JP4692265B2 - Printing instruction apparatus, printing apparatus, printing system, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print instruction apparatus that issues an instruction to print an electronic document on a medium, and more particularly to a print instruction apparatus that instructs printing of a superimposed image of an image of an electronic document and at least an image of position information.

  In recent years, characters and pictures are drawn on special paper on which fine dots are printed, and the data written on the paper by the user is transferred to a personal computer or mobile phone. The technology that makes it possible is drawing attention. In this technique, small dots are printed on this special paper at intervals of, for example, about 0.3 mm, and this is configured to draw all different patterns for each grid of a predetermined size, for example. By reading this using a dedicated pen with a built-in digital camera, for example, the position of a character or the like written on this special paper can be specified, and such a character or the like is used as electronic information. It becomes possible.

  Here, as a prior art described in the publication, there is one that prints a fixed form on such special paper and designates an item in the fixed form so that detailed information on the item can be referred to ( For example, see Patent Document 1). Specifically, a table for associating the coordinate information on the paper with the item information and a table for associating the item information with the detailed information are provided, and the detailed information of the item corresponding to the coordinates read by the user with the reading device is provided to the user. This is sent to the terminal.

  On the other hand, there is a technique that enables access to predetermined electronic information from paper without using such special paper (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Specifically, when extracting the reference information from the electronic document, information on which area each reference information is set is also acquired, and the reference information or the like is added to the area portion of the image of the electronic document. The embedded image is printed. In this technique, a configuration is also proposed in which a unique identifier for each reference information is embedded instead of embedding the reference information itself, and a database in which the reference information is associated with the identifier is held.

JP 2004-102707 A (page 6-8, FIGS. 2, 5-7) JP-A-2004-248245 (pages 6-8, 2-7)

As described above, various proposals have been made for techniques for enabling access to predetermined electronic information from paper.
However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to manage in advance the coordinate information on the paper and the item information of the fixed form in association with each other, and an electronic document with reference information is printed on demand, and the reference information is obtained from the printed matter. There has been a problem that it is impossible to trace and access desired information or functions.
Also, since Patent Document 2 does not print an image showing coordinates on a sheet in the first place, it cannot perform processing such as digitizing and storing handwritten characters written in an arbitrary area on the sheet.
In other words, conventionally, there has been no technology for accessing desired information or functions by tracing reference information while maintaining the possibility of digitizing handwritten characters on a medium on which an electronic document is printed on demand. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the technical problems as described above, and its purpose is to maintain the possibility of digitizing handwritten characters on a medium on which an electronic document is printed on demand. In other words, the desired information or function can be accessed by tracing the reference information.

For this purpose, the present invention superimposes and prints an image of an electronic document and at least a code image indicating position information in the medium. At this time, reference information in the electronic document is obtained based on the position information in the medium. Management information (reference information table) to obtain was registered. That is, the print instruction apparatus of the present invention includes a document acquisition unit that acquires an electronic document to be printed on a medium, a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information in the medium, an image of the electronic document, and an image of the position information. In order to obtain reference information based on position information, instruction means for instructing a printing mechanism to print a superimposed image, reference information acquisition means for acquiring reference information for predetermined information or function from an electronic document, Registration means for registering the management information.
Here, for example, the registration unit can register, as management information, correspondence information between the reference information and the position information in the medium corresponding to the presence position or additional position of the reference information in the electronic document.

In addition, the printing instruction apparatus of the present invention further includes an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information of an electronic document or a medium, and the registration unit can obtain reference information based on the identification information and the position information. The management information may be registered.
Here, for example, the registration unit may register, as management information, correspondence information between the reference information, the identification information, and the position information in the medium corresponding to the presence position or additional position of the reference information in the electronic document. it can.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a management for obtaining reference information in an electronic document based on the position information in the medium based on the position information in the medium at the time of printing the image of the electronic document and at least a code image indicating the position information in the medium. It can also be understood as a printing apparatus that registers information (reference information table). In this case, the printing apparatus of the present invention includes a document image acquisition unit that acquires a document image of an electronic document to be printed on a medium, a code image acquisition unit that acquires a code image indicating position information in the medium, a document image, Print means for printing a superimposed image with a code image, reference information acquisition means for acquiring reference information for predetermined information or function from an electronic document, and for obtaining reference information based on position information Registration means for registering management information.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be understood as such a printing method. In that case, the printing method of the present invention includes a step of acquiring an electronic document to be printed on a medium, a step of acquiring positional information in the medium, and a step of acquiring reference information for predetermined information or function from the electronic document. And registering management information for making it possible to obtain reference information based on the position information, and printing a superimposed image of the image of the electronic document and the image of the position information.

