is desired, and color printing processing is prohibited for other users, and switching to monochrome printing is performed. As described above, in this embodiment, if only a user who wants to perform color printing purchases the license, the user can perform color printing. Therefore, the license cost for the user is sufficient, and the cost required for purchasing the license. Can be kept low.

  In addition to the image input / output system 100, it is needless to say that the license information can be authenticated by any apparatus capable of executing the processing shown in FIG. That is, if a plurality of apparatuses capable of executing the processing shown in FIG. 12 including the image input / output system 100 are prepared and connected to the host computer 401, color printing processing is performed for a plurality of apparatuses only with the license information. Can be performed. Therefore, once a license is purchased, color printing processing for a plurality of units can be performed, and the license cost can be kept low.

  In the above-described embodiment, the license authentication for the printing process and the color printing process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other various functions such as the functions of “Copy”, “Send”, “Retrieve”, “Tasks”, and “Management / Configuration”.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is described that the license information is transferred from the host computers 401 and 402 to the image input / output system 100. However, the user can use his / her license in the operation unit 180 of the image input / output system 100. You may enter the information directly.

  The user may be a single unit or a group unit composed of a plurality of people.

  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 such as the system reads and executes the program codes from the storage medium. Is also achieved.

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

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition, the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing by an OS or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code read by the computer. It is.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the above-described processing is performed. The case where the functions of the embodiment are realized is also included.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of a reader apparatus and a printer apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a control apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a reader image processing circuit part. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print job transferred from a host computer. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the part which bears a scanner image processing part. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of printer image processing. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of an image process part. It is a figure which shows the structure of an operation part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the display screen in a LCD display part. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the PDL image output in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the PDL image output in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image Input / Output System 110 Controller 111 Main Controller 112 Main CPU
113 Sub CPU
114 Bus controller 115 Serial communication controller 116 Rendering unit 117 Serial bus controller 121 Memory 122, 123 Connector 130 General-purpose high-speed bus 131 HD controller 132 Hard disk drive 133 Codec 134 SRAM
135 Expansion Connector 136 I / O Control Controller 137 CPU
138 Port control unit 139 Memory 140 Network controller 141 SRAM
142 Boot ROM
143 Real-time clock module 144 Back-up battery 145 Operation unit I / F
146 Modem 147 External network 148 Fan 149 Public line 150 High-speed bus 151 Printer image processing unit 153 Scanner image processing unit 154 Memory 155 FIFO
157 Image processing unit 158 Memory 161 Delay processing unit 162 Memory 171 and 172 Serial bus 173 and 174 Video I / F
174 Scanner bus 182 Connector 180 Operation unit 181 Connector 191 Data bus 200 Reader device 210 Scanner unit 250 Document feed unit 300 Printer device 310 Marking unit 360 Paper feed unit 370 Paper discharge unit 400 Network (LAN)
401, 402 Host computer

Claims (12)

An input means for inputting a print job with license information added thereto;
Specifying means for specifying the license information added to the print job input by the input means;
Authentication means for authenticating the license information specified by the specifying means;
A data processing apparatus comprising: a data processing unit that switches and executes data processing on target data according to an authentication result by the authentication unit.   The said input means inputs the said data transmitted from the external device connected via the communication line with the said data processing apparatus, The said data contains the said license information, The said data is characterized by the above-mentioned. Data processing device.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit switches and executes print processing of the data according to the authentication result.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data processing unit further switches and executes the print processing of the data according to the type of the data.   The data processing means converts the data into black-and-white image data when the data is color image data and the authentication means cannot obtain authentication for color image data print processing. The data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:   6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the license information is information given to each user. A license information management device connected to an external device via a communication line,
A management means for managing license information;
The external apparatus that identifies the license information added to the print job for the print job to which the license information is added, authenticates the identified license information, and switches data processing for the data according to the authentication result A license information management apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit to the license information.   A data processing system comprising: the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and the license information management device according to claim 7. A data processing method by a data processing apparatus,
An input step for inputting a print job with license information added thereto;
A specifying step of specifying the license information added to the print job input in the input step;
An authentication step of authenticating the license information identified by the identifying step;
A data processing method comprising: a data processing step of switching and executing data processing on target data according to an authentication result of the authentication step. A data processing method by a license information management device connected to an external device via a communication line,
For the print job to which the license information managed by the management means of the license information management apparatus is added, the license information added to the print job is specified, the specified license information is authenticated, and the authentication result A data processing method comprising: a transmission step of transmitting to the external device that switches data processing for the data in response.   A program for causing a computer to execute the data processing method according to claim 9 or 10.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11.

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