JP2001150744A - Image forming system, method of storing image data, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer image data to an image processing apparatus such as a PC so as to facilitate handling of the image data transmitted by a user on an application software for image editing even when manuscripts consisting of a plurality of pages are read as a series of jobs by means of a digital duplicator or the like to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus. SOLUTION: The image data read by means of an image forming apparatus, before information and job information is transmitted through a network to the information processing apparatus and the header information and job information is coupled as a job management file in the information processing apparatus. The plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to one job is converted to a plurality of image files, respectively. The job management file and the image files of a plurality of pages are stored in a formed directory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, an image data storage method, and a recording medium storing a program readable by the information processing apparatus. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming system in which a digital copying machine having a network printer function as an example of an image forming apparatus and a personal computer (PC) as an example of an information processing apparatus are connected via a network. is there. This image forming system generally transfers image data output from a personal computer to a digital copying machine via a network and outputs the image data using a network printer function of the digital copying machine. In some cases, image data obtained by a scanner unit is transferred to a personal computer.

[0003]

The image data read by the scanner unit of the digital copying machine is, when a plurality of pages of a document are read as a series of jobs, page data in a format of a header section + an image data section. For each page, job information including an address indicating the start position of page data on the image memory and job setting information is developed on the image memory for each job.
The page data and job information are arranged in a format that can be handled by the control program of the digital copying machine.
When the image data is transferred to a personal computer and then handled as image data, it is simply transferred as continuous binary data to the personal computer and cannot be handled by the user. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to edit image data of a plurality of pages read as a job on a personal computer.

The image data section on the image memory is often in a dedicated format handled by a digital copying machine, and is further compressed by a dedicated algorithm when compressed by a compression algorithm to save memory. Therefore, there is a problem that editing cannot be performed in many cases even when general-purpose image editing application software is installed in a personal computer.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus provided in an image forming system, in which a user can read image data transferred from a plurality of pages as a series of jobs and transfer the read image data to an information processing apparatus. The purpose is to transfer data so that it can be handled easily on application software for editing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is as set forth in claim 1.
The problem can be solved by the image forming system described in (1). That is, the image forming system according to claim 1, an image reading unit that optically scans a document to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data, the image data, and header information corresponding to an attribute of the image data. Storage means for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job including a plurality of pages of the image data, and image forming means for forming an image based on the image data output from the storage means. An image forming apparatus connected to a network, and a data storage unit capable of inputting and outputting arbitrary data, an information processing apparatus connected to the network, the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus An image forming system that transfers data via the network between the image data, header information, requesting transfer of job information,
The image data corresponding to one job, header information,
A directory for storing job information is created in the data storage unit, the header information and the job information are linked as a job management file, and the plurality of image data corresponding to the one job are respectively converted into a plurality of image files. The job management file and the image files of a plurality of pages are stored in the directory created in the data storage means.

According to this image forming system, the job management file and the image file of a plurality of pages are stored in the directory, so that a document including a plurality of pages is read as a series of jobs and transferred to the information processing apparatus. Also in this case, the user can transfer the transferred image data so that it can be easily handled on the software.

Further, the object of the present invention can be solved by a method for storing image data according to claim 5. That is, the image data storage method according to claim 5, wherein an image reading unit that optically scans a document to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data, the image data, and header information corresponding to an attribute of the image data. Storage means for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job including a plurality of pages of the image data, and image forming means for forming an image based on the image data output from the storage means. An image forming apparatus connected to a network, a data storage unit capable of inputting / outputting arbitrary data, and an information processing apparatus connected to the network, wherein the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus A method of storing image data in the data storage means by an image forming system that transfers information via the network between the image data and the image data. A request procedure for requesting transfer of header information and job information, a creation procedure for creating a directory for storing the image data, header information, and job information corresponding to one job in the data storage unit; A linking procedure for linking job information as a job management file, a converting procedure for converting the plurality of image data corresponding to the one job into a plurality of image files,
Storing the job management file and the image files of a plurality of pages in the directory created in the data storage means.

