JPH09233291A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce man-hours of the operator for carrying or distribution of an output result and to utilize efficiently equipments connected to a network by providing a selection means selecting an output destination of a read image and a means sending data as image data in a prescribed format. SOLUTION: In the case of using the system for a copying machine, an original is read by a scanner section 14, digital image processing is applied to the read image and a printer section 17 forms the image. In this case, an optional image output device on a network is selected for an output destination. In the case of using the system for a printer, the image data sent from the scanner 3 are expanded as a raster image in an image memory 11 by a control section 7 and the read image data 13 are sent to the printer section 17, in which the image is formed. On the other hand, when the system is used for a scanner, the original is read by the scanner section 14 and written in the image memory 11 as a raster image and the control section 7 is used to send the image to printers 2-1, 2-2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sends a read image to an image forming apparatus connected via a network,
The present invention relates to an image processing system in which an image read by an image reading apparatus is processed by an image processing apparatus and then sent to an image forming apparatus via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image copying apparatus having both functions of an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus, when each of them is used alone as an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus, the read image is read by another image forming apparatus. In order to output the image, the image formation is realized by temporarily registering the image data in the connected computer and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned image formation, when it is desired to pass the copied image data to another user, the writing result obtained by using the copying function can be physically changed to another one. Send it to the user or register the scanned image in the computer,
It is necessary to make the output from the computer to the image forming apparatus installed near the user.

Further, when a copying machine existing in the vicinity of the operator is being used as an image forming apparatus by another user, the operator goes to a copying machine in another place to make a copy. As a result, it is necessary to bring the result of writing two or more copies.

On the other hand, an image forming apparatus having a complicated finishing function is generally expensive and it is difficult to prepare a plurality of image forming apparatuses. When an output that does not require special processing is performed using such an expensive writing device, an output request that actually requires a complicated finishing function is awaited, and the efficiency of image formation is reduced. There is a problem that it will decrease.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the labor required for the operator to carry and distribute the output result, and to provide an apparatus connected to the network. An object is to provide an image processing system that can be used efficiently.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing system in which a plurality of image reading devices and an image forming device are connected via a network. Instructing means for instructing reading, selecting means for selecting an image forming apparatus that is an output destination of the read image among the image forming apparatuses, and the selected image forming apparatus for displaying the image in a predetermined format. The image processing apparatus further comprises means for sending out as image data and output means for outputting the sent out image data, wherein the instructing means and the selecting means correspond to an operating unit handled by an operator of the image processing system, and the predetermined unit. The image data of the format is the image data of the packet format. Packet is occurring at the same time.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a plurality of image reading devices, a plurality of image forming devices, and a plurality of computers are provided. The connected status is shown.

In the system shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus and the image output apparatus are a scanner / printer / copier 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a copier) which is a multifunction machine having a scanner function and a printer function. is there. The image reading device, the image forming device, and the computer are connected to each other via a network 5. In this embodiment, the network 5 is composed of Ethernet (registered trademark of Xerox Co., USA), but any other interface may be used as long as it connects the above-mentioned respective devices to the network.

The above-mentioned network 5 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses (printers) 2-1 to 2-3, a plurality of image reading apparatuses (scanners) 3-1 to 3-3, and a plurality of computers 4-. 1 to 4-2 are connected. This network is a local area network and is used to connect computers on a certain floor of a building or a building. For example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. The devices on the fourth and lower halves are located on the third floor of the building and the network 5 is used to connect them.

In the case of such network connection, each device on the network has a unique ID number or system name. Then, by this ID number or system name, oneself and the other can be identified. However, in the present embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, each device is identified by a system name. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 2-1 has a system name A.
The image forming apparatus 2-2 has a system name B.

When an image is read by the scanner section of the copying machine itself and written out by the printer section, the operator
Take the manuscript to the place where the copying machine 1 is installed, perform the copying work there, and after the work, return with the manuscript and the copy result. On the other hand, when the copier 1 is used as a printer, the operator uses his computer to connect to the network 5
The print data is sent to the copying machine 1 via the via to obtain the print result printed by the copying machine 1.

