JP6311484B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that stores a history image (hereinafter referred to as “execution history image”) that is a record when an image forming apparatus executes a job, an image forming apparatus driver, and an image forming system.

  An image forming apparatus which is a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) prints image data received from an operation terminal or image data of a document read by a reader. . In addition, when an audit is performed on such an image forming apparatus, it is confirmed whether image data created by a job executed by the image forming apparatus is in compliance with regulations to be observed. For this reason, it is necessary to store image data of a job executed by the image forming apparatus. For example, in the image processing program, the instruction device, and the image processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, an instruction device (operation terminal) that issues an image processing instruction (job) and a composite that executes the job and generates an execution history image (image log) Create an execution history image to be audited according to the content of the image data in an image processing system consisting of a machine (image forming device) and a log server (external server) that stores the generated image log Stored on a log server. Further, since image data created by a print request job (hereinafter referred to as “print image data”) is CMYK format image data, image data of an execution history image in RGB format that can be displayed from the print image data. In order to create (hereinafter referred to as “execution history image data”), the image forming apparatus creates execution history image data by converting printing image data from the CMYK format to the RGB format.

JP 2008-59280 A

  However, in order to reduce costs, some image forming apparatuses do not have a function for converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format, or image quality deteriorates when the data is converted from the CMYK format to the RGB format. . Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, there is a problem that execution history image data in RGB format cannot be created from image data for printing in CMYK format, or execution history images in RGB format with normal image quality cannot be created. there were.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus, a driver for the image forming apparatus, and an image forming system that can solve the above-described problems.

An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that is connected to an operation terminal and an external server via a network and includes a print job execution processing unit. The image forming apparatus maintains the image quality from the CMYK format to the RGB format. not provided with a function of converting the data into the print job execution processing unit, from the document data, the created by the driver unit of the operating terminal, for printing of the CMYK format that is converted into the printer description language and execution history image data of the RGB format image data and the printing image data equal to or comparable image quality, when a print request job including the print information input to the operation terminal received from the operation terminal, The print image data and the print information are extracted from the print request job, and the printer of the print image data Analyzing a predicate language, printing the print image data based on the print information, retrieving the execution history image data from the print request job, and sending the execution history image data to the external server for storage It is characterized by.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the image forming apparatus does not have a function itself for converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention, the print job execution processing unit, said print from the request job removed the execution history image data, stores the execution history image data in the USB memory connected to the image forming apparatus It is characterized by.
The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system having an operation terminal, an image forming apparatus, and an external server connected to each other in a network, and the image forming apparatus maintains the image quality from the CMYK format to the RGB format. not provided with a function to convert data into, the operating terminal includes a driver unit, the driver unit creates the image data for printing of the CMYK format from the document data, the from the original data create a running history image data of the RGB format of the print image data equal to or comparable image quality, converting the image data for printing to the printer description language, said print image data converted into the printer description language A print request job including the execution history image data and the print information input to the operation terminal. The image forming apparatus includes a print job execution processing unit, and the print job execution processing unit receives the print request job, and receives the print image data, the print information, and the print request job from the print request job. Analyzing the printer description language of the print image data, printing the print image data based on the print information, extracting the execution history image data from the print request job, and executing the execution history image data The external server includes a data storage unit, and the data storage unit stores the execution history image data when receiving the execution history image data from the image forming apparatus. It is said.
In the image forming system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus does not have a function for converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format.
The image forming system of the present invention, the print job execution processing unit, the print request jobs from the take-out the execution history image data, to store the execution history image data in the USB memory connected to the image forming apparatus It is characterized by.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus driver, and an image forming system that can store an execution history image in RGB format even when the image forming apparatus does not have a function of converting data from CMYK format to RGB format. provide.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional configurations of a PC, an image forming apparatus, and an external server of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the print request job creation transmission process of PC concerning embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a print request job execution process of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the execution log | history image data storage process of the external server which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a driver of an image forming apparatus mounted on a PC creates print image data and execution history image data, and a print request job storing the print image data and execution history image data is stored in the image forming apparatus. Send. The image forming apparatus saves execution history image data stored in the print request job received from the PC.

  An overview of the image forming system 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 includes a PC (personal computer) 100, an image forming apparatus 200, an external server 300, a router 400, a LAN (Local Area Network) 500, the Internet 600, and other image forming apparatuses 700. It is configured. The PC 100, the image forming apparatus 200, the external server 300, and the router 400 are connected to the LAN 500. The router 400 and the image forming apparatus 700 are connected to the Internet 600.