  On the other hand, the present invention can also be understood as a program that causes a computer to execute a predetermined procedure. In that case, the program of the present invention acquires a procedure for acquiring an electronic document to be printed on a medium, a procedure for acquiring position information in the medium, and reference information for predetermined information or function from the electronic document. A procedure for registering management information for enabling reference information to be obtained based on position information, and instructing the printing mechanism to print a superimposed image of an image of an electronic document and an image of position information To realize the procedure to perform.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to access desired information or a function by tracing reference information about the medium which printed the electronic document on demand, maintaining the possibility of digitization of a handwritten character.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a system to which the present embodiment is applied. In this system, at least a terminal device 100 that instructs to print an electronic document, a document repository 200 that stores an electronic document, and an image forming apparatus 400 that prints a superimposed image of an image of the electronic document and a code image are connected to a network 900. It is comprised by connecting to. The system also includes a printed material 500 output from the image forming apparatus 400 and a pen device 600 that records characters or graphics on the printed material 500 and reads the trajectory of the characters or graphics. Further, a terminal device 700 that displays the locus received from the pen device 600 and the electronic document acquired from the document repository 200 in an overlapping manner is also connected to the network 900.

The outline of the operation of this system will be described below.
First, the terminal device 100 acquires an electronic document to be printed from the document repository 200 (A). Then, it instructs the image forming apparatus 400 to print this electronic document (B). At this time, the terminal device 100 designates a printing attribute that is a parameter related to printing. The print attributes include paper size, orientation, double-sided printing, and the like as in normal printing. In addition, regarding the code image, designation of an area where the code image should be printed may be included.
When receiving the instruction to print the electronic document, the image forming apparatus 400 prints an image obtained by superimposing the code image on the image of the electronic document on a medium such as paper, and outputs a printed matter 500 (C). In this case, the code image is an image of the identification code corresponding to the identification information and the position code corresponding to the position information. Alternatively, it may be an image including additional information which is other information. Note that the process of superimposing the image of the electronic document and the code image may be performed by the terminal device 100 or the image forming apparatus 400.

Here, as the identification information, information for uniquely identifying each medium can be adopted. For example, it may be information obtained by combining the identification number of the image forming apparatus 400 and the serial number of printing of the medium in the image forming apparatus 400 or the date and time of printing. It may be managed information. Alternatively, information that uniquely identifies an electronic document printed on a medium may be adopted as identification information instead of information that uniquely identifies each medium.
The position information is information for specifying the coordinate position (X coordinate, Y coordinate) on each medium. For example, it is conceivable to express coordinates in a coordinate system set by taking the upper left point of the medium as the origin, taking the X axis in the right direction of the medium and the Y axis in the lower direction.
Further, the additional information includes the identification information of the user who issued the print instruction, information about whether copying is prohibited, or the like.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 400 forms the code image as an invisible image using invisible toner whose infrared light absorption rate is equal to or higher than a certain reference. On the other hand, it is preferable to form a document image of an electronic document as a visible image using visible toner having an infrared light absorption rate equal to or less than a certain standard. The difference in the absorption rate of infrared light between the toner used for forming the code image and the toner used for forming the document image is that the reading accuracy when reading the code image by irradiating the infrared light is increased. This is to ensure. In this specification, the description is based on the premise that the code image is read by infrared light irradiation, but the code image may be read by ultraviolet light.

Thereafter, it is assumed that the user has written characters or figures on the printed material 500 using the pen device 600 (D). Thereby, the pen device 600 inputs a code image by irradiating the printed matter 500 with infrared light and detecting the reflected light. Then, information is acquired or generated from the code image, and the information is transmitted to the terminal device 700 via wired communication or wireless communication (E). The information transmitted here includes, for example, identification information of the printed matter 500 and position information of characters or figures written on the printed matter 500. Alternatively, the position information may be transmitted as trajectory information obtained by connecting the position information of characters or figures at a certain time.
Thereafter, based on the identification information received from the pen device 600, the terminal device 700 acquires an electronic document that is a source of the document image printed on the printed material 500 from the document repository 200 (F). Then, the electronic document acquired from the document repository 200 and the information acquired from the pen device 600 are superimposed and displayed.

By the way, when the identification information received from the pen device 600 is information that uniquely identifies each medium, in order to be able to acquire an electronic document based on this identification information, the identification information and the electronic document It is necessary to manage the correspondence. In FIG. 1, it is not clearly shown where to manage this correspondence, but it may be managed where it can be accessed from the terminal device 700. For example, the document repository 200 or the image forming apparatus 400 may be used. When the identification information received from the pen device 600 is information that uniquely identifies the electronic document printed on the medium, the electronic document can be acquired without referring to such correspondence.
Further, when the trajectory information is received from the pen device 600, the trajectory information is displayed superimposed on the position on the electronic document corresponding to the writing position on the printed matter 500. This is because the code image read by the pen device 600 includes writing position information, and the corresponding position in the display image of the electronic document can be specified from the information.