According to this image data storing method, the job management file and the image files of a plurality of pages are stored in the directory, so that a document including a plurality of pages is read as a series of jobs and transferred to the information processing apparatus. In this case, the user can transfer the transferred image data so that the user can easily handle the transferred image data on the software.

[0010] The object of the present invention can be solved by a storage medium readable by an information processing device storing the image data storage program according to the ninth aspect. That is, claim 9
The storage medium according to the above, image reading means for optically scanning a document to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data, the image data, header information corresponding to the attribute of the image data, and a plurality of pages of Storage means for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job composed of image data, and image forming means for forming an image based on the image data output from the storage means; and Image forming apparatus, and a data storage unit capable of inputting / outputting arbitrary data, comprising an information processing apparatus connected to the network, wherein between the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus, Storage readable by an information processing apparatus storing an image data storage program in the data storage unit by an image forming system that transfers information via a network A body, the image data,
Request procedure for requesting transfer of header information and job information;
The image data corresponding to one job, header information,
A creating procedure for creating a directory for storing job information in the data storage unit, a linking procedure for linking the header information and the job information as a job management file,
A conversion procedure for converting the plurality of image data corresponding to the one job into a plurality of image files, respectively, and storing the job management file and the plurality of pages of the image files in the directory created in the data storage unit; And an image data storage program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a storage procedure.

Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus which has read the image data storage program according to the ninth aspect from a storage medium, it is possible to read a document including a plurality of pages as a series of jobs and transfer it to the information processing apparatus. When a user handles the transferred image data on software, the user can transfer the image data so that it can be easily handled.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system is a system in which the image forming device 1 and the information processing device 3 are connected via a network NW. That is, the image forming apparatus 1
And the information processing device 3 via the network NW,
It is configured to be able to transfer data. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which only the image forming apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 3 are connected to the network NW, other image forming apparatuses, information processing apparatuses, and other devices are connected. It may be. Here, the network NW is configured by a signal line (parallel or serial) such as a copper wire or an optical fiber or an infrared ray, and is capable of transmitting and receiving data. Of course, Ethernet (LAN) Etc. are also included.

The image forming apparatus 1 is a device in which a network printer function is incorporated in a digital copying machine for forming an image based on image data on recording paper. In the present embodiment, a CPU 11, a scanner unit 12, a compression / decompression circuit are used. 1
3, an image memory 14, a printer unit 15, a network interface 16, and the like.

The scanner section 12 is an example of the image reading means of the present invention, and optically scans an image of a document to perform photoelectric conversion to perform various well-known image processing such as shading correction and binarization processing. This is a means for performing processing and obtaining image data. In the image forming apparatus according to the image forming system of the present invention, it is possible to use an automatic document reading unit in combination with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that can scan a plurality of placed documents one by one.

The compression / decompression circuit 13 is means for generating compressed data by compressing the image data obtained by the scanner unit 12, and generating (reproducing) the image data by expanding the compressed data. The compressed data is obtained by simply compressing the image data, and is one form of the image data. The compression / decompression circuit 13 is constituted by a so-called application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in which a predetermined compression algorithm and a decompression algorithm are implemented as a hardware circuit, and shortens the time required to compress or decompress image data. (Ensuring real-time processing) is preferable, but the image forming apparatus 1
The CPU 11 may compress the image data based on a compression program in which the compression algorithm is softened, and may decompress the image data based on the decompression program in which the decompression algorithm is softened. Note that the compression circuit and the expansion circuit may be configured by different integrated circuits.

The image memory 14 is a storage unit for storing data, and in this embodiment, is a storage unit for storing the compressed data generated by the compression / decompression circuit 13.
Further, as will be described later, it is a storage unit for storing copy information encoded as control data, header information as attributes of image data, and job information. As the image memory 14, it is desirable to use a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM in order to realize high-speed access to the CPU 11. As described later, the image memory 14 is configured to be able to store image data and compressed data transferred from the information processing device 3 via the network NW. When storing uncompressed image data, the image data is input to and output from the image memory 14 by bypassing the compression / expansion circuit 13.

The printer section 15 is an image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet based on image data expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 13, that is, image data equivalent to the image data output from the scanner section 12. In the present embodiment, an electrophotographic method of recording a toner image on recording paper is employed. As the printer unit 15, for example, an image forming unit of an ink jet system can be used.

