JP2019185428A - Image formation system, terminal device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation system, a terminal device, and a program capable of performing form printing via a server device that instructs an image formation device to form an image.SOLUTION: A terminal device 10 stores, when performing form printing, a second file indicating a form image in a DEVMODE structure as a fixed standard form image; and transmits a first file indicating a superimposed image to be superimposed on the form image and the DEVMODE structure to a print server device 30. The print server device 30 receives the first file and the DEVMODE structure. The print server device 30 generates an image in which the second file image stored in the received DEVMODE structure and the received first file image are superimposed, and outputs a file indicating the generated image to an image formation device 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, a terminal device, and a program.

  As a system that performs printing using a print server, for example, there is an information processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this system, the value of the print setting item is notified from the client to the print server, and printing is performed with the notified value.

JP 2013-16103 A

  When performing so-called form printing, the form file is a file different from the information file printed on the form. For the form file, the place where the entity of the form file is stored in the print settings. The indicated path is specified. Also, for example, when form printing is performed in the EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) format, information printed on the form is converted to the EMF format, and the EMF format file and print setting items are notified to the print server. Is done. The notified setting item includes the path of the form file. If the included path is a path on the client, the print server cannot access the form file and cannot print the form. It becomes.

  It is an object of the present invention to enable form printing via a server device that instructs an image forming apparatus to form an image.

  An image forming system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first generation unit that generates a first file that represents an image to be superimposed on a form, the first file, and a second file or the second file that represents the form. Transmitting means for transmitting storage information including an address on the network to the server device, receiving means for receiving the first file and the storage information transmitted by the transmitting means, and the receiving means Acquisition means for acquiring the second file included in the storage information received by the user or the second file specified by the address included in the storage information, and the form represented by the second file acquired by the acquisition means And a server device having second generation means for generating an image in which the image represented by the first file is superimposed on the image of the first file.

  In the image forming system according to claim 2 of the present invention, the stored information is a DEVMODE structure.

  In the image forming system according to claim 3 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is less than a predetermined first threshold, the second file is included in the DEVMODE structure.

  In the image forming system according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is not less than the first threshold and less than a predetermined second threshold, the second file is compressed and the DEVMODE structure is used. Include in the body.

  In the image forming system according to claim 5 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the second threshold and smaller than a predetermined third threshold, the stored information is a PrinterDriverData registry, Include a second file in the PrinterDriverData registry.

  In the image forming system according to claim 6 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the third threshold, the DEVMODE structure includes the address instead of the second file.

  In the image forming system according to claim 7 of the present invention, the stored information is a PrinterDriverData registry.

  In an image forming system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the second file is compressed and included in the PrinterDriverData registry.

  In the image forming system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the first file is in an EMF format.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on a form, the first file, a second file representing the form, or a network of the second files. And transmitting means for transmitting stored information including the address of the server to the server device.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on a form, the first file, a second file representing the form, or the second file. This is a program for causing storage information including an address on a network to function as a transmission means for transmitting to a server device.

According to the image forming system of the first aspect of the present invention, form printing can be performed via the server device that instructs the image forming apparatus to form an image.
According to the image forming system of the second aspect of the present invention, the second file can be sent to the server device together with information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of the third aspect of the present invention, the second file suitable for inclusion in the DEVMODE structure can be included in the DEVMODE structure.
According to the image forming system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the size of the second file is less than the second threshold, even the second file having a size equal to or larger than the first threshold can be included in the DEVMODE structure. it can.
According to the image forming system of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure can be sent to the server apparatus together with information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if the second file cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure and the PrinterDriverData registry, the server device can acquire the second file.
According to the image forming system of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure can be sent to the server apparatus together with information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of the eighth aspect of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the PrinterDriverData registry without being compressed can be sent to the server device.
According to the image forming system of the ninth aspect of the present invention, the time for generating the first file can be reduced as compared with the configuration for generating the RAW format file.
According to the terminal device of the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform form printing via the server device that instructs the image forming apparatus to form an image.
According to the program of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, form printing can be performed via the server device that instructs the image forming apparatus to form an image.

