JPH0969912A - Device, system, and method for image formation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily release a host computer from a print operation by performing data conversion only once, and to enable output parameters to be altered on the side of the image formation device. SOLUTION: To reduce the frequency of data conversion to one, PLD (page description language) conversion of an application file is not performed on the host computer and the application file is transferred as is to the image forming device (step S32). The image forming device is provided previously with print modules for a plurality of application programs, conversion into raster image data is performed by using a print module according to the transferred application (step S34), and the data are printed out (step S35). Further, parameters are altered in the image forming device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that receives an application file created and edited by a host computer, forms an image, outputs the image, an image forming system including the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. It is about the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an application file created and edited on a host computer is printed out, the application file on the host computer is a page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) compatible with the printing device used. ), And output to the printing device. The printing device receives the PDL
The file is expanded into raster image data, the image is formed, and it is printed out.

[0003]

However, in the above prior art, in order to print out the application file, the application file is converted into PDL on the host computer and further converted into raster image data on the printing device side, and then image formation is performed. Therefore, the data conversion is performed twice. Therefore, there is a problem that the release from the printing work of the host computer is delayed. Further, when it is desired to change parameters such as fonts, it is necessary to operate again from the host computer.

In view of the above conventional problems, the present invention makes it possible to speed up the release of the host computer from the printing work by changing the number of times of data conversion to one, and to change the output parameter on the image forming apparatus side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method capable of performing the above.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention stores interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, and data transferred from the external device through the interface means. It has a storage means, a raster image conversion means for converting the data read from the storage means into raster image data, and an image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means. An image forming apparatus that prints out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the storage unit stores a print module unit of an application that can operate independently, and the raster image conversion unit includes the print module unit. Is read from the storage means by operating It is obtained by the arrangement for converting the data into raster image data.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the print module unit is composed of a plurality of units corresponding to a plurality of applications, and each of them stores a print module of each application. desirable.

In the first invention, a print module corresponding to a document to be printed is received together with the document in the storage means, and the raster image conversion means operates the print module section to read from the storage means. The output document may be converted into raster image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameters designated by the external device are stored. Parameter changing means for changing, raster image converting means for converting the data read from the storing means into raster image data according to the parameters, and an image for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting means. Forming means,
An image forming apparatus having an operation unit for performing various input operations, for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the parameter changing unit sets parameters specified by the external device from the operation unit. It is configured to be changed by an input operation.

In the second aspect of the invention, the parameter changing means may be configured to select a parameter stored in the storage means in advance from the operating section and change the parameter. .

In the second aspect of the present invention, the parameter changing means may be configured to select a parameter stored in the storage device in advance from the external device and change the parameter. .

In the second aspect of the present invention, the printed document may be printed again with the parameters changed by the parameter changing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, interface means for transferring data to and from an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameters designated by the external device are stored. Parameter changing means for changing, raster image converting means for converting the data read from the storing means into raster image data according to the parameters, and an image for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting means. Forming means,
An image forming apparatus having an operation unit for performing various input operations, for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the storage unit stores a print module unit of an independently operable application, The raster image conversion unit is configured to convert the data read from the storage unit into raster image data by operating the print module unit, and the parameter changing unit is designated by the external device. The parameter is configured to be changed by an input operation from the operation unit.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the print module unit is composed of a plurality of units corresponding to a plurality of applications, and each of them stores a print module of each application. desirable.

In the third invention, the print module corresponding to the document to be printed is received together with the document in the storage means, and the raster image conversion means operates the print module section to read from the storage means. The output document may be converted into raster image data.

In the third aspect of the invention, the parameter changing means may be configured to select a parameter stored in the storage means in advance from the operation section and change the parameter. .

In the third aspect of the present invention, the parameter changing means may be configured to select a parameter stored in the storage device in advance from the external device and change the parameter. .