The network interface 16 is a connection means for connecting the image forming apparatus 1 to the network NW, and is a means for exchanging information with the information processing apparatus 3 and other devices (not shown). As will be described later,
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 12 via a network interface 16 and a network NW.
Can be transferred to the information processing device 3, or the image data transferred from the information processing device 3 can be stored in the image memory 14 and formed into an image by the printer unit 15.

The CPU 11 is a processor that executes a control program for controlling the operations of the scanner unit 12, the compression / decompression circuit 13, the image memory 14, the printer unit 15, and the network interface 16, and is a main control unit of the image forming apparatus 1. And a distributed processing control unit of the image forming system.

Here, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine without using the network NW will be briefly described.

First, a user places a plurality of documents on a document table (not shown), and sets copy conditions from an operation unit (not shown). The copy conditions are diverse, such as the number of copies, whether or not double-sided copying is performed, recording paper size selection, image quality selection, whether or not image processing such as rotation processing is performed, and post-processing. When the setting of the copy condition is completed, the user presses a copy start button (not shown) provided on the operation unit (not shown). Based on this, an automatic document feeder (not shown) sends out the originals one by one from the original placing table, and the image of the original is read by the scanner unit 12, and this is sequentially repeated, and the image of the plural originals is repeated. Read. The read image data is compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 13 and stored in the image memory 14 as compressed data. On the other hand, as described later, the copy condition is used as control data together with image data in the image memory 14.
Is stored. The compressed data stored in the image memory 14 is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 13, reproduced as image data equivalent to the image data output from the scanner unit 12, and supplied to the printer unit 15. Then, the image based on the image data is printed on the recording paper by the printer unit 15 in accordance with the copy condition.

The information processing device 3 is a so-called general-purpose personal computer, executes various application programs, creates and edits files, displays the contents (images, texts, etc.) of the files on the monitor 33, Further, print data using a page description language such as postscript can be transferred to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network NW. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image based on the transferred print data. The information processing device 3 includes a CPU 31, a hard disk 32, a monitor unit 33, a network interface 34, a main memory 35, and the like.

The CPU 31 is a main control unit of the information processing apparatus 3 which reads out programs such as an operating system and image editing application software recorded on the hard disk 32 and executes the programs while using the main memory 35. Is a distributed processing control unit of the image forming system.

The hard disk 32 is a data storage unit that can arbitrarily input and output data having various file formats (files such as documents and image data) in response to a request from the operating system. It is. Further, in the present embodiment, the provided hard disk 32 is one example, but a plurality of hard disks may be provided. For example, the data storage means is configured by a removable storage such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like. Is also good.

The monitor section 33 is display means for displaying data read from the hard disk 32 in accordance with an instruction from the operating system as an image. When the user operates the image editing application software to instruct the display of an arbitrary file, the operating system can instruct the display of the file contents.

The network interface 34 is a connection means for connecting the information processing apparatus 3 to the network NW, and is a means for exchanging information with the image forming apparatus 1 and other devices (not shown).

Needless to say, the network interface 16 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the network interface 34 of the information processing apparatus 3 realize data transfer via a network NW by a common protocol.

The main memory 35 is a random access memory that is directly accessed by the CPU 11, and is a volatile storage unit that provides a storage area used by programs such as an operating system and image editing application software recorded on the hard disk 32. . Further, the image editing application software can temporarily store a file in the main memory 35 or perform an editing operation.

An input device (not shown) such as a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the information processing device 3 so that a user can operate an operating system and image editing application software.

The hard disk 32 of the information processing device 3
Stores a compression / decompression program in which a compression algorithm and a decompression algorithm hardened by the compression / decompression circuit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1 are softened. That is, the CPU 31 reads out the compression program and the decompression program from the hard disk 32, and can compress and decompress the file (image data) recorded on the hard disk 32. In other words,
The information processing device 3 has a compression function of compressing image data into compressed data and an expansion function of expanding compressed data. In short, the compression program is a program for compressing image data into compressed data that can be expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1. Any program may be used as long as it is a program for expanding the compressed data compressed by the expansion circuit 13 into image data. Of course, this information processing device 3
Since this is a general-purpose computer, the compression function and the decompression function may be any program, but the compression algorithm and the decompression algorithm are implemented as hardware circuits, like the compression / decompression circuit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1. , A so-called integrated circuit.

