JP2018032287A - Image formation system and image formation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system which can properly print printing data including a drawing object at the time of printing in an image formation apparatus.SOLUTION: An image formation system includes an information processing apparatus and an image formation apparatus connected via the network. The information processing apparatus includes: a display unit; an operation input unit which receives the instruction of a user; an application program which generates printing data on the basis of the instruction of the user; and a prior processing analysis unit which performs preview of the generated printing data, presents the object type attribute of each drawing object contained in the printing data to the user, edits the printing data on the basis of the instruction of the user when the user determines that correction of the object type attribute of the drawing object is necessary, and transmits the printing data to the image formation apparatus. The image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit which performs printing output; and a printing processing unit which causes the image formation unit to print the printing data received from the information processing apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming method for performing feedback on print data created by a user.

  Conventionally, various ideas have been made to appropriately perform printing processing in an image forming apparatus (MFP, Multifunction Peripheral).

  For example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, before print execution, the optimal print setting information is notified to an application program on a PC (Personal Computer) based on the state of the memory of the image forming apparatus. Printing according to the setting desired by the user can be performed on the printer side.

  Further, for example, in the technique of Patent Document 2, the environment of the PC and the environment of the image forming apparatus and the resources used in the document in the preflight check for checking whether or not the document is appropriately printed in the image forming apparatus. Are checked to determine whether an unusable font or color profile is set, and whether the resolution of the image included in the document is significantly different from the resolution of the image forming apparatus. If applicable, a warning is displayed and the user is allowed to edit the print data as necessary.

  Note that print data transmitted from the PC to the image forming apparatus mainly includes drawing objects such as text, vector graphics, and raster images. In order for these drawing objects to be drawn optimally, the image forming apparatus performs processing according to the attributes set for those drawing objects.

JP 2001-350610 A JP-A-2005-149407

  However, depending on the application program on the PC, even after the user appropriately modifies the document as in Patent Document 2, the print data is sent to the image forming apparatus without properly setting the attributes of the drawing object. I came there. In this case, drawing processing is performed based on attributes not intended by the user, which may affect the quality of the print output.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to allow a user to set an appropriate attribute as an attribute of a drawing object so that print data including the drawing object is appropriately printed when printing on the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system and an image forming method.

  To achieve the above object, an image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, and the information processing apparatus includes a first communication unit capable of network communication. A display unit, an operation input unit that accepts a user instruction, an application program that generates print data based on the user instruction, and a preview of the generated print data, and includes the print data in the user Presents what the object type attribute of each drawing object is, and when the user determines that the object type attribute of the drawing object needs to be modified, edits the print data based on the user's instructions, A preprocessing analysis unit that sends the print data to the image forming apparatus, and the image Management device includes a second communication unit capable of network communication, and an image forming section for printing out, a print processing unit for printing the print data received from the information processing apparatus to the image forming unit. For this reason, by causing the user to set an appropriate attribute as an attribute of the drawing object, it is possible to appropriately print the print data including the drawing object when printing with the image forming apparatus.

  To achieve the above object, in the image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention, the preprocessing analysis unit converts the generated print data into an intermediate language before the preview, and the image processing apparatus Interprets the print data converted from the intermediate language received from the information processing apparatus, creates bitmap data, and the print processing unit sends the created bitmap data to the image forming unit. It may be configured to print.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming method according to an aspect of the present invention is an image forming method in an image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected via a network. The application program generates print data based on a user instruction, and the preprocessing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus performs a preview of the generated print data, and the user is notified of each drawing object included in the print data. Presenting what the object type attribute is and when the user determines that the object type attribute of the drawing object needs to be corrected, the pre-processing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus performs the above-described instruction based on the user's instruction. The print data is edited, and the preprocessing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus Serial feed to the image forming apparatus, the print processing unit of the image forming apparatus to print an image forming section for printing out the print data received from the information processing apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately print print data including a drawing object at the time of printing in the image forming apparatus by setting an appropriate attribute as an attribute of the drawing object.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram in case the information processing apparatus 10 is comprised with a common computer. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 20. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow in the image forming system 1;

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

[overall structure]
First, the overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 and an image forming apparatus 20 that are connected via a network.

  The information processing apparatus 10 creates, intermediateizes, previews, and edits print data described in PDL (Page Description Language).

  The image forming apparatus 20 prints the intermediate language data sent from the information processing apparatus 10.

  Note that some of the functions of the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized in a server on a cloud provided separately.