When the copier 1 is used as a scanner, the operator goes to the place of the copier 1 with a document, performs a scanning operation using the operation unit of the copier 1, and scans the scanned data. To your computer and bring the manuscript back. On the other hand, when outputting from any image reading device to any image forming device, the operation unit on the scanner selects the image forming device to be output, and transmits the image data via the network. Export the image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the copying machine 1 according to this embodiment. The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the printer unit is removed from the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, and the image forming apparatus has a configuration in which the scanner unit is removed from the block diagram shown in FIG.

When the copying machine 1 is used as a copying machine,
A document placed on a document table (not shown) is read by the scanner unit 14, converted into an electric signal, and passed through the selector 15 to
The image processing unit 16 performs various digital image processing, and the printer unit 17 forms an image. At this time, an arbitrary image output device on the network can be selected as the output destination.

On the other hand, when the copying machine 1 is used as a printer or when an image forming apparatus is used, the image data sent from the image reading apparatus (scanner) 3 is stored in the external communication circuit 6 and the CPU bus 10. The image is expanded as a raster image in the image memory 11 under the control of the control unit 7 via the via. Next, the printer unit 17 is activated, and the image data 13 read from the image memory 11 is sent to the printer unit 17 via the selector 15 and the image processing unit 16, and image formation is performed there.

On the other hand, when the copying machine 1 is used as a scanner or when an image reading device is used, a document placed on a document table (not shown) is read by the scanner section 14 and converted into an electric signal, and the selector is selected. After various digital image processing is performed by the image processing unit 16 via 15, the image processed image data 18 is written in the image memory 11 as a raster image. Then, the image data read from the image memory 11 is sent to the image forming apparatuses (printers) 2-1 and 2-2 via the CPU bus 10 and the external communication circuit 6 under the control of the control unit 7. .

The address generator 12 of FIG. 2 generates an address on the image memory 11 for reading the image data 13 at the time of printing and writing the image data 18 at the time of scanning based on an image synchronizing signal (not shown). To do. Also,
As will be described later, various operations are performed by the operator from the operation unit 8, and the digitizer 19 is for designating an area on the document as described later.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the external appearance of the operation unit 8 and the digitizer 19. This figure shows a state in which the scanner unit 14 is viewed from above, the operation unit 8 is arranged in front of the scanner unit 14, and the digitizer 19 is arranged on the document pressure plate. Operation unit 8
In addition to the large-sized liquid crystal display unit 23, is composed of ten keys 24, a copy start key 25, various function keys 22 including a scan key, an area designating key, and the like. Arbitrary characters can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 23. Here, by displaying various messages, it becomes possible to interactively operate.

The digitizer 19 is often used in a digital copying machine and is a device for designating an area of an image.
To specify the area, first place the document face up,
It is placed on the placing part 26 with its upper right corner abutted, and two points on the diagonal of the rectangular area 28 to be designated are designated by the pen 27. A circuit for detecting a designated pen position exists inside the placing portion 26, and is configured to obtain designated area information based on the detected coordinates. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the document pressure plate is closed, and during actual document reading,
The document pressure plate is opened, and the document is placed below the document pressure plate with the upper left corner pressed.

FIG. 4 shows the contents of the message displayed on the liquid crystal display section 23 in the operation section 8 when the copy area is designated before execution of copying when the copy machine 1 is used as a copy machine. It is a figure which shows a transition. First, one of the function keys 22 in the operation unit 8 is an "area designation key".
When is pressed, the area on the original is designated using the digitizer 19 on the screen 31 of FIG. Then screen 32
Then, it instructs the processing to be performed on the image in the designated area. Here, trimming is a mode in which an image is copied by cutting out only a specified area, masking is a mode in which the area other than the specified area is copied, and negative / positive inversion is an image formation by inverting the image in the specified area. It is a mode to perform.

After the area is designated as described above, the output destination is designated. On the screen 33, the image forming apparatus to which the scanned image is sent is selected. In this screen, the image forming devices registered in the
Display the list in and select from them. For example, 'A' in list number 1 corresponds to image forming apparatus A in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the actual system name is displayed, but if it cannot be displayed, it may be shortened and displayed. Also, an alias may be added to the actual system name and the alias may be displayed.

Furthermore, on the screen 33, for convenience of explanation, 4
Although only one list is displayed, many lists can be displayed by scrolling the screen or switching pages.

When a list display is selected on the screen 33, a screen 34 is displayed.
The list of devices currently connected to the network is displayed. The image forming apparatus to which the scanned image is to be sent is selected from among them. At this time, when the mode is set for the output image, a list of image forming apparatuses capable of outputting is displayed.