Further, the hard disk 32 also stores the image data storage program of the present invention. The operation of the image data storage program will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the storage area of the image memory 14 of FIG. 1 in detail. The image memory 14 has a capacity to store compressed data obtained by compressing image data, for example, about 100 pages of A4 size. In this drawing, job data JD indicates an area in which data obtained by reading a document consisting of four pages as one job has already been stored. In the storage area JD, a job information description unit 101 in which attributes relating to one job as a whole are described as job information, and header information description units H1, H2, and H3 in which image attributes of each page are described as header information. , H
4. Compressed data obtained by compressing image data of each page is described, and is used by being divided into detailed areas such as the compressed data description sections D1, D2, D3, and D4 in the same number as the header information description section Hn. The header information description section Hn and the compressed data description section Dn change according to the increase or decrease in the number of pages read as one job.

The page data P1, P2, P3, and P4 are 1
This is data of each page included in the job. The page data Pn includes a header information description section Hn and a compressed data description section Dn.
Are linked, and the same number of page data Pn as the number of pages of the job are stored.

Compressed data description parts D1, D2, D3, D4
Is variable-length data whose data size changes in accordance with the number of read gradations (binary / multi-valued), the number of pixels, image quality (photo / text / dot), and the like. The length is the corresponding header information description part H1,
H2, H3, and H4.

Header information description sections H1, H2, H3, H4
As the header information described in (1), the number of read gradations (2
Value / multi-value), the number of pixels, image quality (photo / text / dot), presence / absence of processing (rotation processing, enlargement processing, etc.), type of tray to be used, paper size to be used, and the like. The data length of the header information description section Hn is also variable, and the header length is described at a position after a predetermined number of bits from the head of the header information description section Hn. Of course, the attribute described in the header information description section Hn can be changed according to the function of the image forming apparatus 1.

The job information described in the job information description unit 101 includes the number of pages of the job, the start address of each page data Pn of all pages (coincides with the start address of the header information description unit Hn), and duplex copying by the user. / Single-sided copy selection result.

The job data JD has the above-described data structure. When the job data JD is read by the control program executed by the CPU 11, the job information description section 101
Is read, the starting address of each page data P1 to P4 is grasped, and then each page data Pn is read.

The job information described in the job information description section 101 and the header information described in the header information description section Hn are used as control parameters for an image forming operation.
The compressed data described in the compressed data description section Dn is expanded and reproduced as data output by the printing section 15.

The free area 200 is an area in which page data and the like of a job are not stored, and page data and the like of a job to be read thereafter are stored in this area.

The image forming system thus configured has the following two modes (1) and (2).

(1) The data stored in the image memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 is transferred to the information processing apparatus 3 via the network NW (scanner mode).

(2) The image data created by the information processing device 3 is transferred to the image forming device 1 via the network NW, and the image is formed by the printer units 15 and 25 (printer mode).

The operation of each mode will be described below. (1) Scanner Mode A scanner mode for transferring data stored in the image memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 to the information processing apparatus 3 via the network NW will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Will be explained. In addition,
In the information processing device 3, an image data storage program is executed.

First, the user presses a scanner mode button (not shown) provided on an operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 to shift the image forming apparatus 1 to the scanner mode (S11). The shift to the scanner mode may be performed from the information processing device 3 via the network NW.

Then, the user places the document to be read on a document table (not shown), returns to the information processing device 3 and presses a reading start button. Pressing a key of a keyboard (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 3 or selecting a button on a screen displayed on the monitor unit 33 with a mouse. 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network NW.
ig1 is transferred (S21). In the image forming apparatus 1,
Upon receiving this reading start signal Sig1, based on this,
An automatic document feeder (not shown) sends out the originals one by one from the original mounting table, and the image of the original is read by the scanner unit 12, and this is sequentially repeated to read a job of reading the image of a plurality of originals. It is executed (S12). In addition,
The reading may be started by pressing a reading start button (not shown) provided on an operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 instead of a signal from the information processing device 3.

