JPH10171609A - Document processing method, device therefor and storage medium storing processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden of a communication terminal by producing the link map data where the identification information on a reference document and other documents are arranged based on the link relation information. SOLUTION: A print request/result analysis part 103 analyzes a print request and sends the print result. A hypermedia document analysis part 105 acquires a document by the received document name, stores the document in a document storage part 109, analyzes the contents of the document to acquire a file if an image, etc., is designated in the document, and stores the file in an image storage part 111. When the image data must be processed, the image data are sent to an image processing part 113. The part 113 converts the image data into a necessary form via the part 105. A print data conversion part 17 acquires the result of analysis of the part 105 and converts the result into the data proper to a printer to store them in a print data storage part 119. Then the part 105 sends the necessary information to a link map production part 115 for production of a link map of the document.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for processing a hypermedia document (hypertext), and more particularly, to a print system having a function for processing a hypermedia document existing on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, to print a home page on the Internet, a personal computer (PC) or a network computer (NC) having a communication function,
Once accessing a page to be printed with software such as a browser running on a terminal having a communication function (hereinafter referred to as a “communication terminal”) such as an Internet TV or a game machine, displaying the content, and then displaying a print icon It was necessary to print by clicking.

[0003] This work is complicated when the print target is a fixed one, and during the work, the resources of the communication terminal are used, which hinders other works. was there. Furthermore, depending on the type of communication terminal, certain resources are occupied due to hardware or software restrictions, and other processing using the communication terminal cannot be performed during the processing. Had to wait a lot.

[0004] This problem has become more serious when printing a plurality of linked documents. For example, on the Internet or an intranet, a general configuration is such that hypermedia documents are stored in separate files such as a cover, a table of contents, and contents, and are linked together to form a group of documents. When printing all of the linked documents, it is necessary to repeat the display / printing operation for all of the linked documents. That is, the print requester is bound by this monotonous operation until the last linked document is displayed, and cannot perform another operation using the communication terminal. In particular, when the transmission speed of the network, the processing speed of the communication terminal, and the like are low, there is a problem that the printing operation is restricted for a long time.

Further, there is a problem that the printing result differs depending on the type of browser or printer installed in the communication terminal, and the layout and layout of pages also differ. The problem is that, for example, in a case where a plan document or the like managed on the intranet is examined at a meeting, even if each attendee prints the plan document in advance, the same print result cannot be shared.

Further, as prior art related to the present invention,
JP-A-6-251081 and JP-A-8-769
No. 51 exists. However, JP-A-6-25108
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-76 is a technique for hierarchically showing an inclusive relation between attributes of a node or a link.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 951 is a technique for obtaining and displaying a set of documents at a link level specified from a start node. Since the printing system does not substitute for the processing on the terminal side, the above problem can be solved. could not.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to reduce the load on a communication terminal requesting a print by a printing system by performing processing from obtaining a hypermedia document to printing. It is an object of the present invention to release necessary resources at an early stage to release an operator from boring and tedious printing processing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal which does not have a modem for connecting to a public line or a dedicated line, a LAN connection function using token ring or Ethernet, and cannot directly connect to a network in which a hypermedia document exists. An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of printing a document by giving a command to a print system via a parallel port or infrared communication.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for performing high-speed printing processing with a small amount of communication between a terminal and a printing system.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of obtaining the same printed matter even when different browsers are used in a plurality of communication terminals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which specifies a link from a document requested to be printed and which other document is printed.

Another object of the present invention is to specify a level (depth) of a link to be printed and a maximum number of documents to be printed, thereby preventing a print requester from printing a large amount of print data. It is to provide a system that enables it.

