JP4100856B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that copies only a document read by a scanner is known. When copying an original, the user of the image forming apparatus bears all the costs required for the copying (running costs such as recording paper fee, toner fee, and copying device usage fee).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the user of the image forming apparatus has a demand for reducing the copy cost.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the copy cost to be borne by the user of the image forming apparatus when the user of the image forming apparatus copies a document. And
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit and a printer unit, a storage unit that stores first image data read by the scanner unit, and an addition to the first image data read by the scanner unit. Code information corresponding to the code information for specifying the advertisement image data from the server device on the network, and the advertisement image data specified by the code information When the means captures, the third image data obtained by deleting the code information from the first image data stored in the storage means and the advertisement image data captured by the capture means are different on recording paper. The image formed in the area is printed by the printer means, and the advertisement image data specified by the code information is displayed. If the data is the capturing means not be captured, an image forming apparatus characterized by a control means for printing the first image data stored in the storage means to said printer means.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system IS that is an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007]
The web server 101 provides a specific service to an Internet user, the electronic money server 102 performs a settlement process between a financial institution and a consumer client, and the service provider 103 is an individual user. The firewall 104 connects the LAN 120 and the external communication network (Internet) 100 to perform security management and the like. The web server 101, the electronic money server 102, the service provider 103, and the firewall 104 are connected via a communication network such as the Internet 100.
[0008]
In the LAN 120, devices such as a device management server 105, a file server 106, a multi-function machine (copying apparatus) 107, a personal computer 114, and a printer 115 are connected.
[0009]
The device management server 105 is a server that manages each device such as the connected file server 106, multi-function machine 107, personal computer 114, and printer 115, and manages data such as user management and billing information.
[0010]
The file server 106 is a server that manages advertisement data and the like, and outputs advertisement data to the multi-function machine 107 and the printer 115 as necessary.
[0011]
The multi-function machine 107 mainly has functions such as image input / output. The multifunction machine 107 reads a visible image in accordance with instructions from the operation unit 108, device controller 109, operation unit 108, and personal computer 114 for user operation, and outputs image data corresponding to the visible image. A scanner (scanner) 110, a printer 111 for printing data sent from the personal computer 114 and the file server 106, a memory 112, and a hard disk 113 are provided.
[0012]
The device controller 109 is a device controller that performs control when inputting / outputting image data among the scanner 110, the printer 111, the memory 112, the hard disk 113, and the personal computer 114 based on an instruction from the operation unit 108 or the personal computer 114. It is. Then, for example, the image data output by the scanner 110 is stored in the memory 112 or the hard disk 113, the image data output by the scanner 110 is output to the personal computer 114, or the image data output by the scanner 110 is printed. Is to control.
[0013]
The printer 115 forms an image of image data sent from the personal computer 114 or the file server 106 on a recording medium.
[0014]
The personal computer 114 is connected as a terminal device, browses information provided from the web server 101 via the Internet 100, and outputs image data to the multifunction machine 107 and the printer 115.
[0015]
Note that the LAN 120 may be under an individual user, and the LAN 120 may be connected to the Internet 100 via the service provider 103.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 107 will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document read by the multifunction machine 107.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an advertisement of a company or the like to be added to the original when the original read by the multi-function machine 107 is copied.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image output from the multifunction machine 107.
[0020]
When the user copies an image such as a magazine as shown in FIG. 2 on the multi-function machine 107, the user sets the document 200 on the scanner 110. Subsequently, via the operation unit 108, options such as image quality and the number of copies for copying are set, an advertisement composition mode is designated, and when the copy start button is pressed, the multi-function machine 107 starts copying. To do.
[0021]
The device controller 109 provided in the multi-function machine 107 causes the scanner 110 to read the document 200, and the image data (first image data) about the document 200 output by the scanner 110 is once connected to the device controller 109. Stored in the image memory 112.
[0022]
Next, the device controller 109 detects the barcode 201 that is advertisement specifying information from the image data of the document 200 stored in the memory 112.
[0023]
If the barcode 201 is not detected, the device controller 109 transfers the image data for the document 200 stored in the memory 112 to the printer 111 as it is. Then, the printer 111 forms an image on the recording paper using the image data of the document 200 as a visible image, and the copying ends.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the device controller 109 detects the barcode 201 that is advertisement specifying information from the image data of the document 200 stored in the memory 112, the device controller 109 corresponds to the barcode 201, and the second The image data of the advertisement information 300, which is an example of the image data, is obtained from the file server 106 in which the advertisement image data is stored in advance or the web server (eg, the web server 101) of the corresponding company on the Internet 100. Capture (download) into the memory 112.
[0025]
Next, the image data for the original document 200 and the image data for the advertisement information 300 stored in the image memory 112 are reduced and laid out for recording by the printer 111, and the image data for the original document 200 is used. The bar code 201 is deleted, and the information is transferred to the printer 111.
[0026]
Upon receiving the transferred information, the printer 111 forms an image as shown in FIG. 4 on a predetermined recording sheet, and ends a series of operations.
[0027]
When the printer 111 forms an image, the image data for the original 200 is recorded on the first side of the recording paper, and the image data for the advertisement information 300 is different from the first side of the recording paper. You may make it record on a surface.
[0028]
When the printer 111 forms an image, the bar code 201 does not have to be erased.
