JP2009025952A - Image forming system, image-forming program and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To certainly avoid image forming operation of a duplicated file in an image forming device on a network in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: When a printer driver 150 of a PC 100 receives a print request about a certain file, the printer driver 150 generates a hash value of the file, and decides whether or not a hash value according with the generated hash value is present in hash values stored in a hash DB 240 in advance of transmission of print data about the file. The hash DB 240 stores the hash value of a file that is a target of print operation in MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) 200 or that is scheduled to become the target. When it is decided that the hash value equal to the hash value generated at that time point is stored among the hash values stored in the MFP 200, the print data generated about the file corresponding to the hash value are discarded without being transmitted to the MFP 200. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to image formation, and more particularly, to an image formation system, an image formation program, and an image formation apparatus that can avoid duplicate image formation by an image formation apparatus.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is installed on a network, print data and print setting information are transmitted from a terminal connected to the network to the image forming apparatus, and an image forming operation (print processing) is performed on the image forming apparatus. There was a technology to make it.

  In response to the recent increase in the capacity of storage devices, print data and the like are stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus, and an image forming operation is performed on the image forming apparatus in accordance with the information of a print instruction transmitted again. There are also techniques that can be implemented.

  Such a technique including storage of print data or the like in the storage device of the image forming apparatus saves the user's trouble at that timing because it does not require transmission of print data or the like at the time of printing (at the time of image formation). It can be said that it is useful in terms of what it can do. However, there is a possibility that a huge amount of data is stored in the storage device.

  In order to avoid such a situation, a product that automatically erases data stored in a storage device for a certain period (for example, 3 days) after an image forming operation has been developed.

  Various techniques for avoiding accumulation of duplicate data in a storage device are also disclosed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for causing an image processing apparatus to output the accumulated image data when an instruction to output the image data already accumulated in the image processing apparatus is issued. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for overwriting the stored data with the input data if the data input to the image forming apparatus is already stored. Has been.

Conventionally, a technique for more actively suppressing the image forming operation itself of overlapping data has been disclosed. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for notifying that when a printer receives a print job and the same print job as the received job is stored in the printer. Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose a technique for performing control so as to suppress printing that is input to the printer later when the same print job is input to the printer.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143638 JP 2006-239932 A JP 2003-76519 A JP 2002-351634 A JP 2003-248570 A

  As described above, avoiding accumulation of duplicate data or suppressing printing operation of duplicate data can appropriately avoid accumulation of useless data in the storage device of the image forming apparatus. Conceivable.

  However, depending on how the data is judged to be duplicated, it is considered that a new problem arises that an accurate judgment cannot be made or that the judgment takes a long time and makes the user feel inconvenient. For example, if the entire image data to be printed is compared, it may take a long time to make a judgment, which may be inconvenient for the user. Or, when comparing only one of the image data to determine whether or not they are the same, even if the other is different, it is determined that they are the same image data, and a situation in which an accurate determination cannot be made may occur. .

  In other words, in the conventional technology, there is a problem that it is not possible to accurately determine file duplication or a long time is required to avoid image formation of duplicate files in the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of reliably and avoiding an image forming operation of a duplicate file in an image forming apparatus on a network in a short time. An image forming program and an image forming apparatus are provided.

