JP2012175382A - Remote copy setting system, terminal device, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote copy setting system capable of simplifying operation procedures at setting of a copying condition and simplifying an inputting work for each copy job.SOLUTION: A remote copy setting system is configured by: an image formation device having an optical reading part and a printing part; and a terminal device connected with the image formation device via a communications network. The image formation device can perform copy processing of printing image data output from the optical reading part on a recording medium and terminal output processing of printing image data received from the terminal device on a recording medium, and designate a copying condition for the copy processing from the terminal device. The terminal device is configured by: a printing condition storage part holding a printing condition to be transmitted to the image formation device for the terminal output processing together with the image data; a copying condition generation part generating the copying condition based on the printing condition; and a copying condition transmission part transmitting the copying condition to the image formation device via the communications network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote copy setting system, a terminal device, and a computer program. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs copy processing and terminal output processing, and a terminal that specifies copy conditions for copy processing for the image forming device. The present invention relates to a remote copy setting system comprising an apparatus.

  In a multi-function peripheral having a copy function for printing image data read from a document on a recording medium, a copy job can be executed by specifying various copy conditions. For example, if double-sided copy is designated, both sides of one original can be automatically read, and the obtained read image can be printed on each side of one recording sheet. Further, if an integrated copy is designated, a read image read from a plurality of originals can be reduced and printed on one side of one recording sheet. If electronic sort copy is designated, read images read from a plurality of originals can be electronically rearranged and printed. Usually, the copying condition is composed of a large number of setting items, and the copying job as described above can be executed by inputting setting values to these setting items.

  However, a conventional multifunction device has a smaller display screen than a terminal device such as a PC (personal computer), and the amount of information that can be displayed simultaneously is limited. For this reason, in order to input a setting value to each setting item of the copy condition, an input operation must be performed while switching the screen display, and there is a problem that the operation procedure is complicated. Therefore, a remote copy setting system has been proposed in which copy conditions are input on a PC and copy setting information including setting values for each setting item is transmitted to a copying machine via a LAN (local area network) (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and 2). According to the remote copy setting system described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the operation procedure when setting copy conditions can be simplified. However, the remote copy setting system described above has a problem that input of setting values for a plurality of setting items must be repeated for each copy job, and the input operation is extremely troublesome.

JP-A-9-23298 JP 2006-270222 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of simplifying an operation procedure when setting a copy condition, and a remote copy setting system capable of simplifying an input operation for each copy job. The purpose is to provide.

  In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device capable of simplifying the input operation for each setting item even when a copying condition composed of a plurality of setting items is set. It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal device that can simplify the input operation for each copy job and can change the copy conditions before transmission as necessary.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal device that can automatically search for an image forming apparatus that can be set for remote copying and allow a user to select a destination for copying conditions. It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal device capable of managing transmitted copy conditions for each user in an image forming apparatus.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer program that is executed in such a terminal device.

  A remote copy setting system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit, and a terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network. A copy process for printing the image data output from the optical reading unit on a recording medium, and a terminal output process for printing the image data received from the terminal device on the recording medium, and the copy process from the terminal device. A remote copy setting system capable of specifying a copy condition for printing, wherein the terminal device holds a print condition to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output processing to the image forming apparatus A storage unit, a copy condition generation unit that generates a copy condition based on the print condition, and the image forming apparatus via the communication network, Constructed and a copy condition transmitting unit that transmits the serial copying conditions.

  In this remote copy setting system, a terminal device generates a copy condition based on a print condition transmitted together with image data to the image forming apparatus for terminal output processing, and transmits the copy condition to the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the image forming apparatus can automatically set the copy condition according to the copy condition received from the terminal device and perform the copy process. Therefore, since the copy condition is set in the terminal device, the operation procedure for setting the copy condition can be simplified as compared with the case where the copy setting is performed on the image forming apparatus. Further, since the printing conditions for the terminal output process are used as the copying conditions, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the setting values for each setting item of the copying conditions. Therefore, even when copying conditions consisting of a plurality of setting items are set, the input work for each setting item can be simplified.

  A terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is connected to an image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit via a communication network, and prints image data output from the optical reading unit on a recording medium. A terminal device for designating a copy condition for the copy process for the image forming apparatus that performs a terminal output process for printing the image data received from the terminal apparatus on a recording medium. On the other hand, a printing condition storage unit that holds a printing condition to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output process, a copying condition generation unit that generates a copying condition based on the printing condition, and the communication network, The image forming apparatus includes a copy condition transmitting unit that transmits the copy conditions.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the terminal device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a copy condition edit screen display unit that displays a copy condition edit screen that includes the copy conditions generated by the copy condition generation unit, and editing the copy condition edit screen. A copy condition editing unit that edits the copy condition based on an operation, and the copy condition transmitting unit is configured to transmit the edited copy condition to the image forming apparatus.

  According to such a configuration, the copy condition can be edited by a predetermined editing operation on the copy condition edit screen. Therefore, the user changes the copy condition to be remotely set to the image forming apparatus as necessary. be able to. That is, the input operation for each copy job can be simplified, and the copy conditions before transmission can be changed as necessary.

