JP4582355B2 - Bookbinding output method - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, when book content data held in a server is bound by a device connected via a network, the copyright of the book content is appropriately protected by preventing inadvertent duplication. The present invention relates to an intended bookbinding output method.

  As one form of electronic publishing, digital data related to books, etc. is downloaded from a server connected to a network such as the Internet, and then printed on a printing device connected to the network to provide a publication to the user. In the past, systems that enable electronic publishing have been proposed (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, etc.). However, providers of digital data related to books and the like are worried that unlimited copying is possible, and tend to refrain from providing digital data related to books and the like that can be expected to earn copyright fees. For this reason, various methods for appropriately charging a copyright fee and methods for preventing unauthorized copying have been proposed.

  In Patent Document 3, when a user inputs a command for transmitting a copy of a book via a modem, the copyright fee payment program intercepts the copy command and interrupts the copying operation. A technique for presenting copyright usage fee payment information stored in a file accompanying a text or book to a user is described. According to this technology, according to this technology, authors and publishers are provided with a means to force readers to pay a royalty fee when they copy part or all of a soft copy book. It is described that the copyright in the copyrighted work can be protected easily and reliably.

  Patent Document 4 describes a technology in which only a user authenticated by a copyright server performs encryption that can be decrypted by a document server, transfers the document to a print agent corresponding to the user, and each agent decrypts and prints the document. ing. This publication describes that this technology can prevent unauthorized copying in electronic publishing.

  According to Patent Document 5, on the terminal side, a file of data that has been printed is not left, a certificate proving non-copying is attached to the printed matter, or a watermark of identification data is put on the printed matter. In this publication, this technique is preferred for preventing fraud.

Patent Document 6 describes a technique for encrypting information of an electronic book with a browsing key and decrypting it with a charging means so as to be able to print. This publication can prevent unauthorized copying and charging. It is said that management is possible.
JP-A-11-328526 JP 2000-25360 A JP-A-6-103286 JP-A-7-239828 JP 2000-353197 A JP 2000-112857 A

  However, the above-described conventional technique has a problem that it is difficult to reliably prevent unauthorized copying because status management on the printing apparatus side is not performed outside management on the server side. For example, if a sheet on which an image is formed can be taken out from the image forming apparatus, a plurality of books can be easily copied. In addition, the image forming apparatus can be used for general purposes as a copier, etc., and it is possible to set multiple copies suitable for this, and to interrupt or cancel the processing. Copying and the like can be performed. Moreover, there is a possibility that appropriate bookbinding may not be performed due to a missing page. Examples of these typical problems are listed below.

1. When an instruction is made to create a book from the terminal and the bookbinding device is not connected to the image forming device, if the image is created, the created product is converted into a document and an automatic document feeder is used. Copying makes it very easy to copy books.
2. Image forming devices often have a function to interrupt (pause) or cancel (cancel) during the creation of one copy, and intentionally interrupt or cancel in the middle of creating a book. If the document is converted to a document and copied using an automatic document feeder or the like, a copy of the book can be made very easily, if not a complete book. Also, if you remove a part of the paper, it will lead to a missing book.
3. In the image forming apparatus, an interruption event such as no paper occurs in the middle of producing one copy of a book, and it may be unavoidably stopped. It makes it possible to create a book signature or copy.
4). In the image forming apparatus, since the book content data is temporarily stored in the HDD or the like, it remains as data even after one copy is created and can be reused intentionally.
5). If the number of copies can be set in the image forming apparatus when an instruction to create a book from the external input apparatus is given, a copy can be made outside the management of the terminal.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that prevents unauthorized duplication, appropriately protects copyright, and enables bookbinding management.

The first invention of the bookbinding output method of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a sheet based on the book content data transmitted through a network from a server holding the book content data ; In a bookbinding output method executed by a bookbinding system comprising a bookbinding device that binds the image-formed paper , the image forming device has a mode in which image formation is performed by the image forming device, the book content data being In the mode determination step for determining whether or not the book mode is for performing image formation using the image, and when the mode determination step determines that the book mode is selected, a plurality of copy setting functions provided in the image forming apparatus include: In the setting number determining step for determining whether or not the number of copies has been set, and in the setting number determining step, setting a plurality of copies If it is determined that has been made, to disable the setting of the plurality of copies, characterized in that it comprises a number of copies limited steps to limit the bookbinding created part.
According to a second aspect of the bookbinding output method of the present invention, in the first invention, when the image forming apparatus determines that a plurality of copies are set in the setting copy number determining step, the image is output. A one-part switch determining step for determining whether or not a one-part switch provided in the forming apparatus is ON, and the number-of-copies-limiting step is that the one-part switch is ON in the one-part switch determining step. When it is determined, the setting of the plurality of copies is invalidated and bookbinding is limited to one copy.