  An image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system including an information terminal and an image forming apparatus connected to the information terminal via a network, and the image forming apparatus executes an image forming operation. A data storage unit for storing a hash value for a scheduled or executed file, wherein the information terminal receives a print request for a predetermined file, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the predetermined file. Among the hash values stored in the data storage means, the first generation means for generating print data that is data, the second generation means for generating the hash value of the predetermined file, Determining means for determining whether or not the hash value generated by the second generating means is included; and the determining means is stored in the data storage means Only when it is determined that the hash value generated by the second generation unit is not included in the hash value, the printing data and the transmission unit that transmits the hash value to the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives the printing data and the hash value; an image forming unit that performs an image forming operation based on the printing data received by the receiving unit; and the receiving unit receives Storage processing means for storing the hash value in the data storage means.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the information terminal further includes information storage means for storing information as to whether or not the determination means makes the determination, and the transmission means includes the information storage means. In addition, when information indicating that the determination unit makes the determination is stored, the determination unit generates the second generation unit in the hash value stored in the data storage unit. Only when it is determined that the hash value is not included, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the information storage unit does not cause the determination unit to perform the determination. When information is stored, it is preferable to transmit the print data and the hash value to the image forming apparatus regardless of the determination result of the determination unit.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the terminal device further includes a determination unit that determines whether the data amount of the predetermined file is equal to or greater than a specific data amount, and the transmission unit includes the transmission unit When the determination means determines that the information storage means is greater than or equal to the specific data amount, the determination means includes the second generation means in the hash values stored in the data storage means. Only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the information storage unit includes the determination unit that is less than the specific data amount. When it is determined that there is, it is preferable to transmit the print data and the hash value to the image forming apparatus regardless of the determination result of the determination unit.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the transmission unit includes the hash value generated by the second generation unit in the hash value stored in the data storage unit by the determination unit. Only when it is determined that the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the determination unit includes the second generation unit in the hash value stored in the data storage unit. When it is determined that the hash value generated by is included, it is preferable to further include notification means for notifying that effect.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the data storage unit further stores print data for a file corresponding to the hash value in association with the hash value, and the image forming apparatus includes the receiving unit. The image forming unit further includes an input unit that receives an input of an instruction to form an image of the print data received by the image forming unit, and the image forming unit receives the instruction for printing received by the receiving unit in response to the input unit receiving the instruction. Preferably, a data image forming operation is performed.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a file generation unit that generates a file, a print data generation unit that generates print data of the file generated by the file generation unit, A hash value generation unit that generates a hash value of the file generated by the file generation unit, and the storage processing unit includes the print data generated by the print data generation unit and the hash generated by the hash value generation unit. It is preferable to associate the values and store them in the data storage means.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the print data is described in a page description language.

  An image forming program according to the present invention is executed by a computer connected to an image forming apparatus that stores a hash value of a file that is scheduled to be executed or has been executed via a network. A step of accepting a print request for a predetermined file in the computer, a step of generating printing data which is data for causing the image forming apparatus to print the predetermined file, and Generating a hash value; determining whether or not the generated hash value is included in a hash value stored in the image forming apparatus; and a hash stored in the image forming apparatus Only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the value, the print data and The serial hash value, characterized in that and a step of transmitting to the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the image forming program according to the present invention further causes the computer to store a step of storing information on whether or not to make the determination, and if the information makes the determination, the image forming program Only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the apparatus, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the information is determined by the determination. If it is not performed, it is preferable to transmit the printing data and the hash value to the image forming apparatus regardless of the result of the determination.

The image forming program according to the present invention further causes the computer to execute a step of determining whether or not the data amount of the predetermined file is equal to or greater than a specific data amount, If it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus, the print data and the hash value are stored in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus. To the image forming device,
When it is determined that the amount is less than the specific data amount, it is preferable that the printing data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus regardless of the result of the determination.

  Further, the image forming program according to the present invention can be used only when the computer determines that the generated hash value is not included in the hash values stored in the image forming apparatus. When it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus when the data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the fact is Preferably, the step of notifying is further executed.