[0013]

A printer, a network card, or a printer server is provided with the Internet or a kind of intranet browsing function. The printer body or the like acquires, analyzes, and processes documents on the Internet instead of the PC. As a result, on the PC side,
Simply by specifying the URL and how much of the document linked to it is to be printed, the routine is released from the standard printing process. In addition, a terminal not connected to the Internet or the like can instruct to print a document on the Internet. Furthermore, by specifying the link level, the number of documents, the number of prints, and the like, it is possible to specify how much to print, thereby avoiding unintended mass printing. Duplicated linked documents are excluded from the print target.

As additional functions of the present invention, a link map indicating how a plurality of documents are linked is printed, and a header of a print result of each document includes a document name and a document number corresponding to the link map. Etc. can also be printed. Further, a document name, a document number, and the like corresponding to the link map are printed on a header of a print result of each document. On this link map, the printed document name is enclosed in a rectangle or the like.
The document is printed while being distinguished from other unprinted documents such as printing with a different color.

In one embodiment of the present invention, receiving a print request including reference document specifying information of a reference document including link information to another document sent from a terminal and link level information of a document to be printed; Analyzing the print request and specifying the reference document specifying information; analyzing the print request and specifying the link level information to be printed; and the reference document existing on the network corresponding to the reference document specifying information. Receiving the document, analyzing the received reference document and identifying the document identification information of the reference document, analyzing the received reference document and identifying link information to another document, and reading the other document. Deriving link relation information between the reference document and another document based on the link information to the document, and the link level of the other document corresponding to the specified link information to the other document and the document to be printed Comparing a link level,
Receiving other documents existing on the network based on link information to other documents, analyzing the received other documents, and identifying document identification information of the other documents,
Generating link map data in which the document identification information of the reference document and the document identification information of another document are arranged according to the link relation information.

In another aspect of the present invention, a print request including reference document identification information of a reference document including link information to another document transmitted from a terminal and link level information of a document to be printed is received. Analyzing the print request, analyzing the print request, identifying the reference document identification information, analyzing the print request,
Specifying link level information to be printed, receiving reference documents existing on the network corresponding to the reference document specification information, analyzing the received reference documents, and specifying link information to other documents Comparing the link level of the document to be printed with the link level of the other document corresponding to the link information to the identified other document;
A document processing method includes a step of receiving another document existing on a network based on link information to another document, and a step of converting the received reference document and the received other document into print data. Provided.

In another aspect of the present invention, a step of receiving a print request including document identification information sent from a terminal, a step of receiving a document existing on a network corresponding to the document identification information, Converting the received document into print data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a print request including reference document specifying information of a reference document including link information to another document and link level information of a document to be printed transmitted from a terminal is received. A communication / input / output device interface, a print request analysis unit that analyzes a print request, and specifies reference document specifying information and link level information to be printed;
In response to the reference document specifying information, receive the reference document existing on the network, specify the link information to other documents included in the received reference document, and correspond to the link information to the specified other document. A document analysis unit that compares a link level of another document with a link level of a document to be printed and receives another document existing on the network based on link information to another document, and a received reference document And a print data conversion unit for converting another received document into print data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a print request including reference document specifying information of a reference document including link information to another document and link level information of a document to be printed transmitted from a terminal is received. Program code means for instructing the data processing system to analyze the print request, and program code means for instructing the data processing system to analyze the print request and identify the reference document identification information; analyze the print request;
Program code means for instructing the data processing system to specify link level information to be printed, and program code for instructing the data processing system to receive a reference document existing on the network corresponding to the reference document specifying information Means, program code means for instructing the data processing system to analyze the received reference document and identify link information to other documents, and other documents corresponding to the identified link information to other documents Program code means for instructing the data processing system to compare the link level of the document with the link level of the document to be printed;
Program code means for instructing the data processing system to receive another document existing on the network based on link information to another document, and conversion of the received reference document and the received other document into print data A storage medium is provided that operates in the data processing system including program code means for instructing the data processing system to perform the processing, and stores a program for requesting the data processing system to process a document. This "program code means"
After adding some conversions such as source code as well as object code that the computer can directly recognize,
This is a concept that includes a group of instructions that can be recognized by a computer.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a hardware configuration when the print system of the present invention is implemented as a printer server. The printing system 100
It includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1 and a memory 4.
The CPU 1 and the memory 4 are connected via a bus 2 to a hard disk device 13 as an auxiliary storage device. A floppy disk drive (or a storage medium drive such as MO or CD-ROM) 20 is connected to the bus 2 via a floppy disk controller 19.

