JP4603438B2 - Image data output device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data output apparatus, for example, an image data output apparatus such as a printer for printing image data given from a computer via a network line.

  In an environment in which a plurality of computers are connected via a network line, a printer is connected to the network line, and one printer is shared by the plurality of computers. In such a system, the printer is often installed at a location away from each computer. For this reason, it is difficult for a user operating a computer to determine the status of whether the data output by the user has been printed by the printer. In other words, in order to determine whether or not the job output by the user has been printed, it is necessary to go to the location where the printer is actually installed, and if the printing is not completed, You may have to wait at the place.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-14789 (Patent Document 1) outputs a pre-registered sound (melody) from a printer at the timing when a job is completed to notify the user of the end of the job. Is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that voice notification may be performed at an arbitrary timing set before and after the end of a job.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-272758 (Patent Document 2) proposes a printing system that reproduces audio data during a printing operation and notifies that printing is being performed from a remote location. In such a system, audio data is stored in a memory of a printer from a computer via a network, and a user can download and set desired audio data from an Internet site. Further, in this system, when an error occurs during printing, the user can know that the error has occurred by interrupting the sound reproduction.
JP 2002-14789 (paragraph numbers 0010, 0016, 0017, FIG. 2) JP 2004-272758 A (paragraph numbers 0023 to 0027, FIG. 1)

  In the system described in Patent Document 1, the end of a job can be notified, but the end of the job cannot be predicted. Also, when notifying the end of a job by voice at an arbitrary timing before and after the end of the job, if you do not know the timing of the job end notification and the output start time of the voice, you will not know the end time of the job output. If you don't know, you won't be able to reach the printer installation location when the job ends.

  In the system of Patent Document 2, the user can confirm that his / her job is being printed by outputting a voice during the printing operation, but recognizes how long the printing will be completed by voice. Can not do it.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image data output device that can predict the end of a job set by a user even from a remote location.

The present invention provides a data output means for processing and outputting predetermined image data, an audio reproducing means for reproducing predetermined audio data, and a calculating means for calculating a time required for outputting image data by the data output means; A time measuring means for measuring the time from when the data output means starts outputting the image data; and a sound timing calculation for measuring a predetermined sound data reproduction time and calculating a predetermined notification start time as a sound reproduction timing. And a sound reproduction control means for reproducing sound from the sound reproducing means in response to the difference between the time calculated by the calculating means and the time measured by the time measuring means becoming a notification start time of the sound timing. Prepare.

  In one embodiment, the image data output device is connected to a computer via a network line, and the computer outputs image data and audio data to the image data output device via the network line, and outputs the image data. The apparatus includes storage means for storing image data and audio data output from the computer, the calculation means calculates a processing time based on the image data stored in the storage means, and the audio timing calculation means includes: The voice timing is calculated based on the voice data stored in the storage means.

  In another embodiment, voice data storage means for storing voice data in advance is included.

  The image data output device is connected to a plurality of computers via a network line, and the computer outputs image data via the network line and designates audio data stored in the audio data storage means. To do.

  Preferably, the data output means is a printing unit that prints and outputs image data.

According to the present invention, when the difference between the time required to output the image data and the time from the start of the output of the image data is the calculated notification start time, the sound is reproduced from the sound reproduction means. By controlling the output timing of the audio data so as to be reproduced, the end of the output of the image data set by the user can be predicted from a remote place only by listening to the notified audio. Therefore, it is possible to predict can end output how much time is remaining the image data, if wearing traces in accordance with the output end of the image data to the location of the data output means, the output immediately after the end of the image data Can be taken out. Thereby, time loss can be suppressed.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network system including an information output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of computers 1a, 1b, 1c are connected to a printer 3 as an example of an image data output device via a network line 2. In the embodiment of the present invention, print data and audio data designated by the user are output from one of the plurality of computers 1a, 1b, 1c to the printer 3 via the network line 2.

  2 is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printer shown in FIG.

  The computer 1a includes a control unit 11, an input unit 12, a memory 13, a display unit 14, and a LAN communication circuit 15. The memory 13 stores audio data to be notified immediately before the end of the print job. In response to an input from the input unit 12, the control unit 11 displays data on the display unit 14, and the data together with the designated audio data among the audio data stored in the memory 13, the LAN communication circuit 14. To the printer 3 through the network line 2. The computers 1b and 1c are configured in the same manner as the computer 1a.

  The printer 3 includes a control unit 31 as a control unit, a LAN communication circuit 32, a memory 33 as a storage unit, a timer 34 as a time measurement unit, a printing unit 35 as a data output unit, and an audio reproduction unit. Speaker 36. Print data and audio data output from any of the computers 1 a to 1 c are received by the LAN communication circuit 32 via the network line 2 and stored in the memory 33 by the control unit 31. The data stored in the memory 33 is converted into a printing format by the control unit 31 and then printed by the printing unit 35.

  The control unit 31 constitutes a calculation means for calculating the time required for the printing process from the print data stored in the memory 33, and measures the reproduction time required for reproducing the audio data and calculates the notification start time. It constitutes a calculation means. A timer 34 as time measuring means measures the time required for the printing process when the printing process by the printing unit 35 is started. The control unit 31 performs control so that the end of the print data by the printing unit 35 coincides with the timing at which the audio notification based on the audio data from the speaker 36 ends. Thus, the user can determine the end of the job processing by knowing the audio content and the timing at which the audio notification ends.