The image data of each page read by the scanner unit 12 is compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 13 (S13) and stored as compressed data in the image memory 14 (S14). At this time, the stored compressed data is linked with the header information of each image to form page data P1 (FIG. 2).
Reference) is stored for each page of the document.

Next, the user presses a job data request button (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 3 and sends a transmission request signal Sig2 from the information processing apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network NW. Is transmitted (S22), and a predetermined directory is created (S23).

Upon receiving the request signal Sig2, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits the job data JD stored in S14 to the information processing apparatus 3 (S15), and the information processing apparatus 3 receives the job data JD from the image forming apparatus 1. Job data JD
Is acquired (S24), the description content of the job information description unit 101 is stored in the created directory as a job management file (S25). Subsequently, the information processing device 3 analyzes the job information description unit 101 to obtain the description content (header information) of the header information description unit H1 belonging to the page data P1 of the first page (S26), and adds the description content to the end of the job management file. After linking (S27), it is stored (overwritten) as a job management file in the created directory.

On the other hand, the CPU 31 reads out the decompression program recorded on the hard disk 32, executes this decompression program as one module of the image data storage program, decompresses the compressed data of the compressed data description part D1, and After generation, conversion to a general-purpose image format (BMP format, JPEG format, or the like) is performed, and stored as an image file in the created directory (S28).

The information processing device 3 includes a job information description unit 10
1 (may be a job management file), and
It is determined whether or not the image file stored in step (1) stores the data of the last page of the job (S30). If it is the last page (Yes), the scanner mode end command signal Sig3 is sent to the image forming apparatus 1. Is transferred (S3
1). On the other hand, if it is not the last page (No), the process returns to step 26 (S26), enters a loop for repeatedly executing the processing up to step 30 (S30) for the next page data P2, and reaches the page data Pn of the last page. Then, the processing exits from the loop and proceeds to step 31 (S31). Note that storing a file in a directory is one form of storing a file on the hard disk 32.

In the image forming apparatus 1, step 31 (S3
Upon receiving the end command signal of 1), the scanner mode is released (S16), and the mode shifts to another mode, for example, a printer mode described later or a copy mode for receiving an operation as a copier. Note that the scanner mode release is released not by a signal from the information processing apparatus 3 but by pressing a scanner mode release button (not shown) provided on an operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. You may. At this time, the compressed data stored in the image forming apparatus 1 may be discarded.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the image data is transferred from the image forming apparatus 1 to the information processing apparatus 3, the image data is transferred over the network NW in the form of compressed data. Since the transfer can be performed efficiently and the transfer is performed not by a huge amount of image data but by compressed compressed data, the network is not occupied and the traffic does not increase.

In this embodiment, the scanner mode is ON
From the step (S11) to the end of the scanner mode (S16), another user cannot use the image forming apparatus 1 (job is prohibited and the image of the document cannot be read or the image cannot be formed). I have. this is,
When another user operates the scanner unit 12 during the scanner mode, the user using the scanner mode
The image read by another user can be viewed on the information processing apparatus 3 side, which is not preferable in terms of security and privacy. May be allowed.

In this embodiment, the example in which the job data JD is transferred to the information processing apparatus 3 during the scanner mode has been described. However, the job data JD stored in the image memory 14 in the copy mode is transferred to the information processing apparatus 3. It is good also as a structure which transfers.

Also, an example has been shown in which a file obtained by converting image data into a general-purpose image format in step 28 (S28) is stored in a directory in step 29 (S29). However, when the operating system uses a virtual memory, In some cases, the hard disk 32 is used as a virtual storage device. Alternatively, the compressed data may be stored as a file in a temporary directory (a directory for temporary use), converted into a general-purpose image format, and then stored as a file in the directory created in step 23 again. good.

