JP7247470B2 - Image forming system, terminal device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system, a terminal device and a program.

As a system that performs printing using a print server, for example, there is an information processing system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-200012. In this system, the client notifies the print server of the values of the print setting items, and printing is performed with the notified values.

JP 2013-16103 A

When performing so-called form printing, the form file is a separate file from the information file printed on the form. The path to show is specified. Also, for example, when printing a form in EMF (Enhanced MetaFile) format, the information to be printed on the form is converted to EMF format, and the EMF format file and print setting items are notified to the print server. be done. The setting items to be notified include the path of the form file, but if the included path is the path in the client, the form file cannot be accessed on the print server and the form cannot be printed. becomes.

It is an object of the present invention to enable form printing via a server apparatus that instructs an image forming apparatus to form an image.

An image forming system according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises: first generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on a form; said first file; and a second file representing said form or said second file. transmitting means for transmitting stored information including an address on the network to a server device; receiving means for receiving said first file and said stored information transmitted by said transmitting means; and said receiving means an acquisition means for acquiring a second file included in the stored information received by or a second file specified by an address included in the stored information; and a form represented by the second file acquired by the acquisition means. and a second generating means for generating an image in which the image represented by the first file is superimposed on the image of the first file.

In the image forming system according to claim 2 of the present invention, the stored information is a DEVMODE structure.

In the image forming system according to claim 3 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is less than a predetermined first threshold, the second file is included in the DEVMODE structure.

In the image forming system according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is equal to or greater than the first threshold value and less than a predetermined second threshold value, the second file is compressed to form the DEVMODE structure. Include in body.

In the image forming system according to claim 5 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is equal to or greater than the second threshold value and less than a predetermined third threshold value, the stored information is a PrinterDriverData registry, and the Include a second file in the PrinterDriverData registry.

In the image forming system according to claim 6 of the present invention, when the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the third threshold, the address is included in the DEVMODE structure instead of the second file.

In the image forming system according to claim 7 of the present invention, the stored information is a PrinterDriverData registry.

In the image forming system according to claim 8 of the present invention, the second file is compressed and included in the PrinterDriverData registry.

In the image forming system according to claim 9 of the present invention, the first file is in EMF format.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device comprising: generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on a form; said first file and a second file representing said form; and transmission means for transmitting stored information including the address of the server to the server device.

According to claim 11 of the present invention, there is provided a program that causes a computer to generate a first file representing an image to be superimposed on a form; A program for functioning as transmission means for transmitting stored information including an address on a network to a server device.

According to the image forming system of claim 1 of the present invention, form printing can be performed via the server device that instructs the image forming apparatus to form an image.
According to the image forming system according to claim 2 of the present invention, the second file can be sent to the server device together with information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of claim 3 of the present invention, the second file suitable for inclusion in the DEVMODE structure can be included in the DEVMODE structure.
According to the image forming system of claim 4 of the present invention, if the size of the second file is less than the second threshold, even the second file whose size is greater than or equal to the first threshold can be included in the DEVMODE structure. can.
According to the image forming system according to claim 5 of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure can be sent to the server device together with the information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of claim 6 of the present invention, even if the second file cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure and the PrinterDriverData registry, the server device can acquire the second file.
According to the image forming system of claim 7 of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the DEVMODE structure can be sent to the server device together with the information required for image formation.
According to the image forming system of claim 8 of the present invention, the second file that cannot be included in the PrinterDriverData registry in an uncompressed state can be sent to the server device.
According to the image forming system of claim 9 of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time required to generate the first file compared to a configuration that generates a RAW format file.
According to the terminal device of claim 10 of the present invention, form printing can be performed via the server device that instructs the image forming device to form an image.
According to the program according to claim 11 of the present invention, form printing can be performed via a server apparatus that instructs an image forming apparatus to form an image.

1 is a diagram showing devices related to an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device 10; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the terminal device 10; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a print server device 30; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a print server device 30; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the terminal device 10; 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the terminal device 10; 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the terminal device 10; 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the print server device 30;

[Embodiment]
(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing devices related to an image forming system 1 that is an embodiment of the present invention. The communication line 2 is a communication line for data communication, and is connected to a plurality of computer devices for data communication. The communication line 2 includes, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) and a wireless LAN.