Generally, a network protocol is provided with a mechanism for inquiring about a connected device,
Use it to find out which devices are connected to the network. Alternatively, it is also possible to check the device connected to the network by monitoring the output source and the destination of the data flowing on the network.

When "4: automatic selection" is selected on the screen 34, the number of copies to be output, the difference between color / black and white, sorting,
An image forming apparatus having a function such as whether or not an advanced finishing function such as double-sided or stapling is selected is automatically selected. For example, in FIG. 1, when the printer A is a device capable of high-speed printing, if a large number of copies is designated as the output, the printer A automatically
Is selected. Further, when the copying machine 1 has a double-sided printing function, the copying machine 1 is automatically selected when double-sided printing is designated in the output mode setting.

When a mode other than automatic is selected on the screen 34, the same original can be sent to another image forming apparatus. Then, when the next print is selected on the screen 35, the number of output copies is set on the screen 36, and the screen 33 or the screen 34 is displayed.
Then, the image forming apparatus for output is selected. At this time,
Automatic selection is not possible.

After making the above designations, by selecting "2: Print" on the screen 35, copying is started in the designated mode and output is performed to the designated image forming apparatus. At this time, a list of automatically selected devices or devices specified by the operator is displayed on the screen 37. As described above, the operation unit 8 and the liquid crystal display unit 23 and the ten-key pad 24 in the operation unit 8 are used for mode designation, selection of an output destination and copy start instruction when copying is performed as a copying machine. The digitizer 19 is also used to specify an area when copying is performed as a copying machine.

FIG. 5 shows the image processing unit 1 according to this embodiment.
6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of No. 6. In the figure,
The image data 21 sent from the scanner unit 14 or the image memory 11 in FIG.
Is smoothed by. This is to prevent moiré from occurring when reducing with the enlargement / reduction circuit described later.
This is a process for reducing the image frequency, and the smoothing process is not performed except during reduction, and the signal is set to pass through as it is.

Then, enlargement / reduction circuit 42 performs enlargement processing,
Alternatively, a normal size process or a reduction process is performed. The next negative / positive inversion circuit 44 is a circuit for inverting the data when the negative / positive inversion of the image is performed. When the negative / positive inversion is not performed, the signal is directly set. Also,
The control register 43 is a register for holding parameters of the smoothing circuit 41 and the enlarging / reducing circuit 42, and parameters such as whether to perform smoothing, enlargement ratio, reduction ratio, and negative / positive inversion are set in the control unit of FIG. 5 is set via the CPU bus 10.

The image processing section 16 is used for image processing of read image data at the time of scanning and also used for image processing of read image data at the time of copying. For example, when scanning, the reading resolution is 400
In the case of dpi, each circuit in the image processing unit 16 does not perform any processing and passes the image data as it is. on the other hand,
If the reading resolution is less than 400 dpi, first,
The smoothing circuit 41 performs smoothing processing, the negative / positive inversion circuit 44 passes through, and the enlargement / reduction circuit 42
The reduction process is performed so that the resolution specified by is obtained. Further, at the time of copying, the smoothing circuit 41 and the enlarging / reducing circuit 42 pass through in the case of the normal size copying.

On the other hand, at the time of reduction copying, the smoothing circuit 41 performs smoothing processing, and the enlargement / reduction circuit 42.
Reduction processing is performed with. Further, at the time of enlargement copying, the smoothing circuit 41 is passed through, and the enlargement / reduction circuit 42 performs enlargement processing. Further, the negative / positive inversion circuit 44 at the time of copying performs the negative / positive inversion only when the negative / positive inversion copying is instructed.

Although only simple image processing is described in FIG. 5 for simplification of description, other image processing circuits, such as a color conversion circuit, can be commonly used for copying and scanning.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state of data flowing on the network 5 according to the present embodiment.
Although illustration is simplified to simplify the description, data is exchanged on the network 5 in units called packets. In other words, data with a long bit length is divided into a plurality of packets and sent out, and the receiving side assembles them as they were.

Further, a plurality of transmissions are carried out in parallel in a time division manner. Time division is performed in packet units. For example, in FIG. 6, first, at 51-1, the first packet of scan data is sent from the copying machine 1 to the image forming apparatus A. Then, at 51-2, another packet is sent from computer F to computer G. Next 51-3
Then, the second packet of scan data is sent from the copying machine 1 to the image forming apparatus A.