In the third aspect of the present invention, the printed document may be printed again with the parameters changed by the parameter changing means.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and data read from the storage means. Has raster image conversion means for converting the image data into raster image data, and image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means, and prints out the image forming result by the image forming means. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, wherein the storage unit stores a print module unit of an application that can operate independently, and the raster image conversion unit operates the print module unit to store the print module unit. Raster the data read from the storage means It is obtained by the arrangement for converting the image data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameters designated by the external device are stored. Parameter changing means for changing, raster image converting means for converting the data read from the storing means into raster image data according to the parameters, and an image for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting means. Forming means,
An image forming system having an operation unit for performing various input operations and including an image forming apparatus for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the parameter changing unit is a parameter specified by the external device. Is configured to be changed by an input operation from the operation unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameters designated by the external device are stored. Parameter changing means for changing, raster image converting means for converting the data read from the storing means into raster image data according to the parameters, and an image for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting means. Forming means,
An image forming system having an operation unit for performing various input operations, and an image forming apparatus for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the storage unit prints an application that can operate independently. A module unit is stored, and the raster image conversion unit is configured to convert the data read from the storage unit into raster image data by operating the print module unit, and the parameter changing unit, The parameter designated by the external device is configured to be changed by an input operation from the operation unit.

A seventh aspect of the invention is a transfer process for transferring an application file created on an external device to an image forming device, a conversion process for converting the transfer data into a raster image, and an image formation based on the raster image. In an image forming method having an image forming process for performing the above and a print output process for printing out the image forming result, print modules of a plurality of applications are prepared in advance in the image forming apparatus, and the transfer process is
The application file is directly transferred to the image forming apparatus, and in the image forming process, the print module is used according to the transferred application file to convert the application file into a raster image. .

An eighth aspect of the invention is a transfer process for transferring an application file created on an external device to an image forming device, a parameter changing process for changing a parameter designated by the external device, and the image forming device. In the image forming method, which includes a conversion process of converting the transfer data of the above into a raster image according to the parameter, an image forming process of forming an image based on the raster image, and a print output process of printing out the image forming result. In the parameter changing process, the parameter designated by the external device is changed by an input operation from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

[0023]

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

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

This image forming system has two independent networks 10 and 20, and the network (L
AN) 10 and 20 are connected by one public line 30. The network 10 includes computers 11, 12,
A copy machine 13 and a FAX machine 14 are connected, of which the computer 11 is usually used by a user, and has a function of creating a document and exchanging electronic mail with other computers connected to the LAN 10. Have.

The computer 12 also has the same function as the computer 11, and the scanner unit 15 and the printer unit 16 are connected by a general-purpose interface equipped in the computer 12. Here, the scanner unit 15 is the computer 1
Scanner unit 1 on the document created on 2
The printer unit 16 is used for pasting the image read by the printer 5, and the printer unit 16 is used for printing out the document created on the computer 12.

The system composed of the computer 12, the scanner unit 15 and the printer unit 16 is operated by the computer 12 to operate the scanner unit 1.
The printer unit 16 has a simple copy function for printing out the image read in 5.

The copy machine 13 is an image forming apparatus having a large liquid crystal touch panel, and has both a scanner function and a printer function. In addition to having a copy function as a single unit, it also has a function as an electronic filing device by connecting the magneto-optical disk unit 17. Further, the copy machine 13 also has a printer function such as a computer. That is, the copy machine 13 expands the image forming command data of the document or the like created by the computers 11 and 12 into the bitmap image data via the LAN 10 and prints the image data.

The FAX machine 14 is an image forming apparatus having a large liquid crystal touch panel and connected to the public line 30. As a single unit, a simple copy function,
And G3 standard FAX function, public line 30
It also plays the role of a gateway with another LAN 20 via the.

A computer 21, a copy machine 22 and a FAX machine 23 are connected to the network (LAN) 20. The computer 21, the copy machine 22 and the FAX machine 23 have the same functions as the computer 11, the copy machine 13 and the FAX machine 14, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a common part of the above-mentioned image forming apparatuses.

As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment has a high speed CPU bus 51, a low speed CPU bus 52, and a high speed image bus 53. The high-speed CPU bus 51 includes a CPU 54, a hard disk (HDD) 55,
RAM 56, RIP 57, image processing unit 58, and compression /
A bus that connects the functional units such as the extension unit 59,
Generally, a VL bus, a PCI bus and the like can be mentioned. CP
The data processed by U54 is transferred to each functional unit, and the data is transferred at high speed between each functional unit (DM
A transfer).

The CPU 54 is a microprocessor that controls the entire image forming apparatus and operates by a real-time OS. The HDD 55 is a large-capacity hard disk that stores a plurality of applications for the CPU 54 to operate, and is under the control of the CPU 54. The RAM 56 is a work memory for the CPU 54 to operate, and can be accessed from the CPU 54 at high speed.

