JP3278100B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile machine or a computer device has been connected to a copying machine, and image data has been transmitted and received between these devices to print an image and input an image. Image forming apparatuses have appeared.

[0003] Some image forming apparatuses are connected via a network so that a plurality of users can form an image. Furthermore, there are many types of protocols (rules) used for communication via a network. Some of such image forming apparatuses can handle a plurality of protocols by one.

In such an image forming apparatus such as a printer, print data sent from a computer is limited to a single page description language (excluding emulation).

However, there are many types of page description languages (for example, PostScript, LIPS, CaPSL, etc. (including product names)), and when an image forming apparatus is connected to a network and used by a plurality of users, each The page description language that the user wants to use is not limited to one.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide the image forming apparatus with a plurality of image developing means to support a plurality of page description languages. In this case, a problem arises in that print data described in a certain page description language must be correctly sent to the corresponding image developing means.

At present, in order to solve this problem, in an image forming apparatus, received print data is analyzed from the top, and the page description language used is determined by pattern matching with a format specific to each page description language. A method is adopted in which the information is determined and sent to the corresponding image developing means.

[0008]

However, according to the above-described method, pattern matching from the beginning is performed on all received print data until the page description language used is determined. However, there is a problem that the total printout speed is reduced.

In addition, when a page description language having a similar format must be identified, the page description language may be erroneously identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine a protocol to be used at the time of communication from an information processing apparatus, and determine the determined protocol and the user's execution. Determine the data generating means to analyze the print information based on each data generating means and the link information set by associating with each protocol,
By transferring the print information to the determined data generation unit, the data generation unit can be specified in a short time according to the type of the protocol used for communication of the print information,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that allows a user to associate a generation unit with a protocol using an operation unit or an information processing apparatus of the image processing apparatus.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication unit for communicating print information with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium by using a plurality of protocols; A plurality of data generating means for analyzing the print information to generate print data, and link information for associating each data generating means with each protocol by allowing a user to associate each data generating means with each protocol; Operating means, a determining means for determining a protocol to be used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus, and the print information based on the protocol determined by the determining means and the link information set by the operating means. Determining means for determining data generating means to be analyzed; and a transfer means for transferring the print information to one of the data generating means determined by the determining means. With the door.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing the link information set by the operation means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication means for communicating print information with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a predetermined communication medium using a plurality of protocols, and analyzing the print information. A plurality of data generating means for generating print data, and link information for associating each data generating means with each protocol set by the user associating each data generating means with each protocol in the information processing device Obtaining means for performing the communication from the information processing apparatus; determining means for determining a protocol used for communication from the information processing apparatus; and analyzing the print information based on the protocol determined by the determining means and the link information obtained by the obtaining means. Determining means for determining a data generating means to be transmitted; and transferring the print information to one of the data generating means determined by the determining means. Those having a transfer unit that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output control means for outputting the print data generated by the data generation means to an image forming apparatus for recording an image on a recording paper.

In a fifth aspect according to the present invention, the print information is PDL data based on a predetermined page description language.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the communication means communicates print information with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a network using a plurality of network protocols.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of generating units analyze the print information according to different page description languages.

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system to which an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. The image processing system includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, This corresponds to the case where the image input / output control unit 3 and the information processing device 11 are included. The image processing system is configured to enable facsimile communication via a telephone line.

In FIG. 1, a reader unit 1 reads an image of a document, and outputs image data corresponding to the original image to a printer unit 2 and an image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like. The network interface unit 7 includes a memory 705 that stores information associated with a format board unit associated with the type of communication protocol with the information processing apparatus 11. The memory that stores the association information is not limited to the memory 705, and may be a memory or the like of the core unit 10. Further, the information processing device 11 is configured to be connectable to a plurality of networks,
Each information processing apparatus is configured to perform data communication control even with a different communication protocol (may be determined by the OS of the information processing apparatus). Therefore, PC
Communication is performed using T / IP and other protocols.

In the image input / output control unit 3, the facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10,
Further, it compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and transmits the compressed compressed image data via a telephone line. The hard disk 12 is connected to the facsimile unit 4 and can temporarily store the received compressed image data. A magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5. The file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and sets the compressed image data in the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 together with a keyword for searching the image data. Is stored in the magneto-optical disk (MO).

The file section 5 searches compressed image data stored on the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core section 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses it, and decompresses it. The transferred image data is transferred to the core unit 10.