  In the image forming system 1, when print data is created by the information processing apparatus 10, if the object type attribute of a drawing object included in the print data is not correctly set by an application program (including a printer driver), image formation is performed. Since printing on the apparatus is not performed properly, the drawing object is checked before sending to the image forming apparatus 20 and the object type is corrected to an appropriate attribute.

  For example, if the object type is originally “text”, printing is performed in black of a single color. If the object type is mistakenly set as “raster image”, black is printed by mixing CMYK (composite black). Will end up. Therefore, the color may not be expressed properly. Note that such a situation where a single color should be printed in color is also a problem from the viewpoint of accounting.

  Conventionally, the object type is set after the user completes the print data with the application program, and therefore the object type cannot be corrected.

  In the image forming system 1, since the object type is forcibly corrected after the object type is set by an application program or the like, the print data in which the object type is set as intended by the user is sent to the image forming apparatus 20. I can do it.

  The overall configuration of the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[Configuration of information processing device]
Next, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described. The information processing apparatus 10 may be configured by dedicated hardware or software, or may be configured by a general computer. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram when the information processing apparatus 10 is configured by a general computer.

  As shown in the figure, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an operation input unit 14, and a communication unit 15 (first communication). Part), a display part 16 and a storage part 17, and these blocks are connected via a bus 18.

  The ROM 12 stores a plurality of programs and data such as firmware for executing various processes. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for the CPU 11 and temporarily holds an OS (Operating System), various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

  The storage unit 17 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 17 stores an OS, various applications, and various data.

  The communication unit 15 is connected to a network for exchanging information with the image forming apparatus 20.

  The CPU 11 develops a program corresponding to an instruction given from the operation input unit 14 among the plurality of programs stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 17 in the RAM 13, and the display unit 16 and the storage unit according to the expanded program. 17 is appropriately controlled.

  The operation input unit 14 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and other operation devices.

  The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a plasma display, or the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 11 will be described.

  The functional blocks realized in the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 10 are an application program 11a, a preprocessing analysis unit 11b, and a raster conversion unit 11c.

  The application program 11a is a program such as a word processor or spreadsheet software, and generates print data.

  The preprocessing analysis unit 11b interprets the print data generated by the application program 11a and converts it into an intermediate language. The intermediate language is what is called a display list or an order list.

  Further, the preprocessing analysis unit 11b previews the print data that has been converted into an intermediate language, and presents the image when the print data is actually printed and the object type attributes of each drawing object to the user. .

  When the user determines that it is necessary to correct the print data converted into the intermediate language, such as correction of the object type attribute of the drawing object, the preprocessing analysis unit 11b edits the print data based on the user's instruction. .

  The raster conversion unit 11c converts print data into a raster image when transmitting the print data to an image forming apparatus that cannot accept print data described in an intermediate language.

  The configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 has been described above.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21. The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and governs overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The control unit 21 includes a document reading unit 22, an image processing unit 23, an image memory 24, an image forming unit 25, an operation unit 26, a display unit 26a, a facsimile communication unit 27, a communication unit 28 (second communication unit), and a storage unit. 29 and the like. The control unit 21 performs operation control of each of the above connected units, and transmission / reception of signals or data to / from each unit.

  The control unit 21 performs operation control on each function such as a scanner function, a print function, a copy function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function in accordance with a job execution instruction input from the user through the operation unit 26 or a network-connected PC. Controls the drive and processing of the mechanisms necessary to execute.

  The control unit 21 includes an intermediate language interpretation unit 21a and a print processing unit 21b. The intermediate language interpretation unit 21a and the print processing unit 21b are functional blocks that are realized by a CPU executing a program loaded from a ROM or the like into the RAM.

  The intermediate language interpretation unit 21a interprets the print data described in the intermediate language received from the information processing apparatus 10, and creates bitmap data (raster data).

  The print processing unit 21b uses the image forming unit 25 to print the bitmap data created by the intermediate language interpretation unit 21a.

  The document reading unit 22 reads an image from a document.

  The image processing unit 23 performs image processing on the image data of the image read by the document reading unit 22 as necessary. For example, the image processing unit 23 performs image processing such as shading correction in order to improve the quality after the image read by the document reading unit 22 is formed.

  The image memory 24 is an area for temporarily storing data of a document image obtained by reading by the document reading unit 22 and temporarily storing data to be printed by the image forming unit 25.

  The image forming unit 25 forms an image such as image data read by the document reading unit 22 or a bitmap created by the intermediate language interpretation unit 21a.

  The operation unit 26 includes a touch panel unit and operation key units that receive instructions from the user regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 20. The touch panel unit includes a display unit 26a such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) provided with a touch panel.