Floppy disk drive (or MO, C
A floppy disk (or a storage medium such as an MO or a CD-ROM) is provided in the storage medium drive 20 such as a D-ROM.
The floppy disk or the like, the hard disk device 13, or the ROM 14 can cooperate with the operating system to give instructions to the CPU or the like, and record computer program codes for implementing the present invention. This is executed by being loaded into the memory 4. The code of the computer program can be compressed or divided into a plurality of pieces and recorded on a plurality of media.

The print system 100 further includes a user
The system may be provided with interface hardware. Examples of the user interface hardware include a pointing device (mouse, joystick, etc.) 7 or keyboard 6 for inputting, and visual data to the user. There is a display 12 for presentation. It is also possible to connect a printer via the parallel port 16 and a modem via the serial port 15, and to connect another computer via the serial port 15 and the modem or the token ring or the communication adapter 18. Etc. can be communicated.

The speaker 23 receives via the amplifier 22 the audio signal that has been D / A (digital / analog converted) by the audio controller 21 and outputs it as audio. Also, the audio controller 21
Converts the audio information received from the microphone 24 into an A / D
(Analog / Digital) conversion, and audio information outside the system can be taken into the system.

Thus, it can be easily understood that the present invention can be implemented by a normal personal computer (PC), a workstation, or a combination thereof. However, these components are only examples,
Not all of the components are essential components of the present invention. In particular, since the hardware configuration described here is necessary for printing, the VGA 8, VRAM 9,
DAC / LCDC 10, display device 11, CRT 12,
A keyboard 6, a mouse 7, a keyboard / mouse controller 5 that enables direct input from an operator,
The audio controller 21, amplifier 22, speaker 23, microphone 24, and the like necessary for audio processing are not essential components.

When the functions of the present invention are incorporated in the printer main body or the network card, the procedure of the present invention is stored in a storage medium such as the printer main body, the ROM 14, the hard disk 13, or the floppy disk of the network card. Hardware such as a CPU may use resources of a printer or a server on a network. As described above, various changes such as combining a plurality of machines, distributing and implementing functions to them, are easily assumed by those skilled in the art, and those changes are based on the concept of the present invention. The concept is included in

As the operating system, W
WindowsNT (trademark of Microsoft), Windows
ows95 (a trademark of Microsoft), Windows
3. x (Microsoft trademark), OS / 2 (IBM trademark), X-WINDOW on AIX (IBM trademark)
A system that supports the GUI multi-window environment as standard, such as a system (trademark of MIT), PC-DOS
(IBM trademark), MS-DOS (Microsoft trademark) and other character-based environments, and
S / Open (trademark of IBM) VxWorks (Win
d RiverSystems, Inc. And a real-time OS such as a trademark of the U.S.A. and is not limited to a specific operating system environment.

B. System Configuration Next, a system configuration in a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The communication / input / output device interface 101 serves as an interface for communication and input / output devices when exchanging with the outside. Data transfer with the terminal is also performed via the communication / input / output device interface 101. The received data is stored in the parameter storage unit 107.

The print request / print result analysis unit 103 analyzes a print request and sends a print result. The hypermedia document analysis unit 105 is a main module that analyzes a hypermedia document. The hypermedia document analysis unit 105 acquires a document via the communication / input / output device interface 101 based on the document name passed from the print request / result analysis unit 103, and It is stored in the storage unit 109. If there is a link to another document in the document, the hypermedia analysis unit 105 repeats the same processing for that document. The hypermedia document analysis unit 1
A step 05 analyzes the contents of the document, and if an image or the like is specified in the document, obtains the file via the communication / input / output device interface 101 and outputs the file.
1 is stored. When the image data needs to be processed, the image data is passed to the image processing unit 113.