The RIP 57 is a computer 66 described later.
It is a functional unit that receives an image forming command input from an external interface 65 connected to the device and converts it into a bitmap image according to the contents. The image forming command is input from the high speed CPU bus 51 and outputs an image image to the high speed image bus 53. RIP
Types include Postscript, PCL, LIP
S, CaPSL, etc. are mentioned.

The image processing unit 58 is a functional unit that performs filtering processing on the image image, such as smoothing processing and edge processing, on the image image input from the high-speed image bus 53 in accordance with a processing command instructed by the CPU 54. In addition to this, the image processing unit 58 also has a character recognition (OCR) function for an image input from the high-speed image bus 53 and an image separation function for separating the character portion and the image portion.

The compression / decompression unit 59 is used for the high speed image bus 5.
MH, MR,
Apply compression using image compression methods such as MMR and JPEG,
High-speed CPU bus 51 or high-speed image bus 53 again
Send the compressed data to vice versa, and vice versa.
It has a function of decompressing the compressed data input from one of the buses 51 and 53 according to the method compressed by this functional unit and sending it to the high speed image bus 53.

The high-speed CPU bus 51 is connected to the low-speed CPU bus 52 via the bus bridge 60. The bus bridge 60 is a bus bridge controller for connecting the high-speed CPU bus 51 and the low-speed CPU bus 52, and has a function of absorbing a difference in processing speed between buses. Through the bus bridge 60, the CPU 54 operating at high speed can access the functional unit operating at low speed connected to the low speed CPU bus 52.

The low speed CPU bus 52 is the high speed CPU bus 5.
The bus configuration has a slower transfer speed than that of 1, and is a bus for connecting a functional unit having a relatively slow processing capacity as described above.

Generally, an ISA bus or the like can be mentioned. This low-speed CPU bus 52 is connected to a public line (corresponding to 30 in FIG. 1) 62 via a modem 61, a private network 64 via a LAN 63, and a computer 66 (11, 1 in FIG. 1) via a computer interface 65.
2 and 21), respectively.

The modem 61 includes a public line 62 and a low speed CPU.
A low-speed CPU that is a functional unit that intervenes with the bus 52.
The digital data sent from the bus 52 is connected to the public line 6
2 has a function of modulating the data so that the data can flow to the data 2, and a function of converting the modulated data sent from the public line 62 into digital data that can be processed in the image forming apparatus.

The LAN 63 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus to the local area network 64, and is for transmitting / receiving data to / from the local area network 64. Generally, Ethernet and the like can be mentioned.
The computer interface 65 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus and the computer 66, and via the computer interface 65,
It is a functional unit used for sending a control command from the computer 66 to the image forming apparatus and returning the status of the image forming apparatus to the computer 66. Generally, RS-2 for serial communication
32C and a Centronics interface that performs parallel communication can be used.

The high-speed CPU bus 51 is connected to the operation section 72 via the panel interface 71. When the panel interface 71 exchanges various control signals with the operation unit 72 in the image forming apparatus, the panel interface 71 transmits signals of input switches such as keys arranged in the operation unit 72 to the CPU 54, the RIP 57, the image processing unit 58, and the like. And a unit for performing resolution conversion for displaying the image data created by the compression / expansion unit 59 on the liquid crystal display unit in the operation unit 72.

The operation section 72 has a liquid crystal display section, a touch panel input device attached to the liquid crystal display section, and a plurality of hard keys. A signal input from the touch panel or the hard keys is transmitted to the CPU 54 via the panel interface 71 described above, and the liquid crystal display section displays the image data sent from the panel interface 71. The liquid crystal display displays a function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

The high-speed image bus 53 is a bus for interconnecting the image input / output bus of the various image generating units (RIP 57, image processing section 58, and compression / expansion section 59) with the scanner interface 73 and printer interface 74. Is. Control of this bus is CP
It is not under the control of U54 and is controlled by the bus controller to transfer data.

The scanner interface 73 includes a scanner unit 75, and the printer interface 74.
A printer unit 76 is connected to each printer.
The scanner unit 75 is a visible image reading device equipped with an automatic document feeder, and includes R (red), G (green), and B.
It has a (blue) 3-line CCD color sensor or a 1-line monochrome CCD line sensor. The image data read by this scanner unit 75 is
It is transferred to the high-speed image bus 53 by the scanner interface unit 73.

In the scanner interface unit 73, the image data read by the scanner unit 75 is optimally binarized according to the contents of the processing in the subsequent process, and serialized in accordance with the data width of the high speed image bus 53. -Perform parallel conversion, or read the three primary color data of R, G, B into C, M,
It has a function of converting to Y, Bk data.