  Next, devices and devices constituting the image forming system 10 will be described.

  The PC 100 is a user operation terminal that transmits a print request job for requesting printing of image data to the image forming apparatus 200 or the image forming apparatus 700.

  The image forming apparatus 200 is a printer, a multifunction printer, a multifunction peripheral device, or a multifunction peripheral, and executes a print request job transmitted from the PC 100 or prints image data of a document read directly from the document table. In addition, the image forming apparatus 200 transmits execution history image data to the external server 300.

  The external server 300 stores the execution history image data received from the image forming apparatus 200.

  The router 400 connects the LAN 500 and the Internet 600. Further, when the router 400 is connected to the LAN 500, it is routed through a firewall (not shown). This firewall prevents unauthorized access to the PC 100, the image forming apparatus 200, and the external server 300 connected to the LAN 500.

  The image forming apparatus 700 is a printer, a multi-function printer, a multi-function peripheral device, or a multi-function peripheral, and executes a print request job transmitted from the PC 100 or prints image data of a document read directly from the document table. In addition, the image forming apparatus 700 transmits execution history image data to the external server 300.

  Next, functional configurations of the PC 100, the image forming apparatus 200, and the external server 300 of the image forming system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 700 is the same as the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 200.

  First, the functional configuration of the PC 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 100 includes a control unit 110, a memory unit 120, an operation display unit 130, and a LAN interface unit 140. These units are connected by a bus or the like.

The control unit 110 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In addition, the control unit 110 performs comprehensive control of the PC 100 including various I / Os, interfaces such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a bus controller, and the like. The control unit 110 is provided with a driver processing unit 110a.
The driver processing unit 110a creates image data for printing from document data created by document creation software or drawing software installed in the PC 100. In addition, the driver processing unit 110 a creates execution history image data from the document data, and transmits a print request job storing the print image data and the execution history image data to the image forming apparatus 200.

The memory unit 120 is an auxiliary storage device made up of a flash memory or the like, and stores programs and data for processing executed by the control unit 110. The memory unit 120 is provided with a printing image data storage area 120a and an execution history image data storage area 120b.
The print image data storage area 120a temporarily stores print image data created by the driver processing unit 110a.
The execution history image data storage area 120b temporarily stores execution history image data created by the driver processing unit 110a.

  The operation display unit 130 includes an operation panel, inputs a user operation from the operation panel, and displays a user operation result.

  The LAN interface unit 140 includes a detachable LAN interface for connecting to the LAN 500. The LAN interface includes a network unit that performs intelligent transmission and reception of various network protocols such as TCP / IP, AppleTalk, and SMB.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 includes a control unit 210, a memory unit 220, a data storage unit 230, a LAN interface unit 240, an operation panel 250, an operation panel processing unit 260, a document reading unit 270, an image forming unit 280, and printing. A unit 290 is provided, and these units are connected by a bus or the like.

  The control unit 210 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 210 controls the overall image forming apparatus 200 including various I / Os, interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), a bus controller, and the like. The control unit 210 is provided with a print job execution processing unit 210a. The print job execution processing unit 210a executes the print request job received from the PC 100.

The memory unit 220 is an auxiliary storage device made up of a flash memory or the like, and stores processing programs and data executed by the control unit 210. The memory unit 220 is provided with a printing image data storage area 220a and an execution history image data storage area 220b.
The print image data storage area 220a temporarily stores print image data received from the PC 100.
The execution history image data storage area 220b stores execution history image data received from the PC 100.

The data storage unit 230 is a hard disk drive that stores data and programs. The data storage unit 230 is provided with an image data storage area 230a.
The image data storage area 230 a stores image data that has been read by the document reading unit 270 and subjected to image processing by the image forming unit 280, or image data received from the PC 100 via the LAN interface unit 240.

  The LAN interface unit 240 includes a detachable LAN interface for connecting to the LAN 500. The LAN interface includes a network unit that performs intelligent transmission and reception of various network protocols such as TCP / IP, AppleTalk, and SMB.

  The operation panel 250 receives an operation menu display and an operation with a user's finger. Further, the user can input various information to be set in the image forming apparatus 200 from the operation panel 250.

  The operation panel processing unit 260 performs a process of displaying operation items of functions provided in the image forming apparatus 200 on the operation panel 250 and a process of inputting operation data for an operation performed by the user from the operation panel 250. The operation panel processing unit 260 processes various information set in the image forming apparatus 200 input from the operation panel 250.

