JP5962314B2 - Image forming system, management apparatus, image forming apparatus, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an image forming system, a management apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a control program.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a technique that makes it possible to specify a position on a sheet from a pattern printed on the sheet.
For example, in Patent Document 2, physical pages and position information are allocated by a position assigner so that each printed physical page can be distinguished, and the allocated relationship is held as data, which is necessary in the system. The data is provided accordingly.

Japanese Patent No. 4215516 JP-T-2006-504181 Special table 2008-282411

  An object of the present invention is to enable a code image including identification information to be added during image duplication in accordance with management of identification information in a management apparatus.

The invention according to claim 1 is included in a receiving unit that receives at least an identifier request including specific information that uniquely specifies a copy request, and a code image that is imaged on a medium in response to the identifier request received by the receiving unit. A management device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits identification information to be transmitted; and a management unit that associates and manages the specific information and the identification information transmitted by the transmission unit in response to an identifier request including the specific information; Reading means for reading a document, transmission means for transmitting at least an identifier request including the specific information to the management apparatus, and the identification transmitted from the management apparatus in response to the identifier request transmitted by the transmission means An acquisition unit for acquiring information, a generation unit for generating a code image including the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, and image data of a document read by the reading unit. And an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, an imaging a image to which the code image in which the generating means has generated the medium relative to the transmission means of the image forming apparatus, the reading means reads Before the total number of documents related to the copy request is determined, the image forming apparatus transmits information that can specify the number of identification information to be added to the code image based on the image data of the document read by the reading unit, The management apparatus receives information capable of specifying the number of the identification information transmitted from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus by the reception unit of the management apparatus, and the number of the identification information according to the received information which is the image forming system that transmitted by the transmitting means of the management device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect , the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus reads the reading unit before the total number of documents related to the copy request read by the reading unit is determined. The image forming system transmits information that can specify the number of pieces of identification information to be added to a code image by the image forming apparatus based on the image data at an acquisition timing of document image data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect , the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus, when the total number of originals related to the duplication request read by the reading unit is fixed, The image forming apparatus transmits information that can specify the number of identification information added to the code image based on the information, and the management apparatus specifies the number of identification information transmitted from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus. In the image forming system, possible information is received by a receiving unit of the management apparatus, and the number of pieces of identification information corresponding to the received information is transmitted by a transmission unit of the management apparatus.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the specific information includes information capable of identifying the duplication request.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus performs the reading on a management apparatus that manages the image data and the specific information in association with each other. The image forming system transmits image data of a document read by the means in association with the specific information.

The invention according to claim 6 is a receiving means for receiving at least an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium ; In response to the identifier request received by the receiving means, a transmitting means for transmitting the number of pieces of identification information corresponding to information capable of specifying the number of identification information received, an identifier request including the specific information and the specific information Correspondingly, the management apparatus includes management means for managing the identification information transmitted by the transmission means in association with each other.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided an identifier request including reading means for reading a document, identification information for uniquely specifying a duplication request, and information for identifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium. In response to the received identifier request, the number of pieces of identification information corresponding to the information capable of specifying the number of pieces of identification information received is transmitted, and in response to an identifier request including the specific information and the specific information. A transmitting unit that transmits an identifier request including information that can specify the number of identification information and the identification information to a management device that associates and manages the transmitted identification information; and an identifier request transmitted by the transmitting unit. Correspondingly, the acquisition means for acquiring the identification information transmitted from the management device, the generation means for generating a code image including the identification information acquired by the acquisition means, and the reading means read An image forming apparatus comprising image forming means for image forming the image to which the code image in which the generating means has generated the image data of the document medium.

The invention according to claim 8 is a receiving step of receiving at least an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium ; In response to the identifier request received in the reception step, a transmission step of transmitting the number of pieces of identification information corresponding to information capable of specifying the number of identification information received, and an identifier request including the specific information and the specific information Correspondingly, the management step of associating and managing the identification information transmitted in the transmission step is a computer-readable control program that causes the computer to execute.

The invention according to claim 9 receives an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium, and the received identifier request The number of pieces of identification information according to information that can specify the number of pieces of identification information received in response to the information is transmitted, and the specific information and the identification information transmitted in response to an identifier request including the specific information are A transmission step of transmitting an identifier request including information that can specify the specific information and the number of identification information to a management device that is managed in association with each other, and from the management device in response to the identifier request transmitted in the transmission step An acquisition step of acquiring the transmitted identification information; a generation step of generating a code image including the identification information acquired in the acquisition step; and image data of the read original An image forming step and, readable on a computer causing a computer to execute the control program for the image forming an image obtained by adding the code image generated in said generating step to the medium against.

According to the inventions according to claims 1, 6, 7 , 8, and 9, the code image including the identification information is added at the time of image duplication according to the management of the identification information in the management apparatus even before the total number of documents is determined. Can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the identification information can be acquired by a simple process such as each acquisition timing of image data before the total number of documents related to the copy request is determined.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of necessary identification information related to the copy request can be determined based on the determined total number of documents.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4 , the number of copies which concerns on the output medium can be specified.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the management device can manage the image data and the specific information in association with each other.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a host computer. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the pen with a scanner. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a duplication process. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example in an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another display example in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a stack synthetic | combination output process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a collation synthetic | combination output process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a synthetic | combination output process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table created by an identifier management server in response to an identifier request and a collation aggregation identifier request from an image forming apparatus as needed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence in the image processing system when a user issues a duplication instruction accompanied by a stack output instruction and a coordinate code superposition instruction to the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence in an image processing system when a user issues a duplication instruction accompanied by a collation output instruction and a coordinate code superimposition instruction to an image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence when a print request is received from a host computer in the image processing system. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence at the time of writing on a paper with a scanner pen in an image processing system.

The present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, an image processing system is cited.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the basic configuration of the image processing system 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 1 includes a host computer 10, an image forming apparatus 20, an identifier management server 40, a document server 50, a processing server 60, and a pen 70 with a scanner.

  Here, the host computer 10, the image forming apparatus 20, the identifier management server 40, the document server 50, the processing server 60, and the scanner pen 70 are connected to be communicable via a wired or wireless communication unit 80. For example, the communication means 80 is a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or a general public line.

The host computer 10 outputs a print request to the image forming apparatus 20 in order to print a document, graphic, or the like input or created by the user on a print medium. At this time, the host computer 10 outputs each item of the output format related to printing included in the print request.
Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the host computer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 10 includes a control unit (for example, a CPU) that performs various calculations and controls each unit centrally. The control unit 11 includes a program 12 executed by the control unit 11 and a magnetic storage device 13 for storing various data such as fixed data, a RAM 14 serving as a work area of the control unit 11, a display 15, and an input unit 16 such as a keyboard and a mouse. And a communication unit 17 that performs communication via the communication unit 80 is connected. Further, the program 12 may be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stored in the magnetic storage device 13 by a user's work after shipment. For example, the display 15 and the input unit 16 may constitute a touch panel.

  Also, each item of the output format related to printing includes: the number of copies to be printed (total number of outputs), a storage portion in which paper serving as a print medium is stored, a discharge format (output format) of printed paper, single-sided or double-sided printing, Items such as the discharge destination of the printed paper, the discharge order of the printed paper, and the stapling function are included. For example, the output form of printed paper includes collation output or stack output (hereinafter referred to as collation / stack output) when outputting a plurality of copies. In addition, as a discharge destination of the printed paper, there are a large-capacity discharge unit and a face-up tray on which the paper is discharged with the print side up.

Here, collation output is a format in which printing is performed for each number of print copies (also called the number of output copies) indicating the number of copies in the number of copies in units of printing for each logical page. The stack output is a format in which printing is performed for each logical page in units of printing for each number of copies.
In the host computer 10 having such a configuration, first, when the user sets each item of the output format by the input unit 16 and instructs execution of printing, software necessary for printing by a printer driver (not shown) is used. Apply processing.