Similarly, in 51-4 and 51-5, another packet is sent, and in 51-6, the third packet of scan data is sent from the copying machine 1 to the image forming apparatus A.
In this way, multiple transmissions are apparently performed in parallel. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the specific communication from occupying the network.

In FIG. 6, in order to simplify the explanation,
Although the case where multiple transmissions collide is not described here, the handling method specified by a normal network protocol is followed here. Similarly, although not shown in FIG. 6, each packet includes information such as the source of the packet, the destination, the number of the packet, etc. Are not shown.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the image reading apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, first, after the power of the apparatus is turned on, it is determined in step S11 whether or not a copy-related key on the operation unit 8 is pressed. If the key is pressed, in step S12, the area designation key,
Or other parameter key such as numeric keypad, or
It is determined whether the key is a copy start key. Then, based on the determination result in step S12, the process is branched to steps S13, S14, and S15, respectively.

That is, when the area designation key is pressed, in step S13, the area designation for copying and the processing within the area are designated based on the screen flow shown in FIG.
On the other hand, if another parameter key such as a numeric keypad is pressed, the corresponding process is performed in step S14. For example, when the numeric keypad is pressed in the standard state, the number of copies is changed because it is an instruction of the number of copies. Also,
When the copy start key is pressed, the image forming apparatus to be output is selected, the area set at that time is designated in step S15, and the subsequent step S16 is executed.
Image data is sent according to each parameter. At that time, as for the data transmission, as shown in FIG. 6, the image data is divided into a plurality of packets and the packets are discontinuously transmitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of image forming apparatuses and image reading apparatuses are connected via a network, and image data is converted into a plurality of packets based on an instruction from the operator. By outputting the output result to the image forming apparatus, the operator can reduce the labor required for carrying and distributing the output result, and the image forming apparatus connected to the network can be efficiently used. <Description of Modification> Hereinafter, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. Note that, here, only the difference between the above-described embodiment and this modification will be described.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of a copying machine according to this modification. In the figure, the same components as those of the copying machine according to the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the copying machine according to this modification, the image display section 61 and the mouse 62 are used as the area designating means instead of the digitizer. That is, when designating an area as shown in FIG. 4, instead of designating the area on the digitizer, the document is placed at the same position as in the case of performing a normal scan, and not shown on the operation unit 8. Press the preview key. Then, the image read by the scanner unit 14 is written in the image memory 11 by following the same path as in the scanning in the above embodiment. Next, the contents in the image memory 11 are moved to the image display unit 61 under the control of the control unit 7 and displayed as an image. Then, while looking at this display image, the area on the image is designated by the mouse 62.

Since displaying an image and designating an area on the image in this manner is a technique often performed in personal computers and the like, its details will not be described.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data is sent directly from the image memory 11 to the image forming apparatus, but in this modification, the image data is once moved from the image memory 11 to the hard disk 9, The data read from the hard disk 9 is sent to the image forming apparatus. Needless to say, this configuration requires a hard disk, and requires time to move to the hard disk, but after moving to the hard disk, the image memory 11
Can be used for other purposes, and there is an advantage that the occupation time of the image memory 11 can be reduced.

In this modification, the image memory 11 is a DRAM.
It consists of. Further, the hard disk has the advantages of being non-volatile, having a large capacity, and a low price per byte. However, in general, a hard disk cannot be used as the image memory 11 because of its slow access speed. On the other hand, since the DRAM forming the image memory 11 has a high access speed, it can be used as the image memory 11. However, since it is volatile, the memory contents are lost when the power is turned off, and the price per byte is high.

Therefore, a DRAM which is a volatile memory is used as the image memory which is required to have high speed, and a non-volatile hard disk 9 is used as a memory which holds the read data and the data before printing. However, when a non-volatile high-speed memory appears in the future, even if the image memory 11 is composed of a non-volatile memory, the configuration does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing main control in the copying machine according to this modification. First, step S
In step 31, it is judged whether the reception list as the printer is'empty '. The reception list as a printer is a list for holding a print request when print data arrives from an external device, as described later. When this list is not empty, it means that there are unprocessed print requests from the external device. Further, the data to be printed is held in the hard disk as described later.