Although the system to which the present embodiment is applied has been described above, such a configuration is merely an example. For example, the process of superimposing the image of the electronic document and the code image may be performed by a server computer or the like that relays a print instruction from the terminal apparatus 100 to the image forming apparatus 400. Further, the document repository 200 may be in the terminal device 100. Furthermore, the terminal device 100 and the terminal device 700 may be the same terminal device.
In this specification, the term “electronic document” is used, but this does not mean only data obtained by digitizing a “document” including text. For example, “electronic document” includes image data such as pictures, photographs, figures, etc. (regardless of raster data or vector data) and other printable electronic data.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the correspondence between the reference information in the electronic document and the identification information and position information of the medium on which the reference information is printed is held. Here, examples of the reference information include information for linking to specific information and information for calling a specific application program (function). Note that the following two types of information can be considered as reference information. One is reference information that appears (exists) on the electronic document, for example, when a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is directly described on the electronic document. The other is, for example, that a button is arranged on the electronic document, and when the button is pressed, a predetermined URL can be accessed, but it does not appear on the electronic document but can operate behind it. Reference information added to an electronic document.
In this way, by maintaining the correspondence between the reference information, the medium identification information, and the position information, the pen device 600 designates a specific position on the medium and traces the reference information corresponding to the position. Thus, it is possible to access desired information or functions. In other words, in FIG. 1, the electronic document and the locus of the pen device 600 are displayed superimposed on the display of the terminal device 700. However, if the reference information is managed as in the present embodiment, the reference information is traced. It is also possible to display the Web page acquired in this way, the processing result of the application program executed by tracing the reference information, and the like on the display of the terminal device 700.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the terminal device 100 instructs to print a superimposed image of a document image of an electronic document and a code image indicating identification information of the medium and position information in the medium, the reference information and the reference information A correspondence relationship between the identification information and the position information of the medium on which the reference information is printed is created.
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the terminal device 100 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the terminal device 100.
As illustrated, the terminal device 100 includes a print instruction receiving unit 11, a document PDL generation unit 12, a code image generation unit 13, a reference information acquisition unit 14, a registration unit 15, and an output PDL generation unit 16. It has.

The print instruction accepting unit 11 accepts a print instruction from the user, acquires an electronic document read into the memory of the terminal device 100 from the document repository 200 (see FIG. 1), delivers the electronic document to the document PDL generation unit 12, and The medium identification information (hereinafter referred to as “medium ID”) is acquired, and the position information in the medium is acquired. At the same time, a code image generation instruction for instructing generation of a code image is output to the code image generation unit 13, and a reference information acquisition instruction for instructing acquisition of reference information is output to the reference information acquisition unit 14. The print instruction receiving unit 11 can be understood as including a document acquisition unit that acquires an electronic document, an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information, and a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information. .
The document PDL generation unit 12 converts the electronic document delivered from the print instruction reception unit 11 into a document PDL file that is a PDL (Page Description Language) file including a command sequence for the image forming apparatus 400 to perform image formation. .
When there is a code image generation instruction from the print instruction reception unit 11, the code image generation unit 13 generates a code image in a format that will be described in detail later, specifies a color, and outputs the code image to the output PDL generation unit 16.

When there is a reference information acquisition instruction from the print instruction receiving unit 11, the reference information acquisition unit 14 analyzes the electronic document delivered at the same time or its additional information, and acquires reference information. Here, the reference information is, for example, information for linking to specific information or information for calling a specific application program (function). At that time, the reference information acquisition unit 14 also acquires position information of an area where reference information exists in the electronic document or an area to which the reference information is added. Here, since such a region is a normal rectangle, it is represented by the coordinates of the upper left point and the lower right point of the rectangular region, which will be referred to as rectangle information.
The registration unit 15 registers the reference information acquired by the reference information acquisition unit 14 in a storage device (not shown) as management information associated with the medium ID and the rectangular information. Here, the storage device may be provided anywhere, but is preferably provided in a computer that can be accessed in common from each device connected to the network, such as the document repository 200.

  The output PDL generation unit 16 sets the code image and color designation information passed from the code image generation unit 13 in the document PDL file passed from the document PDL generation unit 12 as a PDL command. Generated by adding a command for superimposing a code image on a document) and outputting it to the image forming apparatus 400. Note that the output PDL generation unit 16 can also be understood as an instruction unit from the viewpoint of instructing the image forming apparatus 400 to print an image in which an image of an electronic document and a code image are superimposed.

  These functions are realized by cooperation between software and hardware resources. That is, the CPU (not shown) of the terminal device 100 realizes the functions of the print instruction receiving unit 11, the document PDL generation unit 12, the code image generation unit 13, the reference information acquisition unit 14, the registration unit 15, and the output PDL generation unit 16. A program to be executed is read from an external storage device such as a hard disk into the main memory, and each of these functions is realized in the terminal device 100.