  In the image forming program according to the present invention, it is preferable that the print data is described in a page description language.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that is connected to an information terminal that outputs a print request for a predetermined file via a network, and is a hash of a file that is scheduled to execute or has been executed. Data storage means for storing a value; receiving means for receiving print data for printing the predetermined file and a hash value for the predetermined file transmitted from the information terminal; and the received hash value Is stored in the data storage means, and image forming means for executing an image forming operation for the received print data.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the data storage unit stores print data for a file corresponding to the hash value in association with the hash value, and the print storage stored in the data storage unit An input unit that receives an input of an instruction to form a data image, and the image forming unit stores an image of the printing data stored in the data storage unit in response to the input unit receiving the instruction. Preferably, the forming operation is performed.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a file generation unit that generates a file, a print data generation unit that generates print data for the file generated by the file generation unit, and a file generation unit that generates the file. Hash value generation means for generating a hash value for the file, and the storage processing means associates the print data generated by the print data generation means with the hash value generated by the hash value generation means. It is preferable to store in the data storage means.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the print data is described in a page description language.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus stores a hash value of a file that is scheduled to be executed or has been executed, and the information terminal (or computer) makes a print request for a certain file. When the hash value of the file is generated, it is determined whether or not there is a match between the hash values stored in the image forming apparatus, and only when it is determined that there is no match Print data for the file is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  As a result, with respect to a file for which an image forming operation has been or will be performed in the image forming apparatus, even if a print request is received by the information terminal or the computer, the image forming operation is executed repeatedly in the image forming apparatus. Can be avoided. Whether a file for which a print request has been received by an information terminal or a computer is a file for which an image forming operation has been performed or is scheduled to be performed by the image forming apparatus is determined by comparing the hash values of the files.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, with respect to a file on which image formation has been performed once, it is possible to reliably avoid sending the file redundantly to the image forming apparatus. Note that the data used for comparison when determining whether or not a file has been imaged or planned to be imaged is a hash value of the file that has a smaller amount of data than the file itself. The situation where a long time is required can be avoided. In addition, since the data used is a hash value based on the entire file, if there is a difference between files to be compared, it is possible to reliably perform processing according to the difference. That is, according to the present invention, the image forming operation of the duplicate file in the image forming apparatus on the network can be avoided reliably and in a short time.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the image forming system includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 100 as an example of an information terminal and an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) 200 as an example of an image forming apparatus. The PC 100 and the MFP 200 are connected via a network, and data for printing a file from the PC 100 to the MFP 200 can be transmitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a single image forming apparatus are connected, but the number is not limited to that shown in FIG. At least one of them may be connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the PC 100 of FIG.
Referring to FIG. 2, a PC 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a display 105, a LAN (Local Area Network) card 107, an input device 111, a media I / F (interface) 113, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 115. , A RAM (Random Access Memory) 117, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 119.

  The CPU 101 controls the operation of the PC 100 as a whole. The RAM 117 is used as a temporary data storage location when the CPU 101 executes various processes. The ROM 119 stores various data such as a program executed by the CPU 101. The HDD 115 stores various information and data. The LAN card 107 is used to communicate with other devices such as the MFP 200 via the network. The media I / F drive 113 is used when the CPU 101 reads / writes information from / to a recording medium 113A that can be attached to and detached from the PC 101 such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). Thereby, the CPU 101 can also execute the program recorded on the recording medium 113A. The input device 111 is configured by a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the MFP 200 of FIG.
Referring to FIG. 3, MFP 200 stores CPU 201 that controls the entire apparatus, RAM 202 that temporarily stores data, ROM 203 that stores programs executed by CPU 201, constants, and the like, and image data and the like. HDD 204, a panel operation unit 205 that includes one or a plurality of buttons and receives an operation for inputting information from a user, a printer 206 that performs printing (image forming operation) based on image data on paper, A scanner 207 for reading an image of a document placed on a document placement table (not shown) and a LAN card 208 for communicating with other devices such as the PC 100 via a network are provided.

  4A is a control block diagram of the MFP 200, and FIG. 4B is a control block diagram of the PC 100. Hereinafter, the configurations of the PC 100 and the MFP 200 will be described in detail.

  First, referring to FIG. 4B, the PC 100 transmits the application 160, the printer driver 150 that generates print data for the file of the application 160, and the sender information that stores information that identifies the user of the PC 100. A storage unit 170 is included.

  The printer driver 150 includes an operation unit 155 that receives information input by the user via the input device 111, a print setting addition unit 154 that generates information about print settings based on the information received by the operation unit 155, and sender information. A sender information adding unit 156 that generates sender information based on information stored in the storage unit 170, a print content generation unit 153 that generates print content data based on a file generated by the application 160, and a print content generation unit A hash generation unit 152 that generates a hash value of the print content data generated in 153, and information that sets whether or not to make a determination regarding the hash value prior to transmission of the print data to the MFP 200 are stored. Information is exchanged between the setting information storage unit 157 and the MFP 200. Including MFP interface (I / F) unit 151 for performing reception. In this specification, the hash value of the print content data corresponds to the hash value for the file that is the source of the print content data.