In the above procedure, steps 11 (S11) to 16 (S16) are procedures executed by the control program of the image forming apparatus 1, and step 21
(S21) to step 31 (S31) are procedures executed by the image data storage program of the information processing device 3. The CPU 11 and the CPU 31 execute distributed processing including a control program and an image data storage program via the network NW, thereby realizing the image forming system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a directory created on the hard disk 32 included in the information processing apparatus 3 and files stored in the directory.

The directory 300 is one layer in the hierarchical structure created by the operating system for managing files on the hard disk 32. The file management function executed by the operating system is as follows.
By discriminating the hierarchical structure individually, an arbitrary directory and files stored in the directory are handled as a group of data. The user can create an arbitrary directory using the file management function of the operating system, and the image editing application software can call the file management function to create an arbitrary directory. The user can operate the operating system to display the above-described hierarchical structure on the monitor unit 33 and display a list of files stored in an arbitrary directory on the monitor unit 33.

The job management file 310 is a file generated by linking the job information described in the job information description section 101 and the header information described in the header information description section Hn (step 27 in FIG. 3). Directory 3
00 is stored. The job management file 310 includes a JOB information record RJ describing job information, a record R1 describing header information described in the header information description section H1, and a record Rn describing header information described in the header information description section Hn. It is generated by connecting in this order.

The image file F1 has a compressed data description section D
The job management file 3 is a file obtained by decompressing the compressed data described in No. 1 and converting it to a bitmap format.
10, as well as in the directory 300. Hereinafter, the image file F2 corresponds to the compressed data description section D2, and the image file Fn corresponds to the compressed data description section Dn, and is stored in the directory 300.

The user can operate the image editing application software to select and edit an arbitrary image file Fn. In this case, the user operates a keyboard and a mouse on the information processing device 3 to specify a file to be edited by a file management function provided by the operating system via the image editing application software, and the image editing application software File Fn using the image processing function provided by
Edit. As an edit, there is an example in which a logo mark or the like is incorporated at a specific position of an image. When editing is completed,
In this case, saving (so-called overwriting) is performed under the same name.

When such editing is performed, the consistency between the record Rn of the job management file 310 and the image file Fn may be lost. As a case where the consistency is lost, for example, there is a case where the image file Fn is enlarged or reduced, a case where the image file Fn is trimmed, a case where a color image is converted into a monochrome image, or the like, and even when other editing is performed. Data length may change. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when transferring to the image memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 using the image data storage program, a new record R is created based on the attribute of the edited image file Fn.
Change the description of n to maintain consistency.

(2) Printer Mode The printer mode in which the image data created by the information processing device 3 is transferred to the image forming device 1 via the network NW and the image is formed by the printer unit 15 is described in the printer mode of FIG. Will be described based on the flowchart for explaining the above.

First, the user executes the image editing application program, and stores the image file Fn in the monitor unit 3.
3 and execute the editing work while visually confirming.
When the editing is completed, the image file Fn is stored in the directory 3
00 is stored. Here, when the user desires to execute an image forming job, the directory 300 is selected (S51), and when the printer mode start button of the image data storage program is pressed on the information processing device 3, the network NW is transmitted from the information processing device 3. The print start signal Sig4 is transferred to the image forming apparatus 1 via (S52). Upon receiving the print start signal Sig4, the image forming apparatus 1 shifts to the printer mode (S41). The transition to the printer mode may be made by pressing a button provided on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 1.

On the other hand, the image data storage program executed by the information processing device 3 is based on the job management file 310 recorded in the directory 300 and the job information description section 1.
01 is reproduced (S53), and stored as an image file on the hard disk 32 (S54). Subsequently, the job management file 310 is analyzed (S55), and the header information description part H is read from the record R1.
1 reproduces the header information of the image data to be described (S
56). Subsequently, the image file F1 is converted / compressed, and the compressed data to be described in the compressed data description section D1 is reproduced (S57). The conversion of the image file F1 is performed by the printer unit 1
5 is a conversion into a unique format that is optimal for the hardware configuration of FIG. 5, and is executed by an image data storage program. To compress the image file F1, the CPU 31 reads out a compression program recorded on the hard disk 32 and executes the compression program as one module of the image data storage program to obtain compressed data.

