JP5503596B2 - Watermark generation program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a watermark generation program for causing a computer to generate a watermark (stamp mark) to be printed over a document generated by an application.

  Conventionally, an external device of an image forming apparatus that prints based on print data in a page description language, and generates print data in a page description language from a document file generated by the application, and also generates a document generated by the application. An external device that generates a watermark to be printed in a superimposed manner is known (see Patent Document 1). The external device adds the watermark image data to be combined with the document by the image forming apparatus to the print data after the print data in the page description language is generated.

JP 2011-98500 A

  However, in the conventional external device, since the watermark is combined with the document by the image forming apparatus, the combination of the watermark image data and the print data is a combination that cannot be properly processed by the image forming apparatus. In this case, there is a problem that the watermark cannot be appropriately printed on the image forming apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a watermark generation program capable of causing a computer to generate a watermark that is more appropriately printed by an image forming apparatus.

  The watermark generation program of the present invention is used together with a print data generation program that causes a computer to generate print data in a page description language from a document file generated by an application, and prints a watermark to be printed over the document. A watermark generation program to be generated by the computer, wherein the watermark is combined with the document on a file of the document before the print data is generated, and printing is performed based on the print data. Causing the computer to execute a post-processing step of adding the image data of the watermark combined with the document by the image forming apparatus to the print data after the print data is generated, and the post-processing step includes: Pre-treatment Only if the watermark has not been synthesized in the document by step, characterized by adding the image data of the watermark to the print data.

  With this configuration, if the computer executing the watermark generation program of the present invention can synthesize the watermark on the document file before generating the print data, the computer itself can generate the watermark. Therefore, it is possible to generate a watermark that is more appropriately printed by the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the preprocessing step of the watermark generation program of the present invention is configured such that when the watermark is combined with the document, combined information that is information indicating that the watermark is combined with the document is stored in the computer. In the post-processing step, the watermark image data may be added to the print data only when the combined information is not stored.

  With this configuration, the computer executing the watermark generation program of the present invention can combine the watermark with the document on the document file before the print data is generated, and the watermark after the print data is generated. The execution of only one of adding the image data to the print data can be realized with a simple configuration.

  A watermark generation device of the present invention is a watermark generation device that generates print data in a page description language from a document file generated by an application, and generates a watermark to be printed over the document. Pre-processing means for synthesizing the watermark on the document file before generating the print data, and the watermark synthesized on the document by an image forming apparatus for printing based on the print data And post-processing means for adding the image data to the print data after generating the print data, and the post-processing means has not synthesized the watermark into the document by the pre-processing means. Only when the watermark image data is replaced with the print data. Characterized in that it added.

  With this configuration, the watermark generation apparatus of the present invention can synthesize a watermark into a document by itself when the watermark can be combined with the document on the document file before generating the print data. Since they are combined, it is possible to generate a watermark that is more appropriately printed than before by the image forming apparatus.

  The watermark generation program of the present invention can cause a computer to generate a watermark that is more appropriately printed than before by an image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of Macintosh (trademark) shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the pre filter shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the back-end filter shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when a document file is input to the prefilter illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when a document file is not input to the prefilter illustrated in FIG. 2.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the network system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network system 10 includes a Macintosh (registered trademark) 20 and an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 30 that is an image forming apparatus. The Macintosh 20 and the MFP 30 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the Macintosh 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the Macintosh 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the entire Macintosh 20, a storage unit 22 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores programs and various data, and a user An operation unit 23 which is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard for inputting various operations, a display unit 24 which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information, and an external device via the network 11 And a network communication unit 25 that is a network communication device that communicates with the apparatus.

  The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22.

  The storage unit 22 generates an OS (Operating System) 22a, a plurality of applications 22c that generate a file of a document to be printed by the MFP 30, and a watermark printed on the document generated by the application 22c in the Macintosh 20 A printer driver 22d as a watermark generation program to be stored is stored. The OS 22a is a CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) 22b as a print data generation program that causes the Macintosh 20 to generate print data (hereinafter referred to as “Postscript data”) based on Postscript, which is a page description language, from a document file generated by the application 22c. Is included. The printer driver 22d generates Postscript data for the prefilter 22e that combines the watermark with the document on the document file and the watermark image data that is combined with the document by the MFP 30 before generating the Postscript data. After that, a back-end filter (Back-end Filter) 22f to be added to the Postscript data is included.