  In addition to the above configuration, a terminal device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a remote setting inquiry unit that inquires whether two or more image forming apparatuses on the communication network can perform remote copy setting, and the remote setting inquiry unit. A selection screen display unit that displays a selection screen for selecting an image forming apparatus based on the inquiry result of the setting inquiry unit, and the copy condition transmission unit sends the image to the image forming apparatus selected on the selection screen. The copying condition is configured to be transmitted.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to automatically search for an image forming apparatus that can be set for remote copying among a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a communication network, and to display a selection screen. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily designate the transmission destination of the copy conditions from among the image forming apparatuses that can be set for remote copying by selecting the image forming apparatus on the selection screen. That is, it is possible to automatically search for an image forming apparatus that can be set for remote copying, and to allow the user to select a transmission destination for copying conditions.

  A terminal device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes, in addition to the above configuration, a user identification information storage unit that holds user identification information for identifying a user, and the copy condition transmission unit includes the user identification information together with the copy condition. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  According to such a configuration, the image forming apparatus can hold the copy condition received from the terminal device in association with the user identification information. For this reason, when a plurality of users execute a copy job using a common image forming apparatus, the copy conditions received from the terminal apparatus can be managed for each user in the image forming apparatus.

  In addition to the above configuration, a terminal device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention displays a print condition edit screen that displays a print condition edit screen in which a remote copy setting selection button is arranged based on a print instruction that specifies image data to be printed. A remote copy setting flag that activates a remote copy setting flag based on an operation of the remote copy setting selection button and a remote copy setting selection button that edits the print condition based on an editing operation on the print condition editing screen And a copy condition edit screen display section configured to display the copy condition edit screen after editing the print condition when the remote copy setting flag is validated.

  According to such a configuration, the remote copy setting flag can be validated by operating the remote copy setting button in the print condition editing screen. Therefore, when image data for printing is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The user can select whether or not to perform remote copy setting.

  In addition to the above configuration, a terminal device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes an editing icon display unit that displays a remote copy setting editing icon for editing a copy condition transmitted to the image forming apparatus on a background screen, A transfer request transmitting unit that transmits a transfer request for a copy condition to the image forming apparatus based on the operation of the remote copy setting editing icon, and the copy condition editing screen display unit is connected to the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus; The copy condition editing screen including the received copy conditions is displayed.

  According to such a configuration, after the copy condition is transmitted, the remote copy setting editing icon is displayed on the background screen, so that it can be easily recognized that the copy condition is registered in the image forming apparatus. . Further, by operating the remote copy setting editing icon, a copy condition transfer request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and a copy condition editing screen including the copy conditions received from the image forming apparatus is displayed. The copying conditions registered in can be changed as necessary.

  A computer program according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a computer program executed in a terminal device connected to an image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit via a communication network, and is output from the optical reading unit. A copy condition for the copy process is specified for the image forming apparatus that performs a copy process for printing image data to be printed on a recording medium and a terminal output process for printing image data received from the terminal apparatus on a record medium. Computer program. Specifically, a printing condition storage step for storing a printing condition to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output processing to the image forming apparatus, and a copying condition generation for generating a copying condition based on the printing condition. And a copy condition transmission step for transmitting the copy condition to the image forming apparatus via the communication network.

  In the remote copy setting system according to the present invention, since the terminal device generates a copy condition based on the print condition for the terminal output process and transmits it to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus receives the copy condition received from the terminal device. The copying process can be performed by automatically setting the copying conditions. In addition, since the printing conditions for terminal output processing are used as copying conditions, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting setting values for each setting item of copying conditions. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the operation procedure when setting the copy conditions, and it is possible to simplify the input work for each copy job.

  Furthermore, since the copy conditions can be edited by a predetermined editing operation on the copy condition edit screen, the input work for each copy job can be simplified, and the copy conditions before transmission can be changed as necessary. Can do. In addition, it is possible to automatically search for an image forming apparatus that can be set for remote copying from among a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a communication network and display a selection screen. The image forming apparatus can be automatically searched, and the user can select the transmission destination of the copy condition.

  In the computer program according to the present invention, the terminal device can function as the terminal device described above.

1 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a remote copy setting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a print condition editing screen 3 displayed on a display 11 in the PC 10 of FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of the inquiry screen 5 displayed on the desktop screen 4 in PC10 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a copy condition edit screen 6 displayed on a display 11 in the PC 10 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen 7 displayed on a copy condition editing screen 6 in the PC 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a remote copy setting editing icon 8 displayed on the desktop screen 4 in the PC 10 of FIG. 1. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel in the MFP 20 of FIG. 1, in which a display 21 and an operation unit 22 are illustrated. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of PC10 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a copy setting unit 107 in FIG. 8. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a printer driver in the PC 10 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the copy setting unit 107 in the PC 10 of FIG. 8, showing an operation example of copy setting software. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a copy setting unit 107 in the PC 10 of FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation when an edit button 83 is operated in the PC 10 of FIG. 8. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MFP 20 in FIG. 1. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of registration of copy setting information in the MFP 20 of FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation during copying in the MFP 20 of FIG.

<Remote copy setting system>
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a remote copy setting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The remote copy setting system 1 is a network system in which a plurality of PCs 10 and a plurality of MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals) 20 are connected to each other via a LAN 2. In the remote copy setting system 1, it is possible to perform PC print processing in which image data held in the PC 10 is printed in the MFP 20 and remote copy processing in which a copy job is executed under the copy conditions specified in the PC 10.

  Here, the automatic setting of the copy condition for the copy job in the MFP 20 by transferring the copy setting information including the copy condition designated on the PC 10 to the MFP 20 is referred to as remote copy setting.