  When the PC 100 receives a print request for a file generated by the application 160, the printer driver 150 generates print data for the file and transmits it to the MFP 200. When the MFP 200 receives the print data, the MFP 200 accumulates the print data in the job database (DB) 240, and the operation for outputting the accumulated print data to the operation unit 260 is completed. In response, print processing (image forming operation) of the printing data is executed.

  The printing data is generated by the print content data generated by the print content generation unit 153, the print setting information (such as the number of prints) generated by the print setting adding unit 154, and the sender information adding unit 156. Sender information. The sender information adding unit 156 generates sender information based on the user information (such as an account name when logging in to the network) regarding the user of the PC 100 stored in the sender information storage unit 170.

  The print content data is, for example, data based on a file generated by the application 160 and data described according to PDL (Page Description Languages). When the generation of PDL data is executed on the MFP 200 side, that is, when a file to be printed is transmitted from the PC 100 to the MFP 200, the file to be printed instead of the print content data is stored in the print content DB 242. May be stored as they are.

  When a print request for a predetermined file is made to the PC 100, the printer driver 150 generates print content data by the print content generation unit 153, generates print setting information by the print setting provision unit 154, and the sender. The information adding unit 156 generates sender information and also generates a hash value of print content data. Then, the hash value stored in the MFP 200 is read and compared with the hash value generated by the hash generation unit 152. Then, it is determined whether or not the hash value read from the MFP 200 has the same value as the hash value generated by the hash generation unit 152. If it is determined that there is the same value, the print data and the hash value are determined. Is discarded.

  4A, MFP 200 has a PCI / F unit 210 for transmitting / receiving data to / from PC 100, a hash value transmitted from PC 100, and a hash database (hash DB) to be described later. A data comparison unit 220 that performs comparison with the hash value stored in the H.241, a job database (job DB) 240 that stores data about a job to be executed in the MFP 200 and data about jobs that have already been executed, and for printing stored in the job DB 240 An operation unit 260 that accepts input of various operations such as a data print instruction, and an on-demand that causes the print engine 270 to execute a print operation on print data stored in the job DB 240 based on information input to the operation unit 260 Print control unit 250 and PC 100 to PC / Input data to the F portion 210 (e.g., print data) contains the data registration unit 230 to perform the operation of storing the to the job DB 240. The operation unit 260 is configured by the panel operation unit 205, and the print engine is configured by the printer 206.

  The job DB 240 includes a hash DB 241, a print content database (print content DB) 242, a print setting database (print setting DB) 243, and a sender information database (sender information DB) 244. The print content DB 242, the print setting DB 243, and the sender information DB 244 store print content data, print setting information, and sender information transmitted from the PC 100, respectively. The hash DB 241 stores a hash value of each print content stored in the print content DB. The storage mode of information in the job DB 240 is schematically shown in Table 1.

  As understood from Table 1, in the job DB 240, for each job (for each file to be printed), “print content” (print content data), “hash value”, “accumulated user” (sender information) , And “print setting” (print setting information).

  The print setting information (print settings in Table 1) stored in the print setting DB 243 is data described according to PJL (Printer Job Language). That is, the print setting information stored in the print setting DB 243 is generated by being described in accordance with the PJL in the print setting adding unit 154 and includes the contents described in each column of the print setting in Table 1.

  In Table 1, the stored information is shown in one horizontal row for each job. For example, looking at the job described in the third line from the top of Table 1, the PDL file for the file “schedule.xls”, the hash value (lkaw 38) of the PDL file, and the job are sent to the MFP 200. Sender information (“Yamada”) and print setting information (setting that prints in two colors (2 up)) for the user who has performed are stored in association with each other.

  In the job DB 240, each piece of information generated by the PC 100 is sorted by the data registration unit 230 and stored as appropriate. That is, in the PC 100, information as shown in Table 2 (print content, hash value, accumulated user, and print setting information) is generated every time a print request is made for one file, and predetermined conditions as described later are used. Is transmitted to the MFP 200 when the above is satisfied. In the MFP 200, information transmitted from the PC 100 is appropriately sorted by the data registration unit 230, and as shown in Table 1 in the hash DB 241, print content DB 242, print setting DB 243, and sender information DB 244 of the job DB 240. Stored in

  The printer driver 150 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a predetermined program installed in the HDD 115, for example. Note that the program may be downloaded from a network via the LAN card 107, or may be installed on the recording medium 113A via the media I / F 113.