The network interface unit 7 is an interface for connecting the image input / output control unit 3 to a network. The formatter unit 8 develops print data transferred from an information processing device (PC / WS) 11 composed of a personal computer PC or a workstation WS according to a predetermined protocol into image data recordable by the printer unit 2.
a, 8b (the format board unit 8a analyzes the PDL data conforming to the first page description language and develops it into print data printable by the printer unit 2;
b) analyzes PDL data conforming to the second page description language and develops it into print data that can be printed by the printer unit 2). Information processing device (PC / W
S) The print data transferred from 11 according to a predetermined protocol is rendered into image data printable by the printer unit 2. The image memory unit 9 is a PC / WS11
Is temporarily stored.

Although the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 includes a reader unit 1, a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5,
Network interface unit 7, formatter unit 8,
It controls the flow of data between the image memory units 9.

[0029]

In the image processing apparatus configured as described above, for example, communication of print information with a plurality of information processing apparatuses (PC / WS 11 and other information processing apparatuses (not shown)) by a different protocol via a predetermined communication medium. Communication means for performing communication processing by the LAN controller 704 of the network interface unit 7, a plurality of data generation means for analyzing the print information to generate print data (format board units 8 a and 8 b in this embodiment), Setting means for setting link information for associating each data generating means with each protocol (in this embodiment, the operation unit 11 of the reader unit 1)
5) and a determination unit (the CPU 703 of the network interface unit 7) for executing a control program stored in the memory 705 or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown) when determining a protocol used for communication from the information processing apparatus. Determining means (CPU 703 of the network interface unit 7) for determining data generating means to analyze the print information based on the protocol determined by the determining means and the link information set by the setting means. Is determined by executing a control program stored in the memory 705 or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown)), and transfers the received print information to any of the data generating means determined by the determining means. Transfer means (C of the core unit 10)
PU 123 executes and transfers a control program stored in a memory 124 or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown)), and determines a protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus 11 or the like. A format board unit to analyze the print information based on the protocol determined by the interface unit and the link information set by the operation unit;
After determining the print information a and 8b, the core unit 10 transfers the received print information to one of the determined format board units 8a and 8b, and uses the format unit 8a according to the type of the protocol for receiving the print information. , 8b in a short period of time, and it is possible to reliably generate normal print data from print information received.

Further, a storage unit (memory 705) for storing the link information set by the setting unit is provided, and the network interface unit 7 for determining a protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing device 11 or the like is determined. The format board units 8a and 8 to analyze the print information based on the protocol and the link information stored in the memory 705 set by the operation unit 115.
b), the core unit 10 transfers the print information received to one of the determined format board units 8a and 8b, and sets the type of the protocol for receiving the print information according to the stored link information. Accordingly, it is possible to specify the format board units 8a and 8b to be used in a short time and to surely generate normal print data from the received print information.

Further, in the image processing apparatus configured as described above, for example, communication means (network interface unit) for communicating print information with a plurality of information processing apparatuses 11 via a predetermined communication medium (network) using different protocols. 7), and a plurality of data generating means (format board units 8a and 8) for generating print data via the print information.
b) and acquisition means for acquiring link information that associates each data generation means and each protocol set in each information processing apparatus (the CPU 70 of the network interface unit 7).
3 executes and executes a control program stored in the memory 705 or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown)) and a determination unit (network interface unit) for determining a protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus. 7 by executing the control program stored in the memory 705 or the control program loaded from the storage medium (not shown)).
Deciding means for deciding a data generating means for analyzing the print information based on the protocol determined by the determining means and the link information acquired by the acquiring means (the CPU 703 of the network interface unit 7
The determination is performed by executing the control program stored in the storage medium 05 or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown)) and received by one of the data generation means (format board units 8a and 8b) determined by the determination means. Transfer means (the CPU of the core unit 10)
123 executes the control program stored in the memory 124 or executes and transfers the control program from a storage medium (not shown)), and the network interface unit 7 that determines a protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus 11 or the like. Determines which of the format sections 8a and 8b to analyze the protocol determined and the obtained print information. The format boards 8a and 8b to be used in accordance with the type of the protocol for transferring and receiving the print information according to the set or acquired link information are specified in a short time, and the normal print data is converted from the print information to be received. It is possible to generate it reliably.

Output control means (the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 stores the print data generated by the data generation means (format board units 8a and 8b) to the image forming apparatus (printer unit 2) in the memory 124. A control program or a control program loaded from a storage medium (not shown), and transfers the print data. The print data generated by the format board units 8a and 8b
Is output to the printer unit 2 so that the print data generated by the specified format board units 8a and 8b and the like can be normally output from the image forming apparatus.