If it is determined in step S31 that the reception list is not empty, the print data is moved from the hard disk 9 to the image memory 11 in step S32. In the next step S33, the printing operation is performed. Then, in step S34, the print request for which printing is completed is deleted from the reception list, and the print data on the hard disk 9 is also deleted.

Next, in step S31, if the reception list is empty, it is determined in step S35 whether or not the copy start key on the operation unit 8 has been pressed. If it has not been pressed, the processing is executed. To step S31. However, if the copy start key is pressed, step S
At 36, the process branches depending on the image forming apparatus that performs printing. The image forming device selected here is local,
That is, in the case of a copying machine, when using its own printer, a normal copying operation is performed in step S37.

When the image forming apparatus is remote, that is, when the printer connected to the network is selected, the image data is sent to the network (step S38). Although not shown in FIG. 9, area designation at the time of copying and designation of each parameter input / output destination are performed using the operation unit 8, the image display unit 61, and the mouse 62 as in the above-described embodiment. Be done.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts for explaining the sub control in this modification.

The control software of the copying machine 1 operates in so-called multitasking, and a plurality of tasks apparently operate in parallel. The flow shown in FIG. 9 is
This is a control flow of the main task, and in addition to this, the transmitting task and the receiving task shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are operating in parallel.

The transmission task shown in FIG. 10 is in charge of transmitting scan data. First, in step S51, it is determined whether the transmission list is empty. If the transmission list is empty, it means that there is no scan data to be transmitted, and the process returns to step S51. On the other hand, if the transmission list is not empty, in step S52, the image data is read from the hard disk 9, divided into a plurality of packets, and the packets are sent to the specified destination external device. And
When the transmission is normally completed, the image data is deleted from the transmission list and the image data in the hard disk is deleted in step S53.

Although not shown in FIG. 10, if the transmission of the image data is unsuccessful, the image data is not deleted from the list and is retried later. In this case, until it reaches the end of the list and a certain period of time elapses,
It is processed so as not to retry.

When the image forming apparatus to be transmitted is selected from the registration list on the screen 33 shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus may not be turned on. By having the retry system as described above, the scan operation can be executed in this case as well, and the scan data can be sent as soon as the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. Also, besides this,
When the image forming apparatus is busy, it can be transferred later. Further, even when the image forming apparatus has a low reception speed, since it is transferred to the hard disk and then transferred, it can be sent slowly in the background, and other scanning, printing or copying can be performed in the meantime. .

Next, regarding the reception task shown in FIG.
It is responsible for receiving print data. First, in step S61, it is determined whether or not there is a reception request from an external device. If there is no reception request, step S61
However, if there is a reception request, in step S62,
Receive print data. The received data is written in the hard disk 9. Then, in step S63
Then, add to the reception list.

As described above, the main task in charge of the print operation, the copy operation, and the scan operation, and the send task and the receive task operate in parallel, so that the next scan operation or print operation can be performed while the scan data is being sent. , It is possible to reduce the occupation time of the device when performing each processing, such as performing a scanning operation, a printing operation, and a copying operation while performing a copying operation or receiving print data. Can be significantly improved.

In the above-described embodiment and modification,
Although the basic part such as the scanning part and the printer part and the load part such as the image memory are integrated, the separation of the basic part such as the image reading device and the image processing device does not affect the essence of the present invention. .

Further, in the above-described modification, the operation section 6 and the image display section 61 are individually configured, but the operation may be performed using the image display section 61 and the mouse 62. With such a configuration, a GUI (graphical user interface) can be realized, and operability is significantly improved. For example, by scrolling and displaying the list display and the like shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to eliminate the limitation on the number of items that can be displayed. However, the configuration like the above modification has an advantage that the image display unit 61 and the mouse 62 can be made optional.

In the above modification, the area, resolution and image type are converted before writing to the hard disk 9, but this area is stored in the hard disk in another form and sent to the computer. Even if the configuration is such that the resolution and the image type are designated, the present invention is not substantially changed. For example, the hard disk may be held at a resolution of 400 dpi and converted to a resolution specified when sending to a computer. In this case,
When data with a different resolution is required, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to rescan.