Next, the operation of the terminal device 100 will be described.
First, FIG. 3 shows a display screen 190 of an application program for creating, editing, printing and the like of an electronic document.
When “File” is selected from the menu bar 191 on the display screen 190, a pull-down menu 192 as shown is displayed. Of the items displayed in the pull-down menu 192, “print (P)” is a selection item for performing normal printing without embedding reference information. On the other hand, “print with reference information (R)” is a selection item for performing printing with reference information embedded therein.
Therefore, in this embodiment, an operation when “print with reference information (R)” is selected will be described. That is, hereinafter, “print instruction” refers to a print instruction by selecting “print with reference information (R)”. Here, the electronic document is printed as it is on the entire surface of the medium, and the image of the portion represented by the specific position information of the electronic document is printed at the position represented by the same position information in the medium. Shall be.

Next, the operation of the print instruction receiving unit 11 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the print instruction receiving unit 11.
First, the print instruction receiving unit 11 monitors whether there is a print instruction (step 111). That is, if there is no print instruction, step 111 is repeated, and if there is a print instruction, the print attribute is acquired (step 112). Print attributes include paper size, orientation, duplex printing, and the like. The print instruction also includes information for specifying the electronic document to be printed.
Next, the print instruction receiving unit 11 acquires a medium ID that uniquely identifies the medium on which the electronic document is printed (step 113). The medium ID can be obtained by issuing it from a predetermined server computer.

  Further, position information in the medium is generated based on the paper size and orientation information, and the medium ID, the position information, and the color designation are transmitted to the code image generation unit 13 to instruct generation of a code image (step 114). ). Here, the color designation is information for designating which color the code image is printed. If the image forming apparatus 400 has five developing units of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and invisible (I), the code image is printed invisible (I). This is information that should be done. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 400 has only four developing units of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and any of these colors is invisible (I). If it has been replaced, it is the designation of the replaced color. As a result, the code image is printed invisible (I).

Thereafter, the print instruction receiving unit 11 takes out the electronic document from the memory (step 115), passes the electronic document to the reference information acquisition unit 14, and instructs acquisition of the reference information (step 116).
Finally, the electronic document is delivered to the document PDL generation unit 12 to instruct conversion to the document PDL (step 117).

Next, the operation of the code image generation unit 13 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the code image generation unit 13.
First, the code image generation unit 13 monitors whether there is a code image generation instruction from the print instruction reception unit 11 (step 131). That is, if there is no code image generation instruction, step 131 is repeated, and if there is a code image generation instruction, an identification code is generated (step 132).
Specifically, identification information of a medium such as paper on which an electronic document is printed is encoded by a predetermined encoding method. For this encoding, for example, an RS (Reed Solomon) code or a BCH code which is a known error correction code can be used. Also, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) or checksum value of position information can be calculated as an error detection code and added as a redundant bit.
Then, the encoded identification information is converted into a format embedded as code information. For example, the arrangement of each bit in the encoded identification information can be replaced or encrypted with a pseudo-random number so that it is difficult for a third party to decipher. When the identification code is two-dimensionally arranged, the bit value is two-dimensionally arranged in the same manner as the code arrangement.

Next, the code image generation unit 13 generates a position code (step 133).
Specifically, position information corresponding to the size of the medium on which the electronic document is printed is encoded by a predetermined encoding method. For this encoding, a method similar to that used for encoding the identification information can be used. The position information can also be expressed using an M sequence that is a kind of pseudo noise sequence. Here, the M sequence is a sequence of the maximum period that can be generated by a k-stage linear shift register, and the period is 2 ^k −1. Further, there is a property that a continuous k-bit partial sequence extracted from an arbitrary position in the M sequence appears only once in the M sequence. Due to this property, if the positional information is associated with each successive k-bit partial series, the positional information can be specified by detecting the partial series.
Then, the encoded position information is converted into a format embedded as code information. For example, the arrangement of each bit in the encoded position information can be replaced or encrypted with a pseudo-random number or the like so that it is difficult for a third party to decipher. When the position code is two-dimensionally arranged, the bit value is two-dimensionally arranged in the same manner as the code arrangement.

Thereafter, the code image generation unit 13 arranges the identification code generated in step 132 and the position code generated in step 133 in two dimensions (step 134). At this time, the same code is arranged as the identification code regardless of the position, but different codes are arranged as the position code depending on the position.
Also, a code image is generated by assigning a pattern image to be described later to each bit of the identification code and the position code (step 135).

Incidentally, the code image is a binary image at this point, but the code image generation unit 13 performs color designation for the code image (step 136). That is, since the code image generation instruction includes color designation information, color designation is performed using this information.
Finally, the code image generation unit 13 outputs the code image for which the color is designated to the output PDL generation unit 16 (step 137).

Next, a code image generated and printed by the code image generation unit 13 will be described.
FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining the above-described code image. FIG. 6A schematically shows a two-dimensional code array formed as an invisible image. FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the two-dimensional code that is one unit of the two-dimensional code array in FIG. Further, FIG. 6C is a diagram for explaining pattern images of backslash “\” and slash “/”.

