JP2008287601A - Data processor, image processing system and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system structured to prevent the print job of another data processor from being inserted into a plurality of print jobs to be continuously output by a certain data processor even when a plurality of data processors are connected to one image output device. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of print jobs generated by a data processor 101 or the like are synthesized into one, and transmitted to an image output device 200. Thus, even when a plurality of data processors 101, 102 and so on are connected to one image output device 200, the print job of another data processor 102 can be prevented from being inserted into a plurality of print jobs to be continuously output by a certain data processor 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus that generates job data from electronic data and transmits the job data to an image output apparatus, an image processing system including such a data processing apparatus and an image output apparatus, and a computer program for the data processing apparatus.

  Currently, there is an image processing system having a structure in which a data processing apparatus including a so-called personal computer is connected to an image output apparatus including a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) via a communication network.

  In such an image processing system, electronic data held in the data processing apparatus can be transmitted to the image output apparatus via a communication network and output in the form of print output or facsimile transmission.

  More specifically, the data processing apparatus has a data storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and holds various types of electronic data. As such a data format, for example, there is an XPS (XML Paper Specification) format which is one of XML (Extensible Markup Language) formats. The XPS format electronic data corresponds to, for example, vector format document data compressed into the ZIP format.

  When electronic data such as the XPS format is printed out by the image processing system, first, electronic data stored in the data processing apparatus is read and decompressed into a vector format.

  Next, the vector format electronic data is rasterized into a raster format by a data processing device. The raster-format electronic data is converted into a print job, which is job data, by the data processing apparatus, and then transmitted to the MFP or printer apparatus.

  In the print job, for example, the paper size and the number of copies are included together with the electronic data in the raster format. Therefore, in an MFP or the like, electronic data is printed out corresponding to various data included in the print job.

  Similarly, when electronic data in the XPS format or the like is transmitted by facsimile in the image processing system, for example, the electronic data is expanded into a vector format by a data processing apparatus and then rasterized into a raster format.

  The raster-format electronic data is converted into a facsimile job as job data by the data processing apparatus and then transmitted to the MFP or facsimile apparatus. In the MFP or the like, raster format electronic data included in a facsimile job is encoded into a facsimile format and then transmitted by facsimile.

  Note that decompression, rasterization, and job generation of XPS format electronic data in the data processing apparatus as described above are performed by, for example, a printer driver that is application software installed in each data output apparatus such as an MFP in the data processing apparatus. It is executed by a facsimile driver.

  Note that the rasterizing function as described above may be implemented in an image output apparatus such as an MFP. In such a case, the rasterizing function is not installed in the printer driver or facsimile driver for the image output apparatus.

  Currently, there are various proposals for the image processing system as described above. For example, there is a proposal to prevent the intermittent operation by transferring a print job output from a data processing apparatus to a printer apparatus after a predetermined number of pages are collected by a management apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In addition, there is a proposal that makes it easy to sort print results by replacing a print job output by a data processing device so that it is output for each data processing device by a management device and then transferring it to a printer device (for example, (See Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-310725 A JP 2003-288188 A

  In the image processing system as described above, the data processing apparatus generates a print job or the like for each electronic data. For this reason, when a plurality of data processing devices are connected to one image output device, even if a certain data processing device continuously transmits a plurality of print jobs to the image output device, there is another data processing device there. Print jobs may be inserted.

  In such a case, it is necessary to manually separate the print results for each data processing apparatus. For example, the above-described problem can be solved in the image processing system of Patent Document 2 described above.