Further, the hard disk may store the image data in a compressed format and convert the image data into the specified format when sending it to the computer. In this case, there is an advantage that the file capacity required for holding the hard disk can be reduced. In the above modification, the image is automatically deleted after being transferred to the computer, but this may not be deleted. Further, it may be deleted after a certain period of time has passed, or when the number of scanned images exceeds a certain number, old ones may be erased or may be manually erased.

In the above modification, one scan image is created on the hard disk, but a plurality of scan images may be created automatically. For example, a high-resolution image and a low-resolution image are created for one image, and the low-resolution image is sent, and the computer side edits the image using this low-resolution image. It is possible to obtain a resolution image and replace it with a low resolution image for use.
Further, although the resolution conversion is performed by hardware and the image type conversion is performed by software, the resolution conversion may be performed by software or the image type conversion may be performed by hardware. .

Further, in the above-described embodiments and modified examples, the image memory is configured to hold the RGB data obtained by resolution conversion of the image of the maximum original size, but this is held only for the designated area. It may be configured to. Also, hold the data that does not undergo resolution conversion,
The resolution may be converted later by software. further,
The image type may be converted by hardware and the image data according to the designated image type may be held.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus connected by the local area network have been described. A wide area network connecting each branch may be used. In this case, the image data can be sent directly from the scanner at the branch A to the printer at the branch B.

Further, although the scanner and printer have been described in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the invention is not limited to these, and any device that inputs / outputs image data may be used. For example, a film reader or a film recorder may be used. Particularly, in the case of a film reader, the effect of applying the present invention is great because there are many processes to be performed on the reading device side such as film setting and film type designation. . Further, there is a product that realizes a film scanner function by adding a film projector device to a copying machine. However, in the case of such a product, it is necessary to set the film projector on the reading device side. The effect of applying is even greater.

The object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply the computer (or CP of the system or apparatus) of the system or apparatus.
U and MPU) read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk,
A CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM or the like can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that this also includes the case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By connecting a plurality of image forming devices and image reading devices via a network and sending the image data in a predetermined format to the other party designated by the operation, the operator is required to carry and distribute the output result. Can be reduced and the devices on the network can be used efficiently.

[0072]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing appearances of an operation unit and a digitizer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transition of contents of a message displayed on a liquid crystal display unit when a copy area is designated before copying is executed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image processing unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a state of data flowing on the network according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine according to a modified example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing main control in a copying machine according to a modified example.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining sub-control (transmission task) in a modified example.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining sub-control (reception task) in a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner / Printer / Copier 2-1 to 2-3 Image Forming Device (Printer) 3-1 to 3-3 Image Reading Device (Scanner) 4-1 to 4-2 Computer 5 Network

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical display location H04L 12/56 H04N 1/00 C H04N 1/00 9466-5K H04L 11/20 102Z // G06T 1/60 G06F 15/64 450E

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. In an image processing system in which a plurality of image reading devices and an image forming device are connected via a network, an instruction means for instructing the image reading device to read an image; Selecting means for selecting an image forming apparatus as an output destination of the read image; means for sending the image as image data of a predetermined format to the selected image forming apparatus; and outputting the sent image data And an output unit for operating the image processing system, wherein the instruction unit and the selection unit correspond to an operation unit handled by an operator of the image processing system, and the image data in the predetermined format is packet-type image data, and is provided on the network. The image processing is characterized in that a plurality of packets relating to a plurality of communications regarding the image data occur at the same time. System. 2. The image reading device further comprises means for designating an area where an image is read, and the output means outputs image data corresponding to the designated area. The image processing system according to item 1. 3. The image forming apparatus further comprises: a unit for designating an image processing mode; and a unit for subjecting the read image to image processing in accordance with the designated image processing mode. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the processed image data is output. 4. The operation unit, means for designating the area,
4. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the means for performing the image processing is also used for reading the image and outputting the image data. system. 5. The selection means displays a list of image forming apparatuses actually connected to the network, and the selection is performed based on the display. Image processing system. 6. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit displays a list of image forming apparatuses registered in advance, and the selection is performed based on the display. . 7. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a plurality of image forming apparatuses that are output destinations of the read image. 8. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit specifies the number of copies of an image to be output for each output destination of the read image. 9. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects an image forming apparatus most suitable for the designated image processing mode. 10. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a holding unit that holds the read image, wherein the output unit outputs the image read from the holding unit.