The image forming apparatus 20 is an apparatus having an image forming function of forming an image on a sheet of recording medium, a scanning function of reading a document, a copying function, a facsimile function, and the like. The image forming device 20 is connected to the print server device 30 . Although one image forming device 20 is shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of image forming devices 20 can be connected to the print server device 30 . The image forming device 20 forms an image on paper according to the file sent from the print server device 30 .

A terminal device 10, which is an example of a terminal device according to the present invention, is a device that performs data communication, and is a desktop personal computer in this embodiment. The terminal device 10 is connected to the communication line 2 by wire or wirelessly, and performs data communication via the communication line 2 . The terminal device 10 transmits to the print server device 30 a file indicating an image to be formed on paper by the image forming device 20 . In this embodiment, a plurality of terminal devices 10 can be connected to the communication line 2, but only one terminal device 10 is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid complication of the drawing. Note that the terminal device 10 is not limited to a desktop personal computer, and may be, for example, a laptop personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smart phone.

The print server device 30 is an example of a server device according to the present invention. The print server device 30 is connected to the communication line 2 by wire and performs data communication via the communication line 2 . The print server device 30 has a so-called print server function, acquires a file sent from the terminal device 10, and instructs the image forming device 20 to form an image indicated by the acquired file.

(Configuration of terminal device 10)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 10. As shown in FIG. A display 103 displays characters, a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the like. An operation unit 104 has a keyboard and a mouse, which are input devices, and is operated by a user. The communication unit 105 functions as a communication interface that performs data communication via the communication line 2 . The storage unit 102 has a storage device such as a hard disk device, for example, and stores an operating system program, application programs, files used by the application programs, and the like. The control unit 101 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The functions realized in the terminal device 10 are performed by the CPU performing calculations by loading a program (software) stored in the storage unit 102 onto hardware such as a CPU and memory, controlling the storage unit 102, and controlling the communication unit 105. , and control of reading and/or writing of data in the memory and storage unit 102 .

(Functional configuration of terminal device 10)
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of characteristic functions according to the present invention among functions realized in the terminal device 10. As shown in FIG.

The application 1001 is an application having a print function, such as a word processor application or a spreadsheet application.

The first rendering unit 1002 is a so-called GDI (Graphics Device Interface). A first rendering unit 1002 generates an EMF format file representing an image to be formed by the image forming apparatus 20 . The first drawing unit 1002 is an example of a first generating unit according to the present invention.

A first printer driver 1003 is a program that controls the image forming apparatus 20 . The first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20 according to the user's operation. On the property screen displayed by the first printer driver 1003, it is possible to make settings related to image formation, such as the size of paper on which an image is formed, the color mode, and the file format to be output for image formation. It's becoming The first printer driver 1003 stores information relating to an image forming job, such as paper size and color mode, in the DEVMODE structure. The first printer driver 1003 also acquires information such as the model name of the image forming apparatus 20 and hardware options of the image forming apparatus 20, and stores the acquired information in the PrinterDriverData registry.

The first spooler 1004 acquires files and information used for image formation in the image forming apparatus 20 and transmits the acquired files and information to the print server apparatus 30 .

(Configuration of print server device 30)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the print server device 30. As shown in FIG. A communication unit 305 is a communication interface for performing data communication. The communication unit 305 is connected to the communication line 2 and performs data communication via the communication line 2 . The communication unit 305 is connected to the image forming apparatus 20 by wire or wirelessly, and performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 20 . The communication unit 305 is an example of communication means according to the present invention. The storage unit 302 has a storage device (for example, a hard disk device). The storage unit 302 stores programs executed by the control unit 301 and information used by the executed programs. The control unit 301 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The functions realized in the print server device 30 are performed by causing the CPU to read a program (software) stored in the storage unit 302 onto hardware such as a CPU and a memory, thereby causing the CPU to perform calculations, control the storage unit 302, and control the communication unit. 305 and control of reading and/or writing of data in the memory and storage unit 302 .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the functions according to the present invention among the functions realized by executing the program by the control unit 101. As shown in FIG.