  However, in the image processing system of Patent Document 2, print jobs output from a plurality of data processing apparatuses are stored in the management apparatus and then transferred to the printer apparatus. For this reason, the print job output from the data processing apparatus cannot be quickly printed out by the printer apparatus. Furthermore, a management device is required separately from the data processing device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and even when a plurality of data processing devices are connected to a single image output device, a plurality of data processing devices continuously output a plurality of data processing devices. Data processing apparatus capable of preventing separation of output results in which job data of other data processing apparatus is inserted into job data, image processing system including such data processing apparatus and image output apparatus, and data processing apparatus A computer program for

  A data processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus that generates job data from electronic data and transmits the job data to an image output apparatus, an output instruction unit that receives an input operation of an output instruction for the electronic data, and job data from the electronic data A job generation unit that generates job data, a job transmission unit that transmits job data to the image output device, a job synthesis unit that combines a plurality of job data into one post-combination job data, and an output instruction input operation by the output instruction unit And a control unit that causes the job generation unit to generate job data, and causes the job combination unit to combine a plurality of job data, and then transmits the combined job data to the job transmission unit.

  Therefore, in the data processing apparatus of the present invention, an input instruction for an output instruction for electronic data is accepted, job data is generated from the electronic data, and the electronic data is output to the image output apparatus by transmitting it to the image output apparatus. it can. However, a plurality of job data generated continuously by the data processing apparatus can be combined into one and transmitted to the image output apparatus. For this reason, even when a plurality of data processing devices are connected to one image output device, job data of another data processing device is inserted into a plurality of job data continuously output by one data processing device. Can be prevented.

  An image processing system according to the present invention is an image processing system including a data processing device and an image output device. The data processing device includes an output instruction unit that receives an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data, and job data from the electronic data. A job generation unit that generates job data, a job transmission unit that transmits job data to the image output device, a job synthesis unit that combines a plurality of job data into one post-combination job data, and an output instruction input operation by the output instruction unit A control unit that causes the job generation unit to generate job data, and causes the job combination unit to combine a plurality of job data, and then transmits the combined job data to the job transmission unit. The output device outputs (prints out) the combined job data received from the data processing device as one job data (others) Outputs with no interrupted by the job data) having a data output section.

  A computer program of the present invention is a computer program for a data processing device that generates job data from electronic data and transmits the job data to an image output device, an output instruction receiving process for receiving an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data, Job generation processing for generating job data from electronic data, job transmission processing for transmitting job data to an image output device, job composition processing for combining a plurality of job data into one composite job data, and output instruction reception processing Control processing for generating job data by job generation processing, combining a plurality of job data by job combination processing, and transmitting the combined job data by job transmission processing when an input instruction input operation is received by Are executed by the data processing device.

  The various constituent elements of the present invention need only be formed so as to realize their functions. For example, dedicated hardware that exhibits a predetermined function, and a computer device provided with a predetermined function by a computer program It can be realized as a predetermined function realized in a computer apparatus by a computer program, any combination thereof, or the like.

  In addition, the various components of the present invention do not have to be individually independent, a plurality of components are formed as a single member, and a single component is formed of a plurality of members. It may be that a certain component is a part of another component, a part of a certain component overlaps a part of another component, and the like.

  In the data processing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of continuously generated job data can be combined and transmitted to the image output apparatus. For this reason, even when a plurality of data processing devices are connected to one image output device, job data of another data processing device is inserted into a plurality of job data continuously output by one data processing device. Can be prevented. Therefore, the work of manually sorting the output result of the image output apparatus for each data processing apparatus can be made unnecessary.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the image processing system 1000 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, data processing apparatuses 101, 102,... That generate and transmit print jobs that are job data based on electronic data to be held, and print jobs A network printer 200 that outputs received electronic data is connected to a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The data processing apparatus 101 or the like according to the present embodiment includes a data holding unit 110 that holds electronic data, an output instruction unit (not shown) that accepts an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data, and electronic data to the network printer 200. A job generation unit 120 that generates a print job to be output, a job transmission unit 130 that transmits the generated print job to the network printer 200, and a plurality of print jobs that are continuously generated by the job generation unit 120 are combined into one. When an output instruction input operation is accepted by the job composition unit 140 and the output instruction unit, the job generation unit 120 generates a print job, and the job composition unit 140 combines a plurality of print jobs, and then combines them. A control unit (not shown) for sending a post-print job to the job transmission unit 130; Respectively.