[0029]
If the advertisement image data corresponding to the barcode 201 is not found even though the barcode 201 can be detected, the image data for the document 200 stored in the memory 112 is transferred to the printer 111 as it is. Then, the printer 111 forms an image on the recording paper for the image data of the original 200, and the copying ends.
[0030]
Further, when copying, the advertisement information 300 corresponding to the barcode 201 is received from the file server 106 in which the advertisement image data is stored in advance or the web server (for example, the web server 101) of the corresponding company on the Internet 100. When the device controller 109 downloads the image data to the image memory 112, the image data such as the advertisement information 300 corresponding to the barcode 201 is provided using the device management server 105, the electronic money server 102, or the like. Mainly a part of the copy cost.
[0031]
Further, when copying, the advertisement image data corresponding to the barcode 201 is received from the file server 106 in which the advertisement image data is stored in advance or the web server (for example, the web server 101) of the corresponding company on the Internet 100. The multi-function machine 107 is provided with a counter that counts the number of times that the device controller 109 has downloaded the image memory 112, and in accordance with the count number of the counter, the advertisement image data corresponding to the barcode 201 is provided with a copy cost. You may make it bear a part of.
[0032]
In addition, when copying, as the image data to be added to the manuscript, in addition to the advertisement image data of the company, a gazette, a warning or the like of the government or a public institution can be adopted.
[0033]
According to the above embodiment, in the multi-function machine 107, when the user of the multi-function machine 107 copies a manuscript, the information provider wants to provide information that the information provider wants to provide by simply performing a copy operation. By automatically adding the image to the image and forming an image, the information provider can bear a part of the copy cost, and the copy cost to be borne by the user of the multifunction machine 107 can be reduced.
[0034]
In addition, since the installation cost of the multifunction machine 107 is reduced, the copy cost to be borne by the user is reduced, so that the use amount of the copy increases and the sales can be increased.
[0035]
Furthermore, the information provider can provide the information to be provided to the user of the multifunction machine 107 with a strong impact. This is because even if you post information that you want to provide in a magazine, etc., it is not clear whether the person who purchased the magazine will pay attention to the posted information. This is because the information added to the original is also watched.
[0036]
Note that the file server 106 and the web server 101 are examples of external storage devices connected to the multifunction machine 107.
[0037]
The barcode 201 is an example of specific information that associates image data stored in the file server 106 and the web server 101 with the document 200 to be copied.
[0038]
In the above-described embodiment, the barcode 201 is an example of specific information that is arranged according to a predetermined rule and exists in the image data for the document 200.
[0039]
In the above embodiment, information (for example, a two-dimensional code) that is arranged according to a predetermined rule and exists in the image data about the document 200 may be adopted as the specific information instead of the barcode 201. By adopting a two-dimensional code, it is possible to express more data than a barcode.
[0040]
Further, specific information such as the barcode 201 may be embedded in the document 200. Since the specific information is embedded in the document 200, it is not necessary to place the specific information at the corner of the document, and the number of cases where the specific information cannot be detected is reduced.
[0041]
Further, in the above embodiment, instead of the barcode 201, fine pixel that cannot be read with the naked eye by a person having standard vision, and information existing in the first image data may be used as the specific information. . By adopting the fine pixel as the specific information, it becomes difficult to find the specific information in the original, and the original looks clean.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the advertisement image corresponding to the code information added to the image to be printed can be printed in a different area from the image in which the code information is deleted from the image to be printed. This is suitable for printing a somewhat large advertisement image related to the image together with the print target image. That is, for example, when copying a magazine, the advertisement related to the article can be attached and copied, and if the copy cost is borne by the advertiser, the copy cost to be borne by the user can be reduced. Play. Further, by deleting the code information, it is possible to prevent the same advertisement from being further added even if, for example, the advertisement is copied again in a printed state. In addition, the present invention prints the image to be printed as it is when the capture means cannot capture the advertisement image data specified by the code information. This is advantageous in that it can be printed with an advertisement image at the time of the printing opportunity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system IS that is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document read by the multifunction machine 107. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an advertisement image of a company or the like to be added to the original when the original read by the multifunction machine 107 is copied.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image output from the multifunction machine 107. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 ... Internet,
101 ... Web server,
106: File server,
107 ... multifunction machine,
109: Device controller,
110 ... Scanner,
111 ... Printer,
112 ... Memory,
200 ... manuscript,
201 ... Barcode,
300 ... advertising information,
IS: Image forming system.

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus comprising a scanner unit and a printer unit,
Storage means for storing first image data read by the scanner means;
Code information added to the first image data read by the scanner means, fetching means for fetching advertisement image data corresponding to code information for specifying the advertisement image data from a server device on the network;
When the fetching means fetches the advertisement image data specified by the code information, third image data obtained by deleting the code information from the first image data stored in the storage means, and the fetching An image in which the advertisement image data captured by the means is formed on different areas of the recording paper is printed on the printer means, and the advertisement image data specified by the code information cannot be captured by the capture means. A control unit that causes the printer unit to print the first image data stored in the storage unit ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the code information is barcode information existing in the first image data. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the third image data and the advertisement image data are reduced and recorded on a recording sheet. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The third image data is recorded on a first surface of the recording paper, and the advertisement image data is recorded on a second surface different from the first surface of the recording paper. Image forming apparatus. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the advertisement image data is corporate advertisement image data.

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