1 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus according to an image forming system 1 of an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which showed the hardware constitutions of the terminal device 10. The functional block diagram of the terminal device 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the print server device 30. FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the print server device 30. The figure which showed an example of the screen which the terminal device 10 displays. The flowchart which showed the flow of the process which the terminal device 10 performs. The flowchart which showed the flow of the process which the terminal device 10 performs. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by the print server device 30.

[Embodiment]
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus according to an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication line 2 is a communication line through which data communication is performed, and a plurality of computer devices that perform data communication are connected. The communication line 2 includes, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) and a wireless LAN.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes an image forming function for forming an image on a sheet as a recording medium, a document scanning function, a copying function, a facsimile function, and the like. The image forming apparatus 20 is connected to the print server apparatus 30. Although FIG. 1 shows one image forming apparatus 20, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20 can be connected to the print server apparatus 30. The image forming apparatus 20 forms an image on a sheet according to a file sent from the print server apparatus 30.

  A terminal device 10 that is an example of a terminal device according to the present invention is a device that performs data communication. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 10 is a desktop personal computer. The terminal device 10 is connected to the communication line 2 by wire or wireless, and performs data communication via the communication line 2. The terminal apparatus 10 transmits a file indicating an image to be formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus 20 to the print server apparatus 30. In the present embodiment, a plurality of terminal devices 10 can be connected to the communication line 2, but only one terminal device 10 is shown in FIG. 1 to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated. The terminal device 10 is not limited to a desktop personal computer, and may be, for example, a laptop personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

  The print server device 30 is an example of a server device according to the present invention. The print server device 30 is connected to the communication line 2 by wire and performs data communication via the communication line 2. The print server device 30 has a so-called print server function, acquires a file sent from the terminal device 10, and instructs the image forming device 20 to form an image indicated by the acquired file.

(Configuration of terminal device 10)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the terminal device 10. The display 103 displays characters, GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the like. The operation unit 104 includes a keyboard and a mouse that are input devices, and is operated by a user. The communication unit 105 functions as a communication interface that performs data communication via the communication line 2. The storage unit 102 includes a storage device such as a hard disk device, and stores operating system programs, application programs, files used by the application programs, and the like. The control unit 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The functions realized in the terminal device 10 are: a program (software) stored in the storage unit 102 is read into hardware such as a CPU and a memory, and the CPU performs an operation to control the storage unit 102 and the communication unit 105. This is realized by controlling the reading and / or writing of data in the memory and storage unit 102.

(Functional configuration of terminal device 10)
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of characteristic functions according to the present invention among the functions realized in the terminal device 10.

  The application 1001 is an application having a printing function, for example, a word processor application or a spreadsheet application.

  The first drawing unit 1002 is a so-called GDI (Graphics Device Interface). The first drawing unit 1002 generates an EMF format file indicating an image formed by the image forming apparatus 20. The first drawing unit 1002 is an example of a first generation unit according to the present invention.

  The first printer driver 1003 is a program that controls the image forming apparatus 20. The first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20 in accordance with a user operation. On the property screen displayed by the first printer driver 1003, it is possible to make settings related to image formation, such as the size of the paper on which the image is formed, the color mode, and the format of the file to be output for image formation. It has become. The first printer driver 1003 stores information relating to an image forming job such as a paper size and a color mode in the DEVMODE structure. Further, the first printer driver 1003 acquires information such as the model name of the image forming apparatus 20 and hardware options of the image forming apparatus 20 and stores the acquired information in the registry of PrinterDriverData.

  The first spooler 1004 acquires a file and information used for image formation in the image forming apparatus 20 and transmits the acquired file and information to the print server apparatus 30.