  When the control unit receives an output instruction input operation from the output instruction unit, the control unit causes the job transmission unit 130 to wait for transmission of a print job (without immediate transmission by the job transmission unit 130), and generates a job during standby. One or a plurality of print jobs generated by the unit 120 are combined with a standby print job by the job combining unit 140.

  The control unit causes the job transmission unit 130 of a waiting print job to transmit when a predetermined transmission standby time has elapsed or when a predetermined transmission execution time has been reached.

  Further, the data processing devices 101, 102,... Further include a time input unit 141 that accepts an input operation of a transmission standby time, and a time setting unit 142 that sets the input transmission standby time in the control unit.

  Further, the data processing devices 101, 102,... Further include a transmission instruction unit 143 that is an immediate transmission instruction unit that accepts an input operation of an immediate transmission instruction. When the input operation of the immediate transmission instruction is accepted when there is a print job and a post-combination print job), the job transmission unit 130 is immediately transmitted with the standby print job.

  Further, the data processing devices 101, 102,... Include a display device 150, an operation device 160 that accepts various input operations, an output device icon PI corresponding to the image output device 200, and a data icon DI individually corresponding to electronic data. Is displayed on the display device 150, and the output instruction unit drags and drops the data icon DI to the output device icon PI with the mouse cursor MC by the input operation of the operation device 160. In this case, it is determined that there has been an input operation of an output instruction for the electronic data corresponding to the data icon DI.

  More specifically, each of the data processing devices 101, 102,... Is a so-called computer device, and a computer unit (not shown) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. ), A storage device (not shown) such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), a display device 150 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays and outputs various image data on a display screen, and a keyboard and mouse that accept various input operations Hardware such as an operation device 160 such as a data device (not shown) such as a CD (Compact Disc) drive, a communication device (not shown) that performs data communication with the network printer 200 or the like via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like Have as.

  Various data processing apparatuses 101, 102,... Are installed with various computer programs. By executing various processing operations corresponding to the installed computer program, the above-described units are logically mounted as various functions.

  For example, the data holding unit 110 corresponds to a storage area or the like constructed in the HDD so that the computer unit recognizes in correspondence with the computer program. The job transmission unit 130 corresponds to a function of causing the communication unit to execute data transmission in response to the computer program by the computer unit.

  The job generating unit 120 and the job synthesizing unit 140 correspond to a function for the computer unit to execute a predetermined processing operation corresponding to a computer program of application software corresponding to a conventional printer driver.

  When the computer unit executes a predetermined processing operation corresponding to the computer program as described above, a printer icon PI which is an output device icon corresponding to the network printer 200 and a data icon DI corresponding to each electronic data are obtained. It further has an icon display unit 170 that causes the display device 150 to display and output.

  Therefore, when the data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI by the input operation of the operation device 160, the job generation unit 120 generates a print job including the corresponding electronic data.

  The data holding unit 110 holds XPS format electronic data, which is an XML format, as at least a part of various types of electronic data. Then, the job generation unit 120 generates a print job including electronic data in the XPS format in response to the drag and drop described above.

  The control unit waits for the job transmission unit 130 to transmit the print job generated by the job generation unit 120 as described above, and the job composition unit 140 waits for the job transmission unit 130 to wait. The multiple print jobs generated in step 1 are combined into one.

  More specifically, the control unit causes the job transmission unit 130 to wait for transmission of the print job generated by the job generation unit 120, and the job composition unit 140 displays a plurality of print jobs generated until the standby is completed. When the predetermined transmission standby time elapses, the job transmission unit 130 is caused to transmit the combined print job.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network printer 200 according to the present embodiment prints and outputs the combined print job received from the data processing apparatus 101 or the like as one print job (in a state where no interruption is caused by another print job). Output) data output unit 230.

  The network printer 200 receives a print job including XPS format electronic data, and raster conversion for rasterizing the XML format electronic data included in the print job received by the data reception unit into a raster format. The data output unit 230 outputs raster-format electronic data rasterized by the raster conversion unit 220.