  Here, the host computer 10 performs processing for the image forming apparatus 20 on the image to be printed (application data) and each item of the set output format by software processing. Specifically, the host computer 10 processes the image into print data (output data) so that the image forming apparatus 20 can process it by software processing, and sets each item of the set output format to the image forming apparatus 20. Is replaced with an output format instruction that can be read.

Next, the host computer 10 creates a print file that becomes one print request based on the print data and the output format instruction acquired by such processing. Then, the host computer 10 transmits the created print file to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 80.
The image forming apparatus 20 performs image forming processing based on a print file (print request) from the host computer 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus 20.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 20 includes an operation unit 21, a document reading unit 22, an image forming unit 23, and a processing unit 30.
The operation unit 21 is an information input / output unit. For example, the operation unit 21 is an operation panel or the like that integrally includes a display unit (display screen) that displays information for the user and an input unit that is operated by the user to input instruction content.

The processing unit 30 executes various processes in the image forming apparatus 20.
As shown in FIG. 3, the processing unit 30 includes a control unit 31, a memory 32, an HDD 33, an image input unit 34, an original reading I / F unit 35, an image output unit 36, an image forming I / F unit 37, and A communication unit 38 is included.

  The control unit 31 performs various controls. For example, the control unit 31 controls the image forming I / F unit 37 by executing a print request, outputs the image image of the image output unit 36 to the image forming unit 23, and prints the image on the paper in the image forming unit 23. Form. Further, the control unit 31 controls the document reading I / F unit 35 and the image forming I / F unit 37 by executing a duplication request described later, and images the document image read by the document reading unit 22. The image stored in the input unit 34 and stored in the image input unit 34 is output to the image output unit 36, and the image forming unit 23 forms an image on a sheet.

The memory 32 and the HDD 33 store data and information necessary for various processes. For example, the memory 32 stores a program 32 a and data used by the control unit 31.
For example, the program 32a may be stored in the memory 32 from the beginning of shipment of the image forming apparatus 20. Further, the program 32a may be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stored in the memory 32 by a user's work after shipment.

The communication unit 38 communicates with the host computer 10. When the image forming apparatus 20 receives the print file by the communication unit 38, the image forming apparatus 20 notifies the control unit 31 of the file by interrupt processing or the like.
When the control unit 31 receives a notification of receiving the print file from the communication unit 38, the control unit 31 analyzes the contents of the print file after or while storing the print file in the memory 32 or the HDD 33. If the control unit 31 determines that the file is a file for image formation as a result of the analysis, the control unit 31 generates a print control command as an internal processing unit, and executes the generated print control command. That is, the control unit 31 reads the print data from the print file, and develops the read print data as an image on the memory 32 by the imaging program.

Further, the control unit 31 reads out an output format instruction (output format information) from the print file, and determines which paper feed unit is used for the image forming unit 23 according to the content of the read output format instruction, single-sided printing or double-sided printing. Specify the output format, such as whether to print or bind documents.
Thereafter, the control unit 31 sequentially outputs the image images determined (determined which image to use) in accordance with the processing of the image forming unit 23.
Here, output processing when a plurality of copies are designated as the number of copies in the output format instruction will be described.

  When the number of pages is larger than a predetermined setting value (for example, memory capacity), the control unit 31 stores, in the memory 32, image images for the number of pages to be printed. Since the image cannot be expanded, the image developed on the memory 32 is temporarily stored in the HDD 33. As a result, the control unit 31 reads the image from the HDD 33 as necessary, develops an image on the memory 32, and transmits the image to the image forming unit 23. In this way, in the case of collation output, the image forming apparatus 20 is in the order of logical pages such as 1, 2, 3, 4,..., 1, 2, 3, 4,. Print as many copies as you want.

  Further, in the case of printing a plurality of copies by stack output, the control unit 31 only needs to print the same image sequentially by the number of copies. Therefore, the control unit 31 expands the image on the memory 32 and copies the expanded image to the number of copies. To the image forming unit 23. In this way, if the image forming apparatus 20 prints three copies, the logical page such as 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3,... Print the number of copies from the first page.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 20 can obtain a printed matter corresponding to the output format instruction set by the host computer 10 in response to a print request from the host computer 10.
Further, the image forming apparatus 20 has a copying function (also referred to as a copying function) for copying a document in addition to the function of performing printing based on the printing request from the host computer 10 as described above. In this copying function, a user sets a document on a document reading unit (also referred to as a document setting unit) of the image forming apparatus 20, and from the operation unit 21, the sheet size, the number of copies, collation output, stack output, and duplex output. Etc. can be set. When the user operates the copy start button on the operation unit 21 after such output settings are made, the image forming apparatus 20 responds to the copy request (also called a print request for copy). Then, the document reading unit 22 starts reading the document set in the document reading unit. Here, there are two types of reading formats: one that reads a document placed on glass called a platen one side at a time, and the other that reads a bundle of documents placed on an automatic document feeder in sequence. is there.

  In the image forming apparatus 20, the document reading unit 22 outputs the read image data (that is, image data of a page forming a logical page) to the image input unit 34. The image input unit 34 converts it into digital data. The digital data is stored in the memory 32 or the HDD 33. The control unit 31 controls the output order and the like based on the output setting set in the duplication function, and outputs the digital data (that is, the image image) to the image forming unit 23 through the image output unit 36. In step 23, an image is formed on a sheet.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 20, in the duplication function, it is possible to add originals in the same duplication request (for example, increase the total number of originals by interruption) in any of the above two reading formats. It has become. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus 20 includes, for example, a manuscript addition button (for example, a manuscript addition button on the touch panel) on the operation unit 21. As a result, the image forming apparatus 20 can add a document when a user operates the document addition button during execution of the started copy request, and can add a plurality of documents or document bundles added thereby. The above-described image formation is performed by treating the original as the copy request.

  Incidentally, in recent years, a system has been proposed in which coordinate information is embedded as a position code on the printing surface of a sheet and the position on the sheet is identified by reading the position code. For example, there is a system in which a position code embedded in a printing surface is read by a pen with a scanner having a built-in scanner, and handwriting (stroke) information written on a sheet together with the reading result by the pen with a scanner is sent to a server or the like.

  In such a system, only the information (position information and stroke information) acquired by the pen with a scanner is sent to a server etc., and the server etc. that received the information takes the questionnaire etc. It becomes possible to determine the mark position (check position) of the questionnaire sheet without collecting the sheet. Therefore, such a system is highly convenient because electronic data can be created from paper.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above disclose techniques for embedding coordinate information (position information) during image formation. These Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose an embedding method in so-called on-demand printing, in which a document in which coordinate information is embedded is output using a printer or the like instead of a printing machine.

  In order to construct such a system, a mechanism that can distinguish the printed matter from which information is to be collected is required. If only coordinate information is used, it will not be possible to determine whether the information has been written to the printed matter for which information is to be collected or not (printed matter that does not require the collection of information). Because it will end up. Further, if only the coordinate information is used, the page (physical page) read by the pen cannot be processed because it does not know the correspondence between which page (logical page) of which document.

On the other hand, there is a method of adding (combining) information (for example, a code image) that can be identified to each physical page on the host computer side. In this case, the host computer transmits different image data for each physical page to the image forming apparatus.
However, in this method, when printing 100 copies based on one page of print data, the host computer needs to create image data for 100 pages as a physical page and transmit it to the image forming apparatus. In this case, the load on the host computer that creates image data for 100 pages is increased, which hinders the user from performing other processing on the host computer. In addition, the load on the communication means for communicating image data for 100 pages also increases.