  4A and 4B are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the printer as an example of the image data output apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the computer. FIG. 4A shows the operation of the computer, and FIG. 4B shows the operation of the printer. Indicates. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the timing for notifying the end of printing by voice.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the operation of a printer as an example of an image data output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, at step SP1 (abbreviated as SP in the figure) SP1 shown in FIG. 4A, the user creates data to be printed by input from the input unit 12 of the computer 1a shown in FIG. And in step SP2, audio data is designated. This voice data is input by the user in advance and stored in the memory 13 as desired voice data. When the user designates the voice data, the designated voice data is read out from the memory 13 and is printed together with the print data along with the network line. 2 to the printer 3.

  On the other hand, in step SP11 shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 31 of the printer 3 causes the LAN communication circuit 32 to transmit the audio data and print data transmitted from any of the computers 1a to 1c via the network line 2. It is determined whether or not it has been received. If it is determined that the data has been received, the received print data and audio data are stored in the memory 33 in step SP12.

  In step SP13, the processing time T1 required for the printing unit 35 to print the print data as shown in FIG. 5A is calculated from the print data stored in the memory 33. In step SP14, the voice stored in the memory 33 is calculated. A reproduction time T3 (FIG. 5C) required for reproducing data is measured, and a predetermined notification start time T4 (FIG. 5C) is calculated. The notification start time T4 is a timing at which sound reproduction is started, and a timing at which the reproduced sound ends is a timing at which printing ends.

  In step SP15, the control unit 31 converts the print data stored in the memory 33 into a printing format and supplies it to the printing unit 35. In step SP16, the control unit 31 starts printing. When printing is started, in step SP17, the timer 34 is operated to measure the printing processing time T2. In step SP18, a difference time between the predicted processing time T1 calculated in step SP13 and the processing time T2 measured in step SP17 is obtained. In step SP19, it is determined whether or not the difference time coincides with the notification start time T4.

  If the difference time does not coincide with the notification start time T4, it waits until the coincidence time is reached, and when it is determined that the time T4 has been reached, in step SP20, sound data such as a melody is reproduced and the sound is output from the speaker 36. To let you know. In step SP21, it is determined whether or not the print data printing job has been completed. When it is determined that the printing has been completed, the audio data stored in the memory 33 is reset in step SP22, and the series of processes is terminated.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can predict how long the job can be output by simply listening to the sound of the melody notified from the speaker 36. . Then, if the user reaches the installation place of the printer 3 in accordance with the timing when the sound reproduction is finished, the printed matter can be taken out immediately after the job is finished. Thereby, time loss can be suppressed.

  Note that the notification start time T4 may be the start time of the beginning of the melody if the sound is a melody, or an arbitrary predetermined timing such as 10 seconds before the end of the melody. May be.

  In the above description, the sound data is output from the computer 1a together with the print data to the printing unit 3. However, the sound data is stored in the memory 33 of the printing unit 3, and the computer 1a to 1c is used. Only the information specifying the audio data together with the print data may be transmitted to the printing unit 3. Also, predetermined audio data may be reproduced without specifying the audio data.

  In the description of FIG. 4, the reproduction of the audio data is terminated with the end of the job, but the reproduction of the audio data may be stopped by taking out the user's operation or the printed matter to be output. When the reproduction of the audio data is finished, a reset signal is generated from the control unit 31 and the audio data stored in the memory 33 is erased.

Furthermore, although the case where the printer 3 is provided at a position away from the computers 1a to 1c has been described, an image forming apparatus in which the computer and the printer are integrated may be used.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to a printer has been described. However, for example, when a large amount of data is read by a FAX or a scanner, a sound is reproduced when the data is read, and the data reading end and the sound are read. The present invention may be applied to control that matches the end of playback.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a diagram showing a network system including an image data output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a computer and the image data output device of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the timing which alert | reports the completion | finish of printing with an audio | voice.

Explanation of symbols

  1a to 1c computer, 2 network line, 3 printer, 11, 31 control unit, 12 input unit, 13, 33 memory, 14 display unit, 15, 32 LAN communication circuit, 34 timer, 35 printing unit, 36 speaker.

Claims (6)

Data output means for processing and outputting predetermined image data;
Audio reproduction means for reproducing predetermined audio data;
Calculating means for calculating a time required to output the image data by the data output means;
A time measuring means for measuring a time from when the data output means starts outputting the image data;
Audio timing calculation means for measuring a reproduction time of the predetermined audio data and calculating a predetermined notification start time as an audio reproduction timing;
When the difference between the time calculated by the calculating unit and the time measured by the time measuring unit becomes the notification start time calculated by the audio timing calculating unit, the audio reproducing unit reproduces the audio. An image data output device comprising an audio reproduction control means . The image data output device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined notification start time is arbitrarily set. The image data output device is connected to a computer via a network line,
The computer outputs the image data and the audio data to the image data output device via the network line,
The image data output device includes storage means for storing image data and audio data output from the computer,
The calculation means calculates a processing time based on the image data stored in the storage means,
Voice timing calculating means, based on the sound data stored in the storage means, calculates the voice timing, the image data output apparatus according to claim 1. The image data output device according to claim 1 , further comprising audio data storage means for storing the audio data in advance. The image data output device is connected to a plurality of computers via a network line,
The image data output device according to claim 3 , wherein the computer outputs the image data via the network line and designates audio data stored in the audio data storage unit. Said data output means is a printing apparatus for outputting print the image data, the image data output device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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