  In the bookbinding system, the connection detection means can confirm whether or not the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus are connected so as to be able to transport the image-formed paper, and the confirmation is performed prior to the bookbinding process. By doing so, it is possible to prevent an illegal copy using the sheet from being formed with an image formed on the sheet without being connected to the bookbinding apparatus, and to achieve accurate copyright protection.

The detection result by the connection detection unit can be confirmed by the operator, but the detection result is used as a determination element in the bookbinding output process availability determination unit, and permission or non-permission of the bookbinding output process is determined based on the determination result. Is desirable. The bookbinding output process means a series of steps from at least image formation in the image forming apparatus to bookbinding completion in the bookbinding apparatus, and includes a transmission request for book content data from the terminal to the server and data transmission at the server. It may be a thing.
In permitting the output process, the series of processes can be allowed to proceed, and in the case of disapproval, any process can be performed as long as the process cannot be performed in any of these steps. This can be done by controlling the device.

  For example, the bookbinding output process can be permitted or not permitted by permitting or not permitting image formation in the image forming apparatus. In addition, the bookbinding output process can be permitted or not permitted by permitting or not permitting the book content data transmission process from the server.

  The connection detection unit may be any device that can detect whether the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus are connected in a state where the image-formed paper can be conveyed. For example, there is one that outputs a connection state as an electrical signal using a limit switch or the like. In addition, the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus can be connected via communication means, and connection detection can be performed by exchanging signals through the communication means.

  The bookbinding processing availability determination unit may be provided in the image forming apparatus or bookbinding apparatus, or may be provided in the terminal or server side. The permission or non-permission of the determination unit bookbinding processing may be directly controlled by the server, the image forming apparatus, or the bookbinding apparatus, or may be controlled via a network.

  In the case of bookbinding, an off-line bookbinding apparatus may be used instead of a bookbinding apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus in order to create an upper bookbinding. In that case, an image forming apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus are used. It is necessary to perform only image formation by releasing the connection. However, since the bookbinding output process is not permitted by releasing the connection of the bookbinding apparatus when the bookbinding process permission / rejection determination unit performs the determination as described above, the bookbinding output process is not permitted. It is necessary to be able to perform processing up to image formation in a state where the apparatus is not connected. In that case, an image formation permission unit that enables image formation in preference to the determination unit is provided. The image formation permission unit may be an image device or the like provided with a permission switch and operated by an operation by an operator. Also, the image formation permission unit is provided in a server or a terminal and connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The permission signal may be transmitted, or the image forming apparatus may be allowed to form an image by restricting the operation of the bookbinding processing permission determination unit.

  The image forming apparatus used in the bookbinding output method of the present invention forms an image on a sheet based on book content data, and usually prints converted from the data to fit within a predetermined sheet size. An image is formed using the business data. An image forming method is not particularly limited as long as it can form an image on a sheet using digital data. Many of them have a photoconductor, which is formed by forming a latent image on the photoconductor and transferring it from the photoconductor to a sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

  The image forming apparatus may be prepared as a dedicated apparatus for the bookbinding system, or may be prepared on the assumption that it is used for other purposes as a copying machine or a printer for a computer. However, it may be prepared in a state where it can be used for other purposes. As described above, an image forming apparatus that can be used for other purposes may have an unfavorable function from the viewpoint of preventing unauthorized copying when used as an apparatus of a bookbinding system. For example, a setting function for a plurality of copies, a process interruption / stop function, and the like. Therefore, it is desirable that the bookbinding system is provided with an image forming apparatus control unit that can identify the use of book content data in the image forming apparatus and can control the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the identification result. The image forming apparatus control means is a function that is assumed to be used for other purposes in the image forming apparatus and cancels an unfavorable function as an apparatus of a bookbinding system, or an image is generated so that no trouble is caused by the operation by the function. Control the forming device.