  As a method for preventing this, one page of text is transmitted from the host computer to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus creates identifiers (for example, code images) for the number of copies, and combines the identifiers with the images of the physical pages. There is a way. In this case, the identifier space (identifier group) secured based on the logical page of the print data and the number of copies set by the user on the host computer side may be managed by the host computer or the server that manages the identifier. It is done. Further, in this case, the image forming apparatus has the number of physical pages equal to the number of physical pages based on the initial value of the identifier in the identifier space managed by the host computer or server (minimum value of the identifier space consisting of a numerical group). It is conceivable that an identifier is created and the created identifier is combined with an image of each physical page.

In this way, the image forming apparatus creates identifiers (for example, code images) for the number of copies to be printed and combines the identifiers with the images of the physical pages, thereby reducing the load on the host computer and the communication unit. Moreover, the amount of images to be processed is small, and good performance can be obtained.
Here, in any technique for synthesizing the above-described identifier with an image, the original document data and each identifier are associated with each other on the host computer and sent to the image forming apparatus.

  Therefore, when adding a code image to an already existing paper document original (that is, synthesizing) and printing the original as a code image-added document, the original original is once stored on the host computer side. After reading and associating an identifier with the text obtained by reading, it is necessary to issue a print instruction from the host computer to the image forming apparatus to perform printing with a code image. As described above, it is necessary to add a code image to an existing paper document manuscript and perform printing.

  On the other hand, such an operation can be omitted by reading the original on the image forming apparatus side using the above-described duplication function and adding the code image to the read sentence. However, the image forming apparatus allows the user to add a document at any time with the above-described document addition button or the like in the copy function, so that the document to be copied is copied until the user instructs that there is no next document to be added, that is, the next document. The number of sheets cannot be determined. Therefore, when the technique for securing the identifier corresponding to the number of documents as described above is used, the identifier cannot be secured until the reading of all the documents is completed and the total number of documents is determined. Therefore, the throughput is deteriorated. Here, a method in which the image forming apparatus acquires an identifier for each physical page to be printed is also conceivable. However, in this method, the image forming apparatus needs to make an inquiry to the external server for each physical page and wait for a response, which may delay the printing time.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the following configuration and processing enables the image forming apparatus 20 to duplicate a code image including an identifier added to a document that already exists as a paper document. It has become. In particular, in the present embodiment, while allowing a code image including an identifier to be added at the time of duplication, the duplication processing is started within the time from when the duplication request is executed until the total number of documents is determined. It is possible.

  In the following description, the entire image processing system 1 will be described first in relation to a process of securing an identifier by the host computer 10 which is a related process. Then, after the description, a process in which the image forming apparatus 20 that is a feature of the present embodiment acquires an identifier in the duplication function and combines the acquired identifier with the image to be duplicated will be described.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the user gives an instruction to execute printing (output setting) and coordinate information embedding by the user, the host computer 10 regards the instruction as an instruction to embed identifier information together with the coordinate information, The printer driver executes processing necessary for printing accordingly.

  At this time, the host computer 10 transmits an identifier securing request (also referred to as a number request or an identifier issue request) to the identifier management server 40 via the communication unit 80. Here, the identifier securing request includes the number of print copies set by the user in the host computer 10 and the number of logical pages of the print data (the number of logical pages). This identifier securing request is a request for obtaining an initial identifier (a first identifier (identifier initial value) described later) from the identifier management server 40.

  Thereafter, when the host computer 10 receives the initial identifier information from the identifier management server 40 in response to the identifier securing request, the host computer 10 selects one based on the print data, the output format instruction, the coordinate information embedding instruction, and the initial identifier information. Create a print file. Here, the host computer 10 processes the print data, output format instruction, coordinate information embedding instruction, and initial identifier information as necessary to create a print file. Then, the host computer 10 transmits the created print file to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 80.

Further, the host computer 10 transmits the document data (for example, all or part of the text to be printed) that is used to create the print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 to the document server 50 together with the initial identifier information.
The identifier management server 40 is a server that manages identifiers in the entire system. The identifier management server 40 includes, for example, a processing unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43 as illustrated in FIG.

  Here, the storage unit 42 stores data and information necessary for various processes. For example, the storage unit 42 stores a program 42 a and data used by the processing unit 41. For example, the program 42 a may be stored in the storage unit 42 from the beginning of shipment of the identifier management server 40. Further, the program 42a may be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stored in the storage unit 42 by a user's work after shipment.

  First, when such an identifier management server 40 receives an identifier securing request from the host computer 10 via the communication unit 43, the processing unit 41 vacates the identifier space (identifier group) managed by the storage unit 42. Search for identifier space. Here, the identifier space is composed of a plurality of identifiers (a plurality of numerical values), and the empty identifier space is an identifier space composed of identifiers that are not currently used (not yet assigned).

  Specifically, the identifier management server 40 searches for an empty identifier space (a space of consecutive numerical values) having a size (the number of print copies × the number of logical pages) obtained by multiplying the number of print copies by the number of logical pages. For example, when the number of logical pages is 5 and the number of copies is 3, the identifier management server 40 searches for an identifier space consisting of 15 (= 5 × 3) unused identifiers corresponding to the number of physical pages to be printed. .

Next, when the identifier management server 40 searches and secures a free identifier space, that is, when an identifier space that can be allocated to the image forming apparatus 20 is secured, the secured identifier space, the first identifier (the smallest numerical value) The initial identifier information, the number of logical pages, and the information on the number of copies are stored in the storage unit 42 in association with each other.
Then, the identifier management server 40 transmits initial identifier information of the information stored in the storage unit 42 to the host computer 10 through the communication unit 43.

  When the identifier management server 40 receives an identifier acquisition request described later from the processing server 60, the identifier management server 40 obtains corresponding initial identifier information and logical page number information based on the identifier information included in the identifier acquisition request. Reply to Here, the identifier management server 40 uses the identifier information, the initial identifier information, and the number of logical pages associated with the initial identifier information, and the identifier included in the identifier acquisition request by a preset operation. The logical page number corresponding to the information is acquired.

The document server (or print data server) 50 is a server that manages document data. The document server 50 includes, for example, a processing unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 53 as shown in FIG.
When the document server 50 receives document data and initial identifier information from the host computer 10 via the communication unit 53, the document server 50 stores the document data and the initial identifier information in the storage unit 52 in association with each other.

  Here, the user stores in the document server 50 information (region information) such as what information should be written in which region for each logical page. Can do. In the case of such a configuration, when the user inputs information on the item to be written and information on the specific coordinate area to be written, the host computer 10 converts the area information including the information together with the text data into the document server. 50. When the document server 50 receives the text data and the region information, the document server 50 associates and holds the document data and the region information.

  Thereafter, when the document server 50 receives a later-described document information acquisition request from the processing server 60, the document server 50 corresponds to the document data (corresponding to the logical page number) based on the initial identifier and the logical page number included in the document information acquisition request. Search and obtain document information). Then, the document server 50 returns the acquired document data (document information, image information, etc.) to the processing server 60 through the communication unit 53 together with the region information when the region information is held.

In the image forming apparatus 20, when the print file is received from the host computer 10 and the coordinate information embedding instruction is embedded in the received print file, the control unit 31 reads the initial identifier information from the print file. Stored in the memory 32. Further, the control unit 31 reads the print data from the print file and stores it in the HDD 33. Then, the control unit 31 develops an image of the print data on the memory 32 as print processing. Moreover, the control part 31 produces a coordinate information image for every physical page as a printing process.
Here, the control part 31 performs the process which produces a coordinate information image for every physical page as follows.

  First, the control unit 31 initializes a first identifier to be assigned to a physical page to be output first, using an initial identifier given as an instruction for a print file (print request). By this initialization, the control unit 31 sets an initial identifier as the first identifier assigned to the physical page to be printed first.