  In the present embodiment, the code images shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C have a maximum absorption rate of, for example, 7% or less in the visible light region (400 nm to 700 nm), and the near infrared region (800 nm to 1000 nm). For example, an invisible toner having an absorptance of 30% or more. The invisible toner has an average dispersion diameter in the range of 100 nm to 600 nm in order to enhance the near infrared light absorption capability necessary for machine reading of an image. Here, “visible” and “invisible” are not related to whether they can be recognized visually. “Visible” and “invisible” are distinguished depending on whether or not an image formed on a printed medium can be recognized by the presence or absence of color development due to absorption of a specific wavelength in the visible light region. Further, “invisible” includes those that have some color developability due to absorption of a specific wavelength in the visible light region but are difficult to recognize with human eyes.

  In addition, the code image is formed as an invisible image that can be machine-readed and decoded by infrared light irradiation stably over a long period of time and can record information at high density. Furthermore, it is preferable that the image is an invisible image that can be provided in an arbitrary area regardless of the area where the visible image on the medium surface that outputs the image is provided. Furthermore, for example, an invisible image that can be recognized by a difference in gloss when visually observed is more preferable. For example, an invisible image is formed on the entire surface of the medium (paper surface) in accordance with the size of the medium to be printed. However, “entire surface” does not mean to include all four corners of the sheet. In an apparatus such as an electrophotographic system, the area around the paper surface is usually a non-printable range, and therefore it is not necessary to print an invisible image in such a range.

  The two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 6B includes an area in which a position code indicating a coordinate position on the medium is stored, and an area in which an identification code for uniquely specifying the medium or the like is stored. It also includes an area for storing the synchronization code. As shown in FIG. 6A, a plurality of the two-dimensional codes are arranged on the medium surface in a lattice pattern. That is, a plurality of two-dimensional codes as shown in FIG. 6B are arranged on the medium surface, each of which includes a position code, an identification code, and a synchronization code. In the plurality of position code areas, different position information is stored depending on the place where each area is arranged. On the other hand, the same identification information is stored in the areas of the plurality of identification codes regardless of the place where they are arranged.

  In FIG. 6B, the position code is arranged in a 6-bit × 6-bit rectangular area. Each bit value is formed by a plurality of minute line bitmaps having different rotation angles, and the bit value 0 and the bit value 1 are expressed by the pattern image (pattern 0 and pattern 1) shown in FIG. . More specifically, the bit value 0 and the bit value 1 are expressed using backslash “\” and slash “/” having different slopes. The pattern image is composed of 600 dpi and a size of 8 × 8 pixels. A diagonally upward pattern image (pattern 0) has a bit value 0, and a diagonally upward pattern image (pattern 1) has a bit value 1. Express. Therefore, 1-bit information (0 or 1) can be expressed by one pattern image. By using such a minute line bitmap having two kinds of inclinations, there is provided a two-dimensional code capable of embedding a large amount of information with high density and with very little noise applied to a visible image. It becomes possible.

That is, a total of 36-bit position information is stored in the position code area shown in FIG. Of these 36 bits, 18 bits can be used for encoding the X coordinate, and 18 bits can be used for encoding the Y coordinate. When used in the encoding of all positions of each 18 bit, are two ¹⁸ position (about 260,000) can be encoded. When each pattern image is composed of 8 pixels × 8 pixels (600 dpi) as shown in FIG. 6C, one dot of 600 dpi is 0.0423 mm. The size of the two-dimensional code (including the synchronization code) is about 3 mm (8 pixels × 9 bits × 0.0423 mm) both vertically and horizontally. When 260,000 positions are encoded at intervals of 3 mm, a length of about 786 m can be encoded. In this way, all 18 bits may be used for position coding, or when a pattern image detection error occurs, redundant bits for error detection and error correction may be included. .
The identification code is arranged in a rectangular area of 2 bits × 8 bits and 6 bits × 2 bits, and can store a total of 28 bits of identification information. When using the 28-bit as the identification information can be represented the identity of two ways ²⁸ (about 270 million). Similarly to the position code, the identification code can include redundant bits for error detection and error correction in 28 bits.

In the example shown in FIG. 6C, the two pattern images have an angle of 90 degrees different from each other, but if the angle difference is set to 45 degrees, four types of pattern images can be configured. When configured in this way, 2-bit information (0 to 3) can be expressed by one pattern image. That is, the number of bits that can be expressed can be increased by increasing the angle types of the pattern image.
In the example shown in FIG. 6C, the bit value encoding is described using the pattern image, but other than the pattern image may be employed. For example, it is possible to perform encoding according to the ON / OFF state of the dot or the direction in which the dot position is shifted from the reference position.