  For example, if an interrupt function interrupts (temporarily stops) one copy in the image forming apparatus, it may lead to unauthorized copying by copying or a book dropout. It is desirable to continue until. As a result, it is possible to prevent unauthorized copying and inviting missing pages.

In spite of the above, the image forming apparatus may inevitably stop due to an interruption event such as the absence of paper during the production of one copy of a book. At this time, if an intermediate product can be extracted, a missing page can be invited or duplicated as described above.
Therefore, it is desirable to make it impossible to remove the intermediate product from the image forming apparatus or the bookbinding apparatus. If the reason for the interruption is resolved, the process may be continued, and it is only necessary to enable extraction from the apparatus after bookbinding is completed.

  In addition, even if the cancel function is activated in the middle of creating one copy in the image forming apparatus, it is intentionally stopped in the middle of creating a book, and the created material up to that point is used as a manuscript for copying. One part can be extracted. Therefore, it is desirable to forcibly bind the creations up to that point when a cancellation instruction is received.

  Some image forming apparatuses have a setting function for a plurality of copies. If this function is activated, a copy can be made outside the management of the bookbinding system. Therefore, in the bookbinding output method of the present invention, when a book creation (bookbinding mode) is instructed, the number setting function is controlled so that only one copy can be selected.

  In the image forming apparatus, the book content data is usually temporarily stored in an HDD or the like. If this data remains even after bookbinding is completed, it can be reused intentionally. Therefore, it is desirable to erase the used data so that it cannot be reused every time one copy is created (determined by whether or not bookbinding is completed). This makes it impossible to perform unauthorized copying with data remaining after bookbinding is completed.

The bookbinding apparatus binds the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and is not particularly limited as a form of bookbinding, and bookbinding processing such as gluing bookbinding, cover case bookbinding, small edge or three-sided cutting is performed, A book that has been bound is obtained.
Note that the bookbinding apparatus is connected to the above-described image forming apparatus so as to be able to convey the sheet on which the image has been formed. Usually, the bookbinding apparatus is provided with a takeout port through which a bookbinding product can be taken out. Except for the take-out port, if it is assumed that the bookbinding processed product cannot be taken out from the image forming apparatus and bookbinding apparatus at normal times, unauthorized removal can be prevented.

  Further, the unauthorized extraction can be prevented more reliably by providing the extraction door at the extraction port so that the extraction door can be opened and closed, and by providing a door lock means capable of closing and holding the door. The operation of the door lock means may be manually operated by an administrator, but an extraction door control means can be provided to control the removal of the bookbinding product. As a result, unauthorized removal can be surely eliminated.

  The bookbinding system may include a server that holds book content data as an essential component. On the server side, normally, a server for holding book content data is configured by a database in which book content data is recorded and a server connected to the database and capable of retrieving and transmitting the book content data from the database. Can do. Book contents are literary works, academic papers, dictionary dictionaries, magazines and other writings, and may include photographs and pictures. In addition, the case where the writing is not the subject, such as a photo book, an art book, and a map book, corresponds to the book contents. The book content data refers to digital data related to these book contents. The server may be constituted by a plurality of servers, for example, a data server and a management server. The server can transmit the book content data after completion of the accounting process upon requesting transmission of the book content data from the terminal, or can perform the accounting process upon completion of bookbinding after transmitting the book content data.

  Further, the bookbinding system may include a terminal that makes a transmission request for book content data to the server as an essential component. The terminal makes a transmission request for the data to a server holding book content data, and normally connects to a network and outputs a transmission request signal. However, it can also be made directly to the server without going through the network. In addition, the terminal is provided with display means that is usually a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, or the like in order to display operation information, accumulated data information related to books, and the like. The book content data sent from the server may be browsed by the display means. Further, the terminal usually includes an input unit as an operation unit for making the transmission request, and the input unit can be constituted by a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like. The terminal may be installed apart from the image forming apparatus or bookbinding apparatus via a network, or may be incorporated in these apparatuses.

As described above, according to the bookbinding output method of the present invention, bookbinding output processing can be performed according to the situation on the image forming apparatus and bookbinding apparatus side, and appropriate copyright protection can be performed. .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a bookbinding system, in which a database 1 that records book contents data and a server 2 that is connected to the database 1 and controls the data management and bookbinding output processing are connected via a network 4. The database 1 and the server 2 constitute a server that holds book content data.
The network 4 is connected to a plurality of terminals 5... 5, an image forming apparatus 6, and a bookbinding apparatus 7 installed for each bookstore (in FIG. 1, the bookstore A and the bookstore B are shown).