  In the image forming system of the present embodiment, when a file print request is made to the PC 100, the printer driver 150 generates a hash value for the file to be printed, and sends the print data to the MFP 200 as described above. Prior to transmission, it is determined whether there is a hash value stored in the hash DB 241 of the MFP 200 that matches the generated hash value. The MFP 200 stores a hash value for a file that is or is scheduled to be a printing operation in the MFP 200. If the PC 100 determines that the hash value stored in the MFP 200 is the same as the hash value generated at that time, the print data generated for the file corresponding to the hash value is Discard without sending to MFP 200.

  Note that this determination is made by the printer driver 150 transmitting the generated hash value to the data comparison unit 220, causing the data comparison unit 220 to compare the hash value and the hash value stored in the hash DB 241; It may be realized based on the content of the answer by requesting an answer as to whether or not the same is stored.

  Next, processing executed by the CPU 101 of the PC 100 in response to a print request made to the PC 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 which is a flowchart of the processing. In the present embodiment, a print job registration request from the PC 100 to the MFP 200 is referred to as a print request. In addition, an instruction to execute a registered print job (based on transmission of print data from the PC 100) issued to the MFP 200 is referred to as a print instruction.

  When information about a print request is input via the input device 111 or the like in the PC 100, the application 160 generates a print command, and the CPU 101 receives the print command from the application 160 in step SA10, and step SA20. Proceed to the process.

  In step SA20, the CPU 101 activates the printer driver 150 and advances the process to step SA30. Thereafter, the processing from step SA30 to step SA70 is processing by the printer driver 150.

  In step SA30, the CPU 101 causes the hash generation unit 152 to generate a hash value of the file that is the target of the print request received via the application 160, and proceeds to step SA40.

  In step SA40, the CPU 101 searches whether the same hash value generated by the hash generation unit 152 is stored in the hash DB 241 of the MFP 200, and advances the process to step SA50.

  In step SA50, as a result of the search in step SA40, the CPU 101 determines whether there is data in the hash DB 241 that overlaps the hash value generated by the hash generation unit 152 in step SA30. If it is determined that there is no, the process proceeds to step SA60.

  In step SA60, the CPU 101 transmits print data (print content, print setting information, and sender information) and a hash value to the MFP 200, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in SA70, the CPU 101 stops the process for the print request and ends the process. The cancellation of processing for a print request is, for example, a print content (PDL data) generated by the print content generation unit 153 or a print addition unit 154 generated by sending a file to be a print request from the application 160. For example, the print setting information and the sender information generated by the sender information adding unit 156 are deleted. When the process is stopped, a message indicating that data such as print content corresponding to the print request is not transmitted to the MFP 200 may be displayed on the display 105.

  Next, processing executed by the CPU 201 of the MFP 200 in response to transmission of print data from the PC 100 and the above-described print instruction will be described with reference to FIG. 6 which is a flowchart of the processing.

  Referring to FIG. 6, CPU 201 determines in step SB10 whether or not print data has been transmitted from PC 100. If it is determined, CPU 201 proceeds to step SB20. If not, it proceeds to step SB30.

  In step SB20, the CPU 201 appropriately sorts and registers the received print data in the job DB 240 as described above, and advances the process to step SB30. In step SB20, specifically, the data for printing input via the PCI / F unit 210 is classified into print content, print settings, and sender information by the data registration unit 230, and each of them is printed content. Register in the DB 242, the print setting DB 243, and the sender information DB 244. When the hash value corresponding to the print data is received, the data registration unit 230 further registers the hash value in the hash DB 241.

  In step SB30, the CPU 201 determines whether or not there has been an operation for login from the user via the panel operation unit 205 or the like. If it is determined that the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step SB40, and if not, the process proceeds to step SB10. To return.

  In step SB40, the CPU 201 determines whether or not an operation for printing instructions for a job registered in the job DB 240 has been performed on the panel operation unit 205, and if it is determined that such an operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step SB50. The process proceeds, and if it is determined that any other operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step SB60.