  The control unit 31 generates an identifier for each physical page based on the initial identifier set by initialization each time the page rendering process for the physical page is performed. For example, the control unit 31 generates an identifier for each physical page by adding 1 with the first identifier as an initial value.

For example, the control unit 31 calculates the identifier ID using the following equation (1) based on the initial identifier IDini.
ID = (logical page number −1) + (number of printed copies-1) · (total number of prime pages) + IDini (1)
Needless to say, the present embodiment is not limited to such an identifier generation method.

  On the other hand, the control unit 31 generates a coordinate information image according to the paper size of the paper to be printed. Here, the coordinate information image is an image composed of coordinate information, and is generated by, for example, a coordinate information image generation program. Further, the control unit 31 generates a coordinate information image (coordinate information image obtained by synthesizing the identifier information) including the identifier information by passing the previously obtained identifier information as a parameter to the coordinate information image generation program. . Then, the control unit 31 creates such coordinate information images on the memory 32 for each physical page.

Then, the control unit 31 performs a process of forming an image obtained by combining the image image based on the print data and the coordinate information image on the sheet.
Here, the image output unit 36 is configured to be able to perform or synthesis of images stored in a plurality of memories and output to the image forming unit 23 by an image synthesis function. For this reason, the control unit 31 designates an image developed on the memory and a coordinate information image (coordinate information image including identifier information) generated for the physical page forming the image. Then, the image output unit 36 is instructed to output an image composition. As a result, the image output unit 36 outputs a signal constituting the synthesized image to the image forming unit 23.

  When the signal from the image output unit 36 is input, the image forming unit 23 forms an image on a sheet based on the signal and outputs a print medium on which the image is formed. The image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 23 in this manner is an image obtained by combining the code image in which the coordinate information and the identifier information are encoded with the image image.

The pen 70 with a scanner is configured to be able to read the description content on the paper by the function of the scanner while writing on the paper by the function of the pen.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the pen 70 with a scanner.
As shown in FIG. 4, the pen 70 with a scanner includes a control unit (for example, CPU) 71, a reading unit 72, a writing pressure sensor 73, a storage unit 74, a transmission button 75, and a communication unit 76.

  When the pen 70 with a scanner is controlled by the control unit 71 and the writing pressure sensor 73 detects the writing pressure (for example, detects a writing pressure equal to or higher than a preset value), the reading unit 72 is within the reading range on the paper. Read the description in Then, the pen 70 with a scanner transmits the read information to the processing server 60 through the communication unit 76 when the transmission button 75 is pressed.

For example, the scanner-equipped pen 70 having such a configuration performs the following process when writing on the paper 100 on which the code image of the coordinate information and the identifier information is printed.
In the pen 70 with a scanner, when the reading unit 72 reads the code image on the printing surface, the control unit 71 (by the recognition function) reads the coordinate information and the identifier information from the code image. In the pen 70 with a scanner, when the transmission button 75 is pressed, the communication unit 76 transmits the information to a specific processing server 60 set in advance. Further, when writing is performed on the sheet by the pen 70 with a scanner, the control unit 71 also collects stroke information of the writing and transmits the stroke information to the processing server 60.

The processing server 60 performs processing based on the information transmitted from the pen 70 with a scanner. The processing server 60 includes, for example, a processing unit 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication unit 63 as shown in FIG.
First, when the processing server 60 receives information from the pen 70 with a scanner through the communication unit 63, the processing server 60 extracts identifier information from the information. Then, the processing server 60 transmits an identifier acquisition request to the identifier management server 40 by the communication unit 63 using the extracted identifier information. Here, the identifier acquisition request is a request for acquiring a logical page number. This identifier acquisition request includes identifier information.

  Then, when the processing server 60 receives the initial identifier and logical page number information from the identifier management server 40 in response to the identifier acquisition request, the communication unit 63 acquires the document information from the document server 50. Send a request. Here, the document information acquisition request is a request for acquiring document data (document information or the like corresponding to the logical page number) corresponding to the logical page number. This document information acquisition request includes the received initial identifier and logical page number.

  Then, when text data (including area information in some cases) is transmitted from the document server 50 in response to the document information acquisition request, the processing server 60 transmits the text data and the scanner-attached pen 70 first. Based on the coordinate information and the stroke information, a preset process is performed. For example, if the print data is a questionnaire sheet, the processing server 60 performs a questionnaire counting process.

Next, processing in the duplication function by the image forming apparatus 20 will be described in detail.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 20 that realizes the duplication function. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 31 includes a duplication time information acquisition processing unit 31a, an image data acquisition processing unit 31b, an identifier acquisition processing unit 31c, and a composite output processing unit 31d.

  Here, the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a performs processing such as obtaining various types of information necessary for duplication. Further, the image data processing unit 31b controls the document reading unit 22 to read a document and acquire image data of the document. Further, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c performs processing related to acquisition of an identifier. In addition, the composite output processing unit 31d performs a process of forming an image on a sheet for the image with the combined identifier.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the replication function. Hereinafter, the processing contents of each unit of the control unit 31 shown in FIG. 5 will be described in more detail along the processing procedure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, when duplication is started by operating the duplication start button, first, in step S1, the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a sets the designated number of copies to the value cn. Further, the duplication time information acquisition processing unit 31a sets 1 to the value c. Here, the value c corresponds to the number of copies to be printed (number of copies to be output) indicating the number of copies in the number of copies to be printed.

Next, in step S2, the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a obtains a UUID (Universal Unique ID) serving as specific information that can uniquely identify the duplication request as an ID of the duplication request. This UUID is information that makes it possible to specify which image forming apparatus is a copy request.
Next, in step S3, the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a determines whether there is a coordinate code superimposing instruction (also referred to as a code image superimposing instruction) from the user. When the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a determines that there is a coordinate code superimposing instruction, the process proceeds to step S4. If the duplication time information acquisition processing unit 31a determines that there is no coordinate code superimposing instruction, the process proceeds to step S8 and executes normal duplication processing. Then, the control unit 31 ends the process shown in FIG.

In step S4, the duplication time information acquisition processing unit 31a sets 0 to the value po and further sets 0 to the value p. Here, the value p corresponds to a logical page number. The value po corresponds to the total number of logical pages, that is, the total number of documents.
Next, in step S5, the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a determines whether or not the output mode is a collate output based on the output setting set by the user. If the duplication information acquisition processing unit 31a determines that the output mode is collation output, the process proceeds to step S6. When the duplication time information acquisition processing unit 31a determines that the output mode is stack output, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S6, the control unit 31 executes a collation synthesis output process. Then, the control unit 31 ends the process shown in FIG. This collation synthesis output process will be described in detail later.
In step S7, the control unit 31 executes stack synthesis output processing. Then, the control unit 31 ends the process shown in FIG. The stack synthesis output process will be described later in detail.
An example of processing in the duplication function is as described above.

Here, FIGS. 7 and 8 show display examples on the operation unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20.
When the copy function is selected by the user, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation unit 21 can set the copy setting screen in the copy function such as “magnification”, “tray”, and “applied function”. The item is displayed. In this example, “100%” is selected in the “magnification” item. In addition, “Tray 2” is selected in the “Tray” item. In addition, “coordinate code” is selected in the “applied function” item. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, when “Yes” of “Code superimposition” is selected in the coordinate code superimposition setting screen, “Coordinate code” of the item “Application function” in the replication setting screen of FIG. "Is selected.

Next, the collation synthesis output process in step S6 and the stack synthesis output process in step S7 will be specifically described.
First, the stack composition output process will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the stack composition output process.
As shown in FIG. 9, first, in step S21, the image data acquisition processing unit 31b controls the document reading unit 22 to read a document and acquire image data of the document.