  The data input by the time input unit 141 and the transmission instruction unit 143 described above may be executed by the operation device 160 described above, for example. As will be described in detail later, the XPS format electronic data is expanded into a vector format and then rasterized into a raster format.

  For this reason, the electronic data held in the XPS format in the data holding unit 110 is expanded into a vector format and then included in the print job. For this reason, the image output apparatus 200 actually receives a print job containing vector-format electronic data and executes a print operation.

  A computer program for implementing the above-described units 110 as various functions in the data processing devices 101, 102,... Is, for example, an output instruction receiving process for receiving an input instruction for an output instruction for electronic data, and printing from electronic data. Job generation processing for generating a job, job transmission processing for transmitting a print job to the image output apparatus 200, job combination processing for combining a plurality of print jobs into one combined print job, and output instruction reception processing If the input operation is received, a print job is generated by the job generation process, a plurality of print jobs are combined by the job combination process, and a control process for transmitting the combined print job by the job transmission process Execute to processing devices 101, 102, ... It is described so as to.

  As described above, the computer program for realizing the units 110 to the data processing apparatuses 101, 102,... Is actually realized by a combination of a so-called OS and application software.

  Therefore, for example, the data holding unit 110 may be realized by a function of a single OS, and the icon display unit 170 and the like may be realized by a function in which application software and the OS cooperate.

  In this case, the printer icon PI may be displayed and output by a function in which application software and the OS cooperate, and the data icon DI may be displayed and output by a function of the OS alone.

  In the following, for simplicity of explanation, application software corresponding to this printer driver is called a printer agent. However, this designation is for convenience only and does not matter even if there is an existing function or product named printer agent.

  In the image processing system 1000 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, a plurality of data processing devices 101, 102,... And one network printer 200 are connected via a communication network. For this reason, the network printer 200 can print out the electronic data corresponding to the print jobs transmitted individually by the plurality of data processing devices 101, 102,.

  More specifically, in the data processing apparatus 101 in which the printer agent is installed as a computer program as described above, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, one printer icon PI corresponding to the network printer 200 is provided. A display is output on the display device 150 (step S1).

  In this state, an operator who wants to print out the electronic data in the XPS format, for example, displays and outputs a desired document window DW on the display screen of the display device 150, and displays the document window DW in the desired document window DW as shown in FIG. A data icon DI of desired electronic data included is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that detects this (step S2), the electronic data in the XPS format corresponding to the data icon DI dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI is read (step S3). ). Next, after the electronic data is expanded into a vector format, a print job is generated (step S4).

  However, this print job is not immediately transmitted to the network printer 200, and as shown in FIG. 3, a transmission menu is displayed as a balloon on the printer icon PI (step S5).

  In this transmission menu, there are “manual transmission” and “standby transmission”. As shown in FIG. 3A, “standby transmission” is selected by default in the initial state, and “manual transmission” is darkened. In addition, submenus “until transmission xx / xx sec”, “immediate transmission”, and “cancel” are displayed as balloons in “standby transmission”.

  At this time, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like, the standby time set in advance is read (step S6) and counted down (step S7). At this time, the standby time and the remaining time are displayed and output as “until transmission xx / xxx sec” in the above-mentioned submenu. When the standby time elapses (step S8), as shown in FIG. 5, the above-described print job is transmitted to the network printer 200 (step S21).

  Therefore, in the network printer 200 that has received this print job, the vector format electronic data included in the print job is converted into the raster format by the raster conversion unit 220 and then printed out by the data output unit 230.

  For this reason, when the operator drags and drops the data icon DI of desired electronic data onto the printer icon PI, the electronic data is automatically transmitted to the network printer 200 and printed out after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed.

  If the operator who dragged and dropped one data icon DI to the printer icon PI as described above wants to immediately print out the one electronic data, “immediate transmission” is selected from the “standby transmission” submenu. Select the operation.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that detects this (step S12), the above-described print job is also transmitted to the network printer 200 (step S21). Therefore, as in the past, one piece of electronic data can be quickly transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 or the like to the network printer 200 for printing.