The second drawing unit 3002 is a so-called GDI (Graphics Device Interface). A second rendering unit 3002 acquires an EMF format file and generates an image indicated by the acquired file. The second printer driver 3003 generates a RAW format file representing an image to be formed by the image forming apparatus 20 . The second printer driver 3003 is an example of acquisition means according to the present invention. Also, the second printer driver 3003 is an example of a second generating unit according to the present invention. The second spooler 3004 acquires files used for image formation in the image forming apparatus 20 and outputs the acquired files to the image forming apparatus 20 .

(Example of operation of embodiment)
Next, with regard to the operation of the present embodiment, an example of the operation of performing form printing in which an image is generated by superimposing another image on a pre-created standard form image and the generated image is formed on a recording medium is taken as an example. explain.

First, an operation example of the terminal device 10 will be described. When performing form printing, the user of the terminal device 10 uses the operation unit 104 to instruct display of the property screen of the image forming device 20 . The terminal device 10 activates the first printer driver 1003 when this operation is performed. The first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20 that is set in advance as an apparatus for forming images.

The property screen displayed by the first printer driver 1003 has a tab for setting form printing. When the user operates the operation unit 104 to display a tab for setting form printing, the first printer driver 1003 displays the screen shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a tab for setting form printing displayed by the first printer driver 1003 .

When performing form printing, the user checks the form registration check box CB1 on the screen shown in FIG. A file path, which is an example, is entered in the text box TB. The information indicating the location where the substance of the form image file is stored is not limited to the file path, and may be, for example, a URL. A file showing a form image is an example of a second file according to the present invention. Next, when the user clicks the "OK" button on the screen in FIG. 6, the first printer driver 1003 registers the input path.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing performed after the terminal device 10 registers the path of the second file. After registering the path of the second file, the first printer driver 1003 identifies the size of the second file identified by the registered path (step SA1). If the size of the identified second file is less than the second predetermined threshold or equal to or greater than the third threshold that is greater than the second threshold (NO in step SA2), the first printer driver 1003 end the processing of

On the other hand, if the identified size is equal to or greater than the second threshold and less than the third threshold (YES in step SA2), the first printer driver 1003 stores the first printer driver 1003 in the PrinterDriverData registry identified by the registered path. 2 files are stored (step SA3).

Next, the first printer driver 1003 acquires data in the PrinterDriverData registry and transmits the acquired data to the print server device 30 (step SA4). The PrinterDriverData registry data is an example of stored information according to the present invention. Since the second file was stored in the PrinterDriverData registry in step SA3, the data acquired from the PrinterDriverData registry and transmitted to the print server device 30 includes the second file.

The print server device 30 receives the PrinterDriverData data transmitted from the first printer driver 1003 . The second printer driver 3003 updates the registry data of PrinterDriverData in the print server device 30 with the received registry data of PrinterDriverData. Since the received data includes the second file, the updated PrinterDriverData registry of the print server device 30 includes the second file.

Next, a description will be given of an operation example when performing form printing in which an image in which a form image and another image are superimposed is formed on a recording medium. When the user of the terminal device 10 performs form printing, the application 1001 creates an image to be superimposed on the form image (hereinafter referred to as a superimposed image).

Next, when the user performs an operation to instruct printing, the first printer driver 1003 displays a property screen of the image forming apparatus 20 . When the user operates the operation unit 104 to display a tab for setting form printing, the first printer driver 1003 displays the screen shown in FIG. The user checks the check box CB2 for form printing in FIG. 6 and clicks the "OK" button on the screen in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the terminal device 10 when this operation is performed.

First, the first rendering unit 1002 generates an EMF-format file representing a superimposed image created by the user (step SB1). The EMF format file representing the superimposed image is an example of the first file according to the present invention. The first drawing unit 1002 sends the generated first file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB2).

Next, the first printer driver 1003 acquires the path indicating the location where the entity of the second file registered in the above operation example is stored, and acquires the second file specified by the acquired path (step SB3). After acquiring the second file, the first printer driver 1003 specifies the size of the acquired second file (step SB4).