  The document reading unit 270 reads a document set on the document table of the image forming apparatus 200, and reads a document set on the document table when a user makes a read request from the operation panel 250. Can do.

  The image forming unit 280 converts the document read by the document reading unit 270 in response to a reading request from the user into printable image data.

  When printing information is input from the print job execution processing unit 210a, the printing unit 290 retrieves printing image data from the printing image data storage area 220a, and prints the printing image data on a copy sheet based on the printing information.

  Next, the functional configuration of the external server 300 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the external server 300 includes a control unit 310, a data storage unit 320, and a LAN interface unit 330, which are connected by a bus or the like.

The control unit 310 includes main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In addition, the control unit 310 performs overall control of the external server 300 including various I / Os, interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), a bus controller, and the like. The control unit 310 is provided with an execution history image data storage processing unit 310a.
The execution history image data storage processing unit 310 a performs processing for storing execution history image data received from the image forming apparatus 200.

The data storage unit 320 is a hard disk drive that stores data and programs. The data storage unit 320 is provided with an execution history image data storage area 320a.
The execution history image data storage area 320a stores execution history image data received from the image forming apparatus 200.

  The LAN interface unit 330 includes a detachable LAN interface for connecting to the LAN 500. The LAN interface includes a network unit that performs intelligent transmission and reception of various network protocols such as TCP / IP, AppleTalk, and SMB.

  Next, the procedure of print request job creation and transmission processing executed by the driver processing unit 110a provided in the control unit 110 of the PC 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user sets the original data created by the document creation software or the drawing software, and print information such as the print size, the number of copies, and the delivery destination and issues a print request from the operation display unit 130, the control unit 110 performs driver processing. The driver processing unit 110a starts the print request job creation and transmission process. Note that the address of the image forming apparatus 200 is set as the destination.

(Step S101)
First, the driver processing unit 110 a inputs document data from the operation display unit 130.

(Step S102)
Next, the driver processing unit 110a converts the document data into the CMYK format and creates print image data.

(Step S103)
Next, the driver processing unit 110a converts the document data into RGB format and creates execution history image data.

(Step S104)
Next, the driver processing unit 110a converts the print image data created in step S102 into a printer description language.

(Step S105)
Next, the driver processing unit 110 a inputs print information from the operation display unit 130.

(Step S106)
Next, the driver processing unit 110a stores the print image data converted into the printer description language and the print information in which the execution history image data is input in step S105 in the print request job.

(Step S107)
Next, the driver processing unit 110a transmits a print request job to the image forming apparatus 200 having an address set as a print information destination via the LAN interface unit 140, and ends the driver processing.

  Next, the procedure of print job execution processing executed by the print job execution processing unit 210a provided in the control unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the LAN interface unit 240 of the image forming apparatus 200 receives a print request job from the PC 100, the control unit 210 activates the print job execution processing unit 210a, and the print job execution processing unit 210a starts print job execution processing.

(Step S201)
First, the print job execution processing unit 210 a inputs a print request job from the LAN interface unit 240.

(Step S202)
Next, the print job execution processing unit 210a extracts print image data from the print request job and stores it in the print image data storage area 220a.

(Step S203)
Next, the print job execution processing unit 210a extracts the execution history image data from the print request job and stores it in the execution history image data storage area 220b.

(Step S204)
Next, the print job execution processing unit 210 a extracts print information from the print request job and outputs it to the printing unit 290. When printing information is input, the printing unit 290 retrieves printing image data from the printing image data storage area 220a, analyzes the printer description language of the printing image data, and copies the printing image data based on the printing information to a copy sheet. Print on.

(Step S205)
Next, the print job execution processing unit 210a retrieves execution history image data from the execution history image data storage area 220b, transmits the execution history image data to the external server 300 via the LAN interface unit 240, and performs print job execution processing. finish.

  Next, the procedure of execution history image data storage processing executed by the execution history image data storage processing unit 310a provided in the control unit 310 of the external server 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the LAN interface unit 330 of the external server 300 receives the execution history image data from the image forming apparatus 200, the control unit 310 activates the execution history image data storage processing unit 310a, and the execution history image data storage processing unit 310a executes the execution history image data. Start data storage process.

(Step S301)
First, the execution history image data storage processing unit 310 a inputs the execution history image data received from the image forming apparatus 200 from the LAN interface unit 330.