  The PC 10 is a terminal device having a display 11 on which a desktop screen or the like is displayed and an operation unit 12 including a keyboard and a mouse. The PC 10 is installed with a printer driver for generating print data including image data for printing and transmitting the print data to any MFP 20 via the LAN 2. The print data includes image data to be printed, printing conditions for the image data, a print request command for instructing the MFP 20 to print, and the like, and is created based on a predetermined print instruction by a user operation.

  The MFP 20 is an image forming apparatus that has a scanner function, a printer function, a FAX (facsimile) function, a copying function, and an e-mail transmission / reception function, and can selectively execute these functions. A display 21 and an operation unit 22 are provided.

  The MFP 20 can perform copy processing and terminal output processing, and can specify copy conditions for copy processing from the PC 10. In the copying process, image data read from a document is printed on a recording sheet. In the terminal output process, image data received as print data from the PC 10 via the LAN 2 is printed on recording paper. The recording paper is a printing paper for printing image data, and is made of a predetermined paper medium.

  When the MFP 20 receives the copy setting information created in the PC 10, the MFP 20 registers it as copy setting remote setting information, and executes a copy job including optical reading processing and printing processing based on the registration information.

<Print settings for PC print>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the print condition editing screen 3 displayed on the display 11 in the PC 10 of FIG. The print condition editing screen 3 is an input screen for designating print conditions, and is displayed on the display 11 based on a predetermined print instruction designating document data to be printed. For example, the print condition edit screen 3 can be displayed by operating a print button on the edit screen in the document data edit screen.

  The print condition editing screen 3 includes input fields 31 to 37 for inputting setting values for each setting item, a remote copy setting selection button 38, an OK button 39, and a cancel button for a plurality of setting items for PC printing. 40 are arranged. The input field 31 includes an input area for designating the number of copies when printing a series of document data including a plurality of pages. The input field 32 includes an input area for designating the size of the printing paper. For example, any of A3 to A5, B4, or B5 can be selected.

  The input field 33 includes an input area for designating a printing direction, and can select either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. The input field 34 includes an input area for designating a paper feeding method at the time of printing, and can select either automatic selection or manual selection. The input field 35 includes an input area for designating the type of printing paper. For example, any of plain paper, cardboard, and OHP sheet can be selected.

  The input field 36 is an input field for selecting the aggregate print function. When the aggregate print function is selected, a detailed setting screen is displayed, and “2 in 1”, “4 in 1”, “8 in 1”, and the like can be selected. . “Nin1” is a print condition for reducing and printing N pages of document data on one side of one print sheet. The input field 37 is an input field for selecting a double-sided printing function. When the double-sided printing function is selected, a detailed setting screen is displayed, and a printing method such as double-sided printing or booklet printing can be selected. Booklet printing is a printing method in which a series of document data composed of a plurality of pages is printed on a plurality of printing papers so that the booklet can be printed easily.

  In addition to the items described above, the print condition setting items include items for specifying the document size, resolution, zoom magnification, or selecting the toner save printing function. As described above, the printing condition is composed of a condition set including a plurality of designated values for each setting item.

  On the printing condition editing screen 3, printing conditions designated in advance by the user are designated as initial values. Further, the user can change the printing conditions by a predetermined editing operation on the printing condition editing screen 3.

  The OK button 39 is a confirmation button for confirming the printing conditions, and includes a predetermined operation icon. By operating the OK button 39, the printing conditions can be confirmed and the print data can be transmitted to the MFP 20. The cancel button 40 is a cancel button for canceling the print instruction, and includes a predetermined operation icon. By operating the cancel button 40, it is possible to invalidate the input information input between the time when the print condition edit screen 3 is displayed and the time when the cancel button 40 is operated, and to return to the original edit screen.

  The remote copy setting selection button 38 is a remote setting enable button for enabling the remote copy setting flag, and includes a predetermined operation icon. The remote copy setting flag includes a storage area for storing data having different states depending on whether remote copy setting is performed or not. If the remote copy setting flag is validated by operating the remote copy setting selection button 38, the printing conditions determined by the operation of the OK button 39 are retained even after the print data is transmitted, and are used as setting values for the copying conditions. Is done. When the remote copy setting flag is validated, the print conditions are filed by a printer driver, for example, and stored in a predetermined constant monitoring folder.

  The OK button 39 can be operated by, for example, moving the mouse pointer 41 on the editing screen 3 and clicking the mouse on the OK button 39. The print conditions determined by operating the OK button 39 are always stored in the monitoring folder as a print setting file when the remote copy setting flag is enabled. If the print setting file is always stored in the monitoring folder, a predetermined inquiry screen for inquiring the user whether or not to display the remote copy setting editing icon on the desktop screen is displayed.

<Inquiry screen>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the inquiry screen 5 displayed on the desktop screen 4 in the PC 10 of FIG. This inquiry screen 5 is a dialog screen for inquiring the user whether to display the remote copy setting editing icon on the desktop screen 4, and detects that the print setting file is stored in the constantly monitored folder. Is displayed.

  On the inquiry screen 5, a create button 51 and a cancel button 52 are arranged. The create button 51 is an operation icon for selecting a remote copy setting editing icon display function. By operating the creation button 51, a remote copy setting editing icon can be displayed on the desktop screen 4. The cancel button 52 is an operation icon for canceling the selection of the remote copy setting function. The desktop screen 4 is a background screen displayed on the display 11 and has a plurality of operation icons for starting various application programs.