If the size of the second file is less than the predetermined first threshold smaller than the second threshold (YES in step SB5), the first printer driver 1003 stores the obtained second file in the DEVMODE structure as the first The printer driver 1003 stores it in an extension area that can be used independently (step SB6), and sends the DEVMODE structure storing the second file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The DEVMODE structure is an example of stored information according to the present invention. The first spooler 1004 sends the first file in EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

When the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the first threshold (NO in step SB5), the first printer driver 1003 determines that the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the first threshold and is smaller than the second threshold. (step SB7). If the size of the second file is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value (YES in step SB7), the first printer driver 1003 compresses the obtained second file and expands the DEVMODE structure. area (step SB8), and sends the DEVMODE structure containing the compressed second file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The first spooler 1004 sends the first file in EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

When the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the second threshold (NO in step SB7), the first printer driver 1003 determines that the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the second threshold and is smaller than the third threshold. (Step SB9). When the size of the second file is equal to or larger than the second threshold and smaller than the third threshold, the first printer driver 1003 stores information indicating that the second file is stored in the PrinterDriverData registry in the DEVMODE structure. (step SB10), and sends the DEVMODE structure containing the information to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The first spooler 1004 sends the first file in EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14).

If the size of the second file is equal to or greater than the third threshold (NO in step SB9), the first printer driver 1003 saves the obtained second file to a shared folder accessible by the terminal device 10 and the print server device 30. Store (step SB11). The shared folder may be provided in the terminal device 10 or may be provided in the print server device 30 . Also, the shared folder may be provided in a computer device connected to the communication line 2 other than the terminal device 10 and the print server device 30 . Next, the first printer driver 1003 stores the path of the shared folder in which the second file is stored and the file name of the second file stored in the shared folder in the DEVMODE structure (step SB12). and the file name of the second file to the first spooler 1004 (step SB13). The path stored in the DEVMODE structure here is an example of the network address of the second file according to the present invention. The first spooler 1004 sends the first file in EMF format and the DEVMODE structure sent from the first printer driver 1003 to the print server device 30 (step SB14). The first spooler 1004 is an example of transmission means according to the present invention.

Next, an operation example of the print server device 30 will be described. The print server device 30 receives the first file and the DEVMODE structure transmitted by the terminal device 10 . FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing performed when the print server device 30 receives the first file and the DEVMODE structure.

The second spooler 3004 acquires the first file received by the communication unit 305 and sends the acquired first file to the second drawing unit 3002 (step SC1). The second rendering unit 3002 generates a superimposed image indicated by the first file in EMF format sent from the second spooler 3004 (step SC2).

The second printer driver 3003 acquires the DEVMODE structure received by the communication unit 305, and identifies information stored in the extension area of the acquired DEVMODE structure (step SC3).

If the specified information is the uncompressed second file (YES in step SC4), the second printer driver 3003 acquires the second file from the acquired DEVMODE structure (step SC5). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image in which the superimposed image generated by the second rendering unit 3002 is superimposed on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13). A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW format file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

If the specified information is the compressed second file (NO in step SC4, YES in step SC6), the second printer driver 3003 acquires the compressed second file from the acquired DEVMODE structure ( Step SC7), expand the acquired compressed second file (step SC8). The second printer driver 3003 generates an image in which the superimposed image generated by the second drawing unit 3002 is superimposed on the form image indicated by the developed second file (step SC13). A file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW format file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

If the specified information is information indicating that the second file is stored in the PrinterDriverData registry (NO at step SC6, YES at step SC9), the second printer driver 3003 determines whether the second file is included in the PrinterDriverData registry. obtain the second file (step SC10). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image in which the superimposed image generated by the second rendering unit 3002 is superimposed on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13). A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW format file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

If the specified information is the path of the shared folder and the file name of the second file (NO in step SC9, YES in step SC11), the second printer driver 3003 prints from the shared folder specified by the stored path. The second file specified by the stored file name is acquired (step SC12). Next, the second printer driver 3003 generates an image in which the superimposed image generated by the second rendering unit 3002 is superimposed on the form image indicated by the acquired second file (step SC13). A format file is generated (step SC14). The second printer driver 3003 sends the generated RAW format file to the second spooler 3004 (step SC15). The second spooler 3004 outputs the RAW format file sent from the second printer driver 3003 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step SC16).

The image forming apparatus 20 acquires the RAW format file output from the print server apparatus 30, and prints the image indicated by the acquired file, that is, the image in which the superimposed image is superimposed on the form image.