  In step SB60, the CPU 201 executes an operation corresponding to the operation on the panel operation unit 205, and returns the process to step SB10.

  On the other hand, in step SB50, the CPU 201 executes a job printing operation based on the print instruction received in step SB40, and returns the process to step SB10.

  In the present exemplary embodiment described above, in the image forming system, when a print request is made in the PC 100, the print data based on the print request is included in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200 together with the hash value of the file that is the target of the print request. Registered in When an operation for instructing printing of a job registered in the job DB 240 is performed on the MFP 200, the MFP 200 executes a printing operation for the job. Prior to transmission of print data from the PC 100 to the MFP 200, the PC 100 determines whether or not the hash value of the file to be printed is already registered in the job DB 240. . If it is determined that the file has already been registered, the PC 100 does not transmit the print data corresponding to the file to the MFP 200. In other words, when there is a print request in the PC 100, the PC 100 print data corresponding to the print request on the condition that the hash value of the file to be printed is not registered in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200. Is transmitted to the MFP 200.

  In the present embodiment, in the job DB 240, for each print job, print content, hash value, print setting information, and sender information are registered until execution of a print operation based on a print instruction. Whether printing data is transmitted from the PC 100 to the MFP 200 is determined by comparing only hash values of files to be printed. Therefore, according to the present invention, as in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the MFP 200 accumulates print data transmitted from the PC 100 in advance and executes a printing operation in response to a print instruction to the MFP 200. It is considered that the present invention can also be applied to a system other than the system that executes demand printing. That is, it is considered that the present invention can be applied to an image forming system in which the MFP 200 executes a print job corresponding to the print data in response to transmission of print data from the PC 100. However, in this case, the hash value and print data are registered in the job DB 240 until the print job is executed. However, after the print job is executed, data other than the hash value, that is, print data (print content and print data) is registered. The print setting information and the sender information) may be configured to be deleted at the end of the print job (or after a predetermined period (for example, three days) from the end of the print job).

  In the present embodiment, print data based on a file generated by the scanner 207 may be registered together with the job DB 240. In such a case, in the MFP 200, a component not shown in FIG. 4A provided in the MFP 200 generates a hash value of the print content of the print data, and the hash value is stored in the hash DB 241 (PC100 Configured to register (equivalent to the hash value sent from).

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, in the image forming system, when there is a print request, the PC 100 generates a hash value of the file that is the target of the print request, and the hash value is already registered in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200. If it is already registered, the print data for the file is not transmitted to the MFP 200.

  In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the PC 100 determines whether or not to execute processing for transmitting print data on the condition that such a hash value is not registered in the job DB 240. It is determined based on information preset for the printer driver 150).

  Similar to the image forming system of the first embodiment, the image forming system of the present embodiment includes a PC 100 and an MFP 200 connected to the PC 100 via a network. Then, the PC 100 and the MFP 200 of the present embodiment can have the same hardware configuration as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the overlapping parts of these configurations will not be repeated here.

  In the PC 100, the above-described information as to whether or not to execute the process is stored in the setting information storage unit 157. Specifically, the setting information storage unit 157 stores information indicating whether the setting for performing determination based on the hash value is ON or OFF (determination setting ON or determination setting OFF). .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 101 of the PC 100 in response to a print request made to the PC 100 of the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, after CPU 101 activates printer driver 150 in step SA20, CPU 101 determines that the information stored in setting information storage unit 157 is ON in step SA21. If the determination setting is ON, the process proceeds to step SA30, and if it is determined that the determination setting is OFF, the process proceeds to step SA60.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the information stored in the setting information storage unit 157 is determination setting ON, as in the first embodiment, the PC 100 has the hash of the file that is the target of the print request. On the condition that the value is not yet registered in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200, print data corresponding to the file is transmitted to the MFP 200. On the other hand, if the information stored in the setting information storage unit 157 is determination setting OFF, step SA60 is performed regardless of whether or not the hash value of the file to be printed is already registered in the job DB 240. Then, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the MFP 200.