  The database 1 is managed and installed by a publisher or the like, and digital data (hereinafter referred to as “book content data”) in which the contents of a book are recorded is stored in a large-capacity disk device or the like. The server 2 is managed and installed by, for example, a management company that manages a distribution service of book content data, and is used for browsing individual book content data recorded in the database 1 in response to a transmission request from each terminal 5. The image data and the print data are converted and provided to the terminal 5 and the image forming apparatus 6. At the time of transmission, the content of the book content data may be converted, compressed, encrypted, etc., as necessary, and attached with a digital signature before transmission. In addition, the server 2 normally executes accounting information calculation and accounting processing based on the calculation result at the time of bookbinding.

  It should be noted that a plurality of databases and servers may be installed, and each may store different book content data (digital data related to different books), and some servers are managed and installed by different publishers. It may be. Furthermore, as a server, it can also be comprised by the data server which manages a database, and the management server which controls bookbinding processing.

  Examples of the network 4 include a LAN (local area network), the Internet, a computer network, a data communication network, or a combination of these interconnected. In short, any network capable of transmitting information may be used, and the type of the network is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the network 4 is constructed by the Internet network.

  The terminal 5 transmits a browsing request or a printing request to the server 2 and receives browsing image data from the server 2 to display for browsing. The image forming apparatus 6 receives printing data from the server 2 and performs printing (image formation). In the bookbinding apparatus, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 6 is conveyed, and bookbinding is performed on the sheet, and a book is output.

The configuration of each device will be described in detail below.
2 is a block diagram including connection of each device, FIGS. 3 to 5 are block diagrams individually showing each device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the server and the terminal, and FIG. 4 is image formation. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the bookbinding apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the server 2 has a bookbinding output control means 30, a database management means 31, and a network communication means 32. These means include a central processing unit (CPU), a main processor (not shown), and a main communication means 32. Each unit or the whole is controlled based on a program recorded in the auxiliary storage device.

  The database management means 31 is connected to the bookbinding output control means 30 via an internal bus and is input / output controlled by the means 30. The book management means 31 includes a book data storage means 311 having a large capacity disk device such as an HDD as a storage medium, and a bibliography. Data recording means 312 is included. In these storage means, book content data and bibliographic data composed of book body data are stored, and a database 1 is constructed. The storage medium is not limited to an HDD, and any storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used.

  In addition to this, the database management means 31 has data search means 313 for searching for desired book content data from the database. For example, the database management means 31 searches the data by specifying a target book name. The data can be searched according to the contents of a part of the book. Further, it has a download count means 314 for copyright management, and the count result is stored in the storage device as necessary.

  Further, the bookbinding output control means 30 can authenticate the terminal 5. That is, when there is a login request from the terminal 5, the validity of either or both of the terminal 5 and the user operating the terminal 5 is determined. If it is valid, the terminal 5 can continue the procedure for bookbinding output, but if it is invalid, execution of the procedure in the terminal 5 is prohibited. Further, if there is a login request from the terminal 5 again, the validity is newly determined again, and if it is valid, the terminal 5 can execute the procedure.

Further, the bookbinding output control means 30 accesses the database management means 31 based on the request of the terminal 5, and the books stored in the book data storage means 311 and the bibliographic data storage means 312 by the data search means 313 in the management means 31. Identify content data. For example, when the book content data is specified by the requested book code, first, the book is specified by the bibliographic data storage unit 312 and the book data linked to this data is specified by the book data storage unit. To do.
The bookbinding output control unit 30 can print the book content data stored in accordance with the printing specifications and hardware performance of the image forming apparatus 6 in response to the transmission request requested by the terminal 5. Convert to.
The bookbinding output control means 30 operates the accounting means 33 to perform the bookbinding output process or the accounting process according to the bookbinding completion counting means 73.
The bookbinding output control means 30 is connected to the network 4 via the network communication means 32, and the network communication means 32 communicates input / output signals of the bookbinding output means 30 according to a known protocol.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 5 includes a book browsing ordering unit 50 and a network communication unit 51. The book browsing ordering unit 50 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main storage device, an auxiliary unit (not shown). Each part and the whole of the terminal 5 are controlled based on a program that is configured by a storage device or the like and recorded in a ROM or the like. The book browsing ordering means 50 is connected to a network communication means 51, and the network communication means 51 executes communication with the bookbinding output control means via the network 4 by a known protocol.