  Next, in step S22, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value po (that is, increments the value po). Furthermore, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value p (that is, increments the value p). Then, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets 1 to the value c.

Next, in step S <b> 23, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31 c transmits a page-by-page aggregation identifier request to the identifier management server 40 through the communication unit 38. Here, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c includes the value p (that is, the logical page number), the value cn (that is, the designated number of print copies), and the UUID in the page-by-page aggregation identifier request.
Here, a process performed by the identifier management server 40 in response to a page-by-page aggregation identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described.

  When the identifier management server 40 receives the page-by-page aggregate identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20, the identifier management server 40 uses a value cn as an identifier space that is empty (that is, not yet assigned) from the currently managed identifier space. That is, it searches and secures a continuous identifier space for the designated number of copies. Then, the identifier management server 40 specifies an initial identifier that is the first identifier in the secured identifier space. Then, the identifier management server 40 stores the specified initial identifier, the logical page number as the value p, the designated number of print copies and the UUID as the value cn in the storage unit 42 in association with each other. For example, the identifier management server 40 creates a table and holds these pieces of information. Then, the identifier management server 40 transmits an initial identifier to the image forming apparatus 20.

Here, the page-by-page aggregation identifier request or the value cn is, for example, information that can specify the number of identification information to be added to the code image.
Corresponding to the processing of the identifier management server 40, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether the initial identifier from the identifier management server 40 is received by the communication unit 38 in step S24. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the initial identifier from the identifier management server 40 has been received, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets the initial identifier received in step S24 to the value IDini.
Next, in step S26, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets an identifier ID using the following equation (2) based on the value IDini set in step S25.
ID = (c-1) + IDini (2)

Next, in step S27, the composite output processing unit 31d performs a composite output process. This combined output process will be described in detail later.
Next, in step S28, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value c (that is, increments the value c).

  Next, in step S29, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether or not the value c is equal to or less than the value cn. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value c is equal to or less than the value cn (c ≦ cn), that is, if the number of print copies has not reached the designated print number, the process starts again from step S26. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value c is greater than the value cn (c> cn), that is, if the number of print copies reaches the designated print number, the process proceeds to step S30.

In step S30, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether there is a next document. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that there is a next document, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c starts processing again from step S21. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that there is no next document, the process shown in FIG. 9 ends.
The stack composition output processing is as described above.

Next, the collation synthesis output process will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the collation synthesis output process.
As shown in FIG. 10, first, in step S51, the image data acquisition processing unit 31b controls the document reading unit 22 to read a document and acquire image data of the document.

  Next, in step S52, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value po (that is, increments the value po). Thereby, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c updates the total number of documents. Furthermore, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value p (that is, increments the value p).

  Next, in step S <b> 53, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31 c transmits an identifier request as needed to the identifier management server 40 through the communication unit 38. Here, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c includes the value p (that is, the logical page number), the value c (that is, the number of print copies), and the UUID in the identifier request as needed.

Here, processing performed by the identifier management server 40 in response to an identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 as needed will be described.
When receiving the identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 as needed, the identifier management server 40 searches and secures one vacant (ie, not yet assigned) identifier from the currently managed identifier space. . Then, the identifier management server 40 stores the reserved identifier, the logical page number as the value p, the number of print copies as the value c, and the UUID in the storage unit 42 in association with each other. For example, the identifier management server 40 creates a table and holds these pieces of information. At this time, the identifier management server 40 may hold the secured identifier as an initial identifier. Then, the identifier management server 40 transmits the identifier to the image forming apparatus 20.

Here, the identifier request or value c as needed is information that can specify the number of identification information to be added to the code image, for example.
Corresponding to the processing of the identifier management server 40, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether or not the identifier from the identifier management server 40 is received by the communication unit 38 in step S54. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the identifier from the identifier management server 40 has been received, the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S55, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets the identifier received in step S54 as the identifier ID.
Next, in step S56, the composite output processing unit 31d performs a composite output process. This combined output process will be described in detail later.

  In step S57, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether there is a next document. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that there is a next document, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c starts the process again from step S51. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that there is no next document, the process proceeds to step S58.

In step S58, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets 2 to the value c. Here, since the composite output process has already been completed for one copy, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets 2 to the value c. Furthermore, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets 1 to the value p.
Next, in step S59, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c transmits a collation set identifier request to the identifier management server 40 through the communication unit 38. Here, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c includes the value po (that is, the total number of logical pages), the value cn-1 (that is, the value obtained by subtracting one copy from the designated print number), and the UUID in the collation set identifier request. . Here, since the composite output process has already been completed for one copy, the value cn−1 is included in the collation set identifier request. That is, the value cn−1 is the current total number of required copies.

Here, a process performed by the identifier management server 40 in response to a collation set identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described.
When the identifier management server 40 receives the collation set identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20, the identifier management server 40 uses the identifier space that is currently managed as a vacant (that is, not yet assigned) identifier space. Search and secure the identifier space. Specifically, the identifier management server 40 continuously multiplies the value (cn−1) × po) by the value cn−1 that is the number of print copies that currently need to be copied and the total number of logical pages that is the value po. An identifier space is secured. For example, if the current total number of required copies is 3 and the total number of logical pages is 5, the identifier management server 40 secures an identifier space composed of 15 (= 3 × 5) identifiers. Then, the identifier management server 40 specifies an initial identifier that is the first identifier in the secured identifier space. Then, the identifier management server 40 identifies the identified initial identifier, the logical page number that is the value p, the current number of required copies that is the value cn−1, the reserved identifier space (that is, the reserved number of identifiers), and the UUID. Are stored in the storage unit 42 in association with each other. For example, the identifier management server 40 creates a table and holds these pieces of information. Then, the identifier management server 40 transmits an initial identifier to the image forming apparatus 20.

Here, the collation set identifier request, or the value cn−1 and the value po are information that can specify the number of pieces of identification information to be added to the code image, for example.
Corresponding to the processing of the identifier management server 40, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether or not the communication unit 38 has received the initial identifier from the identifier management server 40 in step S60. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the initial identifier from the identifier management server 40 has been received, the process proceeds to step S61.
In step S61, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets the initial identifier received in step S60 as the initial identifier IDini.

  Next, in step S62, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether or not the value c is equal to or less than the value cn. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value c is equal to or less than the value cn (c ≦ cn), that is, if the number of print copies has not reached the designated print number, the process proceeds to step S63. When the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value c is larger than the value cn (c> cn), that is, when the number of print copies reaches the designated print number, the process illustrated in FIG. 10 ends.

Next, in step S63, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets the identifier ID using the following equation (3).
ID = (p-1) + (c-2) .po + IDini (3)
Here, p is the current logical page number. Further, c is the number of copies printed at the present time. Further, po is the total number of logical pages determined when the process proceeds from step S57 to step S58, that is, the total number of documents. IDini is a value for which an initial identifier is set in step S61.

Next, in step S64, the composite output processing unit 31d performs a composite output process. This combined output process will be described in detail later.
Next, in step S65, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value p (that is, increments the value p).

  Next, in step S66, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines whether or not the value p is equal to or less than the value po. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value p is equal to or less than the value po (p ≦ po), that is, if the logical page number has not reached the total number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step S67. If the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c determines that the value p is greater than the value po (p> po), when the logical page number reaches the total number of logical pages, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c starts processing again from step S63.

In step S67, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c adds 1 to the value c (that is, increments the value c). Furthermore, the identifier acquisition processing unit 31c sets 1 to the value p. And the identifier acquisition process part 31c starts a process again from the said step S62.
The collation synthesis output process is as described above.