(Step S302)
Next, the execution history image data storage processing unit 310a stores the execution history image data input in step S301 in the execution history image data storage area 320a of the data storage unit 320, and ends the execution history image data storage process.

  As described above, since the driver processing unit 110a mounted on the PC 100 creates printing image data and execution history image data from document data, the image forming apparatus 200 has a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format. Even when the image forming apparatus 200 is not provided, the image forming apparatus 200 can receive the execution history image data in the RGB format from the PC 100. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 200 can store the execution history image data in the external server 300 by transmitting the execution history image data to the external server 300.

  In the embodiment, a case has been described in which a print request job storing print image data, execution history image data, and print information is transmitted from the PC 100 to the image forming apparatus 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a print request job can be transmitted from the PC 100 to the image forming apparatus 700 connected to the Internet 600.

  In the embodiment, the execution history image data is stored in the external server 300 connected to the LAN 500. However, the execution history image data can be stored in an external server connected to the Internet 600. is there. In addition, the execution history image data can be stored by providing an execution history image data storage area in the data storage unit 230 of the image forming apparatus 200. The execution history image data can also be stored in a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory connected to the image forming apparatus 200.

  Such an image forming apparatus and image system of the present invention can store an execution history image in the RGB format even when the image forming apparatus does not have a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by specific embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the said embodiment is an illustration of this invention and is not limited to this embodiment.

  The present invention is suitable for an image forming apparatus, a driver for the image forming apparatus, and an image forming system. However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, the driver for the image forming apparatus, and the image forming system. Applicable to processing devices, device drivers, and systems in general.

10: Image forming system 100: PC
110... Control unit 110 a... Driver processing unit 120... Memory unit 120 a... Printing image data storage area 120 b... Execution history image data storage area 130. Operation display unit 140 LAN interface unit 200 Image forming apparatus 210 Control unit 210a Print job execution processing unit 220 Memory unit 220a ... Image data storage area 220b for printing ... Execution history image data storage area 230 ... Data storage unit 230a ... Image data storage area 240 ... LAN interface unit 250 Operation panel 260 Operation panel processing unit 270 Original reading unit 280 Image forming unit 290 Printing unit 00... External server 310... Control unit 310 a... Execution history image data storage processing unit 320... Data storage unit 320 a. ... LAN interface unit 400 ... Router 500 ... LAN
600... Internet 700... Image forming apparatus

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus connected to an operation terminal and an external server via a network and having a print job execution processing unit,
The image forming apparatus does not have a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format while maintaining the image quality ,
The print job execution processing unit
From the document data, the created by the driver unit of the operating terminal, the CMYK format that is converted into a printer description language print image data and the printing image data and equal to or comparable the RGB format image quality and execution history image data, when a print request job including the print information input to the operation terminal received from the operation terminal,
The print image data and the print information are extracted from the print request job, the printer description language of the print image data is analyzed, the print image data is printed based on the print information, and the print request An image forming apparatus, wherein the execution history image data is extracted from a job, and the execution history image data is transmitted to the external server and stored. The image forming apparatus includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus does not have a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format. The print job execution processing unit
The print from the request job removed the execution history image data, the image forming apparatus according to the execution history image data to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that stored in the USB memory connected to the image forming apparatus. An image forming system having an operation terminal, an image forming apparatus, and an external server connected to each other in a network,
The image forming apparatus does not have a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format while maintaining the image quality ,
The operation terminal includes a driver processing unit,
The driver processing unit
Create an image data for printing of the CMYK format from the document data,
Create a running history image data of the RGB format of the printing image data equal to or comparable image quality from the original data,
Converting the print image data into a printer description language;
Transmitting a print request job including the print image data converted into the printer description language, the execution history image data, and print information input to the operation terminal to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes a print job execution processing unit,
The print job execution processing unit
When the print request job is received, the print image data and the print information are extracted from the print request job, the printer description language of the print image data is analyzed, and the print image is based on the print information. Print the data,
Extracting the execution history image data from the print request job, sending the execution history image data to the external server,
The external server includes a data storage unit,
When the data storage unit receives the execution history image data from the image forming apparatus,
The execution history image data is stored. An image forming system, wherein: The image forming apparatus includes:
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming system does not have a function of converting data from the CMYK format to the RGB format. The print job execution processing unit
The print request jobs from the take-out the execution history image data, the image forming system according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that storing the execution history image data in the USB memory connected to the image forming apparatus.

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