Next, the operation of the reference information acquisition unit 14 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the reference information acquisition unit 14.
First, the reference information acquisition unit 14 monitors whether there is a reference information acquisition instruction from the print instruction reception unit 11 (step 141). That is, if there is no reference information acquisition instruction, step 141 is repeated, and if there is a reference information acquisition instruction, the following processing is performed for each page of the electronic document delivered from the print instruction receiving unit 11. Note that the reference information acquisition instruction includes the medium ID acquired by the print instruction reception unit 11.

That is, the reference information acquisition unit 14 reads a page of interest (step 142), searches for reference information for the page (step 143), and determines whether there is reference information (step 144). As a result, if there is reference information, rectangular information is generated for the area where the reference information exists or added (step 145), and the correspondence between the medium ID, the rectangular information, and the reference information is stored in the memory (step 146). ). At this time, the reference information acquisition unit 14 generates rectangular information using the coordinate system used when the print instruction reception unit 11 acquires the position information.
As described above, when the reference information is searched and the reference information is found, the process of storing the medium ID, the rectangle information, and the reference information in association with each other is continued until the reference information is lost on the page, and the reference information is lost. If there is another page, it is determined (step 147).
Here, if there is another page, the processing of steps 142 to 146 is repeated, but if there is no other page, the registration unit 15 is made to correspond to the medium ID, rectangular information, and reference information stored in the memory. Output (step 148).

In response to this, the registration unit 15 registers a reference information table in which the medium ID, the rectangular information, and the reference information are associated with each other in a storage device (not shown).
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the reference information table registered here.
Here, as described above, the rectangle information is represented by the coordinates of the upper left point and the lower right point of the rectangular area. For example, the position (additional position) of the first reference information acquired from the medium ID “00000001” is that the coordinates of the upper left point are (x11, y11) and the coordinates of the lower right point are (x12, y12). It turns out that it is a rectangular area.
The reference information includes reference information for executing a predetermined function, but here, only reference information for accessing the predetermined information is assumed.
Thereafter, the registration unit 15 notifies the output PDL generation unit 16 that registration of the reference information has been completed.

As a result, the output PDL generation unit 16 uses the code image and color designation information sent from the code image generation unit 13 for the code image superimposition on the document PDL sent from the document PDL generation unit 12. An output PDL is generated by inserting a PDL command.
Then, by transmitting this output PDL to the image forming apparatus 400, the image forming apparatus 400 prints a code image with invisible toner.

Finally, the image forming apparatus 400 that forms an image based on the output PDL will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 400, and shows a so-called tandem mechanism. Note that the image forming apparatus 400 is originally an image forming apparatus having four developing devices of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and black (K) is invisible (I ).
The image forming apparatus 400 includes an image process system 410 that forms an image corresponding to gradation data of each color, a sheet transport system 430 that transports recording paper (sheets and media), and an image output that controls the entire image forming apparatus 400. An image processing system connected to a control unit 441 such as a personal computer or a scanner unit 445 and having a function of interpreting received PDL data and converting it into image data, and a function of performing predetermined image processing on image data. An IPS (Image Processing System) 442 is provided. In this configuration example, a function having a print processing function and a scan system processing function is expressed as IPS, but may be realized as separate modules. FIG. 9 is a view of the image forming apparatus 400 as viewed from the side where the user operates (front side).

  The image processing system 410 includes four image forming units 411Y and 411M of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and invisible (I), which are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction. , 411C, 411I, and a transfer unit 420 for transferring the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 412 of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, 411I onto the intermediate transfer belt 421. Further, a fixing device 429 is provided for fixing the image on the recording paper secondarily transferred by the transfer unit 420 to the recording paper using heat and pressure. Further, toner cartridges 419Y, 419M, 419C, and 419I are provided for supplying toner of each color to the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I.

  In this embodiment, each of the image forming units 411 (411Y, 411M, 411C, 411I) includes a charger 413 for charging the photosensitive drum 412 around the photosensitive drum 412 rotating in the direction of arrow A, a photosensitive drum. A laser exposure unit 414 that writes an electrostatic latent image on the body drum 412, a developing unit 415 that stores toner of each color component and develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 412 with toner, and is formed on the photosensitive drum 412. Electrophotographic devices such as a primary transfer roll 416 for transferring the color component toner images to the intermediate transfer belt 421 and a drum cleaner 417 for removing residual toner on the photosensitive drum 412 are sequentially arranged. These image forming units 411 are arranged in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and invisible (I) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 421.

  The transfer unit 420 includes a drive roll 422 that drives the intermediate transfer belt 421, a tension roll 423 that applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 421, and a backup roll that performs secondary transfer of the superimposed toner images of each color onto a recording sheet. 424, and a belt cleaner 425 for removing residual toner and the like existing on the intermediate transfer belt 421. The intermediate transfer belt 421 is wound around the drive roll 422, the tension roll 423, and the backup roll 424 with a constant tension, and is rotated by a dedicated drive motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed. The drive roll 422 is circulated at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow B. As the intermediate transfer belt 421, for example, a belt whose resistance is adjusted with a belt material (rubber or resin) that does not cause charge-up is used.