Next, the composite output process will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the combined output process.
As shown in FIG. 11, first in step S81, the composite output processing unit 31d determines whether or not a logical page having a value p (page p) exists in the memory 32 (that is, is expanded). To do. If the composite output processing unit 31d determines that the logical page having the value p exists in the memory 32, the process proceeds to step S82. If the composite output processing unit 31d determines that the logical page having the value p (page p) does not exist in the memory 32, the process proceeds to step S83.

In step S83, the composite output processing unit 31d reads out the image of the logical page having the value p from the HDD 33 and develops it on the memory 32. Then, the composite output processing unit 31d proceeds to step S85.
In step S82, the composite output processing unit 31d determines whether or not the logical page having the value p has been stored in the HDD 33. If the composite output processing unit 31d determines that the logical page having the value p is already stored in the HDD 33, the process proceeds to step S85. If the composite output processing unit 31d determines that the logical page having the value p is not yet stored in the HDD 33, the process proceeds to step S84.

In step S84, the composite output processing unit 31d stores the image of the logical page having the value p in the HDD 33. Then, the composite output processing unit 31d proceeds to step S85.
In step S85, the composite output processing unit 31d generates a code image (an image obtained by encoding the identifier ID and the coordinate information that is identifier information) based on the paper size and the identifier ID.

Next, in step S86, the composite output processing unit 31d develops the code image generated in step S85 and the image image whose existence has been confirmed on the memory 32 in step S81 or the memory 32 in step S83. The synthesized image is synthesized and an image is formed on the paper for the synthesized image. Then, the composite output processing unit 31d ends the page drawing process shown in FIG.
The composite output process is as described above.

  Further, when copying, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the image data of each page (logical page) of the original document to be copied to the document server 50 together with the initial identifier. Specifically, when the image forming apparatus 20 has acquired the initial identifier by the page-by-page aggregation identifier request, the document server 50 stores the image data of the original read when the initial identifier is acquired together with the initial identifier. Is sending to. Further, when the identifier is obtained by an identifier request at any time, the image forming apparatus 20 uses the identifier as an initial identifier, and the image data of the document to be copied that was read when the identifier is obtained is used as the initial identifier. At the same time, it is transmitted to the document server 50. In addition, when the image forming apparatus 20 has acquired the initial identifier by the collation set identifier request, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the image data of the document read when the initial identifier is acquired to the document server 50 together with the initial identifier. ing.

(Operation etc.)
Next, operations and the like of the image processing system 1 will be described.
When the duplication start button is operated and duplication is started, the image forming apparatus 20 sets the designated number of copies to the value cn and sets 1 to the value c (step S1). Further, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires a UUID (step S2).

Then, when there is a coordinate code superimposing instruction, the image forming apparatus 20 sets the value po to 0, and further sets the value p to 0, and then executes a composite output process corresponding to the output mode (step S3). To step S7).
Thereby, in the stack composition output process, the image forming apparatus 20 reads the original, adds 1 to each of the value po and the value p, and further sets 1 to the value c (steps S21 and S22). . Then, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires a corresponding initial identifier by transmitting a page-specific aggregate identifier request including the value p, the value cn, and the UUID to the identifier management server 40 (Steps S23 and S24). ).

  Then, the image forming apparatus 20 sets an initial identifier for the value IDini, and sets an identifier ID based on the value IDini and the value c (Steps S25 and S26). Then, the image forming apparatus 20 synthesizes the code image obtained by encoding the set identifier ID with the image image of the logical page having the value p by the composite output process, and forms the image on the paper with respect to the composite image (described above). Step S27, FIG. 11). Then, the image forming apparatus 20 adds 1 to the value c, and when the value c is equal to or less than the value cn, the image forming apparatus 20 executes the composite output process again (steps S28 and S29). Through such processing, the image forming apparatus 20 outputs the number of print media on which the number of designated print copies cn is formed by combining different identifiers for the logical page having the value p.

  Then, when there is a next original, the image forming apparatus 20 reads the original (step S30). As a result, the image forming apparatus 20 reads the originals added one after another, and outputs the print media on which the number of designated print copies cn is formed by combining different identifiers for the images read from the originals.

  In the collation synthesis output process, the image forming apparatus 20 reads a document and adds 1 to each of the value po and the value p (steps S51 and S52). Then, the image forming apparatus 20 obtains one corresponding identifier by transmitting an identifier request including the value p, the value c, and the UUID to the identifier management server 40 (Steps S53 and S54). . Then, the image forming apparatus 20 sets the acquired identifier as the value ID (step S55).

Then, the image forming apparatus 20 synthesizes the code image obtained by encoding the set identifier ID with the image image of the logical page having the value p by the composite output process, and forms the image on the paper with respect to the composite image (described above). Step S56, FIG. 11).
Further, as long as there is a document to be added, the image forming apparatus 20 performs a process of forming an image on the print medium from the above-described document reading process (steps S51 to S57).

By such processing, the image forming apparatus 20 reads the originals that are added one after another, and outputs print media on which images are formed by combining different identifiers for the images read from the originals one by one.
Then, when there is no next document, the image forming apparatus 20 sets the value c to 2, and further sets the value p to 1 (step S58). Then, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires a corresponding initial identifier by transmitting a collation aggregation identifier request including the value po, the value cn−1, and the UUID to the identifier management server 40 (step S59, the above-described step S59). Step S60).

  Then, the image forming apparatus 20 sets an initial identifier for the value IDini, and sets an identifier ID based on the value IDini, the value p, the value c, and the value po (Step S63). Then, the image forming apparatus 20 combines the code image obtained by encoding the set identifier ID with the image image of the logical page having the value p by the composite output process, and forms the image on the print medium with respect to the composite image ( Step S64, FIG. 11). At this time, the image forming apparatus 20 forms an image having a different identifier ID for each logical page number by incrementing the value p (step S65). Further, the image forming apparatus 20 initializes the value p and increments the value c, thereby forming an image with a different identifier ID for each number of copies (step S67).

  Through the processing after the next original is lost, the image forming apparatus 20 performs the copy of the original that has already been read, that is, the second and subsequent copies of the designated number of copies of the original whose number has been determined. A print medium on which an image is formed by synthesizing different identifiers for each number of copies for each logical page is output.

As described above, when there is a coordinate code superimposing instruction at the start of duplication, the image forming apparatus 20 performs duplication by dividing processing into collation output and stack output.
Thus, at the time of stack output, the image forming apparatus 20 requests identifiers for the number of copies to be output for the corresponding logical page according to each reading by the page-by-page aggregate identifier request method, and uses the initial identifier to identify the identifier. Assign to the duplicated image and output.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 20 requests and outputs an identifier at any time using the identifier request method for the first copy in which the number of documents is determined at the time of collation output. Then, after the total number of documents is determined, the image forming apparatus 20 requests identifiers for the remaining outputs in a batch using the collation aggregation identifier request method, assigns each identifier to the duplicated image, and performs output.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, output is started even when the total number of originals is not fixed, and after the total number of originals is fixed, the remaining identifiers can be assigned to the copied image with one request. Thereby, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in output speed due to an inquiry to the outside.

  Here, a table created by the identifier management server 40 in response to an occasional identifier request and collation aggregation identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the table. In the table shown in FIG. 12, the request type, the initial identifier, the reserved number, the UUID, the logical page number (that is, the page number of the document related to copying), the number of copies, and the total number of logical pages are associated with each other. Here, the request type indicates the type of the identifier securing request from the host computer 10 or the image forming apparatus 20. For example, in the case of an occasional identifier request, the request type is “anytime”. In the case of a collation set identifier request, the request type is “collation”. In the case of a page-by-page aggregation identifier request, the request type is “page-by-page aggregation”.