  On the other hand, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like according to the present embodiment, one electronic data print job is transmitted to the network printer 200 as described above, and a plurality of electronic data print jobs are combined into one. To the network printer 200.

  In this case, as described above, when the first data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI and the waiting time is counted down (steps S2 to S8), the operator can select the second and subsequent data as desired. The data icon DI is also dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI.

  Then, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that detects this (step S9), the electronic data in the XPS format corresponding to the data icon DI is read (step S10). Next, after the electronic data is expanded into the vector format, a print job is generated, and a plurality of print jobs generated thereby are combined into one (step S11).

  As described above, for the data icon DI dragged and dropped before the waiting time times out, one print job is generated with the plurality of electronic data (steps S7 to S11).

  Therefore, when the waiting time times out (step S8), the print job combined into one is transmitted to the network printer 200 (step S21).

  Therefore, in the network printer 200 that has received this print job, the vector format electronic data included in the print job is converted into the raster format by the raster conversion unit 220 and then printed out by the data output unit 230.

  At this time, since a plurality of electronic data is actually printed out as one print job, a print result by another data processing apparatus 102 or the like is not inserted into the print result of the plurality of electronic data.

  Further, as described above, if the operator drags and drops the desired data icon DI of a plurality of electronic data to the printer icon PI, the plurality of electronic data is automatically transmitted to the network printer 200 after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed. And printed out.

  As described above, if the worker who has completed the drag and drop of the plurality of data icons DI before the waiting time has timed out (steps S7 to S11) and wants to immediately print out the plurality of electronic data, “ Select "Immediate transmission" from the "Standby transmission" submenu.

  Then, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that detects this (step S12), the combined print job is transmitted to the network printer 200 (step S21).

  For this reason, as described above, a plurality of electronic data can be printed out from the network printer 200 as one print job by the data processing apparatus 101 or the like immediately after the completion of the drag-and-drop operation.

  Since the waiting time and remaining time counted down are displayed and output in real time as described above, it is easy to confirm them. However, there is still a possibility that the drag and drop of the data icon DI of electronic data to be continuously printed will not be in time.

  Therefore, in such a case, the operator selects and operates “manual transmission” from the transmission menu displayed in a balloon on the printer icon PI as desired. Then, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that has detected this (step S14), the operation mode is switched from “standby transmission” to “manual transmission”, so the countdown of the standby time is stopped.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, “standby transmission” is darkened, and submenus “immediate transmission” and “cancel” are displayed as balloons in the selected “manual transmission”. In this state, the operator drags and drops the second and subsequent data icons DI onto the printer icon PI as desired.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like that detects this (step S15), the electronic data in the XPS format corresponding to the data icon DI is read (step S16).

  Next, a print job is generated after the electronic data is expanded into the vector format, and the plurality of print jobs generated thereby are combined into one (step S17). The print job generated in this way is not transmitted until “immediate transmission” in the submenu is manually operated (step S19).

  Therefore, when an operator who has completed the drag-and-drop operation of a plurality of desired data icons DI manually operates “immediate transmission” in the submenu, the combined print job is transmitted to the network printer 200 (step S21). ).

  Therefore, as described above, the operator can manually operate a plurality of pieces of electronic data as a single print job from the network printer 200 as desired.

  As described above, when “cancel” is selected from the submenu of “standby transmission” and “manual transmission” (steps S13 and S20), the generated print job is discarded and the data processing apparatus 101 or the like Return to the initial state.

  Further, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like of the present embodiment switches the operation mode by selecting and operating “standby transmission” even when “manual transmission” is selected and operated as described above (steps S14 to S20). (Step S18).

  Further, in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like of the present embodiment, for example, by double-clicking the printer icon PI, a printer agent setting screen is displayed and output (not shown). In that case, the standby time for standby transmission can be changed and registered as desired, and the default selection between “standby transmission” and “manual transmission” can also be changed.