The image processing unit 113 converts the image data into a form required by the hypermedia document analysis unit 105. The print data conversion unit 117 includes the hypermedia document analysis unit 10
5 is obtained, converted into data unique to the printing apparatus, and stored in the print data storage unit 119. The converted print data is passed to the printing device and printed.

The hypermedia document analysis unit 105 passes information necessary for printing a map of a document link to the link map creation unit 115, and the link map creation unit 11
5 makes a map based on it. This map is also passed to the print data conversion unit 117, converted into data unique to the printing apparatus, and stored in the print data storage unit 119. In this map, if the upper limit of the number of prints, which will be described later, is set in the print data conversion unit 117, a function of recognizing that the conversion of the data corresponding to the upper limit has already been performed and terminating the conversion is added. You can also. The converted print data is passed to the printing device and printed.

Finally, the print data converter 117
Sends the result of the process to the print request / result analysis unit 103 via the hypermedia document analysis unit 105 indicating that the conversion to print data has been completed normally. And the form suitable for the program) and return the result to the terminal via the communication / input / output interface unit.

The setting unit 121 performs print system settings such as TCP / IP address settings. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the parameter storage unit 107, the document storage unit 109, the image storage unit 111, the print data storage unit 11
Each storage unit 9 is temporarily created on the main memory 4. However, it may be created on another storage medium such as a hard disk.

Although the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 have been described above, these functional blocks are logical functional blocks, which means that they are implemented by hardware or software having one unit. not,
It can be realized by complex or common hardware and software. Not all the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are essential components of the present invention. For example, when the present invention is implemented as a print server, the printing unit 120 is unnecessary. If the image data is not processed, the image processing unit 113 and the image storage unit 111 are unnecessary components. Further, the setting unit 121
Is not a particularly necessary component.

Next, a printing procedure of a hypermedia document according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with a specific example. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining a printing procedure of a hypermedia document in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

First, a print request is passed from the terminal to the communication / input / output device interface 101. The terminal and the print system 100 may be directly connected via a parallel port, or may be LAN-connected via Ethernet, token ring, or the like. Further, the connection may be made via a modem such as the Internet, a public telephone line, a dedicated line, or the like. And the form of connection is also 1
In addition to one-to-one connections, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many connections are also possible.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a print request is made by passing the following data to the printing system 100:

[Table 1] HYPERPRINT DOCNAME = http: // www. com. jp
/ Hpspec. htm LINKLEVEL = 02

Such a print request may be passed to the printing system 100 in an encrypted or compressed form, or may be passed in a plurality of divided forms. The “terminal” in the present invention sends the print request to the print system 1.
Since it is only necessary to have a function capable of transmitting data to the PC, it can be implemented by various computers mounted on a mobile phone, a facsimile, a game machine, a car, an aircraft, and the like, in addition to a PC. In such a case, preferably, at the time of filing applications such as decryption, compression / decompression, voice recognition, and character recognition, information conversion is performed using a technique widely known to those skilled in the art.

"HYPERPRINT" shown in Table 1
Starts the procedure of the present invention in the printing system 1.
00 is a command for instructing 00. Upon detecting this command, the print request / result analysis unit 103 starts the procedure of the present invention (block 501).

The linear list shown in FIG. 5 is the processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 except for information of x coordinates 325, 345, 365, 385 on the map and y coordinates 327, 347, 367, 387 on the map, which will be described later. Created by In each of the structures 310, 330, 350, and 370, addresses 311, 331, 351, and 371 of the structures, pointers 313, 333, 353, and 373 to the next structure, and pointers to structures of the link source document 315,335,355,37
5, document names 317, 337, 357, 377, titles 318, 338, 358, 378, document numbers (identification symbols) 319, 339, 359, 379, document links,
Levels 321, 341, 361, 381, print flags 323, 343, 363, and whether to perform print processing
383, x coordinates 325, 345, 365, 3 on the map
85, y coordinates 327, 347, 367, 38 on the map
7 is managed.