  The browsing ordering unit 50 includes an input unit 501 for inputting operation for ordering and browsing, and a display unit 502 for displaying an operation menu, browsing contents, and the like. The input unit 501 includes operation keys for performing various operations, and the user can set various types such as browsing and ordering. The display unit 502 displays various types of information regarding browsing and ordering, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The various types of information include not only browsing but also input input by the user using the input unit 501. As a result, selectable options, bibliographic data received from the server 2, book price information, and the like are displayed. The input unit 501 and the display unit 502 may be integrally configured by, for example, a touch panel.

  Bibliographic data for ordering and browsing is displayed on the display unit 502 by the bibliographic data display unit 510. When requesting transmission of reading book data based on the bibliographic data, necessary information is input via the input unit 501, and a request signal is transmitted by the book data requesting unit 511. The browsing data transmitted from the server 2 is displayed on the display unit 502 by the book data display unit 512. Further, when ordering a book to the server 2, necessary input is performed via the input unit 501, and the order information is transmitted by the book ordering unit 513. These means are connected to each other within the terminal 5 by an internal bus.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 6 includes an image forming apparatus control means 60, a network communication means 61, a book data storage means 62, an image forming means 63, a storage means 64, a transport means 65, an operation means 66, serial communication. Means 67, permission switch means 68 included in operation means 66, and second paper feed means 69 are provided.

  The image forming apparatus control means 60 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like, and controls each part and the whole of the image forming apparatus 6 based on a program recorded in a ROM or the like. . The network communication unit 61 performs communication between the image forming apparatus 6 and the server 2 via the network 4 using a known protocol. The serial communication means 67 is connected to the bookbinding apparatus 7 via the serial cable 10 and executes communication with the bookbinding apparatus 7 according to a known protocol. Further, the serial communication means 67, the serial cable 10, and the serial communication means 71 (to be described later) in the bookbinding apparatus 7 detect whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 and the bookbinding apparatus 7 are connected so as to be able to carry paper. Connection detecting means is configured.

The book data storage means 62 is constituted by a storage device such as an HDD, and temporarily stores book content data received via the network 4.
The image forming means 63 sequentially executes printing (image formation) on a sheet based on the book content data, and can form an image based on digital data, such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, a silver halide photographic method, or the like. Any method may be used.
The storage unit 64 is a unit that stores and feeds a sheet on which image formation is performed by the image forming unit. The presence / absence detection unit 641 that detects the presence / absence of the sheet, the size detection unit 642 that detects the sheet size, and the like. One sheet feeding means 643 is provided. The storage unit 64 can also perform presence / absence detection and size detection for the second sheet feeding unit 69.

  The conveyance unit 65 conveys the paper stored in the storage unit 64 from the first paper supply unit 643 or the second paper supply unit 69 to the image forming unit 63, and further conveys the image-formed paper to the bookbinding apparatus 7 to be described later. To do.

  The operation unit 66 is for instructing the operation of the image forming apparatus 6 and includes an input unit 660 for inputting operation information and a display unit 661 for displaying input information, operation information, and the like. The image creating apparatus 6 can switch between an image mode used as an apparatus in a bookbinding system and another application, for example, a copy mode used as a copying machine. As functions that are used when used for other purposes, there are an interrupt command means 662, a stop command means 663, and a plurality of copies setting means 664. The permission switch means 68 forcibly enables image formation even when the bookbinding apparatus 7 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 6, and corresponds to the image formation permission means in the present invention.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the bookbinding apparatus 7 has a bookbinding apparatus control means 70, a serial communication means 71, a conveying means 72, a bookbinding completion counting means 73, a takeout port 74 with a takeout door, and a door lock means 75. In addition, it includes an abutting means 701, an aligning means 702, a gluing means 703, a storage means 704, a cutting means 705, and a case means 706.