Further, the header information reproduced in step 56 (S56) and the compressed data reproduced in step 57 (S57) are linked to reproduce page data P1 (S5).
8). The page data P1 reproduced here becomes the same data as the page data P1 described with reference to FIG. 2 when the editing is not performed, and when the editing is performed,
Inconsistent data, but anyway, the image forming apparatus 1
, The image is formed as the first page.

Subsequently, the page data P1 is linked to the image file stored in step 54 (S54) (S59), and the image file stored in step 54 (S54) is updated. It is determined whether the page is applicable (S60). If it is determined in the step 60 (S60) that the page is not the last page, the process returns to the step 55 (S55) and enters a loop for repeatedly executing the processing up to the step 60 (S60) for the next page data P2. When the process reaches the page data Pn of step S6, the process exits the loop and proceeds to step 61 (S6).
Proceed to 1). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S60 that the page is the last page, the image file is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. The image file is substantially the same data as the job data JD, and only the portion edited by the image editing application software and the header information corresponding to the changed portion are different.

When the image file is received via the network NW (S42), it is stored in the image memory 14 as job data (S43). Since the image file is substantially equivalent to the job data JD described in FIG. 2, the control program executed by the CPU 11 compresses / executes the job data stored in the image memory 14.
The image is decompressed by the decompression circuit 13 and transferred to the printer unit 15, and an image based on the decompressed image data is formed on a recording sheet (S44).

In the image formation of step 44 (S44),
The output on the recording paper is performed in a state where the editing performed by the user with the image editing application software of the information processing device 3 is reflected. Thereafter, when the image formation is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 outputs a printer mode end signal (S45) to release the printer mode, and the image data storage program of the information processing apparatus 3 indicates that the printer mode has ended in the network NW. Notified and displayed via.

In the above procedure, steps 41 (S41) to 45 (S45) are procedures executed by the control program of the image forming apparatus 1, and step 51
Steps (S51) to 62 (S62) are procedures executed by the image data storage program of the information processing device 3.

In the image forming system of the embodiment described above, the image data of the image forming
Create a directory for each job to store in
Image data can be stored in the directory as a general-purpose image file. Therefore, the user can edit the image file using the familiar image editing application software, and after editing, can transfer the directory to the image forming apparatus 1 as the job data and perform printing, so that the image data read by the image forming apparatus 1 can be printed. Is handled by the image editing application software executed by the information processing apparatus 3, and can be transferred so as to be easily handled.

In the above example, the example in which the transmission of the image file and the printing of the job from the image forming apparatus 1 are continuously executed has been described. However, the image data storage program uses the image file as the job data in the image memory. 14, and the user operates the image forming apparatus 1.
The job output may be performed after directly operating the button on the side.

In the above example, the case where the image data storage program is executed by the information processing device 3 has been described.
It can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. In that case,
In the scanner mode, the image forming apparatus 1 executes the procedure from step 24 (S24) to step 3 (S30) in FIG. 3 and the information processing apparatus 3 executes step 23 (S2).
Job management file 31 in the directory created in 3)
0 and the image file Fn. Further, in the printer mode, after transferring the job management file 310 and the image file Fn in the directory 300 via the network NW, the image forming apparatus 1 executes steps 53 (S53) to 60 (S60). I can do it.

[0075]

According to the image forming system, the image data storing method, and the storage medium of the present invention, even when a document including a plurality of pages is read as a series of jobs and transferred to the information processing apparatus, the user is transferred. In order to handle the image data on software, the image data could be easily transferred.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image forming system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage area of an image memory in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a scanner mode.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a directory created on a hard disk included in the information processing apparatus and files stored in the directory.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printer mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image forming device 3 information processing device 11, 31 CPU 12 scanner unit 13 compression / expansion circuit 14 image memory 15 printer unit 16, 34 network interface 32 hard disk 33 monitor unit 35 main memory 300 directory 310 job management file