  As a result, when it is clear that the file to be printed has not yet been printed in the MFP 200, the process of generating and comparing hash values is omitted, so the PC 100 can quickly print. The request can be processed.

  Note that whether the determination setting ON or the determination setting OFF is stored in the setting information storage unit 157 can be appropriately changed by the user operating the input device 111, for example.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, in the image forming system, when there is a print request, the PC 100 generates a hash value of the file that is the target of the print request, and the hash value is already registered in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200. If it is already registered, the print data for the file is not transmitted to the MFP 200.

  In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the PC 100 determines whether or not to execute processing for transmitting print data on the condition that such a hash value is not registered in the job DB 240. Is determined based on whether or not the file is equal to or larger than a data size preset for PC 100 (printer driver 150) (hereinafter, this data size is referred to as “A” for convenience).

  Similar to the image forming system of the first embodiment, the image forming system of the present embodiment includes a PC 100 and an MFP 200 connected to the PC 100 via a network. Then, the PC 100 and the MFP 200 of the present embodiment can have the same hardware configuration as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the overlapping parts of these configurations will not be repeated here.

  In the PC 100, the information for specifying the data size is stored in the setting information storage unit 157.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 101 of the PC 100 in response to a print request made to the PC 100 of the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, after CPU 101 activates printer driver 150 in step SA20, CPU 101 determines in step SA22 whether the size of the file to be printed is A or more. If it is determined that it is greater than or equal to A, the process proceeds to step SA30, and if it is determined that it is less than A, the process proceeds to step SA60.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the size of the file to be printed is equal to or larger than the specific data amount, the PC 100 has the hash value of the file to be printed as in the first embodiment. Is transmitted to the MFP 200 on the condition that the file is not yet registered in the job DB 240 of the MFP 200. On the other hand, if the size of the file is less than the specific data amount, the print data is determined in step SA60 regardless of whether or not the hash value of the file to be printed is already registered in the job DB 240. And the hash value are transmitted to the MFP 200.

  As a result, when it is considered that the file to be printed has a small size and there is not much problem even if it is registered twice in the HDD 115 of the MFP 200, the process of generating and comparing hash values is omitted. The PC 100 can quickly process the print request.

  Note that the information specifying the file size A stored in the setting information storage unit 157 can be changed as appropriate by, for example, the user operating the input device 111.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. In addition, it is intended that the techniques shown in the embodiments are combined and realized as much as possible.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the hardware constitutions of PC of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP in FIG. 1. (A) is a control block diagram of the MFP, and (B) is a control block diagram of the PC of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU of FIG. 2 in response to a print request made to the PC. 4 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU of FIG. 3 in response to transmission of print data from a PC and a print instruction to the MFP. 6 is a flowchart of processing executed by a CPU in response to a print request made to the PC in the PC according to the second embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart of processing executed by a CPU in response to a print request made to the PC in the PC according to the third embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  100 PC, 101, 201 CPU, 105 display, 107, 208 LAN card, 111 input device, 113 media I / F, 113A recording medium, 115, 204 HDD, 117, 202 RAM, 119, 203 ROM, 206 printer, 207 Scanner, 150 Printer driver, 152 Hash generation unit, 153 Print content generation unit, 154 Print setting addition unit, 156 Sender information addition unit, 157 Setting information storage unit, 160 application, 170 Sender information storage unit, 230 Data registration unit , 240 job DB, 241 hash DB, 242 print content DB, 243 print setting DB, 244 sender information DB, 270 print engine.

Claims (16)