The bookbinding device control means 70 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like, and controls each means and the whole of the bookbinding device 7 based on a program recorded in a ROM or the like. The serial communication unit 71 is connected to the image forming apparatus 6 via the serial cable 10 as described above, and executes communication with the image forming apparatus 6 according to a known protocol.
The take-out port 74 is for taking out the bookbinding product from the bookbinding apparatus 7, and the take-out port is provided with an open / close door (not shown). The door lock unit 75 temporarily closes the take-out door, and the unlocking operation of the take-out door can be performed by releasing the lock by the door lock unit 75. The operation of the door lock means 75 is controlled by the bookbinding apparatus control means 70, and the bookbinding apparatus control means 70 functions as an extraction door control means.
The abutting means 701 to the case means 706 are known means for performing a specific operation during bookbinding, and are well-known such as sheet glue binding, cover case bookbinding, edge or three-way trimming, etc. The processing is performed, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation of the bookbinding system will be described.
A user who desires bookbinding (printing of book content data and bookbinding) operates the terminal 5 and issues a login request to the server 2. A logical communication channel is secured between the server 2 and the terminal 5 by the login.

  When the server 2 receives the login request, the server 2 checks the validity of the login request. If the server 2 is valid, the server 2 authenticates the terminal 5 and the terminal 5 can execute the following procedure. The server 2 reads the bibliographic data (the title of the book content data and its fee, etc.) from the bibliographic data storage unit 312 by the database management unit 31 under the control of the bookbinding output unit 30, and uses the network communication unit 32 and the network 4. To the terminal 5. In the terminal 5 that has received the bibliographic data via the network communication unit 51, the bibliographic data display unit 510 causes the bibliographic data to be displayed on the display unit 502. The user views this display and browses the index on the preview screen using the input means 501. Then, when the user specifies an object to which the book content data is to be browsed by the input unit 501, the information is transmitted to the server 2 by the book data request unit 511 via the network communication unit 51 and the network 4. Is done.

  In the server 2 that has received the request from the terminal 5, the book to be requested is read by the data retrieval unit 313 and the corresponding book content data is read from the book data storage unit 311, and the browsing image suitable for image display at the time of browsing is read. After being converted to data, it is transmitted to the terminal 5 via the network 4. In the terminal 5 that has received the browsing image data, the book content is displayed on the display means 502 by the book data display means 512. Thereby, the user can confirm the contents of the book.

  The user who operates the terminal 5 confirms the content displayed on the display unit 502 (the content of the book based on the browsing image data), and inputs an order using the input unit 501 if it can be accepted. The order information is transmitted from the terminal 5 to the server 2 via the network 4 by the book ordering means 513. Upon receiving the order data, the server 2 converts the book content data into print data and transmits the data to the image forming apparatus 6 via the network communication unit 32 and the network 4. At the time of the transmission, a start signal for the image forming apparatus 6 is added.

  In the image forming apparatus 6 that has received the printing data and the start signal via the network communication unit 61, the printing data is temporarily stored in the book data storage unit 62, and the image forming apparatus 6 is set to the book mode. Set. Next, the image forming apparatus control unit 60 functions as a bookbinding process permission determination unit, and makes a book print bookbinding determination. This determination procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus control means 60 checks whether or not a start signal for the image forming apparatus 6 has been received. If the start signal is confirmed, the process proceeds to the next step, and if the start signal is not confirmed, Since the image forming process is unnecessary, the availability determination process is terminated (step s1).

  When the start signal is confirmed, it is next confirmed whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode. That is, in this step, it is identified whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in a state of using book content data (step s2). When the image forming apparatus 6 is not in the book mode, normal printing processing is executed as if it is not bookbinding processing, and the determination processing ends (step ss1). On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode, it is confirmed in the next step whether or not the bookbinding apparatus 7 is connected to the image forming apparatus 6 (step s3). This confirmation is confirmed by whether or not communication between the serial communication means 67 and 71 is possible as described above. When communication is difficult, it is determined that the connection is not established. In a state where the communication is possible, it is determined that the image forming apparatus 6 and the bookbinding apparatus 7 are in a connected state, and book printing and bookbinding processing is executed (step s4). If the connection between the image forming apparatus 6 and the bookbinding apparatus 7 is not confirmed, the bookbinding process is normally terminated to prevent unauthorized copying, but an off-line bookbinding apparatus is used to create an upper booklet. For example, it is confirmed whether or not the permission switch means 68 is turned on (step ss2). Here, if the permission switch means 68 is not turned ON, the processing is terminated to prohibit the bookbinding processing. On the other hand, if the permission switch means 68 is ON, the process proceeds to step s4 to continue the bookbinding process in order to forcibly form an image.