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image reading unit that optically scans a document to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data; the image data; header information corresponding to an attribute of the image data; and a plurality of pages of the image data. A storage unit for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job, and an image forming unit for forming an image based on image data output from the storage unit, and an image connected to a network. A forming apparatus, and a data storage unit capable of inputting / outputting arbitrary data, comprising an information processing apparatus connected to the network, wherein the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus are connected via the network. An image forming system for transferring data by transferring the image data, header information, and job information, and transmitting the image data corresponding to one job; A directory for storing header information and job information is created in the data storage unit, the header information and the job information are linked as a job management file, and a plurality of the image data corresponding to the one job are respectively stored in a plurality of images. An image forming system, wherein the job management file and the image file of a plurality of pages are stored in the directory created in the data storage unit after being converted into a file. 2. When the transfer is requested by the information processing apparatus, image data, header information, and job information are transferred, the directory is created, the connection to a job management file is performed, the conversion to the image file is performed, and the job is performed. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the management file and the image file are stored. 3. The image forming apparatus performs the request for transfer, the creation of a directory, the connection to a job management file, the conversion to an image file, and the storage of a job management file and an image file. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the directory storing the management file and the image file is transferred. 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is conversion of the image data into a format that can be processed by image editing application software. 5. An image reading means for optically scanning an original to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data, said image data, header information corresponding to an attribute of said image data, and said image data of a plurality of pages. A storage unit for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job, and an image forming unit for forming an image based on image data output from the storage unit, and an image connected to a network. A forming apparatus, including a data storage unit capable of inputting / outputting arbitrary data, and an information processing apparatus connected to the network, wherein the network is provided between the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus. A method of storing image data in the data storage unit by an image forming system that transfers information via a computer, wherein the image data, header information, and job information are transferred. Requesting a job, a creation procedure for creating a directory for storing the image data, header information, and job information corresponding to one job in the data storage unit, and using the header information and the job information as a job management file. A linking procedure for linking, a conversion procedure for converting the plurality of image data corresponding to the one job into a plurality of image files, and the job management file and the plurality of pages to the directory created in the data storage means. And a storage procedure for storing an image file. 6. When the request for transfer is made by the information processing device, image data, header information, and job information are transferred, the directory is created, the connection to a job management file is performed, the conversion to an image file is performed, and the job is performed. The image data storing method according to claim 5, wherein the storing of the management file and the image file is performed. 7. The image forming apparatus performs the request for transfer, the creation of a directory, the connection to a job management file, the conversion to an image file, and the storage of a job management file and an image file. 6. The image data storage method according to claim 5, wherein the directory storing the management file and the image file is transferred. 8. The image data storage method according to claim 5, wherein the conversion is conversion of the image data into a format that can be processed by application software for image editing. 9. An image reading means for optically scanning a document to perform photoelectric conversion to obtain image data, the image data, header information corresponding to an attribute of the image data, and a plurality of pages of the image data. A storage unit for storing job information corresponding to an attribute of an image forming job, and an image forming unit for forming an image based on image data output from the storage unit, and an image connected to a network. A forming apparatus, including a data storage unit capable of inputting / outputting arbitrary data, and an information processing apparatus connected to the network, wherein the network is provided between the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus. A storage medium readable by an information processing apparatus that stores an image data storage program in the data storage unit by an image forming system that transfers information via A request procedure for requesting transfer of the image data, header information and job information, and a creation procedure for creating a directory for storing the image data, header information and job information corresponding to one job in the data storage means. A linking procedure for linking the header information and the job information as a job management file; a converting procedure for converting the plurality of image data corresponding to the one job into a plurality of image files, respectively; Causing the information processing apparatus to execute a storage procedure for storing the job management file and the image files of a plurality of pages in the created directory; and readable by an information processing apparatus storing an image data storage program. Storage medium. 10. When the transfer is requested by the information processing apparatus, image data, header information, and job information are transferred, the directory is created, the connection to a job management file is performed, the conversion to an image file is performed, and the job is performed. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the storage of the management file and the image file is performed. 11. The image forming apparatus performs the request for transfer, the creation of a directory, the connection to a job management file, the conversion to an image file, and the storage of a job management file and an image file. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the directory in which a management file and an image file are stored is transferred. 12. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the conversion is conversion of the image data into a format that can be processed by image editing application software.