[Modification]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, the present invention may be implemented by modifying the above-described embodiment as follows. It should be noted that the above-described embodiment and the following modified examples may be combined with each other.

In the above-described embodiment, when the terminal device 10 stores the second file in the PrinterDriverData registry, the second file is stored without being compressed. can be stored as In this configuration, when acquiring the second file from the PrinterDriverData registry, the print server device 30 acquires and expands the compressed second file from the PrinterDriverData registry.

In the present invention, the terminal device 10 may also shift the flow of processing to step SB11 when the size of the second file is equal to or greater than the second threshold and less than the third threshold.

In the present invention, the access right is set for the shared folder storing the second file, and the terminal device 10 stores the information for accessing the shared folder in the DEVMODE structure and transmits it to the print server device 30 . good. In this configuration, when acquiring the second file from the shared folder, the print server device 30 may access the shared folder using the information stored in the DEVMODE structure transmitted from the terminal device 10 .

In the present invention, a flag may be provided in the extension area of the DEVMODE structure, and the value of this flag may be set to 1 when form printing is to be performed, and set to 0 when form printing is not to be performed.
In this configuration, the print server device 30 determines the value of the flag stored in the DEVMODE structure obtained from the terminal device 10, and if the value of the flag is 1, performs the processing of FIG. may

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image forming system 2... Communication line 10... Terminal device 20... Image forming apparatus 30... Print server apparatus 101... Control part 102... Storage part 103... Display 104... Operation part 105... Communication Unit 301 Control unit 302 Storage unit 305 Communication unit 1001 Application 1002 First drawing unit 1003 First printer driver 1004 First spooler 3002 Second drawing unit 3003 A second printer driver, 3004 . . . a second spooler.

Claims (11)

a first generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
a transmission means for transmitting stored information selectively including the first file and a second file representing the form or an address on the network of the second file to a server device;
receiving means for receiving the first file and the stored information transmitted by the transmitting means;
obtaining means for obtaining a second file included in the stored information received by the receiving means or a second file specified by an address included in the stored information;
a second generation means for generating an image in which the image represented by the first file is superimposed on the image of the form represented by the second file acquired by the acquisition means;
with
The stored information is a DEVMODE structure,
An imaging system including the second file in the DEVMODE structure if the size of the second file is less than a first predetermined threshold. a first generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
a terminal device for transmitting stored information including the first file and the second file representing the form to a server device;
receiving means for receiving the first file and the stored information transmitted by the transmitting means;
an obtaining means for obtaining a second file included in the stored information received by the receiving means;
a second generation means for generating an image in which the image represented by the first file is superimposed on the image of the form represented by the second file acquired by the acquisition means;
with
The stored information is data in the PrinterDriverData registry in the image forming system. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein if the size of said second file is greater than or equal to said first threshold and less than a predetermined second threshold, said second file is compressed and included in said DEVMODE structure. if the size of the second file is equal to or greater than the second threshold and less than a predetermined third threshold, the stored information is the DEVMODE structure, and the second file is stored in the PrinterDriverData registry; 4. The image forming system of claim 3, wherein the DEVMODE structure includes information indicating that the DEVMODE structure is present. 5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein when the size of said second file is equal to or greater than said third threshold, said address is included in said DEVMODE structure instead of said second file. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein said second file is compressed and included in said PrinterDriverData registry. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first file is in EMF format. a first generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
transmitting means for transmitting stored information selectively including the first file and a second file representing the form or an address on the network of the second file to a server device;
The stored information is a DEVMODE structure,
including the second file in the DEVMODE structure if the size of the second file is less than a predetermined first threshold. a first generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
transmitting means for transmitting stored information including the first file and a second file representing the form to a server device;
The stored information is data in the PrinterDriverData registry of the terminal device. the computer,
generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
A program for functioning as transmission means for transmitting stored information selectively including the first file and the second file representing the form or the address on the network of the second file to a server device,
The stored information is a DEVMODE structure,
A program for including the second file in the DEVMODE structure if the size of the second file is less than a first predetermined threshold. the computer,
generating means for generating a first file representing an image to be superimposed on the form;
A program for functioning as transmission means for transmitting stored information including the first file and the second file representing the form to a server device,
The stored information is data in the PrinterDriverData registry program.

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