According to the bookbinding process, the image forming unit 63 performs printing. The sheet for image formation is subjected to the presence / absence detection by the presence / absence detection unit 641 by the storage unit 64 and the size detection by the size detection unit 642, and then the sheet of a predetermined size is the first paper supply unit 643 or the second paper supply unit. The sheet is fed from 69 and conveyed to the image forming unit 63 by the conveying unit 65.
The image forming unit 63 performs necessary image formation, and the sheet on which the image is formed is transported to the bookbinding apparatus 7 by the transport unit 65.

  In the bookbinding apparatus 7, while the transported paper is appropriately transported by the transport means 72 in the apparatus 7, processes such as abutment, alignment, gluing, storing, cutting, and wrapping necessary for bookbinding are executed by each means. When the bookbinding is completed, the bookbinding completion counting means 73 counts the bookbinding. The book that has been bound can be taken out by opening the door of the outlet 74.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 6 described above includes the interrupt command unit 662 having a function of interrupting the processing in the middle of bookbinding output processing of some books and the cancel command unit 663 having a function of canceling the processing. When the processing is interrupted or stopped by these means, if a part or all of the paper can be extracted during the processing, a missing page or an illegal copy is made possible. Therefore, the image forming apparatus control means 60 defines a control procedure when an interruption command or a cancellation command is issued. The procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The interruption instruction or the cancellation instruction is generated when an interruption process is performed by the interruption instruction unit 662 or the cancellation instruction unit 663 during the output of the bookbinding process. When this processing occurs, as shown in FIG. 7, it is first confirmed whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode (step sa1). If the mode is other than the book mode, the interruption command is valid and the determination process ends. On the other hand, if it is the book mode, the process proceeds to the next step, and it is confirmed whether or not one copy is being created (step sa2). If it is not in the middle of creating one copy, it is not necessary to continue the process, and the determination process is terminated.

  When it is confirmed that one copy is being produced as described above, it is first confirmed whether or not it is an interruption command (step sa3). If the command is confirmed to be interrupted, the command is not accepted, and the process is continued until one copy of bookbinding is completed. After completion, the process is interrupted and the determination process is terminated (step sas1). If the command is not an interrupt command, it is confirmed in the next step whether or not it is a cancel command (step sa4). If it is not a stop command, the determination process is terminated. On the other hand, if the command is a cancel command, the image formation (printing) is stopped, the paper on which the image has been formed so far is conveyed to the bookbinding device 7, and bookbinding is completed in the same manner as described above (step sas2). . With these processes, it becomes difficult to remove the paper during the process, and it is possible to prevent missing pages and unauthorized copying.

  In addition, the process may be forcibly interrupted due to out of paper, occurrence of paper clogging, etc., regardless of the interruption command or the cancellation command. Even in such a case, if paper can be extracted in the same manner as described above, the problem of missing pages or illegal copying occurs. Therefore, a control procedure for determining whether or not an interruption event has occurred is defined in the image forming apparatus 60. The procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode (step sb1). When the image forming apparatus 6 is not in the book mode, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is in the book mode, it is confirmed whether or not one copy of bookbinding is in progress (step sb2). On the other hand, when one copy is being produced, the process proceeds to the next step and it is confirmed whether or not the suspension is stopped (step sb3). If it is determined that the suspension is not stopped, it is confirmed whether or not the door lock is released via the bookbinding apparatus control means 70 (step sbs1). If the door lock is released, the process is terminated. If the door is locked, the door is unlocked via the bookbinding control means 70 (step sbs2). On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step sb3 that the suspension is stopped, it is confirmed whether or not the door is locked (step sb4). If the door is locked, the determination process is terminated, and the door is If it is not locked, a process for locking the door is performed (step sb5), and the determination process is terminated.
If an interruption occurs during image formation for bookbinding as described above, the removal door is locked to disable removal of bookbinding products during processing, and unauthorized copying or partial removal Prevent missing pages.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 6 includes a plurality of copies setting unit 664. If a plurality of copies are set by the unit, a plurality of copies can be easily created. When ordering a book, one person is normal, and in order to prevent overprinting by misusing the multiple copies setting, the multiple copies setting is prohibited in principle. The control is performed by the image forming apparatus control means 60, and the control procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode (step sc1). On the other hand, in the book mode, it is confirmed whether or not a plurality of copies are set (step sc2). If a plurality of copies are not set, this process ends. On the other hand, if a plurality of copies are set, it is confirmed whether or not the one-part switch is ON (step sc3). The one-part switch unit 665 is a non-volatile memory switch or a hardware dip switch provided in the image forming apparatus 6. If the partial switch is OFF, the server 2 permits the creation of a plurality of copies, and ends the process for prohibiting the setting of the plurality of copies. On the other hand, if the one-part switch is ON, the creation of a plurality of copies is not permitted, so the number of copies setting in the plurality of copies setting means is forcibly limited to one set (step sc4), and this process is terminated.
As described above, illegal copying is prevented by using the plural number setting unit provided in the image forming apparatus 6.