  In addition, the storage unit 22 stores a preprocessing execution flag 22g that is information indicating whether or not the watermark has been combined with the document. The preprocessing execution flag 22g indicates that the watermark has been combined with the document when in the on state, and indicates that the watermark has not been combined with the document when in the off state. That is, the pre-processing execution flag 22g in the on state constitutes combined information that is information indicating that the watermark has been combined with the document.

  Note that the application 22c and the printer driver 22d may be installed in the Macintosh 20 at the manufacturing stage of the Macintosh 20, or may be installed from a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or from the network 11 to the Macintosh 20 It may be additionally installed.

  The control unit 21 functions as a pre-processing unit that combines the watermark with the document on the document file before generating the Postscript data by executing the prefilter 22e stored in the storage unit 22. Further, the control unit 21 executes the back-end filter 22f stored in the storage unit 22 to add the watermark image data to be synthesized with the document by the MFP 30 to the Postscript data after generating the Postscript data. Functions as post-processing means. In the following, the functions of the control unit 21 when the control unit 21 executes the OS 22a, the CUPS 22b, the application 22c, the printer driver 22d, the pre-filter 22e, and the back-end filter 22f stored in the storage unit 22 are simply referred to as the OS 22a. , CUPS 22b, application 22c, printer driver 22d, pre-filter 22e, and back-end filter 22f. Note that the pre-filter 22e and the back-end filter 22f are activated by the CUPS 22b.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the MFP 30 includes a control unit 31 that controls the entire MFP 30, a storage unit 32 that is a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various types of data, and a user. An operation unit 33 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations according to, a display unit 34 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and a printer 35 that is a printing device that executes printing on paper. A scanner 36 that reads an image from a document, a fax communication unit 37 that is a fax device that performs fax communication with an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line, and the network 11 Outside A network communication unit 38 that is a network communication device that communicates with other devices.

  The control unit 31 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 32.

  Next, the operation of the network system 10 will be described.

  First, operations of the pre-filter 22e and the back-end filter 22f of the Macintosh 20 will be described.

<Operation of Prefilter 22e of Macintosh 20>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the prefilter 22e of the Macintosh 20.

  When a PDF (Portable Document Format) file, which is a document file generated by the application 22c, is input to the prefilter 22e, the prefilter 22e performs the operation illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pre-filter 22e uses the function of the application 22c to synthesize a watermark on the document on the input PDF file (S101). Here, the watermark image data is, for example, image data based on characters, graphics, and the like designated in advance by the user via the operation unit 23.

  Next, the prefilter 22e turns on the preprocessing execution flag 22g stored in the storage unit 22 (S102), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

<Operation of Back End Filter 22f of Macintosh 20>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the back end filter 22f of the Macintosh 20.

  The back-end filter 22f executes the operation shown in FIG. 5 when the Postscript data is input.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the back-end filter 22f determines whether or not the preprocessing execution flag 22g stored in the storage unit 22 is in an on state (S111).

  If the back-end filter 22f determines in S111 that the pre-processing execution flag 22g is on, the back-end filter 22f turns off the pre-processing execution flag 22g (S112) and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the back-end filter 22f determines in S111 that the pre-processing execution flag 22g is off, the back-end filter 22f adds the watermark image data to the Postscript data (S113), and ends the operation shown in FIG. Here, the watermark image data is, for example, image data based on characters, graphics, and the like designated in advance by the user via the operation unit 23.

  Next, the operation of the entire network system 10 will be described.

<Operation when a document file is input to the pre-filter 22e>
Whether or not a document file is input to the pre-filter 22e is determined according to the type of the application 22c that generated the document file. For example, when the type of the application 22c is a Microsoft Office (registered trademark) system, a document file generated by the application 22c is input to the pre-filter 22e.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data flow when a document file is input to the pre-filter 22e.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when a document file is input to the prefilter 22e, a PDF file that is a document file generated by the application 22c is input to the prefilter 22e (S121).

  When the PDF file is input, the prefilter 22e performs the operation shown in FIG. That is, the pre-filter 22e synthesizes a watermark with the document on the input PDF file (S101), turns on the preprocessing execution flag 22g stored in the storage unit 22 (S102), and FIG. End the indicated operation.

  Next, the PDF file in which the watermark is combined with the document by the pre-filter 22e is input to the CUPS 22b (S122).