<Remote copy setting>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the copy condition editing screen 6 displayed on the display 11 in the PC 10 of FIG. This copy condition edit screen 6 is an input screen for designating copy conditions, and is displayed when the remote copy setting flag is validated by operating the remote copy setting selection button 38 in the print condition edit screen 3. Is done. The copy condition editing screen 6 is displayed based on the operation of the creation button 51 in the inquiry screen 5, for example.

  On the copy condition editing screen 6, input fields 61 to 63 for inputting setting values for each setting item, a setting button 64, and a cancel button 65 are arranged for a plurality of setting items of the copying condition. The input field 61 includes an input area for designating the number of copies when a plurality of originals are read and printed on a plurality of recording sheets. The input field 62 includes an input area for designating the size of the document. For example, either automatic designation or manual designation can be selected. The input field 63 includes an input area for designating the size of the recording paper. For example, any of A3 to A5, B4, or B5 can be selected.

  As setting items for copy conditions, there are items for selecting the functions of electronic sort copy, double-sided copy, economy copy, and consolidated copy in addition to the items described above. The electronic sort copy is a copying method in which read images read from a plurality of originals are rearranged electronically and printed. Double-sided copying is a copying method in which both sides of a single document are automatically read and the obtained read image is printed on each side of a sheet of recording paper.

  Economy copying is a copying method that saves toner by lowering the resolution at the time of printing. The consolidated copy is a copying method in which a read image read from a plurality of documents is reduced and printed on one side of one recording sheet. When these functions are selected, a detailed setting screen for designating detailed copy conditions is displayed. On this detailed setting screen, the original reading method and the printing method on the recording paper can be specified in detail. As described above, the copying condition is composed of a condition set including a plurality of designated values for each setting item.

  In the copy condition editing screen 6 and the detailed setting screen, the print condition transmitted together with the image data as the print data is designated as the initial value of the copy condition. In other words, the printing condition determined by operating the OK button 39 in the printing condition editing screen 3 is input in advance as the initial value of the copying condition. Specifically, for the setting items common to the print settings of the printer driver, the print condition of the print data is input as the initial value of the copy condition.

  On the other hand, for setting items that are not common to the print settings of the printer driver, designated values registered in advance as default settings are input as initial values of the copy conditions. The copy conditions in the copy condition editing screen 6 and the detailed setting screen can be changed by a predetermined editing operation.

  The setting button 64 is a confirmation button for confirming the copy condition, and includes a predetermined operation icon. By operating the setting button 64, the copying conditions can be determined and transmitted to the MFP 20 as remote copying setting information. The cancel button 65 is a cancel button for canceling the selection of the remote copy setting function, and includes a predetermined operation icon. By operating the cancel button 65, it is possible to invalidate the input information input between the time when the copy condition editing screen 6 is displayed and the time when the cancel button 65 is operated, and to return to the original desktop screen 4. .

<MFP selection screen>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen 7 displayed on the copy condition editing screen 6 in the PC 10 of FIG. This selection screen 7 is a dialog screen for selecting the MFP 20 as the transmission destination of the remote copy setting information, and is displayed based on, for example, the operation of the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6.

  The selection screen 7 displays a list of MFPs 20 that can be set for remote copy as supported devices, and any of the MFPs 20 can be designated as a destination of remote copy setting information. If any of the support devices is selected and the OK button 71 is operated, the remote copy setting information can be transferred to the MFP 20.

<Remote copy setting editing icon>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the remote copy setting editing icon 8 displayed on the desktop screen 4 in the PC 10 of FIG. (A) in the figure shows a remote copy setting editing icon 8, and (b) shows a selection screen 81 displayed by operating the editing icon 8.

  This remote copy setting editing icon 8 is an operation icon for editing the copy condition transmitted to the MFP 20, and is displayed when the creation button 51 in the inquiry screen 5 is operated. The remote copy setting editing icon 8 is displayed, for example, based on the operation of the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6.

  The selection screen 81 is a dialog screen on which a warm-up button 82 and an edit button 82 are arranged. The warm-up button 82 is an operation icon for instructing the MFP 20 to start temperature control for performing printing processing. The edit button 83 is an operation icon for editing the remote copy setting information held by the MFP 20.

  By operating the edit button 83, a remote copy setting information transfer request is transmitted to the MFP 20, and the copy condition edit screen 6 is displayed based on the remote copy setting information received from the MFP 20. On the copy condition editing screen 6 displayed by operating the edit button 83, the copy conditions registered as remote copy setting information in the MFP 20 are input in advance as set values. If the setting button 64 is operated after editing the copy condition by editing the copy condition editing screen 6, the registration information of the MFP 20 can be changed according to the edited copy condition. Such a remote copy setting editing icon 8 and a selection screen 81 are displayed by a predetermined application program called a gadget or a widget.

<Menu screen on MFP>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel in the MFP 20 of FIG. 1, showing a display 21 on which a menu screen is displayed and an operation unit 22 on which a start key, a stop key, and a numeric keypad are arranged. . A plurality of function selection buttons 91 and application copy selection buttons 92 are arranged on the menu screen on the display 21.

  The function selection button 91 is an operation icon for selecting various functions such as copy, FAX, scanner, and printer. The application copy selection button 92 is an operation icon for designating a copy condition using the remote copy setting information received from the PC 10, and is created for each user. In the application copy mode, by operating one of the application copy selection buttons 92, the copy conditions are automatically set according to the remote copy setting information registered in association with the user of the application copy selection button 92.