  The facsimile communication unit 27 includes an encoding / decoding unit, a modulation / demodulation unit, and an NCU (Network Control Unit) (not shown), and performs facsimile transmission using a public telephone line network.

  The communication unit 28 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits and receives various data to and from an apparatus (such as a PC) such as the information processing apparatus 10 via a LAN or the like connected to the communication unit 28.

  The storage unit 29 stores a document image read by the document reading unit 22. The storage unit 29 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 has been described above.

[Process flow]
Next, the flow of processing in the image forming system 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the image forming system 1.

  First, the user creates print data using the application program 11a of the information processing apparatus 10 (step S1).

  Next, the preprocessing analysis unit 11b of the information processing apparatus 10 analyzes the print data and converts it into an intermediate language (step S2).

  Next, the pre-processing analysis unit 11b previews the print data that has been converted into an intermediate language (step S3). In this preview, the image at the time of actual printing is shown to the user, and what the object type attribute of each drawing object is.

  Next, it is determined whether the user needs to edit the print data or change the object type attribute of the drawing object (step S4).

  When the print data needs to be edited (Y in step S4), the preprocessing analysis unit 11b edits the print data and changes the object type attribute of the drawing object based on the user instruction (step S5). .

  Next, the preprocessing analysis unit 11b transmits the print data converted into an intermediate language to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S6).

  Next, the intermediate language interpretation unit 21a of the image forming apparatus 20 interprets the intermediate language in the print data received from the information processing apparatus 10 and converts it into raster data (step S7).

  Next, the print processing unit 21b of the image forming apparatus 20 prints the converted raster data by the image forming unit 25 (step S8).

  The processing flow in the image forming system 1 has been described above.

[Additional notes]
As described above, the image forming system 1 according to the present invention includes the information processing apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 connected via a network, and the information processing apparatus 10 is capable of network communication. A display unit 16; an operation input unit 14 that accepts a user instruction; an application program 11a that generates print data based on the user instruction; and a preview of the generated print data. Presenting what the object type attribute of each drawing object included in the data is, and when the user determines that the object type attribute of the drawing object needs to be corrected, the print data is determined based on the user's instruction. A preprocessing analysis unit that edits and sends the print data to the image forming apparatus 20 The image processing apparatus 20 includes a second communication unit 28 capable of network communication, an image forming unit 25 that performs print output, and the print data received from the information processing apparatus 10. 25, and a print processing unit 21b that prints data on the image data.

  For this reason, by causing the user to set an appropriate attribute as an attribute of the drawing object, it is possible to appropriately print the print data including the drawing object when printing with the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, Of course, various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system 10 ... Information processing apparatus 11 ... CPU
11a ... Application program 11b ... Pre-processing analysis unit 11c ... Raster conversion unit 12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Operation input part 15 ... Communication part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Memory | storage part 18 ... Bus 20 ... Image forming apparatus 21 ... Control part 21a ... Intermediate language interpretation part 21b ... Print processing part 22 ... Original document reading part 23 ... Image processing part 24 ... Image memory 25 ... Image forming unit 26 ... Operation unit 26a ... Display unit 27 ... Facsimile communication unit 28 ... Communication unit 29 ... Storage unit

Claims (3)

Including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected via a network;
The information processing apparatus includes:
A first communication unit capable of network communication;
A display unit;
An operation input unit for receiving user instructions;
An application program for generating print data based on the user's instruction;
The generated print data is previewed, the user is presented with what the object type attribute of each drawing object included in the print data is, and the user needs to modify the object type attribute of the drawing object A pre-processing analysis unit that edits the print data based on an instruction from the user and sends the print data to the image forming apparatus.
The image processing apparatus includes:
A second communication unit capable of network communication;
An image forming unit that performs print output; and
An image forming system comprising: a print processing unit that causes the image forming unit to print the print data received from the information processing apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The pre-processing analysis unit
Before the preview, the generated print data is converted into an intermediate language,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Interpreting the print data converted from the intermediate language received from the information processing apparatus, creating bitmap data;
The print processing unit
An image forming system for causing the image forming unit to print the created bitmap data. An image forming method in an image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected via a network,
An application program of the information processing apparatus generates print data based on a user instruction,
The pre-processing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus performs a preview of the generated print data, and presents to the user what the object type attribute of each drawing object included in the print data is,
When the user determines that the object type attribute of the drawing object needs to be corrected, the preprocessing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus edits the print data based on the user instruction,
A pre-processing analysis unit of the information processing apparatus sends the print data to the image forming apparatus;
An image forming method in which a print processing unit of the image forming apparatus causes the image forming unit that performs print output to print the print data received from the information processing apparatus.

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