The printer unit 76 sends the image data received from the printer interface unit 74 to
The image is printed as visible image data on a recording sheet. The printer unit 76 includes a bubble jet printer that prints on a recording sheet by using a bubble jet method, or an electrophotographic technique that forms an image on a recording medium sheet after forming an image on a photosensitive drum by using a laser beam. There is a laser beam printer using the. The laser beam printer includes a monochrome printer and a C, M, Y, Bk color laser beam printer.

Printer interface unit 74
Is for transferring image data sent from the high-speed image bus 53 to the printer unit, and is a bus width conversion function for converting the bus width of the high-speed image bus 53 into a bus width according to the gradation of the printer to be output. It also has a function of absorbing the difference between the printing speed of the printer and the transfer speed of the image data on the high-speed image bus 53.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. In addition, FIG.
A flow chart showing the print output processing of the present embodiment,
4 and FIG. 4 are subroutine flowcharts showing the transfer processing to the image forming apparatus in FIG.

First, in FIG. 3, in step S1,
Create a document by creating or editing sentences, figures, tables, etc. using the application on the host computer. The host computer at this time is the computer 11, 12 or 21. The application is a text editor, a graphic editor, or the like.

In the subsequent step S2, the transfer process to the image forming apparatus is executed according to the subroutine of FIG.

In FIG. 4, in step S11, the host computer confirms whether or not the print module of the application of the document to be transferred exists in the HDD 55 in the image forming apparatus. If the print module exists in the HDD 55, the process proceeds to step S12, and the host computer transfers the document to be printed to the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, if the print module does not exist in the HDD 55, the process proceeds to step S13,
After transferring the print module unit of the application to the image forming apparatus, the document to be printed is transferred to the image forming apparatus. At this time, the data is transferred in the data format stored in the storage device in the host computer without conversion into PDL such as PS. The document also contains application information and setting parameters for the image forming apparatus (the number of print copies, paper size, etc.). At this time, the host computer is the LAN 6
3, commands and data are transmitted and received via the low speed CPU bus 52, the bus bridge 60, and the high speed CPU bus 51 with the modem 61, the computer interface 65, or the like.

Returning to FIG. 3, in step S3, the CPU 5
4 selects a document to be printed out from the documents transferred to the hard disk 55. Then, the RIP 57 is instructed to print out. RIP
57 determines the application of the document,
The corresponding print module is read from the HDD 55 and the print module is activated. The print module activated in the RIP 57 develops raster image data.

In step S4, the raster image data is processed by the image processing unit 58, and the high speed image bus 53 is processed.
Also, it is transferred to the printer unit 76 via the printer interface 74 and printed out.

In the subsequent step S5, when a predetermined time elapses after being printed out by the printer unit 76, the document data in the HDD 55 is deleted. The print module transferred from the host computer is also deleted. The print module existing in the HDD 55 from the beginning is not deleted.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the data conversion is performed only once, the PDL conversion of the application file is not performed on the host computer, and the application file is transferred to the image forming apparatus as it is. The image forming apparatus is provided with print modules for a plurality of applications in advance, and the print modules are used according to the transferred applications to convert the image data into raster image data. This eliminates the need for the host computer to convert to PDL such as PS when printing out from the host computer, and speeds up the release from printing work. Further, even if the document does not exist in the host computer, if the image forming apparatus has the print module, it is possible to print out the document.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the software for print output processing is changed as shown in FIG. 5 in the hardware configuration shown in FIGS. 5 is a flowchart showing the print output process of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the parameter changing process in FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, in step S21, an application on the host computer creates or edits sentences, figures, tables, etc. to create a document. The document also includes information for changing parameters in the image forming apparatus (parameters registered in advance in the HDD 55 of the image forming apparatus, directly input from the operation unit 72 of the image forming apparatus, etc.). At this time, the host computer is the computer 11, 12 or 21. The application is a text editor, a graphic editor, or the like.

Then, in step S22, the document to be printed is transferred to the image forming apparatus. At this time, PS
The data is transferred in the data format stored in the storage device in the host computer without being converted into the PDL. The document also contains application information and setting parameters for the image forming apparatus (the number of print copies, paper size, etc.). The image forming apparatus spools the transferred document in the HDD 55. At this time, the host computer is LAN 63, modem 6
1, or transfer of commands, data, etc. via the low-speed CPU bus 52, the bus bridge 60, and the high-speed CPU bus 51 via the computer interface 65 or the like (DM
A transfer) is performed.