  In the image processing system 1000 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of print jobs generated by the data processing apparatus 101 or the like can be combined into one and transmitted to the network printer 200 as described above.

  Therefore, even if a plurality of data processing devices 101, 102,... Are connected to one network printer 200, a print of another data processing device 102 is printed on a plurality of print jobs that are continuously output from one data processing device 101. The job is never inserted. Therefore, the work of manually separating the print results of the network printer 200 for each of the data processing apparatuses 101, 102,.

  In addition, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like according to the present embodiment waits for the transmission of the generated print job, and combines the plurality of print jobs generated while waiting. For this reason, if the operator designates a plurality of electronic data in order using the data processing apparatus 101 or the like, the plurality of electronic data can be continuously printed by the network printer 200.

  In particular, the data processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment waits for transmission of the generated print job, and transmits the print job when a predetermined transmission standby time elapses. Therefore, a print job is automatically transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 or the like and printed out by the network printer 200 even if an operator who sequentially specifies a plurality of electronic data does nothing.

  In addition, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like according to the present embodiment accepts an input operation for the transmission standby time, and sets the transmission standby time for which the input operation has been performed. For this reason, the operator can set a desired transmission waiting time.

  Furthermore, the data processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment accepts an input operation for an immediate transmission instruction when a print job transmission is waiting, and immediately transmits a print job when the immediate transmission instruction is input. .

  For this reason, as described above, a plurality of electronic data can be printed out from the network printer 200 as one print job by the data processing apparatus 101 or the like immediately after the operation is completed. Further, as in the past, one piece of electronic data can be quickly transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 or the like to the network printer 200 for printing.

  In addition, a print job composed of a plurality of electronic data can be prevented from being transmitted until an input operation for an immediate transmission instruction. For this reason, it is possible to manually operate a plurality of electronic data to be printed out from the network printer 200 as a single print job by the data processing apparatus 101 or the like.

  In particular, it is possible to switch between “standby transmission” and “manual transmission” as described above and to input “immediate transmission” even when one of them is selected and operated. It can respond to various requests.

  Further, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like generates a print job including electronic data corresponding to the data icon DI dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI. For this reason, continuous printing of a plurality of electronic data can be executed by a simple operation.

  Moreover, the electronic data in which the print job is generated by drag and drop as described above is in the XPS format. In the XPS format, print settings such as the number of copies, print pages, and print paper can be included in electronic data.

  Therefore, even if one print job is generated with a plurality of electronic data in the XPS format as described above, the print settings for each electronic data can be reflected in the print result.

  The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are allowed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, it is exemplified that each unit such as the data processing apparatus 101 is logically realized as various functions by installing software in the computer apparatus.

  However, each unit of the data processing apparatus 101 or the like may be formed by hardware such as a dedicated logic circuit, or may be partly formed by hardware and partly realized by software.

  In the above embodiment, the network printer 200 is exemplified as the image output apparatus. However, this image output apparatus may be a facsimile machine or an MFP (not shown). For example, in the case of a facsimile machine, the facsimile machine is encoded with a raster conversion unit that rasterizes vector-format electronic data into a raster format, and a data encoding unit that encodes raster-format electronic data into a facsimile format. And a facsimile transmission unit for facsimile transmission of electronic data (not shown).

  When the image output device is a facsimile device, for example, when a certain worker transmits a plurality of electronic data to a single destination at a time, a series of facsimile transmissions of the plurality of electronic data is transferred to other facsimile transmissions. It can prevent being divided into a plurality by insertion.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like decompresses the XPS format electronic data to the vector format and transmits it to the network printer 200, and the network printer 200 rasterizes the vector format electronic data into the raster format and prints it out. Exemplified what to do.

  However, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like may transmit the electronic data to the network printer 200 in the XPS format, and the network printer 200 may rasterize the electronic data into a vector format and then rasterize it into a raster format and print it out. (Not shown).