The print request / result analysis unit 103 outputs “HYP
ERPRINT ”and“ DOCNAM ”
E = http: // www. com. jp / hpspe
c. "http://www.com.jp/hpspe" following "DOCNAME =".
c. "htm" is a name of a document (hereinafter, referred to as a "reference document") which is a reference of a plurality of documents that the operator desires to output. Similarly, the print request / result analysis unit 103 analyzes “LINKLEVEL = 02”,
It is recognized that “02” following “LINKLEVEL =” is the depth of the link that the operator wants to print. In addition, it is also possible to limit the number of printed documents and the number of printed sheets, and it is also possible to combine these and assign a priority to create a command.

The print request / result analysis unit 103 passes information such as the analyzed document name and search (print) conditions to the hypermedia document analysis unit 105. The hypermedia document analysis unit 105 creates the structure 310 corresponding to the reference document, and sets “0” as the pointer 315 to the structure of the link source document, and the print request / result analysis unit 103 as the document name 317.
, "1" for the document number (identification symbol) 319, "0" for the link level 321 of the document, and "1" (ON for the print flag 323 as to whether or not to perform the printing process. ) Is set. Also, "0" (off) is set in the end flag (block 503).

This structure is created for each document to be printed, and becomes a linear list shown in FIG. Since the structure manages information on the link state of each document and information necessary for printing the headline of each document, the structure can be variously changed, such as management using a table.

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the end flag is on (block 505). If the end flag is on, a link map printing process described later (block 53)
After performing 9), the process ends (block 541). If the end flag is off, it is next checked whether the print flag is on (block 507). If the print flag is off, the process proceeds to block 533. As a result, what has been printed once is not printed again, and no more than the link level or the number of documents specified at the time of the print request is printed.

When the print flag is on, the hypermedia document analysis unit 105 acquires the reference document via the communication / input / output device interface 101 based on the name of the document, and stores it in the document storage unit 109 ( Block 50
9).

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the reference document stored in the document storage unit 109. The hypermedia document analysis unit 105 analyzes the contents of the document, and when an image or the like is specified in the document, acquires the file via the communication / input / output device interface 101 and stores the file in the image storage unit 111. Store. If the image data needs to be processed, the image data is passed to the image processing unit 113 and converted into a format that the hypermedia document analysis unit 105 can process.

Further, the hypermedia document analysis unit 105
Is “Specification” in the title 318 of the structure 310
Is set. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the title 431, the document number 433, and the document name 435 are printed in the header portion, and then the document data is arranged so that the document is printed, and is passed to the print data conversion unit 117. The print data conversion unit 117 converts the document data into print data,
Print with a printing device.

Then, in block 511, it is determined whether a link to another document exists in the document. Specifically, the hypermedia document analysis unit 105 analyzes a link to another document in the document stored in the document storage unit 109. In the example of the reference document shown in FIG. 6, "<a href =" hptabl "
e. htm ">" is detected.

If it is determined in block 511 that the document being processed has a link to another document,
Linked document (here, hptable.ht)
A structure is created for m) (block 513).
Here, the document currently being processed is referred to as a “document being processed”.
, And a document linked to the document being processed is referred to as a “linked document”. When the structure is created, the address 33 of the structure is set by the operating system.
1 is allocated. And the link level 341 includes
The value of the currently processed link level +1 is set.

In setting each member of the structure, it is checked whether the linked document is already in the linear list by "document name" (block 515). If it is already in the linear list, the document number of the existing document is set (block 523), and the print flag is set to off so as not to process the document (block 52).
5).