In the subsequent step S23, the parameter changing process is performed according to the subroutine of FIG.

In FIG. 6, in step S31, HD
Whether or not the parameter has been changed is checked from the information of the document transferred to D55. If there is no parameter change, exit the subroutine. When changing the parameters, the process proceeds to step S32, and the operation unit 7 of the image forming apparatus is performed.
It is determined whether the parameter is designated from 2 or the parameter already registered in the HDD 55 is designated. If the existing parameters are used, go to step S33,
The parameters registered in advance in the HDD 55 are overwritten in the parameter section of the document. When the input is specified from the operation unit 72 of the image forming apparatus, the parameter is input from the operation unit 72 and the parameter unit of the document is overwritten.

The input operation from the operation section 72 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 7, first, the [F] key 72a.
Press to display the file in the HDD 55 on the display unit 72b, and select [↑], [↓] or the file directly on the touch panel. Press [OK] to display the current parameter. Move the cursor to the parameter you want to change,
It is changed by overwriting. After setting, click [O
Press K]. At this time, it is also possible to select a parameter document registered in advance in the HDD 55.

Returning to step S24 in FIG. 5, the CPU 54
Selects a document to be printed out from the documents transferred to the HDD 55. And RI
Print output is instructed on P57. The RIP 57 determines the application of the document, reads the corresponding print module from the HD 55, and activates the print module. The print module activated in the RIP 57 develops raster image data.

In the following step S25, the raster image data is processed by the image processing unit 58, transferred to the printer unit 76 via the high speed image bus 53 and the printer interface 74, and printed out. Then, after being printed out by the printer unit 76,
The document is displayed on the operation unit 72 within a predetermined time.
When a reprint request is made by inputting, the process returns to step S33 in step S23, and the parameter change or the like can be executed again.

When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S27, and the document data in the HDD 55 is deleted.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the parameters are changed in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to change the print paper and the font without an application.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, the flow of the print output processing shown in FIG. 5 is changed to that shown in FIG. 8 in the second embodiment. That is, step S
The transfer processing of 32 to the image forming apparatus is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
1, S33 to S37 are respectively step S2 in FIG.
1, the same processing is performed corresponding to S23 to S27. However, in the file deletion processing of step S37, the HDD
The document data in 55 is deleted, the print module transferred from the host computer is also deleted, and the print module existing in the HDD 55 from the beginning is not deleted.

[0070]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when print-outputting from an external device, the external device does not need to be converted into a PDL such as PS, so that the print job Release is faster. Further, even if the document does not exist in the external device, if the image forming apparatus has the print module, it is possible to print out the document.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second invention, since the parameters can be changed on the image forming apparatus side, for example, print paper change and font change can be executed without an application.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third invention, there is an effect that the first and second inventions are combined.

According to the image forming system of the fourth invention,
The same effect as the first invention is obtained.

According to the image forming system of the fifth invention,
It has the same effect as the second invention.

According to the image forming system of the sixth invention,
The same effect as the third invention is obtained.

According to the image forming method of the seventh invention, the same effect as that of the first invention can be obtained.

According to the image forming method of the eighth invention, the same effect as that of the second invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a common part of each image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a print output process of the first embodiment.

4 is a subroutine flowchart showing a transfer process to the image forming apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a print output process of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a parameter changing process in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an input operation of the operation unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a print output process of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10,20 Network 11,12,13,21,22 Computer 13 Copy Machine 14,23 FAX Machine 30 Public Line 51 High Speed CPU Bus 52 Low Speed CPU Bus 53 High Speed Image Bus 54 CPU 55 Hard Disk (HDD) 56 RAM 57 RIP 58 Image Processing unit 59 Compression / decompression unit 61 Modem 72 Operation unit