  The example shown in FIG. 12 is an example in which five copies of a document having a total number of logical pages of 3 are output by collation output. In this example, another print request (duplication request) such as UUID = 0xdcba is interrupted in the print request (duplication request) of UUID = 0xabcd. In this example, 1000 to 1002 are assigned to each initial identifier in the first copy. In the remaining four copies, 12 identifier spaces are secured in accordance with the collation aggregate identifier request method.

  An example of a processing sequence in the image processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Here, the processing sequence illustrated in FIG. 13 is a processing sequence in the case where the user issues a duplication instruction with a stack output instruction and a coordinate code superimposition instruction to the image forming apparatus 20. In addition, the processing sequence illustrated in FIG. 14 is a processing sequence when the user issues a duplication instruction with a collation output instruction and a coordinate code superimposition instruction to the image forming apparatus 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the user issues a duplication instruction with a stack output instruction and a coordinate code superimposition instruction to the image forming apparatus 20, first, the image forming apparatus 20 reads the document while reading the value p, the value A page-specific aggregate identifier request including cn and UUID is transmitted to the identifier management server 40 via the communication unit 80.

  When the identifier management server 40 receives the page-by-page aggregate identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20, the identifier management server 40 searches for and secures a free identifier space. Further, the identifier management server 40 transmits the initial identifier to the image forming apparatus 20. Further, the identifier management server 40 stores an initial identifier, a value p (logical page number), a value cn (designated number of copies), and a UUID in association with each other.

  When receiving the initial identifier information from the identifier management server 40, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires an identifier for each physical page based on the received initial identifier. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a coordinate information image for each physical page. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a code image based on the identifier information and the coordinate information image for each physical page. Then, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a combined image by combining the generated code image and the image image based on the print data in units of physical pages, and forms the generated combined image on a sheet.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the initial identifier acquired by the page-by-page aggregation identifier request to the document server 50 together with the image data of the original read when the initial identifier is acquired.
When the document server 50 receives the image data and the initial identifier information from the image forming apparatus 20, the document server 50 stores the received image data and the initial identifier information in the storage unit 52.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when a user issues a duplication instruction with a collation output instruction and a coordinate code superimposition instruction to the image forming apparatus 20, first, the image forming apparatus 20 reads a document while An optional identifier request including p, value c, and UUID is transmitted to the identifier management server 40 via the communication means 80.

  When the identifier management server 40 receives an identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20 as needed, the identifier management server 40 searches and secures a free identifier. Further, the identifier management server 40 transmits the identifier to the image forming apparatus 20. Further, the identifier management server 40 stores an identifier, a value p (logical page number), a value c (number of print copies), and a UUID in association with each other.

  When receiving the identifier information from the identifier management server 40, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a code image based on the received identifier information and the coordinate information image for each physical page for each physical page. Then, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a combined image by combining the generated code image and the image image based on the print data in units of physical pages, and forms the generated combined image on a sheet.

Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits a collation aggregation identifier request including the value po, the value cn−1, and the UUID to the identifier management server 40 via the communication unit 80 when there is no document to be read. .
Here, when there are no more documents to be read, that is, the trigger for determining the number of documents is when there is an instruction from the user that there is no subsequent document to be read (no next document) or when a predetermined time has elapsed. Even when the original is not detected or there is no instruction to read the original.

  When the identifier management server 40 receives the collation aggregation identifier request from the image forming apparatus 20, the identifier management server 40 searches and secures a free identifier space. Further, the identifier management server 40 transmits the initial identifier to the image forming apparatus 20. Further, the identifier management server 40 stores the reserved identifier space (that is, the reserved number of identifiers), the initial identifier, the value p (logical page number), the value cn−1 (current number of required copies), and the UUID in association with each other. To do.

  When receiving the initial identifier information from the identifier management server 40, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires an identifier for each physical page based on the received initial identifier. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a coordinate information image for each physical page. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a code image based on the identifier information and the coordinate information image for each physical page. Then, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a combined image by combining the generated code image and the image image based on the print data in units of physical pages, and forms the generated combined image on a sheet.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 20 uses, as an initial identifier, the identifier acquired by the identifier request as needed, and transmits the image data of the original read when the identifier is acquired to the document server 50 together with the initial identifier. . Further, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the initial identifier acquired by the collation aggregation identifier request to the document server 50 together with the image data of the original that was read when the initial identifier was acquired.

When the document server 50 receives the image data and the initial identifier information from the image forming apparatus 20, the document server 50 stores the received image data and the initial identifier information in the storage unit 52.
Furthermore, an example of a processing sequence in the image processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. Here, the processing sequence shown in FIG. 15 is a processing sequence when the user instructs printing execution (output setting) and coordinate information embedding in the host computer 10. Further, the sequence shown in FIG. 16 is performed on a sheet printed by a copy instruction to the image forming apparatus 20 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 or a sheet printed by a print instruction to the host computer 10 as shown in FIG. This is a processing sequence for writing with the scanner pen.

As shown in FIG. 15, first, the host computer 10 requests the identifier management server 40 via the communication unit 80 to obtain an identifier when an instruction to execute printing (output setting) and coordinate information embedding is given by the user. Send.
When the identifier management server 40 receives an identifier securing request from the host computer 10, it searches for and secures a free identifier space. Furthermore, the identifier management server 40 stores information on the reserved identifier group, its initial identifier, the number of logical pages, and the number of copies in association with each other. Then, the identifier management server 40 transmits an initial identifier to the host computer 10.

  Upon receiving the initial identifier information from the identifier management server 40, the host computer 10 creates one print file based on the print data, the output format instruction, the coordinate information embedding instruction, and the initial identifier information. Then, the host computer 10 transmits the created print file to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 80. On the other hand, the host computer 10 transmits the document data that is the basis of the print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 to the document server 50 together with the initial identifier information.

  When the document server 50 receives the sentence data and the initial identifier information from the host computer 10, the document server 50 stores the received sentence data and the initial identifier information in the storage unit 52. Further, when the area information is transmitted from the host computer 10, the document server 50 also associates the area information and stores it in the storage unit 52.

  In addition, when the image forming apparatus 20 receives a print file from the host computer 10 and the print file includes a coordinate information embedding instruction, the image forming apparatus 20 uses the initial identifier included in the print file. Get the identifier for each physical page. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a coordinate information image for each physical page. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a code image based on the identifier information and the coordinate information image for each physical page. Then, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a combined image by combining the generated code image and the image image based on the print data in units of physical pages, and forms the generated combined image on a sheet.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the pen 70 with a scanner reads an embedded code image when writing the composite image on the paper on which the image is formed as described above, and reads the coordinate information and the code image from the code image. Read the identifier information. Then, the pen 70 with a scanner transmits the read coordinate information and identifier information to the processing server 60 together with the stroke information when the transmission button 75 is pressed.

When the processing server 60 receives information from the pen 70 with a scanner, the processing server 60 transmits an identifier acquisition request to the identifier management server 40 using the identifier in the information.
When the identifier management server 40 receives an identifier acquisition request from the processing server 60, the identifier management server 40 acquires a logical page number corresponding to the identifier related to the identifier acquisition request.

For example, when the identifier management server 40 holds the table as shown in FIG. 12, for example, the identifier management server 40 acquires the logical page number corresponding to the identifier by the following procedure.
The identifier management server 40 searches the table shown in FIG. 12 and searches for an initial identifier corresponding to the identifier.

  When the identifier management server 40 detects an initial identifier that matches the identifier by such a search (that is, when the request type is “as needed”), the logical page number associated with the initial identifier is displayed. get. Therefore, for example, when the identifier is 1000, the identifier management server 40 acquires 1 as the logical page number.