<Terminal device>
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the PC 10 of FIG. The PC 10 includes a display 11, an operation unit 12, an image data storage unit 101, a printer driver storage unit 102, a print condition storage unit 103, a print setting unit 104, a network communication unit 105, a constant monitoring folder 106, and a copy setting unit 107. Is done.

  The operation unit 12 detects a mouse operation and a keyboard operation by the user, generates a predetermined input signal, and outputs the input signal to the print setting unit 104 and the copy setting unit 107. The image data storage unit 101 holds a plurality of image data created in advance. As the image data, there are data in various formats such as image data such as photographs in addition to document data including code information indicating characters, symbols and the like.

  The printer driver storage unit 102 holds a plurality of printer drivers installed in advance. The printer driver is printing software for controlling the MFP 20 to print print data, and converts document data created by a predetermined application program for creating documents into PDL (page description language) data. The printing condition storage unit 103 holds printing conditions specified by the user as user-specified printing conditions.

  The print setting unit 104 is a printer driver execution unit including an edit screen display unit 111, a print condition editing unit 112, a print data generation unit 113, a remote copy setting control unit 114, and a remote copy setting flag 115. The print setting unit 104 performs various print settings for PC printing based on an input signal from the operation unit 12, creates print data, and transmits the print data to the MFP 20.

  The edit screen display unit 111 generates screen data for displaying the print condition edit screen 3 using a printer driver registered in advance as an execution driver, and outputs the screen data to the display 11. The print condition editing screen 3 is an input screen on which user-specified print conditions, an OK button 39, a cancel button 40, and a remote copy setting selection button 38 are arranged, and is based on a predetermined print instruction specifying document data to be printed. Is displayed.

  The printing condition editing unit 112 rewrites the user-designated printing conditions in the printing condition storage unit 103 to change the printing conditions in the printing condition editing screen 3 based on a predetermined editing operation.

  The print data generation unit 113 reads the image data from the image data storage unit 101 based on the print instruction, and generates print data using the execution driver. The print data is created by converting the image data into data having a predetermined format such as PDL. The print condition included in the print data is determined based on the operation of the OK button 39 in the print condition edit screen 3.

  The network communication unit 105 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives packet data via the LAN 2. The print data is packetized based on a predetermined communication protocol, for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), and is transmitted to the MFP 20 via the LAN 2 based on an instruction from the print setting unit 104. The print data is transmitted with the MFP 20 registered in advance as the execution device as a transmission destination.

  The remote copy setting control unit 114 validates the remote copy setting flag 115 based on the operation of the remote copy setting selection button 38. In the remote copy setting control unit 114, when the remote copy setting flag 115 is validated, a process is performed in which the printing conditions determined by operating the OK button 39 are filed and stored in the constantly monitored folder 106.

  The constantly monitoring folder 106 is a printing condition storage unit that is constantly monitored by the copy setting unit 107 for the presence or absence of printing conditions, and holds printing conditions that are transmitted to the MFP 20 together with image data. Specifically, a print setting file including print conditions transmitted as print data is held. The print setting file is retained even after the print data is transmitted.

  The copy setting unit 107 performs various copy settings for causing the MFP 20 to execute a copy job based on an input signal from the operation unit 12, and transmits remote copy setting information including copy conditions to the MFP 20 as a copy setting file. The copy setting file is created based on the print setting file stored in the constantly monitored folder 106 and transmitted to the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 105.

<Copy setting section>
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the copy setting unit 107 of FIG. The copy setting unit 107 includes a copy condition generation unit 121, a copy condition storage unit 122, an edit control unit 123, a user identification information storage unit 124, a copy condition transmission unit 125, a remote setting inquiry unit 126, a selection screen display unit 127, an edit The icon display unit 128 and the transfer request transmission unit 129 are configured.

  The copy condition generation unit 121 generates a copy condition based on the print setting file stored in the constant monitoring folder 106 and stores it in the copy condition storage unit 122. Specifically, the printing condition transmitted as print data is designated as the copying condition as it is.

  The edit control unit 123 includes an edit screen display unit 131 and a copy condition edit unit 132, and performs remote copy setting based on a user operation. The edit screen display unit 131 generates screen data for displaying the copy condition edit screen 6 based on the copy conditions in the copy condition storage unit 122 and outputs the screen data to the display 11. The copy condition editing screen 6 is an input screen on which a plurality of setting items, a setting button 64, and a cancel button 65 are arranged. The copy condition for each setting item stored in the copy condition storage unit 122 is designated as an initial value. ing. When the remote copy setting flag 115 is validated by operating the remote copy setting selection button 38 in the print condition edit screen 3, the copy condition edit screen 6 is displayed after the edit of the user specified print condition and the print data. Displayed after sending.

  The copy condition editing unit 132 edits the copy condition based on a predetermined editing operation on the copy condition edit screen 6 and rewrites the copy condition in the copy condition storage unit 122. The copy condition transmission unit 125 determines the copy condition based on the operation of the setting button 64 in the copy condition edit screen 6 and outputs remote copy setting information including the copy condition to the network communication unit 105. The remote copy setting information is converted into a file and transmitted to the MFP 20 via the LAN 2 as a copy setting file.

  The user identification information storage unit 124 holds a user name or the like as user identification information for identifying a user. This user identification information is designated in advance by the user, and is transmitted to the MFP 20 together with the remote copy setting information as a copy setting file.