  The sheet conveyance system 430 includes a paper feed tray 431 that stacks and supplies recording paper (sheets and media) on which images are recorded, a nudger roll 432 that picks up and supplies recording paper from the paper feed tray 431, and a nudger roll 432. A feed roll 433 that separates and feeds the recording paper supplied from the paper one by one, and a transport path 434 that transports the recording paper separated by the feed roll 433 toward the image transfer unit. In addition, a registration roll 435 that conveys the recording sheet conveyed through the conveyance path 434 at a timing toward the secondary transfer position, and a backup roll 424 that is provided at the secondary transfer position and is in pressure contact with the recording sheet A secondary transfer roll 436 for secondary transfer of the image to the paper, a discharge roll 437 for discharging the recording paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 429, and a discharge tray 438 for stacking the recording paper discharged by the discharge roll 437. It has.

  The scanner unit 445 reads an image of a document placed on the platen glass or an image of the document conveyed on the platen glass by a CCD image sensor or the like (not shown). Here, in the image forming apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment, the scanner unit 445 is disposed on the upper side to save space. A predetermined gap is formed between the discharge tray 438 and the scanner unit 445 so that the recording paper after image formation discharged to the discharge tray 438 can be easily taken out.

Next, an image forming process of the image forming apparatus 400 will be described.
First, the output PDL generated by the output PDL generation unit 16 in FIG. 2 is input to the IPS 442. The IPS 442 performs predetermined image processing such as generating an output image by interpreting a PDL command on the input PDL. The image data subjected to the image processing is converted into color material gradation data of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and invisible (I), and each image forming unit 411Y, 411M, 411C and 411I are output to the laser exposure unit 414.

  In each of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I, the photosensitive drum 412 is charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 413. Further, the laser exposure unit 414 of each of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, 411I applies the photosensitive drum 412 of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, 411I according to the color material gradation data input from the IPS 442. Laser light is radiated. On the photosensitive drum 412 of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I, the charged surface is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed in each of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I in each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and invisible (I). Developed as a toner image.

  The toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 412 of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I are multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 421. At this time, since the image forming units 411Y, 411M, and 411C for forming yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are provided on the most upstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 421, the yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are provided. Are first primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 421. Further, since the image forming unit 411I that forms an invisible toner image is provided on the most downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 421, the invisible toner image is finally primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 421. . Then, the photosensitive drum 412 of the image forming units 411Y, 411M, 411C, and 411I after the transfer is cleaned by the drum cleaner 417.

  On the other hand, in the sheet conveyance system 430, the nudger roll 432 rotates in accordance with the timing of image formation, and recording paper of a predetermined size is supplied from the paper feed tray 431. The recording sheets separated one by one by the feed roll 433 are conveyed to the registration roll 435 through the conveyance path 434 and temporarily stopped. Thereafter, the registration roll 435 rotates in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 421 on which the toner image is formed, and the recording paper is conveyed to the secondary transfer position formed by the backup roll 424 and the secondary transfer roll 436. . On the recording sheet conveyed from the lower side to the upper side at the secondary transfer position, the toner images in which the four colors are multiplexed are sequentially transferred in the sub-scanning direction using a pressing force and a predetermined electric field. The recording paper on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is subjected to a fixing process with heat and pressure by the fixing device 429 and then discharged to a discharge tray 438 provided at the upper portion by a discharge roll 437. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 421 after the secondary transfer is cleaned by a belt cleaner 425 to prepare for the next process.

In this embodiment, a reference information table in which a medium ID, position information in the medium (same as position information on an electronic document) and reference information are associated with each other is stored, and a specific position of the medium is designated. In this case, it is possible to access the desired information or function by tracing the reference information, but the information registered in the reference information table is not limited to these information.
For example, instead of the medium ID, a document ID for uniquely identifying a document or a page ID for uniquely identifying a page may be used. In place of the position information in the medium, the position information in the document may be used in the former case, and the position information in the page may be used in the latter case. However, when the correspondence of such information is held in the reference information table, the medium ID included in the code image to be printed on the medium and the position information in the medium are changed to the document ID and the position information (page ID and page in the electronic document). It is also necessary to generate a conversion table for conversion into (position information in the information). With this configuration, when an arbitrary position on the medium is designated, the conversion table is referred to identify the position on the electronic document corresponding to the position, and the reference information table is referred to for the electronic position. Reference information corresponding to the position on the document can be acquired. If a method using such a conversion table is adopted, enlargement / reduction printing and N-up printing which are not considered in the present embodiment can be handled.