As a result of the search, when the identifier management server 40 detects the initial identifier of the identifier space including the identifier (for example, when the request type is “collation”), the logical expression is calculated using the following equation (4). Get the page number.
Logical page number = mod ((identifier−initial identifier) +1, total number of logical pages) (4)

Here, the mod (A, B) function is a function for obtaining a remainder when A is divided by B. Further, by determining whether or not an identifier exists in an identifier space consisting of a reserved number having an initial identifier at the head, an initial identifier corresponding to the identifier is acquired.
Therefore, for example, when the identifier is 1010, the initial identifier is 1004 because the identifier belongs to the identifier space of 1004 or more and (1004 + 12-1) or less. The logical page number corresponding to the identifier 1010 is 1 according to the following equation (5).
Logical page number = mod ((1010-1004) +1,3) = 1 (5)

Thus, for example, when the identifier is 1010, the identifier management server 40 acquires 1 as the logical page number.
The identifier management server 40 returns the logical page number and the initial identifier acquired as described above to the processing server 60.

When receiving the initial identifier and the logical page number from the identifier management server 40, the processing server 60 transmits a document information acquisition request to the document server 50 using the information.
When the document server 50 receives the document information acquisition request from the processing server 60, the document server 50 acquires document data (such as document information corresponding to the logical page number) corresponding to the initial identifier and the logical page number included in the document information acquisition request. To do. Then, the document server 50 transmits the acquired document data to the processing server 60. Here, if the document server 50 holds the region information, the document server 50 also transmits the region information to the processing server 60.

  When the processing server 60 receives the document data (document information or the like) from the document server 50, the processing server 60 uses the print data and the stroke information to perform a process such as counting a questionnaire. For example, when the processing server 60 performs the questionnaire counting process, the user of the processing server 60 needs to perform a task such as collecting questionnaire sheets and manually counting the contents of the collected questionnaire sheets. It is possible to collect questionnaires without doing so, and the processing efficiency of questionnaire aggregation can be increased.

  In the above description of the embodiment, the identifier management server 40 constitutes a management device, for example. Moreover, the communication part 43 of the identifier management server 40 comprises a receiving means and a transmission means, for example. Further, the processing unit 41 constitutes a management unit, for example. Further, the document reading unit 22 and the image data acquisition processing unit 31a constitute a reading unit, for example. Further, the communication unit 38 of the image forming apparatus 20 constitutes a transmission unit, for example. The identifier acquisition processing unit 31b constitutes an acquisition unit, for example. Further, the image forming unit 23, the composite output processing unit 31d, and the memory 32 constitute, for example, a generation unit.

(Modification of this embodiment)
In the present embodiment, an example was given in which the output corresponding to one page of the document is simply one page. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a plurality of pages of a document are output together as one page. In so-called layout printing, one page obtained by layout is printed as a logical page, and the same processing is performed. May be.

  In the present embodiment, the UUID may be included in the code image. In the present embodiment, the number of copies may be included in the code image. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to confirm how many copies have been copied by reading the number of copies in the code image from the print medium on which the image is formed by copying.

  In this embodiment, the number of identifiers may be calculated on the image forming apparatus 20 side, or the number of identifiers may be calculated on the identifier management server 40 side. In the present embodiment, the information that can specify the number of identification information includes the number of identification information to be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system, 10 Host computer, 20 Image formation apparatus, 21 Operation part, 23 Image formation part, 30 Processing part, 31 Control part, 31a Duplication information acquisition process part, 31b Image data acquisition process part, 31c Identifier acquisition process Part, 31d composite output processing part,

32 memory, 33 HDD, 40 identifier management server, 41 processing unit, 42 storage unit, 43 communication unit, 50 document server, 60 processing server, 70 pen with scanner

Claims (9)

Receiving means for receiving at least an identifier request including specific information for uniquely identifying a duplication request;
Transmitting means for transmitting identification information included in a code image formed on a medium in response to the identifier request received by the receiving means;
A management unit that associates and manages the specific information and the identification information transmitted by the transmission unit in response to an identifier request including the specific information; and
Reading means for reading a document;
Transmitting means for transmitting at least an identifier request including the specific information to the management device;
An acquisition means for acquiring the identification information transmitted from the management device in response to the identifier request transmitted by the transmission means;
Generating means for generating a code image including the identification information acquired by the acquiring means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a medium by adding the code image generated by the generating unit to image data of a document read by the reading unit;
Equipped with a,
The transmission unit of the image forming apparatus applies the code image to the code image based on the image data of the document read by the reading unit before the total number of documents related to the copy request read by the reading unit is determined. Send information that can identify the number of identification information
The management apparatus receives information capable of specifying the number of the identification information transmitted from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus by the reception unit of the management apparatus, and the number of the identification information according to the received information the image forming system that sends the transmission means of the management device. The transmission unit of the image forming apparatus may determine the image based on the image data at the acquisition timing of the image data of the document read by the reading unit before the total number of documents related to the copy request read by the reading unit is determined. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming system transmits information capable of specifying the number of pieces of identification information added to the code image. When the total number of documents related to the duplication request read by the reading unit is determined, the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus determines the number of identification information that the image forming apparatus gives to the code image based on the determined total number of documents. Send identifiable information,
The management apparatus receives information capable of specifying the number of the identification information transmitted from the transmission unit of the image forming apparatus by the reception unit of the management apparatus, and the number of the identification information according to the received information the image forming system according to claim 1 or 2 transmits the by the transmission means of the management device. The specific information, the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 includes information indicating the number of copies of the document according to the copy request. The transmission unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the image data of the document read by the reading unit and the specific information in association with each other to a management apparatus that manages the image data and the specific information in association with each other. 5. The image forming system according to any one of items 1 to 4 . Receiving means for receiving at least an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium ;
Transmitting means for transmitting the number of pieces of identification information corresponding to information capable of specifying the number of pieces of identification information received corresponding to the identifier request received by the receiving means;
A management unit that associates and manages the specific information and the identification information transmitted by the transmission unit in response to an identifier request including the specific information;
A management device comprising: Reading means for reading a document;
The identification information received in response to the received identifier request, receiving an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium. A management apparatus that transmits the number of pieces of identification information according to information that can identify the number of pieces of information , and associates and manages the pieces of identification information and the pieces of identification information transmitted in response to an identifier request including the pieces of specific information. Transmitting means for transmitting an identifier request including information capable of specifying the specific information and the number of identification information ;
Obtaining means for obtaining the identification information transmitted from the management device in response to the identifier request transmitted by the transmitting means;
Generating means for generating a code image including the identification information acquired by the acquiring means;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a medium by adding the code image generated by the generating unit to the image data of the document read by the reading unit ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A receiving step for receiving at least an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium ;
A transmission step of transmitting a number of pieces of identification information corresponding to information capable of specifying the number of pieces of identification information received in response to the identifier request received in the reception step;
A management step of associating and managing the specific information and the identification information transmitted in the transmission step in response to an identifier request including the specific information;
A computer-readable control program for causing a computer to execute. The identification information received in response to the received identifier request, receiving an identifier request including specific information for uniquely specifying a duplication request and information capable of specifying the number of identification information included in a code image formed on a medium. A management apparatus that transmits the number of pieces of identification information according to information that can identify the number of pieces of information , and associates and manages the pieces of identification information and the pieces of identification information transmitted in response to an identifier request including the pieces of specific information. A transmitting step of transmitting an identifier request including information capable of specifying the specific information and the number of the identification information ;
An acquisition step of acquiring the identification information transmitted from the management device in response to the identifier request transmitted in the transmission step;
A generating step for generating a code image including the identification information acquired in the acquiring step;
An image forming step of forming an image on a medium by adding an image obtained by adding the code image generated in the generating step to image data of the read original;
A computer-readable control program for causing a computer to execute.

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