  The remote setting inquiry unit 126 transmits a predetermined confirmation request to the plurality of MFPs 20 on the LAN 2 to inquire whether the remote copy setting is possible. The confirmation request is broadcasted to all MFPs 20 connected via the LAN 2 based on the operation of the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6, for example.

  The selection screen display unit 127 generates screen data for displaying the selection screen 7 for allowing the user to select a transmission destination of the copy setting file based on the inquiry result of the remote setting inquiry unit 126, and outputs the screen data to the display 11. The selection screen 7 is a dialog screen on which identification information of the MFP 20 is arranged, and is created by listing up the MFPs 20 that can be set for remote copying based on the confirmation response received from the MFP 20.

  The copy condition transmission unit 125 transmits a copy setting file with the MFP 20 selected on the selection screen 7 as a transmission destination. In addition, after the copy setting file is transmitted to the MFP 20, the print setting file in the constantly monitored folder 106 and the copy condition in the copy condition storage unit 122 are deleted.

  The editing icon display unit 128 generates display data for displaying the remote copy setting editing icon 8 on the desktop screen 4 and outputs the display data to the display 11. The remote copy setting edit icon 8 is an operation icon for editing the remote copy setting information held by the MFP 20, and is displayed based on the operation of the setting button 64 in the copy condition edit screen 6. When the remote copy setting editing icon 8 is operated, a selection screen 81 is displayed.

  The transfer request transmission unit 129 transmits a copy setting file transfer request to the MFP 20 based on the operation of the edit button 83 in the selection screen 81. The edit screen display unit 131 performs processing for displaying the copy condition edit screen 6 based on the copy setting file received from the MFP 20. In the copy condition edit screen 6 displayed by operating the edit button 83, the copy condition transmitted as a copy setting file to the MFP 20 is designated as an initial value.

  Further, the copy condition is determined by operating the setting button 64 in the copy condition edit screen 6. At this time, if the copy condition has been changed from when the copy condition edit screen 6 is displayed until the setting button 64 is operated, the remote registered in the MFP 20 based on the changed copy condition. A change request for changing the copy setting information is generated and transmitted to the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 105.

<Printer driver>
Steps S101 to S106 in FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the printer driver in the PC 10 in FIG. First, the print setting unit 104 displays the print condition editing screen 3 on the display 11, and if various print settings are input by the user, the user-specified print conditions in the print condition storage unit 103 are set based on the input information. Rewriting is performed (steps S101 and S102).

  Next, when the selection button 38 in the print condition editing screen 3 is operated, the print setting unit 104 stores the user-specified print conditions in the constantly monitoring folder 106 as a print setting file (steps S103 and S104). The processing procedure from step S102 to step S104 is repeated until the OK button 39 in the print condition editing screen 3 is operated (step S105). When the OK button 39 is operated, the print data is transmitted to the MFP 20. (Step S106).

<Copy setting software>
Steps S201 to S218 in FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the copy setting unit 107 in the PC 10 in FIG. 8, and an example of the operation of the copy setting software is shown. First, when the print setting file is stored in the constantly monitoring folder 106, the copy setting unit 107 displays the inquiry screen 5 (steps S201 and S202).

  Next, when the creation of the remote copy setting editing icon 8 is selected by operating the creation button 51 in the inquiry screen 5, the copy setting unit 107 is held as a print setting file in the constantly monitored folder 106. A copy condition is generated from the print conditions that are present, and the copy condition edit screen 6 is displayed (steps S203 and S204). On the other hand, when the cancel button 52 is operated, the print setting file in the constantly monitored folder 106 is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S201 (step S216).

  If the copy condition is changed by a predetermined editing operation after the copy condition editing screen 6 is displayed, the edit control unit 123 rewrites the copy condition in the copy condition storage unit 122 (steps S205 and S206). The processing procedure of steps S205 and S206 is repeated until the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6 is operated (step S207). If the setting button 64 is operated, a confirmation request for inquiring whether or not the remote copy setting is possible is transmitted to each MFP 20 on the LAN 2 (step S208).

  Next, the copy setting unit 107 displays the selection screen 7 if there is a support device capable of remote copy setting (steps S209 and S210). On the other hand, if there is no support device, a message indicating that remote copy setting is not possible is displayed, the print setting file in the constantly monitored folder 106 is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S201 (steps S209, S217, and so on). S218).

  If the MFP 20 is selected by the user after the selection screen 7 is displayed, the copy setting unit 107 determines a copy condition, and transmits the remote copy setting information together with the user identification information to the selected MFP 20 as a transmission destination. (Steps S211 to S213).

  Next, the copy setting unit 107 displays the remote copy setting editing icon 8 on the desktop screen 4, deletes the print setting file in the constantly monitored folder 106, and proceeds to step S201 (steps S214 and S215).

  Steps S301 to S306 in FIG. 13 are flowcharts showing an example of an operation when the edit button 83 is operated in the PC 10 in FIG. First, when the edit button 81 in the selection screen 81 is operated, the copy setting unit 107 accesses the MFP 20 on the LAN 2 using MFP information registered as a transmission destination of remote copy setting information. Then, a copy setting file registered as remote copy setting information is acquired from the MFP 20 and stored in the copy condition storage unit 122 (step S301).