(Configuration of the print server device 30)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the print server device 30. The communication unit 305 is a communication interface for performing data communication. The communication unit 305 is connected to the communication line 2 and performs data communication via the communication line 2. The communication unit 305 is connected to the image forming apparatus 20 by wire or wireless, and performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 20. The communication unit 305 is an example of a communication unit according to the present invention. The storage unit 302 has a storage device (for example, a hard disk device). The storage unit 302 stores a program executed by the control unit 301 and information used by the executed program. The control unit 301 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The functions realized in the print server device 30 are as follows: a program (software) stored in the storage unit 302 is read into hardware such as a CPU and a memory so that the CPU performs an operation, and the control of the storage unit 302 and the communication unit This is realized by controlling 305 and controlling reading and / or writing of data in the memory and storage unit 302.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of functions according to the present invention among functions realized by the control unit 101 executing a program.

  The second drawing unit 3002 is a so-called GDI (Graphics Device Interface). The second drawing unit 3002 acquires an EMF format file and generates an image indicated by the acquired file. The second printer driver 3003 generates a RAW format file indicating an image formed by the image forming apparatus 20. The second printer driver 3003 is an example of an acquisition unit according to the present invention. The second printer driver 3003 is an example of a second generation unit according to the present invention. The second spooler 3004 acquires a file used for image formation in the image forming apparatus 20 and outputs the acquired file to the image forming apparatus 20.

(Operation example of embodiment)
Next, with regard to the operation of the present embodiment, an example of an operation when form printing is performed in which an image obtained by superimposing other images on a standard form image created in advance and the generated image is formed on a recording medium is performed. explain.

  First, an operation example of the terminal device 10 will be described. When the user of the terminal device 10 performs form printing, the operation unit 104 performs an operation for instructing display of the property screen of the image forming apparatus 20. When this operation is performed, the terminal device 10 activates the first printer driver 1003. The first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20 set in advance as an apparatus that performs image formation.

  The property screen displayed by the first printer driver 1003 has a tab for setting form printing. When the user performs an operation for displaying a tab for setting form printing on the operation unit 104, the first printer driver 1003 displays the screen illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a tab for setting form printing displayed by the first printer driver 1003.

  When the user performs form printing, the user checks the form registration check box CB1 on the screen shown in FIG. 6 and stores information indicating the location of the form image file that is a standard form print. A path of a file as an example is entered in a text box TB. The information indicating the location where the form image file entity is stored is not limited to the file path, and may be a URL, for example. The file indicating the form image is an example of a second file according to the present invention. Next, when the user performs an operation of clicking the “OK” button on the screen of FIG. 6, the first printer driver 1003 registers the input path.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed after the terminal device 10 registers the path of the second file. When the first printer driver 1003 registers the path of the second file, the first printer driver 1003 specifies the size of the second file specified by the registered path (step SA1). When the size of the specified second file is equal to or smaller than a predetermined third threshold value that is less than the predetermined second threshold value or greater than the second threshold value (NO in step SA2), the first printer driver 1003 is shown in FIG. Terminate the process.

  On the other hand, if the specified size is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the third threshold (YES in step SA2), the first printer driver 1003 identifies the first specified by the path registered in the PrinterDriverData registry. Two files are stored (step SA3).

  Next, the first printer driver 1003 acquires PrinterDriverData registry data, and transmits the acquired data to the print server device 30 (step SA4). PrinterDriverData registry data is an example of stored information according to the present invention. Since the second file is stored in the registry of PrinterDriverData in step SA3, the data acquired from the registry of PrinterDriverData and transmitted to the print server device 30 includes the second file.

  The print server device 30 receives PrinterDriverData data transmitted from the first printer driver 1003. The second printer driver 3003 updates the PrinterDriverData registry data in the print server device 30 with the received PrinterDriverData registry data. Since the received data includes the second file, the second file is included in the registry of the PrinterDriverData of the print server device 30 to be updated.

  Next, an operation example when performing form printing in which an image obtained by superimposing a form image and another image is formed on a recording medium will be described. When the user of the terminal device 10 performs form printing, the application 1001 creates an image to be superimposed on the form image (hereinafter referred to as a superimposed image).