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An interface device for transferring data into and out of an external device, a storage device for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface device, and data read from the storage device as raster image data. An image forming apparatus that has a raster image converting unit for converting into an image forming unit and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting unit, and prints out an image forming result by the image forming unit. The storage unit stores a print module unit of an application that can operate independently, and the raster image conversion unit operates the print module unit to rasterize the data read from the storage unit. Configured to convert to image data An image forming apparatus comprising and. 2. The print module unit is composed of a plurality of units corresponding to a plurality of applications, and each of them stores a print module of each application. 1. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 3. A print module corresponding to a document to be printed is received together with the document in the storage means, and the raster image conversion means operates the print module section to read the document read from the storage means. 2. A structure for converting to raster image data.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 4. Interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameter changing for changing parameters specified by the external device. Means, raster image conversion means for converting the data read from the storage means into raster image data according to the parameters, and image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means, An image forming apparatus having an operation unit for performing various input operations, for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the parameter changing unit sets parameters specified by the external device from the operation unit. Characterized by being configured to change by input operation An image forming apparatus. 5. The parameter changing means is configured to change a parameter set in advance and stored in the storage means by selecting it from the operation section. The image forming apparatus described. 6. The parameter changing means is configured to change a parameter set in advance and stored in the storage device by selecting it from the external device. The image forming apparatus described. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printed document is printed again with the parameters changed by the parameter changing unit. 8. An interface unit for transferring data into and out of an external device, a storage unit for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface unit, and a parameter change for changing a parameter designated by the external device. Means, raster image conversion means for converting the data read from the storage means into raster image data according to the parameters, and image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means, An image forming apparatus having an operation unit for performing various input operations, for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the storage unit stores a print module unit of an application that can operate independently, The raster image conversion means is configured to print the pudding. The module unit is operated to convert the data read from the storage unit into raster image data, and the parameter changing unit inputs the parameter designated by the external device from the operation unit. An image forming apparatus configured to be changed according to 9. The print module unit comprises a plurality of print module units corresponding to a plurality of applications, and each of the print module units stores a print module of each application. 8. The image forming apparatus according to item 8. 10. A print module corresponding to a document to be printed is received together with the document in the storage means, and the raster image conversion means operates the print module section to read the document read from the storage means. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to convert into raster image data. 11. The parameter changing means is configured to change a parameter previously set and stored in the storage means by selecting from the operation section. The image forming apparatus described. 12. The parameter changing means is configured to select a parameter that has been set in advance and stored in the storage device from the external device to change the parameter. The image forming apparatus described. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the parameter of the printed document is changed again by the parameter changing unit and the document is printed out. 14. Interface means for transferring data to and from an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and data read from the storage means for raster image data. And an image forming device for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image converting device, and an image forming apparatus for printing out an image forming result by the image forming device. In the image forming system, the storage unit stores a print module unit of an application that can operate independently, and the raster image conversion unit reads from the storage unit by operating the print module unit. Raster image of published data Image forming system is characterized in that the arrangement for converting the over data. 15. Interface means for transferring data into and out of an external device, storage means for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface means, and parameter change for changing parameters designated by the external device. Means, raster image conversion means for converting the data read from the storage means into raster image data according to the parameters, and image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means, An image forming system having an image forming apparatus for performing various input operations and for printing out an image forming result by the image forming means, wherein the parameter changing means is a parameter specified by the external device. Is changed by the input operation from the operation section. Image forming system characterized by being configured so. 16. An interface unit for transferring data into and out of an external device, a storage unit for storing data transferred from the external device through the interface unit, and a parameter change for changing a parameter designated by the external device. Means, raster image conversion means for converting the data read from the storage means into raster image data according to the parameters, and image forming means for forming an image based on the raster image data from the raster image conversion means, An image forming system having an operation unit for performing various input operations, and an image forming apparatus for printing out an image forming result by the image forming unit, wherein the storage unit prints an application that can operate independently. The module part is stored and the raster image is The conversion unit is configured to convert the data read from the storage unit into raster image data by operating the print module unit, and the parameter changing unit sets the parameters specified by the external device. An image forming system configured to be changed by an input operation from the operation unit. 17. A transfer process for transferring an application file created on an external device to an image forming device, a conversion process for converting the transfer data into a raster image, and an image forming process for forming an image based on the raster image. In an image forming method including a process and a print output process for printing and outputting the image forming result, print modules of a plurality of applications are prepared in advance in the image forming apparatus, and the transfer process includes the application file The image is directly transferred to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming process is
An image forming method, characterized in that the print module is used in accordance with a transferred application file to convert the application file into a raster image. 18. A transfer process for transferring an application file created on an external device to an image forming device, a parameter changing process for changing a parameter designated by the external device, and transfer data from the image forming device. An image forming method comprising: a conversion process for converting to a raster image according to the parameters; an image forming process for forming an image based on the raster image; and a printout process for printing out the image forming result, wherein the parameter changing process is performed. The image forming method is characterized in that the parameter designated by the external device is changed by an input operation from an operation unit of the image forming device.