  Next, the copy setting unit 107 displays the copy condition edit screen 6 based on the acquired copy setting file (step S302). If the copy condition is changed by a predetermined editing operation after the copy condition editing screen 6 is displayed, the copy setting unit 107 rewrites the copy condition in the copy condition storage unit 122 (steps S303 and S304). The processing procedure of steps S303 and S304 is repeated until the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6 is operated (step S305). If the setting button 64 is operated, the copy condition is determined, and a copy setting file including remote copy setting information is transmitted to the transfer source MFP 20 (step S306).

<MFP>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the MFP 20 of FIG. The MFP 20 includes a display 21, an operation unit 22, a network communication unit 201, a received data storage unit 202, a copy control unit 203, an optical reading unit 204, a printing unit 205, and an application copy button display unit 206.

  The network communication unit 201 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives packet data via the LAN 2. The received print data and remote copy setting information are stored in the reception data storage unit 202. The received data storage unit 202 holds print data 211, a plurality of copy setting files 212, and the like. The copy setting file 212 is held in association with the user identification information 213 together with the identification information of the transfer source terminal.

  The operation unit 22 detects a user operation, generates a predetermined input signal, and outputs it to the copy control unit 203 and the application copy button display unit 206. The optical reading unit 204 optically reads a document and generates image data. A printing unit 205 prints image data on a recording sheet.

  The copy control unit 203 controls the optical reading unit 204 and the printing unit 205 based on an input signal from the operation unit 22 and executes a copying process including an optical reading process and a printing process. The application copy button display unit 206 displays a predetermined application copy selection button 92 in the menu screen of the display 21 when the application copy mode is selected. The application copy selection button 92 is displayed for each user for users whose remote copy setting information is registered in the received data storage unit 202 as the copy setting file 212.

  When the remote copy setting function is selected by operating the application copy selection button 92, the copy control unit 203 reads the corresponding copy setting file 212 from the received data storage unit 202, and the copy specified in the copy setting file. A copy job is executed based on the condition. The copy job is started based on, for example, a start key operation.

<Registering copy setting information>
Steps S401 to S403 in FIG. 15 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation at the time of registration of copy setting information in the MFP 20 in FIG. First, when receiving a copy setting file from the PC 10, the network communication unit 201 stores the copy setting file in the received data storage unit 202 in association with the user identification information 213 (steps S401 and S402).

  Next, when the remote copy setting information is stored as the copy setting file 212 in the received data storage unit 202, the application copy button display unit 206 displays the application copy selection button 92 on the menu screen (step S403).

<Operation during copying>
Steps S501 to S507 in FIG. 16 are flowcharts illustrating an example of an operation during copying in the MFP 20 in FIG. First, when the application copy selection button 92 is operated by the user, the copy control unit 203 refers to the remote copy setting information registered in the received data storage unit 202 and copies the copy condition specified in the remote copy setting information. Are registered as set values for the current copy job (steps S501 and S502).

  Next, when the start key of the operation unit 22 is operated, the copy control unit 203 executes a copy job according to the setting value registered in step S502 (steps S503 and S504).

  On the other hand, when the application copy selection button 92 is not operated, the copy condition manually input by the user is registered as the set value of the current copy job (steps S501 and S505). If the start key is operated, a copy job is executed in accordance with the set value registered in step S505 (steps S506 and S507).

  According to the present embodiment, the PC 10 generates a copy condition from the print condition transmitted to the MFP 20 together with the image data as print data, and transmits it to the MFP 20 as remote copy setting information. Therefore, the MFP 20 can automatically set the copy conditions based on the remote copy setting information received from the PC 10 and execute the copy job. Accordingly, since the copy conditions are set on the PC 10, the operation procedure for setting the copy conditions can be simplified as compared with the case where the copy settings are made on the MFP 20. Further, since the printing conditions for the terminal output process are used as the copying conditions, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the setting values for each setting item of the copying conditions. In addition, since the copy condition can be edited by a predetermined editing operation on the copy condition edit screen 6, the user can change the copy condition to be remotely set to the MFP 20 as necessary.

  In addition, among the plurality of MFPs 20 connected via the LAN 2, it is possible to automatically search for an MFP 20 that can be set for remote copying and display the selection screen 7. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily designate the transmission destination of the copy setting file from among the MFPs 20 capable of remote copy setting by selecting the MFP 20 on the selection screen 7.

  Further, since the remote copy setting editing icon 8 is displayed on the desktop screen 4 by operating the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6, it is easily recognized that the remote copy setting information is registered in the MFP 20. be able to. Further, by operating the remote copy setting editing icon 8, the remote copy setting information registered in the MFP 20 can be edited.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the copy condition editing screen 6 in which the copy condition generated from the print setting file is input as a setting value is displayed and the edited copy condition is transmitted to the MFP 20 as a copy setting file. Although described, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the present invention includes a configuration in which a copy condition generated from a print setting file is directly transmitted to the MFP 20 as a copy setting file.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the copy condition editing screen is displayed by detecting that the print setting file is stored in the constantly monitoring folder 106 and displaying the inquiry screen 5 and operating the creation button 51 on the inquiry screen 5. Although an example in which 6 is displayed has been described, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the copy condition edit screen 6 is displayed upon detecting that the print setting file is stored in the constantly monitored folder 106, and the inquiry screen 5 is displayed by operating the setting button 64 on the copy condition edit screen 6. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the selection button 38 for selecting whether or not to perform remote copy setting is arranged in the print condition editing screen 3 has been described. However, the display mode of the operation icons is not limited to the illustrated configuration. For example, a configuration may be employed in which a remote copy setting selection check box is arranged in the print condition editing screen 3 and the remote copy setting flag 115 is validated by inputting a check mark in the check box.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which whether or not to display the remote copy setting edit icon 8 is selected on the inquiry screen 5 has been described. However, on the print condition edit screen 3 or the copy condition edit screen 6. The configuration may be selected.