  Next, when the user performs an operation to instruct printing, the first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20. When the user performs an operation for displaying a tab for setting form printing on the operation unit 104, the first printer driver 1003 displays the screen illustrated in FIG. The user performs an operation of checking the check box CB2 for form printing in FIG. 6 and clicking the “OK” button on the screen in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by the terminal device 10 when this operation is performed.

  First, the first drawing unit 1002 generates an EMF format file indicating a superimposed image created by the user (step SB1). The EMF format file indicating the superimposed image is an example of a first file according to the present invention. The first drawing unit 1002 sends the generated first file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB2).

  Next, the first printer driver 1003 obtains a path indicating the location where the entity of the second file registered in the above operation example is stored, and obtains the second file specified by the obtained path (step). SB3). When acquiring the second file, the first printer driver 1003 specifies the size of the acquired second file (step SB4).

  If the size of the second file is smaller than the first threshold value that is smaller than the second threshold value (YES in step SB5), the first printer driver 1003 uses the acquired second file in the DEVMODE structure as the first value. The printer driver 1003 stores the DEVMODE structure storing the second file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The DEVMODE structure is an example of stored information according to the present invention. The first spooler 1004 transmits the first file in the EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

  If the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the first threshold (NO in step SB5), the first printer driver 1003 determines that the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold. (Step SB7). If the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold (YES in step SB7), the first printer driver 1003 compresses the acquired second file and expands the DEVMODE structure. The DEVMODE structure including the compressed second file is stored in the area (step SB8) and sent to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The first spooler 1004 transmits the first file in the EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

  If the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the second threshold (NO in step SB7), the first printer driver 1003 has a size of the second file that is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the aforementioned third threshold. (Step SB9). If the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the third threshold, the first printer driver 1003 displays information indicating that the second file is stored in the registry of PrinterDriverData in the DEVMODE structure. (Step SB10), and the DEVMODE structure including the information is sent to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The first spooler 1004 transmits the first file in the EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

  If the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the third threshold value (NO in step SB9), the first printer driver 1003 places the acquired second file in a shared folder accessible by the terminal device 10 and the print server device 30. Store (step SB11). The shared folder may be provided in the terminal device 10 or may be provided in the print server device 30. The shared folder may be provided in a computer device connected to the communication line 2 other than the terminal device 10 and the print server device 30. Next, the first printer driver 1003 stores the path of the shared folder storing the second file and the file name of the second file stored in the shared folder in the DEVMODE structure (step SB12), and the path of the shared folder. And a DEVMODE structure including the file name of the second file is sent to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). Here, the path stored in the DEVMODE structure is an example of an address on the network of the second file according to the present invention. The first spooler 1004 transmits the first file in the EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14). The first spooler 1004 is an example of a transmission unit according to the present invention.

  Next, an operation example of the print server apparatus 30 will be described. The print server device 30 receives the first file and the DEVMODE structure transmitted from the terminal device 10. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed when the print server apparatus 30 receives the first file and the DEVMODE structure.

  The second spooler 3004 acquires the first file received by the communication unit 305, and sends the acquired first file to the second drawing unit 3002 (step SC1). The second drawing unit 3002 generates a superimposed image indicated by the first file in the EMF format sent from the second spooler 3004 (step SC2).

  The second printer driver 3003 acquires the DEVMODE structure received by the communication unit 305, and specifies information stored in the extension area of the acquired DEVMODE structure (step SC3).

  If the specified information is a second file that is not compressed (YES in step SC4), the second printer driver 3003 acquires the second file from the acquired DEVMODE structure (step SC5). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image obtained by superimposing the superimposed image generated by the second drawing unit 3002 on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13), and RAW indicating the generated image. A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

  If the specified information is a compressed second file (NO in step SC4, YES in step SC6), the second printer driver 3003 acquires the compressed second file from the acquired DEVMODE structure ( Step SC7), the acquired compressed second file is expanded (step SC8). The second printer driver 3003 generates an image obtained by superimposing the superimposed image generated by the second drawing unit 3002 on the form image indicated by the expanded second file (step SC13), and in the RAW format indicating the generated image. A file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