  Further, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like decompresses the electronic data in the XPS format into the vector format and rasterizes it into the raster format, and then transmits it to the network printer 200. The network printer 200 prints out the electronic data in the raster format. It is good (not shown).

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the image processing system 1000 having a structure in which the network printer 200 that receives the electronic data in the XPS format and prints it out is connected to the data processing apparatus 101 or the like.

  However, the image processing system 1000 may further include a network printer (not shown) that does not print out even when vector format electronic data is received. For example, the network printer prints out the electronic data received in the raster format.

  In this case, the data processing apparatus 101 or the like is also provided with a dedicated printer driver (not shown) that also rasterizes the XPS format electronic data into a raster format and then transmits it to the network printer.

  The data processing apparatus 101 or the like converts the XPS format electronic data into a raster format and transmits it to a network printer that receives and prints out the raster format electronic data by a printer driver dedicated to the network printer. .

  In the above embodiment, one printer icon PI is displayed and output corresponding to one printer agent installed in the data processing apparatus 101 or the like, and a data icon DI of electronic data in XPS format is dragged and dropped there. It was exemplified that a plurality of transmission menus are sometimes displayed and output.

  However, the default selection transmission menu may be automatically executed in response to drag and drop, and the transmission menu may be displayed and output by double-clicking or right-clicking the printer icon PI (not shown). Further, the data processing apparatus may be configured to execute only one of “standby transmission” and “manual transmission” (not shown).

  Further, in the above embodiment, there are three types of transmission methods such as “standby transmission”, “manual transmission”, and “immediate transmission” as the transmission method of the data processing apparatus 101 or the like. However, as such a transmission method, there may be “periodic transmission” in which transmission is executed every predetermined period.

  In this case, transmission of the generated print job by the job transmission unit is waited, a plurality of print jobs generated until the standby is completed are combined into one, and the print job is transmitted at a predetermined transmission execution time. That's fine. In this case, the time input unit may accept an input operation of the transmission execution time, and the time setting unit may set the input transmission operation time in the control unit.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as the “standby transmission” processing operation of the data processing apparatus 101 or the like, when a predetermined standby time elapses after the first data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI, the print job is synthesized and transmitted. It is exemplified that is executed.

  However, the standby time may be reset each time the data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI. In this case, even if the standby time is set to a short time, it is easy to combine a large number of print jobs into one.

  In addition, for example, a plurality of printer icons corresponding to individual transmission menus such as “standby transmission”, “manual transmission”, and “immediate transmission” are displayed and output on a data processing apparatus in which one printer agent is installed. A corresponding processing operation may be executed when the data icon DI is dragged and dropped (not shown).

  Furthermore, when the data icon DI is dragged and dropped from the upper side to one printer icon PI, “standby transmission” is executed. When the data icon DI is dragged and dropped from the lower side, “manual transmission” is executed and dragged from the left side. “Immediate transmission” may be executed when it is dropped and dropped (not shown).

  In the above embodiment, the print job is generated and combined each time the data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI. However, a plurality of electronic data specified by drag and drop may be accepted, and one print job may be generated and transmitted at a predetermined timing.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a print job is generated and the transmission is waited when the data icon DI is dragged and dropped onto the printer icon PI, thereby generating one print job with a plurality of electronic data.

  However, when a plurality of data icons DI are simultaneously dragged and dropped onto one printer icon PI, one print job may be generated and transmitted with a plurality of corresponding electronic data. In this case, one print job composed of a plurality of electronic data can be immediately generated and printed out.

It is a typical block diagram which shows the logical structure of the image processing system of embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing a display screen when a data icon is dragged and dropped onto a printer icon in the data processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing a state in which a transmission menu is displayed in a balloon on a printer icon. It is a flowchart which shows the first half part of the processing operation of a data processor. It is a flowchart which shows a latter half part.