  When a PDF file is input, the CUPS 22b generates Postscript data from the input PDF file. That is, the CUPS 22b generates Postscript data of a document in which a watermark is combined.

  Next, the Postscript data generated by the CUPS 22b is input to the back-end filter 22f (S123).

  The back-end filter 22f executes the operation shown in FIG. 5 when the Postscript data is input. That is, since the pre-processing execution flag 22g stored in the storage unit 22 is in the on state (YES in S111), the back-end filter 22f sets the pre-processing execution flag 22g to the off state (S112). End the indicated operation.

  Next, the control unit 21 of the Macintosh 20 transmits the Postscript data that has not been processed by the back-end filter 22f to the MFP 30 via the network 11 via the network communication unit 25 (S124).

  When the control unit 31 of the MFP 30 receives the Postscript data from the Macintosh 20 via the network communication unit 38, the printer 35 prints the document on which the watermark is superimposed based on the received Postscript data.

<Operation when no document file is input to the pre-filter 22e>
For example, when the type of the application 22c is an Adobe (registered trademark) system, a document file generated by the application 22c is not input to the pre-filter 22e.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data flow when a document file is not input to the pre-filter 22e.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the document file is not input to the pre-filter 22e, the document file generated by the application 22c is input to the CUPS 22b (S131).

  When a document file is input, the CUPS 22b generates Postscript data from the input document file.

  Next, the Postscript data generated by the CUPS 22b is input to the back-end filter 22f (S132).

  The back-end filter 22f executes the operation shown in FIG. 5 when the Postscript data is input. That is, since the preprocessing execution flag 22g stored in the storage unit 22 is off (NO in S111), the back-end filter 22f adds the watermark image data to the Postscript data (S113). The operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the control unit 21 of the Macintosh 20 transmits the Postscript data to which the watermark image data has been added by the back-end filter 22f to the MFP 30 via the network 11 via the network communication unit 25 (S133).

  When the Postscript data is received from the Macintosh 20 via the network communication unit 38, the control unit 31 of the MFP 30 adds a watermark to the document based on the received Postscript data and the watermark image data added to the Postscript data. Is synthesized. Then, the control unit 31 of the MFP 30 prints the document with the watermark superimposed thereon by the printer 35.

  As described above, when the Macintosh 20 can synthesize a watermark on a document file before generating Postscript data (see FIG. 6), the Macintosh 20 itself converts the watermark into a document. Since they are combined (S101), it is possible to generate a watermark that is more appropriately printed by the MFP 30 than before.

  Also, Macintosh 20 combines the watermark with the document on the document file before the Postscript data is generated, and adds the watermark image data to the Postscript data after the Postscript data is generated. Only one of them can be executed with a simple configuration of the preprocessing execution flag 22g.

  The computer of the present invention is Macintosh in this embodiment, but may be a computer other than Macintosh.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

20 Macintosh (computer, watermark generator)
22e Pre-filter (pre-processing means)
22f Back-end filter (post-processing means)
22b CUPS (Print Data Generation Program)
22c application 22d printer driver (watermark generation program)
30 MFP (image forming apparatus)

Claims (3)

A watermark generation program that is used together with a print data generation program that causes a computer to generate print data in a page description language from a document file generated by an application, and that causes the computer to generate a watermark to be printed over the document. Because
A pre-processing step of combining the watermark with the document on the document file before the print data is generated; and the watermark combined with the document by an image forming apparatus that prints based on the print data. A post-processing step of adding the image data to the print data after the print data is generated,
The watermark generation program characterized in that the post-processing step adds the image data of the watermark to the print data only when the watermark is not combined with the document in the pre-processing step. In the preprocessing step, when the watermark is synthesized with the document, synthesized information that is information indicating that the watermark is synthesized with the document is stored in the computer,
The watermark generation program according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing step adds the image data of the watermark to the print data only when the combined information is not stored. A watermark generation device that generates print data in a page description language from a document file generated by an application, and generates a watermark to be printed over the document,
Pre-processing means for synthesizing the watermark with the document on the document file before generating the print data, and the watermark synthesized with the document by an image forming apparatus for printing based on the print data. Post-processing means for adding image data to the print data after generating the print data;
The watermark generation apparatus, wherein the post-processing unit adds the image data of the watermark to the print data only when the watermark is not combined with the document by the pre-processing unit.

Images