  When the specified information is information indicating that the second file is stored in the PrinterDriverData registry (NO in step SC6, YES in step SC9), the second printer driver 3003 is included in the PrinterDriverData registry. The second file is acquired (step SC10). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image obtained by superimposing the superimposed image generated by the second drawing unit 3002 on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13), and RAW indicating the generated image. A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

  If the specified information is the path of the shared folder and the file name of the second file (NO in step SC9, YES in step SC11), the second printer driver 3003 starts from the shared folder specified by the stored path. The second file specified by the stored file name is acquired (step SC12). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image obtained by superimposing the superimposed image generated by the second drawing unit 3002 on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13), and RAW indicating the generated image. A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

  The image forming apparatus 20 acquires the RAW format file output from the print server apparatus 30, and prints the image indicated by the acquired file, that is, the image in which the superimposed image is superimposed on the form image.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with another various form. For example, the present invention may be implemented by modifying the above-described embodiment as follows. In addition, you may combine each of embodiment mentioned above and the following modifications.

  In the embodiment described above, the terminal device 10 stores the second file without compression when storing the second file in the PrinterDriverData registry. However, in the present invention, the terminal device 10 compresses the second file. May be stored. In this configuration, when the print server device 30 acquires the second file from the PrinterDriverData registry, the print server device 30 acquires and expands the compressed second file stored from the PrinterDriverData registry.

  In the present invention, the terminal device 10 may move the process flow to step SB11 even when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the second threshold and smaller than the third threshold.

  In the present invention, the access right is set to the shared folder storing the second file, and the terminal device 10 stores the information for accessing the shared folder in the DEVMODE structure and transmits it to the print server device 30. Good. In this configuration, when acquiring the second file from the shared folder, the print server device 30 may access the shared folder with information stored in the DEVMODE structure transmitted from the terminal device 10.

In the present invention, a flag may be provided in the extended area of the DEVMODE structure, and the value of this flag may be set to 1 when form printing is performed, and the value of this flag may be set to 0 when form printing is not performed.
In the case of this configuration, the print server apparatus 30 determines the value of the flag stored in the DEVMODE structure acquired from the terminal apparatus 10, and when the flag value is 1, the process of FIG. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 2 ... Communication line, 10 ... Terminal device, 20 ... Image forming apparatus, 30 ... Print server apparatus, 101 ... Control part, 102 ... Memory | storage part, 103 ... Display, 104 ... Operation part, 105 ... Communication , 301 control unit, 302 storage unit, 305 communication unit, 1001 application, 1002 first drawing unit, 1003 first printer driver, 1004 first spooler, 3002 second drawing unit, 3003. Second printer driver, 3004... Second spooler.

Claims (11)

First generation means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
Transmitting means for transmitting storage information including the first file and a second file representing the form or a network address of the second file to a server device;
A terminal device having
Receiving means for receiving the first file and the stored information transmitted by the transmitting means;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a second file included in the storage information received by the reception unit or a second file specified by an address included in the storage information;
A second generation unit that generates an image in which the image represented by the first file is superimposed on the image of the form represented by the second file acquired by the acquisition unit;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the storage information is a DEVMODE structure. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein when the size of the second file is less than a predetermined first threshold, the second file is included in the DEVMODE structure. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the first threshold and smaller than a predetermined second threshold, the second file is compressed and included in the DEVMODE structure. 5. The storage information is a PrinterDriverData registry when the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than a predetermined third threshold, and the second file is included in the PrinterDriverData registry. Image forming system. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the third threshold value, the DEVMODE structure includes the address instead of the second file. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the stored information is a PrinterDriverData registry. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the second file is compressed and included in the PrinterDriverData registry. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first file is in an EMF format. Generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
Transmitting means for transmitting storage information including the first file and a second file representing the form or a network address of the second file to a server device;
A terminal device. Computer
Generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
A program for causing the first file and a second file representing the form or stored information including an address on the network of the second file to be transmitted as a transmission unit to a server device.

Images