Explanation of symbols

101, 102, data processing apparatus 110 data holding unit 120 job generation unit 130 job transmission unit 140 job composition unit 141 time input unit 142 time setting unit 143 transmission instruction unit 150 display device 160 operation device 170 icon display unit 200 network printer 210 data Reception unit 220 Raster conversion unit 230 Data output unit 1000 Image processing system

Claims (10)

A data processing device that generates job data from electronic data and transmits the job data to an image output device,
An output instruction unit for receiving an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data;
A job generation unit that generates job data from electronic data;
A job transmission unit for transmitting job data to the image output device;
A job composition unit that composes a plurality of job data into one post-composition job data;
When the output instruction unit receives an input operation of the output instruction, the job generation unit generates job data, and the job combination unit combines a plurality of job data, and then combines the combined job data with the job A control unit that causes the transmission unit to transmit;
A data processing apparatus.   The control unit, when receiving an input operation of the output instruction by the output instruction unit, causes the job transmission unit to wait for transmission of job data or post-combination job data, and one or more jobs are generated by the job generation unit during standby. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the job data is generated, the job data is combined with the waiting job data or the combined job data by the job combining unit.   The data processing according to claim 2, wherein the control unit causes the job transmission unit to transmit waiting job data or post-combination job data when a predetermined transmission standby time elapses or when a predetermined transmission execution time is reached. apparatus. A time input unit for receiving an input operation of the transmission standby time or the transmission execution time;
The transmission standby time that has been input, or a time setting unit that sets the transmission execution time in the control unit;
The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: An immediate transmission instruction unit that accepts an input operation of an immediate transmission instruction;
When the control unit receives an input operation of the immediate transmission instruction when there is waiting job data or post-combination job data, the control unit immediately sends the waiting job data or post-combination job data to the job transmission unit. The data processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the data is transmitted. A display device;
An operation device that accepts various input operations;
An icon display unit that causes the display device to display and output an output device icon corresponding to the image output device and a data icon individually corresponding to electronic data;
The output instruction unit determines that there has been an output instruction input operation for electronic data corresponding to a data icon when a data icon is dragged and dropped onto an output device icon by an input operation of the operation device. The data processing device according to any one of the above. The output instruction unit determines that there has been an input operation of an output instruction for a plurality of electronic data corresponding to a plurality of data icons when a plurality of data icons are dragged and dropped onto the output device icon at a time,
The control unit causes the job generation unit to generate a plurality of job data from the plurality of electronic data, when the output instruction unit determines that there is an input operation of an output instruction for the plurality of electronic data, and the job composition unit The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein after the plurality of job data are combined, the combined job data is transmitted to the job transmission unit. An image processing system including a data processing device and an image output device,
The data processing device includes:
An output instruction unit for receiving an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data;
A job generation unit that generates job data from electronic data;
A job transmission unit for transmitting job data to the image output device;
A job composition unit that composes a plurality of job data into one post-composition job data;
When the output instruction unit receives an input operation of the output instruction, the job generation unit generates job data, and the job combination unit combines a plurality of job data, and then combines the combined job data with the job A control unit that causes the transmission unit to transmit,
The image output apparatus includes a data output unit that outputs post-combination job data received from the data processing apparatus as one job data. The job generation unit generates job data including the XML format electronic data from the XML format electronic data,
The image output device includes:
A data receiving unit for receiving job data including electronic data in XML format;
A raster conversion unit that rasterizes XML format electronic data included in the job data received by the data reception unit into a raster format;
The image processing system according to claim 8, wherein the data output unit outputs raster-format electronic data rasterized by the raster conversion unit. A computer program for a data processing device that generates job data from electronic data and transmits the job data to an image output device,
An output instruction reception process for receiving an input operation of an output instruction for electronic data;
Job generation processing for generating job data from electronic data;
Job transmission processing for transmitting job data to the image output device;
Job composition processing for composing a plurality of job data into a single composition job data;
When an input operation of the output instruction is received by the output instruction reception process, job data is generated by the job generation process, and a plurality of job data are combined by the job combination process, and then the combined job data is Control processing to be sent by job transmission processing,
A computer program for causing the data processing apparatus to execute.

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