  In the image creating apparatus 6, the book content data (converted to print data) is temporarily stored in the book data storage unit 62 as described above when creating an image. If this data is reused even after the bookbinding is completed, a book can be further created and used for unauthorized copying. Therefore, when the creation of a book is completed, a completion notice is received from the bookbinding device 7 and the data can be erased. This control procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming apparatus 6 is in the book mode (step sd1), and if it is not the book mode, the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus is in the book mode, it is confirmed whether or not the creation of one copy is completed (step sd2). If the creation has not been completed, this process ends. If the creation has been completed, the book content data stored in the book data storage means 62 is erased so that it cannot be reused, and this process ends.

  In this bookbinding system, the charging process is not described in detail, but the processing content is not particularly limited as the present invention, and the charging process can be performed by a known method.

  In this embodiment, the bookbinding apparatus connection confirmation to the image forming apparatus, the control for the interruption command or the stop instruction, the control for the occurrence of the interruption cause, the control of the take-out door, the erasure of the book content data stored in the image forming apparatus The bookbinding system or the bookbinding output method including all of the above-described configurations has been described. However, the present invention includes invalidity control of the number setting function of the image forming apparatus as a constituent element.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the bookbinding system used for one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which similarly shows the detail of a system configuration. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of a structure of a server and a terminal similarly in a system. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the configuration of the image forming apparatus in the same system. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of a structure of a bookbinding apparatus among the systems similarly. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure (connection confirmation process) in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure (interruption / cancellation instruction confirmation process) in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure (interruption stop confirmation process) in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure (multiple copy number setting prohibiting process) in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart figure which similarly shows the control procedure (book content data deletion process) in an image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Database 2 Server 4 Network 5 Terminal 6 Image forming apparatus 7 Bookbinding apparatus 30 Bookbinding output control means 31 Database management means 32 Network communication means 50 Book browsing ordering means 51 Network communication means 60 Image forming apparatus control means 61 Network communication means 62 Book data Storage means 63 Image forming means 64 Storage means 65 Transport means 66 Operation means 67 Serial communication means 70 Bookbinding device control means 71 Serial communication means 72 Transport means 73 Bookbinding completion count means 74 Takeout port 75 Door lock means

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a sheet based on the book content data transmitted from the server holding the book content data through the network , and a bookbinding apparatus for binding the image-formed sheet. In the bookbinding output method executed by the bookbinding system provided ,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A mode determination step for determining whether or not a mode in which image formation is performed by the image forming apparatus is a book mode in which image formation is performed using the book content data;
A setting number determination step for determining whether or not a plurality of copies are set in the copy number setting function provided in the image forming apparatus when it is determined that the book mode is selected in the mode determination step;
In the setting copy number determination step, when it is determined that the setting of a plurality of copies is made, the setting of the plurality of copies is invalidated, and the number of copies limiting step for limiting the bookbinding creation to one copy ;
Bookbinding output method, characterized in that it comprises a. The image forming apparatus includes:
A one-part switch judging step for judging whether or not a one-part switch provided in the image forming apparatus is ON when it is judged in the setting number-of-sets judging step that a plurality of copies are set. Have
In the step of limiting the number of copies, if it is determined in the step of determining the one-part switch that the one-part switch is ON, the setting of the plural number of copies is invalidated and bookbinding is limited to one copy. The bookbinding output method according to claim 1.

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