Further, the determining means determines a predetermined page description language based on the protocol determined by the determining means for determining the protocol at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus and the link information set by the setting means or the acquired link information. -Based PDL (eg Postscript, LI
When the format board sections 8a and 8b to be analyzed for the PS, CaPSL, etc. (including the product name) are determined, the core section 10 transfers the print information received to one of the determined format board sections 8a and 8b. Format board unit 8 used in accordance with the type of protocol for receiving PDL data in accordance with the set or obtained link information
It is possible to reliably generate normal print data from PDL data received by specifying a and 8b in a short time.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, a document feeder 1 of a reader unit 1 is shown.
01 is the platen glass 1 one by one from the last page
The original is fed onto the platen 02, and after the original reading operation is completed, the original on the platen glass 102 is discharged. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned.

At this time, the reflected light from the original is reflected by the mirror 10
CCD by 5, 106, 107 and lens 108
It is guided to an image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 109. Thus, the scanned image of the original is
After being subjected to predetermined processing, the image data output from the CCD 109 is transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 1. This laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 20
2 and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. I do.

The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is fixed to the fixing unit 20.
7, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. Note that the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set.

When double-sided recording is set,
After the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the flapper 209 is rotated.
To the re-feeding conveyance path L. On the other hand, when the multiplex recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path L by the flap 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. 2
10, the paper is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion by the A / D / SH unit 110 and is subjected to shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 111, and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface (I / F) 113. Transferred to

The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 by executing a control program loaded on the memory 116 from a ROM (not shown) or another storage medium (not shown) in accordance with the setting contents set by the operation unit 115. . For example, when the copy mode in which the trimming process is performed and the copy is performed by the operation unit 115 is set, the image processing unit 111 performs the trimming process and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2.

When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 115, the image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode are transferred from the interface 113 to the core unit 10. Such a control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116,
U114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of the core unit 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to a data processing unit 121, and a control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to a CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 responds to a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. And the interface (I /
O) Facsimile part 4, file part 5, via 120
The data is transferred to the network interface unit 7.

The code data representing the image input via the network interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be developed into image data. After being transferred to the process 121, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2. After the image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, the printer unit 2
And the file section 5 and the network interface section 7.

The image data from the file unit 5 is
After being transferred to the data processing unit 121, the data is transferred to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the network interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

As described above, processing combining the functions of reading the original image, printing the image, transmitting and receiving the image, storing the image, and inputting / outputting data from / to the computer can be performed with the core unit 10 at the center. It is possible.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the network interface unit 7 shown in FIG.

In the figure, a connector A700 is 10B
This is an Ethernet interface connector for ASE5. The connector B701 is a connector for an Ethernet interface for 10BASE2. Connector C7
02 is an Ethernet interface connector for 10 BASET. One of the three connectors is selected to perform a physical connection with the Ethernet. Also,
The CPU 703 performs communication by controlling the Ethernet I / F controller while referring to the volatile or nonvolatile memory included in the memory 705. The connector D707 is connected to the core unit 10, and the CPU 703 communicates with the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 706. Reference numeral 704 denotes a LAN controller.

Hereinafter, as an image development board, for example, an image forming apparatus (see FIG. 1) equipped with a format board section (PDL-1 board) 8a and a format board section (PDL-2 board) 8b is used. The case where printing is performed from the information processing apparatus 11 such as a computer via the PC will be described. The network interface unit 7 can use, for example, PROTOCOL-1 and PROTOCOL-2 as a network protocol used for receiving data from the network.

First, prior to printing, the user associates the network protocols PROTOCOL-1 and PROTOCOL-2 with the format board units 8a and 8b using the operation unit 115 provided in the reader unit 1. Here, when the network interface unit 7 receives the print data using the protocol PROTCOL-1, the network interface unit 7 uses the format board unit 8a that conforms to the page description language PDL-1 to develop the data into a bitmap. , Is set using a format board unit 8b that conforms to the page description language PDL-2 when the data is received using PROTOCOL-2. The settings here are stored in the memory 705 of the network interface unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the data processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
(1) to (8) indicate each step. Note that the present invention can be applied to any of page description languages that are put into practical use as page description languages PDL-1 and PDL-2 described later.

Here, the protocol PROTOCOL-1
User creates print data corresponding to the page description language PDL-1 and sends the print data to the image processing apparatus.
It is assumed that print data is transmitted.

First, the network interface unit 7 of the image processing apparatus sends a print request from the user to the protocol PROTOCOL-1 and the protocol PROTOC.
Waiting in OL-2 format (1), (2).