If the linked document is not in the linear list, the document number is set to a new number (block 5).
17). Whether the link level of the document being processed is equal to or higher than the link level specified at the time of the print request, and
It is determined whether the document number of the linked document has exceeded the number of documents requested to be printed (block 519). If the link level of the document being processed is greater than or equal to the specified number, or
If the document number of the linked document exceeds the specified number, the "print flag" is set to OFF so that printing is not processed (block 525). Otherwise, the "print flag" is set on (block 5).
27). That is, if either the maximum number of documents or the link level is not satisfied, printing will not be performed.

At the time of creating a map, the parent-child relationship of the documents is required. Therefore, the address of the structure of the document currently being processed is replaced with the structure of the linked document in the structure of the linked document. Is set to "pointer to body" (block 529). Then, a new structure is added to the end of the linear list (block 531). Adding a structure is done by setting the "structure address" of the structure of the document linked to the "pointer to the next structure" of the last structure in the linear list.

Then, again at block 511, it is determined whether the document has a link to another document. The link keyword existing in the reference document is “<a
href = “htable.htm”> ”, and there is no link to another document. In this case, the process proceeds to block 533.

Next, it is determined whether a pointer to the next structure is set in the document currently being processed (block 533). Since the pointer 313 to the next structure of the structure 310 has already been set in the block 531, the processing proceeds to block 535, and the processing target is moved to the next structure pointed to (block 53).
5). That is, the document corresponding to this structure is set as a new “document being processed”. As described above, the process of completing the processing of one document (the document being processed), moving the linear list by one, and processing the next document is sequentially performed until the end of the linear list. Thereby, the printing system 100 acquires the files of FIGS.
Thirteen print results can be obtained.

If it is determined in block 533 that the pointer to the next structure is not set in the document currently being processed, the end flag is set to ON (block 537).

FIG. 14 shows a link map in the case where the printing of the document A is performed by designating the depth of the link to be printed to be 3. The print request (reference document) is document A, but following the link, documents A to H are finally printed. As for the depth of the link to be printed, the level of the document A is designated as 0, the level of the linked document is designated as 1 (document B, C), and the next is designated as 2 (documents D, C, A, E). . In the case of FIG. 14, since 3 is specified, the document F,
Even if G and H link to other documents, they are not printed.

The map contains the name of the document (or the title or description of the document). Each document has a number, a symbol,
Something that makes the document easier to identify, such as letters, is attached. Such information that enables identification of a document is called document identification information. Documents include documents A401 and 411 and document C40.
Documents that have already been printed, such as 5,409, may be linked, and in order to prevent multiple printing or infinite printing, documents linked to these documents are not printed again.

As described above, the amount of printed matter can be specified not only by the link depth but also by the maximum number of documents to be printed. FIG. 15 shows a link map when the reference document A is printed by designating the depth of the link to be printed to 3 and the maximum number of documents to be printed to 6.
In this case, six documents from document A to document F are printed, and a document name and a document number are enclosed by rectangles to indicate them. Documents G and H are not printed because six documents have already been printed, but are added to the map.

However, since the document name and the document number are not enclosed by a rectangle, they can be used by the print requester to determine whether or not to print. The maximum number of documents is specified with 0 as a default value, in which case only the link level is used, and the document names and document numbers on the map are all enclosed by rectangles.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts showing a procedure for creating a link map of a hypermedia document. This processing shows details of the link map printing subroutine (block 539) of FIG. The processing is mainly performed by the link map creation unit 115.

Processing begins at block 551. Then, first, a processing pointer is set in the first structure of the linear list (block 553). Further, an initial process such as setting “0” to an end flag is performed. Next, it is determined whether or not the end flag is on. If the end flag is on, the link map creation unit 115 passes the created link map data to the print data conversion unit 117 and outputs the link map data. Printing is performed (block 587),
The process ends (block 589).

If the end flag is off, it is determined whether the "position on the map" (x coordinate and y coordinate on the map) of the structure is set (block 55).
7). The “position on the map” is information for writing the “document number” and the “document name” on the map and using them to connect them with lines. The position on the map manages the start position of the document identification information written on the map in the form of an x coordinate value and a y coordinate value. The end position may be managed in addition to the start position.

If the “position on the map” (x coordinate and y coordinate on the map) of the structure is not set, the “document number”, “document name”, “title”, etc. Write document identification information on the map (block 559).
The determination as to whether or not the “position on the map” of the structure is set is for writing the document identification information of one structure on the map only once. If it has already been written, perform processing starting from that location. If not, write a new one on the map.
When setting “document number” and “document name” on the map, it is easier to see if the columns are matched for each link level of the document.

Then, the written position is set to the x coordinate and the y coordinate on the map of the structure (block 559). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate are managed in a format such as how many dots from the upper left of the printable area, but how many mm away from the reference position,
In the case of the character base, it is also possible to manage in the form of what line and what character.

If the maximum number of documents to be printed is not specified at the time of the print request, or if the “document number” is less than the maximum number of documents specified at the time of the print request, the “document number” and “document name” Is enclosed in a rectangle (blocks 561 and 5
63). This does not print with the printed document,
This is to make it possible to identify a document linked at a certain depth. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this identification is performed by enclosing it in a rectangle. However, changing the color to be printed, changing the font, using underlining and shading, adding characters and symbols, etc. Various identifications are possible.

Next, it is determined whether or not the print flag is on (block 565). This is because, in order to speed up the processing, when the “print flag” is off, the processing is shifted to the next structure. If the print flag is on, the same value as the address of the structure currently being processed
A structure having "pointer to structure of document to be linked" is searched from the linear list (block 567).

When a structure is found, the "document number" and "document name" of the first found structure are written on the map, and the writing position is set in the "map position" of the structure. (Blocks 569, 571). The linked document corresponds to a structure having a “pointer to the structure of the link source document” having the same value as the address of the structure currently being processed. In the case of the reference document, a structure in which the pointer to the structure of the link source document is set to "0000100100" is searched from the linear list. The same processing as described above is performed on the written "document number" and "document name" (blocks 573 and 575), and is connected to the currently processed "document number" and "document name" by a line (block 577).

When the processing of the linked document is completed, the next linked document is searched from the linear list, and the processing of the document is performed (blocks 567 to 577).
If a structure with the same value as the address of the structure currently being processed and a "pointer to the structure of the link source document" cannot be found in the linear list, the pointer to the next structure is set. Is determined (block 57).
9).

If the pointer to the next structure is set, the processing object is moved to the next structure (block 58).
1) Return to block 555. If the pointer to the next structure has not been set, the end flag is set to ON, the printing process in block 587 is performed, and the process ends (block 589).

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The print system performs the process from obtaining the hypermedia document to printing, reducing the burden on the communication terminal that is making the print request, releasing the resources required for processing early, and boring the operator for tedious and monotonous printing. It can be released from processing.

A terminal that does not have a modem for connecting to a public line or a dedicated line, a token ring or a LAN connection function using Ethernet, and cannot directly connect to a network in which a hypermedia document exists exists through a parallel port, infrared communication, or the like. And giving instructions to the printing system to enable printing of the document.

Further, it is possible to provide a system that performs a high-speed printing process with a small amount of communication between the terminal and the printing system.

Further, it is possible to provide a system capable of obtaining the same printed matter even when different browsers are used in a plurality of communication terminals.

Further, it is possible to clearly indicate what link has been followed from the document requested to be printed and other documents have been printed.

Further, the level (depth) of the link to be printed
Or by specifying the maximum number of documents to print,
It enables the print requester to prevent undesired large volumes of printing.

[0075]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a hardware configuration of a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a processing element.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing procedure of a hypermedia document in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a printing procedure of a hypermedia document according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a linear list in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a document storage unit 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a document stored in a document 09.

FIG. 7 is a document storage unit 1 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a document stored in a document 09.

FIG. 8 shows a document storage unit 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a document stored in a document 09.

FIG. 9 is a document storage unit 1 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a document stored in a document 09.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a print result of a document according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a print result of a document according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a print result of a document according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a print result of a document according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a print result of a link map according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a print result of a link map in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a link map of a hypermedia document in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a link map of a hypermedia document in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0076]

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 print system 101 communication / input / output device interface 103 print request / result analysis unit 105 hypermedia document analysis unit 107 parameter storage unit 109 document storage unit 111 image storage unit 113 image processing unit 115 link map creation unit 117 print data conversion unit 119 Print data storage unit 120 Printing unit 121 Setting unit 123 Terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeo Higashi 1623-14 Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa Pref.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (A) receiving a print request including reference document identification information of a reference document including link information to another document transmitted from a terminal and link level information of a document to be printed; Analyzing the print request and identifying the reference document identification information; (c) analyzing the print request and identifying the link level information to be printed; and (d) the reference document identification information. (E) analyzing the received reference document and identifying document identification information of the reference document; and (f) receiving the reference document. And identifying link information to the other document; and (g) deriving link relationship information between the reference document and the other document based on the link information to the other document. And (h) the above feature Comparing the link level of the other document corresponding to the specified link information to the other document with the link level of the document to be printed; (i) based on the link information to the other document, Receiving the other document present on the network; (j) analyzing the received other document and identifying document identification information of the other document; and (k) document of the reference document. Creating link map data in which the identification information and the document identification information of the other document are arranged according to the link relation information. (A) receiving a print request including reference document identification information of a reference document including link information to another document sent from a terminal and link level information of a document to be printed; Analyzing the print request and identifying the reference document identification information; (c) analyzing the print request and identifying the link level information to be printed; and (d) the reference document identification information. (E) analyzing the received reference document and identifying link information to the other document; and (f) identifying the identified reference document. Comparing the link level of the other document corresponding to the link information to the other document with the link level of the document to be printed; and (g) on the network based on the link information to the other document. Before it exists Method of processing a document comprising the steps of receiving another document, and a step of converting the (h) the acceptance and reference documents and other documents mentioned above received was the print data. (A) receiving a print request including document identification information sent from a terminal; (b) receiving a document corresponding to the document identification information and existing on a network; c) converting the received document into print data. 4. A communication / input / output device for receiving a print request including reference document specifying information of a reference document including link information to another document transmitted from a terminal and link level information of a document to be printed. An interface; (b) a print request analyzing unit that analyzes the print request and specifies the reference document specifying information and the link level information to be printed; and (c1) a network corresponding to the reference document specifying information, Receiving an existing reference document, specifying link information to the other document included in the received reference document, and (c2) a link level of another document corresponding to the specified link information to the other document. And (c3) a document analysis unit for receiving the other document existing on the network based on the link information to the other document, (D) a print data conversion unit for converting the received reference document and the received other document into print data. 5. A storage medium which operates in a data processing system and stores a program for making a request for processing a document to the data processing system, the program comprising: (a) storing a program for another document sent from a terminal; Program code means for instructing the data processing system to receive a print request including reference document specifying information of a reference document including link information and link level information of a document to be printed; and (b) analyzing the print request. Program code means for instructing the data processing system to specify the reference document specifying information; and (c) instructing the data processing system to analyze the print request and specify the link level information to be printed. Program code means for instructing; (d) a reference document existing on the network corresponding to the reference document specifying information; And (e) a program code for instructing the data processing system to analyze the received reference document and to specify link information to the other document. And (f) a program code for instructing the data processing system to compare a link level of the document to be printed with a link level of another document corresponding to the link information to the specified other document. (G) program code means for instructing the data processing system to receive the other document existing on the network based on the link information to the other document; and (h) receiving the received document. Program code for instructing the data processing system to convert a reference document and the other received document into print data Storage medium including a stage, a.