  In this embodiment, the reference information extracted from the electronic document is associated with the medium ID and the position information in the medium as they are, but this is not limited to such a form. That is, every time an electronic document is printed on a medium, a copy of accessible information or function is created by tracing the reference information in the electronic document, and the medium ID and the position information in the medium are copied to the newly created copy. It is also possible to associate the reference information. In this way, it is possible to control access to information or functions following the reference information for each print medium.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the reference information table in which the identification information of the medium, the position information in the medium, and the reference information are associated with each other is generated, but the identification information may not be provided. That is, the present invention can also be applied when creating a medium that can access predetermined information or functions when a specific area is designated without distinguishing between the media.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the terminal device 100 as the print instruction device registers the reference information table is employed, but a configuration in which the image forming apparatus 400 as the printing device registers the reference information table is employed. It doesn't matter. In that case, the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 2 means a functional block diagram of the IPS 442 in the image forming apparatus 400. The print instruction receiving unit 11 receives PDL data as a print instruction from the terminal device 100, interprets the PDL data, and acquires an image of the electronic document. That is, this function in the print instruction receiving unit 11 can be regarded as a document image acquisition unit.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, an image of an electronic document and at least a code image indicating position information in the medium are printed in a superimposed manner, and reference is made in the electronic document based on the position information in the medium. Added reference information table to get information. As a result, the reference information in the electronic document can be traced even from the medium (printed document) on which the electronic document is printed, and the locus added to the printed document with a pen device or the like is stored as electronic information. Can now.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the function structure of the terminal device in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the display screen of the electronic document in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the printing instruction | indication reception part in the terminal device of embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the code image generation part in the terminal device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the code image printed on a medium in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the reference information acquisition part in the terminal device of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the content of the reference information table registered by the terminal device of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the image forming apparatus in the terminal device of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100,700 ... Terminal device, 200 ... Document repository, 400 ... Image forming apparatus, 500 ... Printed matter, 600 ... Pen device

Claims (9)

Document acquisition means for acquiring an electronic document to be printed on a medium;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring position information in the medium;
Instruction means for instructing a printing mechanism to print a superimposed image of the image of the electronic document and the image of the position information;
Analyzes the electronic document, determines whether there is reference information that is information for linking to the specific information or information for calling a specific function in the electronic document, and the electronic document has the reference information When it is determined as a reference information acquisition means for identifying the location of the reference information in the electronic document to acquire the reference information from the electronic document,
Print instruction apparatus characterized by comprising a registration means for registering the management information for making it possible to obtain the reference information based on the positional information corresponding to the location of the reference information.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit instructs to print the image of the position information using an invisible toner that absorbs light of a specific wavelength.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference information acquisition unit acquires the reference information from additional information of the electronic document. The registration unit registers correspondence information between the reference information and position information in the medium corresponding to the position of the reference information in the electronic document as the management information. The printing instruction apparatus according to the description. Further comprising identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information of the electronic document or the medium;
Said registration means, claims and registers the management information for making it possible to obtain said identification information, the reference information based on said position information corresponding to the location of the reference information Item 2. A printing instruction apparatus according to Item 1. The registration unit registers correspondence information of the reference information, the identification information, and position information in the medium corresponding to a position of the reference information in the electronic document as the management information. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 5. Document image acquisition means for acquiring a document image of an electronic document to be printed on a medium;
Code image acquisition means for acquiring a code image indicating position information in the medium;
Printing means for printing a superimposed image of the document image and the code image;
Analyzes the electronic document, determines whether there is reference information that is information for linking to the specific information or information for calling a specific function in the electronic document, and the electronic document has the reference information When it is determined as a reference information acquisition means for identifying the location of the reference information in the electronic document to acquire the reference information from the electronic document,
Printing apparatus characterized by comprising a registration means for registering the management information for making it possible to obtain the reference information based on the positional information corresponding to the location of the reference information. A printing system including a printing instruction device that instructs to print an image, a registration device that registers information, and a printing device that prints an image,
The printing instruction device
Document acquisition means for acquiring an electronic document to be printed on a medium;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring position information in the medium;
Analyzes the electronic document, determines whether there is reference information that is information for linking to the specific information or information for calling a specific function in the electronic document, and the electronic document has the reference information When it is determined as a reference information acquisition means for identifying the location of the reference information in the electronic document to acquire the reference information from the electronic document
With
The registration device
Registration means for registering the management information for making it possible to obtain the reference information based on the positional information corresponding to the location of the reference information
With
The printing apparatus includes:
Printing means for printing a superimposed image of the image of the electronic document and the image of the position information
Printing system comprising the. On the computer,
A procedure for obtaining an electronic document to be printed on a medium;
Obtaining position information in the medium;
Analyzes the electronic document, determines whether there is reference information that is information for linking to the specific information or information for calling a specific function in the electronic document, and the electronic document has the reference information if it is determined that the procedures for specifying the location of the reference information in the electronic document to acquire the reference information from the electronic document,
A step of registering the management information for making it possible to obtain the reference information based on the positional information corresponding to the location of the reference information,
A program for executing a procedure for instructing a printing mechanism to print a superimposed image of the image of the electronic document and the image of the position information.

Images