When the print request from the user arrives in the format of the protocol PROTOCOL-1, the network interface unit 7 uses the protocol PROTOCOL-1 to receive the print data. that time,
The network interface unit 7 refers to the memory 705, specifies that the format board unit 8a to be used is the page description language PDL-1 (3), notifies the core unit 10 of the fact (4), and receives the information. The print data is transferred to the core unit 10 (5).

Next, the core unit 10, as notified,
The print data is transferred to the format board unit 8a (6). Thereafter, the format board unit 8a develops PDL data conforming to the page description language PDL-1 into print data (7), and outputs from the printer unit 2 (8).
The print job ends.

Conversely, the protocol PROTOCOL-
A user who uses print data 2 creates print data corresponding to the page description language PDL-2 and transmits the print data (PDL data) to the image forming apparatus.

After that, it is the same as the above-mentioned example, except that the network interface unit 7 uses the protocol PROTOC.
To receive print data using OL-2, it is specified to use the format board unit 8b, and the format board unit 8b performs analysis, development, and output in the same manner as described above.

[0061]

In the image processing apparatus configured as described above, for example, a plurality of data for generating print data by analyzing print information received via a predetermined communication medium (network) with a plurality of information processing apparatuses 11 and the like. In the data processing method of the image processing apparatus having the generating means (format board units 8a, 8b, etc.), a communication step (pre-processing of step (1) in FIG. 6) for communicating print information by different professionals;
A discriminating step of discriminating a protocol by the communication (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 6), and acquiring information for acquiring link information for associating each data generating means with each protocol (step (3) in FIG. 6) ) And a decision step of deciding a data generating means for analyzing the print information based on the determined protocol and the acquired link information (FIG. 6).
Step (3)) and a transfer step of transferring the received print information to any of the determined data generating means (FIG. 6).
Steps (4) to (6)) to determine the data generation means to be used in accordance with the type of the protocol for receiving the print information in a short time, and to ensure normal print data from the received print information. Can be generated.

As another embodiment, the association between the protocol and the format board section can be performed not from the operation section of the image forming apparatus but from the information processing apparatus 11 of the user connected via the network. is there.

In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the network interface unit 7 can use two protocols and the image forming apparatus has two format board units. As long as the setting is made so that the board section is specified, there is no problem even if there are three or more protocol and format board sections.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0072]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the inventions of (1) to (7), the protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus is determined, and the determined protocol and the link information set by the user in association with each data generating means and each protocol are set. The data generating means for analyzing the print information is determined based on the information, and the print information is transferred to the determined data generating means, so that the data generating means can be operated in a short time in accordance with the type of the protocol used for communicating the print information. This makes it possible to specify the generation means and the protocol, and to cause the user to operate the operation unit of the image processing apparatus or the information processing apparatus.

[0073]

[0074]

[0075]

[0076]

[0077]

[0078]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system to which an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing a reader unit and a printer unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a reader unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a core unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a network interface unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a data processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 File part 7 Network interface part 8 Formatter part 8a Format board part 8b Format board part 10 Core part 11 Information processing device 705 Memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 13/00 G06F 3/12 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/32

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A using multiple protocols, a plurality of generating a communication means for communicating print information through a plurality of information processing devices and a predetermined communication medium, the print data by analyzing the print information User and the association between each data generation means and each protocol
To thereby performed, and operating means for setting the link information associating the respective data generating means and each protocol, and determining means for determining a protocol to use when communicating from the information processing apparatus, a protocol that said discriminating means has discriminated based on said link information set by the operation means, determination means for determining a data generation unit to be analyzing the print information, to either the data generating means determined by the determination unit, the print information An image processing apparatus, comprising: a transfer unit configured to transfer image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the link information set by the operation means. 3. Using the plurality of protocols, a plurality of generating a communication means for communicating print information through a plurality of information processing devices and a predetermined communication medium, the print data by analyzing the print information Data generation means and the user associates each data generation means with each protocol
Means for acquiring link information for associating each data generating means and each protocol set by performing the information processing with the information processing apparatus ; determining means for determining a protocol used at the time of communication from the information processing apparatus; Determining means for determining a data generating means to analyze the print information based on the protocol determined by the means and the link information acquired by the acquiring means; and any one of the data generating means determined by the determining means And a transfer means for transferring the print information. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output control unit that outputs the print data generated by the data generation unit to an image forming apparatus that records an image on recording paper. . 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print information is PDL data based on a predetermined page description language.
Or the image processing apparatus according to 3. 6. The communication means according to claim 1, wherein said communication means comprises a plurality of network processors.
Protocols can be used to connect multiple
Communication of print information via a network
The image processing device according to claim 1 or 3. 7. The plurality of generating units are different from each other.
Analyzing the print information according to a page description language
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: