JPH1188571A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the system by which succeeding image processing is received even during processing of other image by cancelling the processing quickly on the occurrence of revision or stop midway, which is instructed by a host device, in the image processing system where the image is processed by the instruction of the host device. SOLUTION: A personal computer 2 cencels an instruction for image processing on a digital copying machine 1 with respect to the digital copying machine 1 and releases an instruction that allows the digital copying machine 1 to relinquish a right of use of the personal computer and to inhibit key entry of the digital copying machine 1. Furthermore, in the case a plurality of processors are connected to the digital copying machine 1, even before the end of image processing on the digital copying machine 1, based on an instruction of 1st image processing from the 1st personal computer, an instruction of 2nd image processing from a 2nd personal computer 2 is accepted by a printer controller 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer and a higher-level apparatus such as a personal computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for generating an image from input information or recorded information. The present invention relates to an image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus capable of outputting the image data and an upper apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus and capable of controlling the image processing apparatus from outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers and the like have become widespread in offices and the like, and sharing of printer devices via networks and switching devices in the office has been progressing. On the other hand, in order to make effective use of the office space, image processing that combines a copier and a laser printer to read an image with a scanner and process and edit the image as it is and output it 2. Description of the Related Art Devices have become widespread, and even in such image processing devices, connection to a host device such as a personal computer is performed using external input / output such as a network or a parallel port / serial port. When an image is read by a scanner and processed / edited and output by an instruction from a higher-level device such as a personal computer, the image processing device temporarily outputs all image information read by the scanner to a personal computer or the like. The image data transmitted by the host device is processed and processed based on the image information transmitted by the host device. After the processing is completed, the image information of the image is transmitted to the image processing device and output again. Was. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-271533 discloses a color copier as an image processing apparatus. Image information read by an image reading apparatus built in the image processing apparatus is transmitted over a network and connected to the network. This shows that the processed image information is processed by a higher-level device such as a personal computer, and the processed image information is transmitted again through a network and output from the image processing apparatus.

[0003]

However, when the image information is transmitted as it is, since the data amount of the image information is very large, it takes a long time to transmit the image information. In this method, the processes from reading an image to its transmission, processing / editing by a higher-level device, and transmission to image output are performed, and the image processing device is occupied for a very long time. For example, since another device connected to the network cannot be used while the image processing device is occupied by another higher-level device, it is necessary to wait until the other higher-level device is occupied by the image processing device. . Regarding the problem that the image processing device is occupied by taking a long time to transmit, for example, it is known that these problems are slightly improved by changing the data format of the image information or performing some kind of data compression processing on the image information. However, even after performing these processes, the data amount of the image information is still large, so the above problem has not been solved. Further, in the image processing device, the image processing device that has received the instruction from the higher-level device does not only receive other image processing as described above until the received image processing is completed, and further, for example, the reason for the change or the like. Therefore, even if the previous image processing is interrupted halfway, even the host device that has issued the image processing instruction has to wait for the end of the image processing. The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in an image processing system capable of performing image processing according to an instruction from a connected higher-level device without directly transmitting the read image information, the image information is changed during the image processing instructed by the higher-level device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system capable of promptly canceling the image processing when the image processing has been canceled or receiving the next image processing even during the image processing.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input means for taking in image information, an image processing means for processing the image information taken in by the image input means, and the image processing means. An image processing apparatus having image information output means for outputting processed image information; and an instruction for performing image processing on the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus. In contrast, in an image processing system including a higher-level device that obtains use authority by prohibiting an input from an operation unit on the image processing device, the upper-level device transmits an image to the image processing device on the image processing device. The present invention is characterized in that an instruction to perform the processing is canceled and the authority to use the higher-level device is abandoned, and an instruction to prohibit key input on the image processing device is released. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the instruction for image processing in the image processing apparatus is canceled by the cancel instruction from the higher-level device that has issued the image processing instruction, and the key input of the image processing apparatus can be used. Other image processing can be performed by the image processing apparatus. In the invention described in claim 2,
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image input unit that captures image information; an image processing unit that processes image information captured by the image input unit; and an image information output unit that outputs image information processed by the image processing unit. The image processing apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus, and instructs the image processing apparatus to perform image processing. In this case, an input from the operation unit on the image processing apparatus is prohibited for the image processing apparatus. In the image processing system configured with the higher-level device that obtains the image data, the image processing performed on the image processing device by the instruction from the higher-level device is output to recording paper by the image information output unit, and then the use of the higher-level device is performed. It is characterized in that the authority is abandoned and the instruction to prohibit key input on the image processing apparatus is released. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the right to use the higher-level device is abandoned by the end of the image processing, and the key input of the image processing device can be used. Therefore, another image processing is immediately performed by the image processing device. be able to. In the invention according to claim 3, when the plurality of higher-level devices are connected to the image processing device, the first higher-level device performs a first image processing on the image processing device. The image processing control means for receiving an instruction to perform the second image processing from the second higher-level device even before the image processing in the above is completed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the first image processing instructed by the first higher-level device is being processed in the image processing device, the second image processing instruction of the second higher-level device is accepted. be able to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second higher-level device that instructs the second image processing is a higher-level device connected to the image processing device via a communication network. Features. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the first image processing instructed by the first higher-level device is being processed in the image processing device, the second higher-level device connected via the communication network is in process. 2 can be accepted. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second higher-level device that instructs the second image processing is a higher-level device connected to a parallel interface on the image processing device. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when the first image processing instructed by the first higher-level device is being processed in the image processing device, the second higher-level device connected to the parallel interface on the image processing device. The second image processing instruction of the device can be received. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the second higher-level device that instructs the second image processing is a higher-level device connected to a serial interface on the image processing device.
According to the invention described in claim 6, in the image processing apparatus, the first
Even if the first image processing instructed by the higher-level device is being processed, the second image processing instruction of the second higher-level device connected to the serial interface on the image processing device can be accepted.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the overall configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a digital copying machine (hereinafter, referred to as an example) is used as an image processing apparatus (image forming apparatus).
Simply referred to as a copier. 1.) 1 and personal computers 2 and 11 as an example of a host device are connected to each other via a network 3, and another personal computer (an example of a host device) 12 is connected to a parallel interface 14 of the image processing device. Further, a system configuration in which another personal computer (an example of a higher-level device) 13 is connected to the serial interface 15 of the image processing apparatus is illustrated. The copying machine 1 is a device that reads a document and copies it onto recording paper, and is a device that can process and edit an image of the document such as enlargement or reduction in addition to simple copying. The configuration is such that a scanner 4 as image input means for optically scanning image information on a document, reading the image information, converting it into a serial image data signal, and taking it into an internal image memory, and image data stored in the image memory. When outputting serial image data, a printer controller 10 as image output control means for rasterizing the image data and storing it in a built-in page memory as image data, and recording the image data by a toner fixing method such as a laser or LCD or an ink jet method. A plotter 5 which is an image output means for outputting to paper,
An operation unit provided with various keys for the user to give an instruction such as enlargement / reduction or the number of copies to the copying machine 1 and a display for displaying various information such as the enlargement / reduction ratio and the number of copies required for operating the copying machine 1 In addition to transmitting and receiving a call control signal by detecting a signal addressed to the own device on a network line, and data such as a control signal between a terminal such as a personal computer connected to the network 3, A network controller 7 for controlling communication; and a control processor 8 for controlling the entire system of the copying machine 1 according to various instructions input from the operation display unit 6 and the network 3 and programs stored in an internal ROM. It is configured.

In the operation display section 6, the copying machine 1 is connected to the personal computers 2, 11, 12 connected to the copying machine 1.
And a network copy key (mode selection means) for performing communication such as print processing in accordance with an instruction from the higher-level device and setting the network mode so that various keys of the copying machine cannot be input. 9 and a setting key for setting various processes such as enlargement / reduction and the number of copies on the copying machine 1 in the normal mode in which an instruction from the host device is not accepted, a copy key for instructing the start of copying, and a canceling instruction A key and the like are provided. The operation display unit 6 can further display the processing contents such as the set enlargement / reduction ratio and the number of copies when the above various processings are set. The control processing device 8 is a device that comprehensively controls the above device and proceeds with the process. When the network copy key 9 is not depressed, the control processing device 8 transmits the data to the scanner 4 according to the operation instruction from the operation display unit 6. The image is read, an image to be copied is generated by the printer controllers 10 and the copied image is output by the plotter 5.

When the network copy key 9 is depressed, the control processing device 8 does not accept the input from the operation display device 6, and the network controller 7
And functions as an input prohibition processing unit that receives instructions from an external host device such as the parallel interface 14 and the serial interface 15. Also, the elapsed time from when the network copy key 9 is depressed is counted, and if no instruction is input from the network 3 even if the preset elapsed time has passed the predetermined time, the network mode is automatically set. To return to the normal mode. Further, after receiving the instruction from the higher-level device when the network copy key 9 is depressed and then receiving the cancellation instruction from the higher-level device again, the control processing device 8 promptly processes the printer controller 10. It has a function of canceling and restoring the input from the operation display device 6, and promptly restoring the input from the operation display device 6 even after the output of the plotter 5 is completed according to an instruction from the host device. Printer controller 10
Reads serial image data read by the scanner 4 and temporarily stored in the image memory, performs rasterization processing, stores the read image in a built-in page memory, and stores an image according to the next instruction as long as the image can be stored in the page memory. It can be stored as image data.

Next, the operation of the image processing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S1 in FIG. 2 is a process for determining whether or not the network copy key 9 of the operation display unit 6 has been depressed. If the network copy key 9 has not been depressed (No in step S1), the process proceeds to step S1. Go to S7
When the network copy key 9 is depressed (Yes in step S7), the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, a timer (not shown) built in the control processing device 8 is operated to start counting the elapsed time. This is a function for preventing the image processing apparatus 1 from becoming unusable due to an erroneous operation or the like even when a predetermined time set in the timer elapses without input from an external higher-level device. In step S3, a key input prohibition process of the operation display unit 6 and a display process for notifying the user that the terminal is being used as an output terminal of the personal computer 2 or the like connected to the image processing apparatus 1 are performed. Do. Here, the key input prohibition processing is, for example, processing for preventing a key input other than a key for canceling a network copy key (this may be a toggle operation using the network copy key). This does not mean that key input is prohibited.

The display processing in step S3 is controlled by an external host device connected to a person who intends to directly use the image processing apparatus 1 and is used as an output terminal thereof. Is a display for notifying that is prohibited. Next, in step 4, it is determined whether a network connection with the personal computer 2 has been established. If the network connection has not been established (step S4)
If No, the process proceeds to step S10, and if the network connection is established (Yes in step S4)
In s), the process proceeds to step S5. In step S4, for example, usable user IDs (upper device names, addresses, etc.) are registered, and when the network copy key 9 is depressed, the registered members are displayed and the user is allowed to select them. Then, the name of the host device, the address, and the like are collated by communication, and if they match the selected user ID, a network is established. Steps
At S5, after clearing the timer that is counting the elapsed time from when the network copy key 9 is pressed down, the personal computers 2, 11, 12, and 13 connected to the image processing apparatus 1 to which the connection has been established. Of the image processing (editing) instruction from the host device. In step S12, it is determined whether or not a command for canceling the image processing (editing) instruction command from the host device has been received. If a command for canceling has been received (Yes in step S12). Proceed to step S11, and if no command for canceling has been received (No in step S12), step S6
Proceed to.

In step S6, predetermined image processing is executed by a command for image processing from the host device, and after execution, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time of the timer started counting in step S2 has reached a predetermined value. If the elapsed time has not reached the predetermined value (No in step S10)
In step S4, the process returns to step S4 to maintain a network connection establishment state for receiving an instruction from the higher-level device. If the elapsed time of the timer has reached a predetermined value (Yes in step S10), Step S 1
Proceed to 1. In step S11, the key input prohibition performed in step S3 is released, and the display on the operation display unit 6 is displayed on the network copy key to notify the user that the use in the normal mode is enabled. A process is performed to return the image processing apparatus 1 to a display on which image processing operations can be performed before the button 9 was pressed down. In step S7, it is determined whether or not an input has been made on the operation display unit 6 when a normal operation in which the network copy key 9 is not depressed is performed, and if there is no input on the operation display unit 6 (step S7).
No), the process returns to step S1 to determine whether the network copy key 9 has been depressed. If an input has been made on the operation display unit 6 (Yes in step S7), the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, a command for image processing (editing) input to the operation display unit 6 is received.
In step S9, predetermined image processing is executed according to the command of the image processing instruction from the operation display unit 6, and after execution, the process returns to step S1. By operating according to the above steps, after canceling the instruction from the personal computers 2, 11, 12, and 13 which are the higher-level devices connected to the image processing apparatus 1, the operation display unit 6 on the image processing apparatus 1 promptly returns from the operation display unit 6. Of the personal computer 2, 11, 1
Immediately after the output of the image processing according to the instructions from 2 and 13, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 by the input from the operation display unit 6 on the image processing apparatus 1 becomes possible.

Next, a command reception in the flowchart of FIG. 2 showing the operation of the image processing system according to the present embodiment will be described.
S5 and execution of predetermined processing S6 will be described in more detail according to the flowchart of FIG. Step S 1
In step 3, a process for receiving a print request from a higher-level device is performed. A print request from the personal computer 2 or 11 connected to the network 3, the personal computer 12 connected by the parallel interface 14, or the personal computer 13 connected by the serial interface is accepted by the control processing device 8, and processing is performed. Proceed to S14. In step S14, the rasterizing process is performed on the received image data by the printer controller 1.
Performed by 0. The rasterized image data is developed and stored in a page memory in the printer controller. After this processing ends, the flow proceeds to step S15.
In step S15, it is determined whether the plotter 5 can output the image data stored in the page memory. This determination is made in step S6 according to the instruction from the previous higher-level device and the operation display 6 on the image processing device.
Exclusive processing is performed with execution of the processing in step S9 (edit output, etc.) in accordance with an instruction from. If it is determined in step S15 that output is possible (Yes), step S1 is performed.
In step S15, the printout is made, and if it is determined in step S15 that the output is not possible (No), the determination in step S15 is repeated.

In step S16, the image data from the printer controller 10 is received and output from the plotter 5. By operating in accordance with the above steps, even when image processing such as editing according to a previous instruction is being performed by the image processing apparatus 1 from a higher-level device or the like, image processing can be accepted from the next higher-level device or the like. By the way, here copier 1
Is used as an image processing apparatus such as the personal computer 2 to perform editing processing such as area processing. For example, a case where an editor performs editing processing using the personal computer 2 connected to the network 3 will be described. The editor, that is, the operator of the personal computer 2 places a document on the scanner 4 of the copying machine 1 and presses the network copy key 9 to perform editing from the personal computer 2, and the document is displayed on the display of the operation display device 6. The personal computer 2, which is a higher-level device used by the user, is selected from the registered list (in which personal computers 2, 11, 12, or 13 are registered). Thereafter, the editor starts an application for editing on the personal computer 2.

In the case of area processing, prescanning is performed by the scanner 4, and the image information is taken into the personal computer 2 from the network 3 and displayed on the display. However, the data amount of this image information is about 2 MB. The editor specifies a part to be processed in the area based on the image information displayed on the display and specifies a process to be performed. Then, a command corresponding to the specified content is sent to the copying machine 1 via the network 3. Copier 1
According to the command received from the network 3, the image information of the document is read by the scanner 4, a predetermined image processing / editing process is performed on the image information, and then output on a recording paper by the plotter 5. Note that an image representing the operation display device 6 of the image processing apparatus 1 is displayed on a user interface screen displayed on a display by an application of the personal computer 2. With this operation, the editor operates the keys of the operation display device displayed on the display of the personal computer 2 with a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch pen, so that the copier 1 operates in the same manner as the operation of the actual operation display device 5.
Can be used. When the editor needs to cancel the instruction after issuing the instruction from the personal computer 2 to the image processing apparatus 1, the instruction is displayed on the display of the personal computer 2 in the same manner as the cancel key on the image processing apparatus 1. By operating the cancel key, the previously designated image processing can be canceled. According to the image processing system of the present embodiment, an instruction to perform image processing such as processing and editing of image information on the copying machine 1 based on an instruction from a higher-level device such as the personal computer 2 is sent from a higher-level device such as the personal computer 2. Is configured to be able to be canceled by the instruction of, the erroneous output is prevented from being made to the image processing apparatus 1, and the next processing can be immediately received after the output of the image processing apparatus 1. Efficient operation of the image processing apparatus 1 becomes possible. In addition, since the next image processing instruction can be received even while the previous image processing is being processed from the host device or another higher-level device, the waiting time during the image processing can be reduced. 1 enables efficient operation.

[0016]

As described above, the present invention has the following excellent effects. According to the image processing system of the first aspect of the present invention, when an instruction from a higher-level device is issued to the image processing device and the image processing is stopped, the image processing device is immediately switched to another image processing device. According to the image processing system of the second aspect of the present invention, when the image processing according to the instruction from the higher-level device is completed and output by the image processing device, the image can be released immediately. Since the processing device can be released for other image processing, unnecessary restriction of the image processing device by an instruction from a higher-level device can be eliminated, and the image processing system can be used efficiently. According to the image processing system of the third aspect of the present invention, even if the first image processing instruction from the first higher-level device is received by the image processing device, the second higher-level device from the second higher-level device receives the instruction. Can be received by the image processing apparatus, so that the image processing system can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the image processing system when accepting image processing from a higher-level device in the image processing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of an operation content when accepting image processing from a host device in the image processing system shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1, digital copier (image processing device), 2, 11,
12, 13: personal computer (upper device), 3: network, 4: scanner (image reading means), 5: plotter (image output device),
6 ... operation display device, 7 ... network controller, 8 ... control processing device (image processing means, prohibition processing means), 9 ... network copy key, 10 ...
Printer controller, 14 parallel interface, 15 serial interface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Image input means for capturing image information, image processing means for processing image information captured by the image input means,
And an image processing apparatus having image information output means for outputting image information processed by the image processing means, and an instruction for performing image processing on the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus. An image processing system comprising a higher-level device that obtains use authority by prohibiting input from the operation unit on the image processing device to the image processing device. And canceling an instruction to perform image processing on the image processing apparatus and releasing an instruction to abandon the right to use the host apparatus and prohibit key input on the image processing apparatus. 2. Image input means for capturing image information, image processing means for processing image information captured by the image input means,
And an image processing apparatus having image information output means for outputting image information processed by the image processing means, and an instruction for performing image processing on the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus. An image processing system configured to prohibit input from the operation unit on the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus and obtain an authority to use the image processing apparatus, based on the instruction from the upper apparatus. After outputting the image processing performed on the image processing apparatus to the recording paper by the image information output unit, releasing the authority to use the higher-level apparatus and canceling the instruction to prohibit key input on the image processing apparatus. Characteristic image processing system. 3. When a plurality of higher-level devices are connected to the image processing device, image processing on the image processing device by an instruction from the first higher-level device to perform first image processing ends. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an image output control unit that receives an instruction for performing a second image processing from a second higher-level device even before the image processing. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second higher-level device that issues an instruction for the second image processing is a higher-level device connected to the image processing device via a communication network. Image processing system. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second higher-level device that issues the second image processing instruction is a higher-level device connected to a parallel interface on the image processing device. Image processing system. 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second higher-level device that issues an instruction for the second image processing is a higher-level device connected to a serial interface on the image processing device. Image processing system.