  In this embodiment, by operating the setting button 64 in the copy condition editing screen 6, a confirmation request for inquiring whether or not remote copy setting is possible is automatically transmitted to the MFP 20, Although an example in which the selection screen 7 is displayed has been described, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an operation icon for remote setting inquiry is arranged in the copy condition editing screen 6 and a confirmation request is transmitted to the MFP 20 by operating the operation icon and the selection screen 7 is displayed. .

1 Remote copy setting system 2 LAN
3 Print condition edit screen 38 Remote copy setting selection button 39 OK button 4 Desktop screen 5 Inquiry screen 6 Copy condition edit screen 64 Setting button 7 Selection screen 8 Remote copy setting edit icon 81 Selection screen 82 Warm-up button 83 Edit button 92 Application Copy button 10 PC
11 Display 12 Operation unit 101 Document data storage unit 102 Printer driver storage unit 103 Print condition storage unit 104 Print setting unit 105 Network communication unit 106 Continuous monitoring folder 107 Copy setting unit 111 Edit screen display unit 112 Print condition edit unit 113 Print data generation Unit 114 remote copy setting control unit 115 remote copy setting flag 121 copy condition generation unit 122 copy condition storage unit 123 edit control unit 124 user identification information storage unit 125 copy condition transmission unit 126 remote setting inquiry unit 127 selection screen display unit 128 for editing Icon display unit 129 Transfer request transmission unit 131 Edit screen display unit 132 Copy condition editing unit 20 MFP
21 Display 22 Operation Unit 201 Network Communication Unit 202 Received Data Storage Unit 203 Copy Control Unit 204 Optical Reading Unit 205 Printing Unit 206 Applied Copy Button Display Unit

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit;
A terminal device connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication network,
The image forming apparatus performs a copy process for printing image data output from the optical reading unit on a recording medium, and a terminal output process for printing image data received from the terminal apparatus on a recording medium. In a remote copy setting system in which copy conditions for the above copy processing can be specified from an apparatus,
The terminal device has a printing condition storage unit that holds a printing condition to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output process to the image forming device;
A copy condition generation unit for generating a copy condition based on the print condition;
A remote copy setting system, comprising: a copy condition transmission unit that transmits the copy condition to the image forming apparatus via the communication network. A terminal device connected to an image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit via a communication network,
Copy processing for the image forming apparatus that performs copy processing for printing image data output from the optical reading unit on a recording medium and terminal output processing for printing image data received from the terminal device on a recording medium. In the terminal device that specifies the copying conditions for
A printing condition storage unit that holds printing conditions to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output processing to the image forming apparatus;
A copy condition generation unit for generating a copy condition based on the print condition;
A terminal apparatus comprising: a copy condition transmitting unit configured to transmit the copy condition to the image forming apparatus via the communication network. A copy condition edit screen display section for displaying a copy condition edit screen composed of copy conditions generated by the copy condition generation section;
A copy condition editing section for editing the copy conditions based on an editing operation on the copy condition edit screen;
The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the copy condition transmitting unit transmits the edited copy condition to the image forming apparatus. A remote setting inquiry unit that inquires whether or not remote copy setting is possible for two or more of the image forming apparatuses on the communication network;
A selection screen display unit for displaying a selection screen for selecting an image forming apparatus based on the inquiry result of the remote setting inquiry unit;
4. The terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the copy condition transmitting unit transmits the copy condition to the image forming apparatus selected on the selection screen. A user identification information storage unit for holding user identification information for identifying a user;
5. The terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the copy condition transmitting unit transmits the copy condition together with the user identification information to the image forming apparatus. A print condition edit screen display section for displaying a print condition edit screen in which a remote copy setting selection button is arranged based on a print instruction specifying image data to be printed;
A printing condition editing unit for editing the printing conditions based on an editing operation on the printing condition editing screen;
A remote copy setting control unit that enables a remote copy setting flag based on the operation of the remote copy setting selection button;
6. The copy condition edit screen display unit displays the copy condition edit screen after editing the print conditions when the remote copy setting flag is validated. Terminal equipment. An editing icon display unit for displaying a remote copy setting editing icon on the background screen for editing the copying conditions transmitted to the image forming apparatus;
A transfer request transmission unit that transmits a transfer request for a copy condition to the image forming apparatus based on the operation of the remote copy setting editing icon;
The terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the copy condition edit screen display unit displays the copy condition edit screen including copy conditions received from the image forming apparatus. A computer program executed on a terminal device connected to an image forming apparatus having an optical reading unit and a printing unit via a communication network,
Copy processing for the image forming apparatus that performs copy processing for printing image data output from the optical reading unit on a recording medium and terminal output processing for printing image data received from the terminal device on a recording medium. In a computer program for specifying copying conditions for
A printing condition storage step for storing printing conditions to be transmitted together with image data for the terminal output processing to the image forming apparatus;
A copy condition generation step for generating a copy condition based on the print condition;
A computer program comprising: a copy condition transmitting step for transmitting the copy condition to the image forming apparatus via the communication network.

Images