An image forming system comprising an information terminal and an image forming apparatus connected to the information terminal via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Data storage means for storing a hash value for a file that is scheduled to be executed or has been executed;
The information terminal
Receiving means for receiving a print request for a predetermined file;
First generation means for generating printing data that is data for causing the image forming apparatus to print the predetermined file;
Second generation means for generating a hash value of the predetermined file;
Determining means for determining whether or not the hash value generated by the second generating means is included in the hash value stored in the data storage means;
Only when the determination means determines that the hash value generated by the second generation means is not included in the hash value stored in the data storage means, the print data and the hash value Transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving the printing data and the hash value;
Image forming means for executing an image forming operation based on the printing data received by the receiving means;
An image forming system further comprising: a storage processing unit that stores the hash value received by the receiving unit in the data storage unit. The information terminal
Information storage means for storing information as to whether or not to make the determination means perform the determination;
The transmission means includes
When the information storage means stores information indicating that the determination means performs the determination, the determination means includes the second value in the hash value stored in the data storage means. Only when it is determined that the hash value generated by the generation unit is not included, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus,
When the information storage means stores information indicating that the determination means does not make the determination, the image forming apparatus stores the print data and the hash value regardless of the determination result of the determination means. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein The terminal device
A discriminator for discriminating whether or not the data amount of the predetermined file is equal to or greater than a specific data amount;
The transmission means includes
If the information storage means determines that the determination means is greater than or equal to the specific data amount, the determination means includes the second generation means in the hash value stored in the data storage means. Only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus,
When the determination unit determines that the data amount is less than the specific data amount, the print data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus regardless of the determination result of the determination unit. The image forming system according to claim 1.   Only when the transmission means determines that the hash value generated by the second generation means is not included in the hash value stored in the data storage means, the data for printing When transmitting the hash value to the image forming apparatus, the determination unit determines that the hash value generated by the second generation unit is included in the hash value stored in the data storage unit. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising notification means for notifying that effect. The data storage means further stores print data for a file corresponding to the hash value in association with the hash value;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An input unit that receives an input of an instruction to form an image of the print data received by the receiving unit;
5. The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit executes an image forming operation of printing data received by the receiving unit in response to the input unit receiving the instruction. 6. Image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes:
File generation means for generating a file;
Print data generation means for generating print data for the file generated by the file generation means;
A hash value generating means for generating a hash value of the file generated by the file generating means,
The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the storage processing unit stores the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit and the hash value generated by the hash value generation unit in association with each other in the data storage unit.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the print data is described in a page description language. An image forming program that is executed by a computer connected to an image forming apparatus that stores a hash value of a file scheduled to be executed or executed by an image forming operation via a network,
In the computer,
Receiving a print request for a predetermined file;
Generating printing data which is data for causing the image forming apparatus to print the predetermined file;
Generating a hash value of the predetermined file;
Determining whether the generated hash value is included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus;
Only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash values stored in the image forming apparatus, the printing data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus. An image forming program to be executed. In the computer,
Further executing the step of storing information as to whether or not to make the determination;
If the information is to make the determination, only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus, the print data and the hash A value is transmitted to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming program according to claim 8, wherein if the information does not make the determination, the printing data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus regardless of the determination result. In the computer,
A step of determining whether the data amount of the predetermined file is equal to or greater than a specific data amount;
If it is determined that the amount of data is greater than or equal to the specific data amount, the print data is only determined when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus. And the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming program according to claim 8, wherein if it is determined that the amount is less than the specific data amount, the image forming apparatus transmits the print data and the hash value regardless of the result of the determination. In the computer,
When the printing data and the hash value are transmitted to the image forming apparatus only when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus, 11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein when it is determined that the generated hash value is not included in the hash value stored in the image forming apparatus, a step of notifying the fact is further executed. An image forming program according to any one of the above.   12. The image forming program according to claim 8, wherein the print data is described in a page description language. An image forming apparatus connected via a network to an information terminal that outputs a print request for a predetermined file,
Data storage means for storing a hash value of a file scheduled to be executed or executed;
Receiving means for receiving print data for printing the predetermined file and a hash value for the predetermined file transmitted from the information terminal;
Storage processing means for storing the received hash value in the data storage means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that executes an image forming operation for the received print data. The data storage means stores print data for a file corresponding to the hash value in association with the hash value;
An input unit that receives an input of an instruction to form an image of the printing data stored in the data storage unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming unit executes an image forming operation of printing data stored in the data storage unit in response to the input unit receiving the instruction. File generation means for generating a file;
Print data generation means for generating print data for the file generated by the file generation means;
A hash value generating means for generating a hash value for the file generated by the file generating means,
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the storage processing unit stores the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit in association with the hash value generated by the hash value generation unit in the data storage unit. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the print data is described in a page description language.

Images