JP2023021793A - Image processing system, terminal device, server device, control method thereof, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image processing method capable of enhancing convenience in creating contents and performing printing without performing troublesome authentication process with a printer.SOLUTION: In an image processing system, a terminal device and a server device are communicatively connected. The server device includes: an editing unit for editing image data; and a rendering unit for rendering the image data. The terminal device includes: a setting unit for making print setting for printing the image data; and a generation unit for generating print data for printing the image data. The terminal device determines a rendering size of the image data according to the print setting by the setting unit, requests rendering of the image data based on the rendering size to the server device, receives data being rendered by the server device, and generates the print data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing system.

In the case of an application that creates and prints poster content, there is a usage method such as "a company with a "head office/branch office" creates a template for the poster at the head office, and the branch office performs the final finishing and prints." In such a usage method, poster creators are required to be able to easily create poster content in various environments. For example, it is necessary to be able to use a PC or tablet without installing a dedicated application, and to be able to share the created content between the poster creator and the person who prints it. As a method for realizing these, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-300000 discloses a technique that enables printing using a Web application.

JP 2012-160009 A

However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to ensure sufficient security when printing via the Internet, authentication processing with the printer that performs printing is required, and the operation is complicated. There was a problem of becoming

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide an image processing method that can improve the convenience of creating and printing content without performing complicated authentication processing with a printer. to provide.

An image processing system according to the present invention is an image processing system in which a terminal device and a server device are communicably connected, and the server device includes editing means for editing image data and rendering of the image data. rendering means for printing the image data; the terminal device comprises setting means for setting print settings for printing the image data; and generating means for generating print data for printing the image data; determines the rendering size of the image data according to the print setting by the setting means, requests the server device to render the image data based on the rendering size, receives the data rendered by the server device, and generating the print data;

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of creating and printing content without performing complicated authentication processing with a printer.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a print processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal device; 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus; FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a web application server; FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of a web application server; The software configuration diagram of the terminal device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an edit screen of a web application; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an edit screen of a print application; FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing main operations of the entire system; 4 is a flow chart showing operations performed by a terminal device according to the Frontend program. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of Backend; 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a print application; 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print setting screen of the print application; 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of print processing of a print application;

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

Further, in the following embodiments, a smart phone will be described as an example of an information processing device, but the type of information processing device is not limited to this as long as the device can handle files to be printed. For example, mobile terminals other than smartphones, laptop personal computers (PCs), desktop PCs, tablet terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, and various other devices are applicable. As the printing device, an inkjet printer, a laser beam printer, or the like can be used as long as it is a printer. In addition to the print function, a multi-function machine having a scan function for reading an original, a copy function, and a facsimile function may also be used.

<Overall system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a print processing system 1000 according to one embodiment of the invention. A print processing system (image processing system) 1000 includes a terminal device 200 and a printing device 300 capable of communicating with each other. The terminal device 200 communicates with the printing device 300 via the network constructed by the access point 100 . The terminal device 200 stores programs such as a print application, which will be described later. Print data created using a print application is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the printing device 300 via the network. Also, since the access point 100 of this embodiment functions as a wireless LAN router, the terminal device 200 is connected to the Internet via this wireless LAN router. Therefore, the terminal device 200 can communicate with the user authentication server 101 and the web application server 102 via the Internet. The terminal device 200 and the printing device 300 can also be connected to the access point 100 via a wired LAN.

The web application server 102 is a server for controlling web applications, which will be described later. The user authentication server 101 is a server for performing user management and authentication processing for a Frontend program of a web application and a print application, which will be described later.

<Configuration of terminal device>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal device 200 used in the print processing system 1000. As shown in FIG. The terminal device 200 includes a main board 205 for controlling the entire device, a wireless LAN unit 202, an NFC (Near Field Communication) unit 203, a line connection unit 201, and a touch panel display 204 for operating programs. . Here, the NFC unit 203, wireless LAN unit 202, and line connection unit 201 are capable of communication using NFC, wireless LAN, and mobile phone network (not shown), respectively.

A CPU 206 in the form of a microprocessor located on the main board 205 is connected via an internal bus 216 to a control program stored in a program memory 207 in the form of a ROM and contents of a data memory 208 in the form of a RAM. and operate according to. A program memory 207 can store an embedded operating system (OS) and programs such as the print application program of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, each application program stored in the program memory 207 is subjected to software execution control under the control of the OS. Specifically, the CPU 206 reads the application program stored in the program memory 207 to the data memory 208 in the form of RAM and executes it.

The CPU 206 controls the wireless LAN unit 202 via the wireless LAN control circuit 212 to perform wireless LAN communication with other communication terminal devices. It is assumed that the wireless LAN unit 202 is capable of data (packet) communication using a communication method conforming to the IEEE802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, etc.), for example.

Further, by controlling the NFC unit 203 via the NFC control circuit 213, the CPU 206 can detect a connection by NFC with another NFC terminal and transmit/receive data with the other NFC terminal. .

Furthermore, by controlling the line connection unit 201 via the line control circuit 211, the CPU 206 can be connected to the mobile phone line network to perform phone calls and data transmission/reception. Further, a unit for performing a communication method of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) may be provided.

The CPU 206 can perform display on the touch panel display 204 and accept user operations by controlling the operation unit control circuit 214 . Furthermore, the CPU 206 can control the camera unit 215 to capture an image, and stores the captured image in the image memory 209 in the data memory 208 . In addition to the captured image, it is also possible to store in the image memory 209 an image acquired from the outside through a mobile phone network, wireless LAN, or NFC, or to transmit it to the outside.

The non-volatile memory 210 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and can store data desired to be stored even after the power is turned off. For example, it stores phonebook data, various communication connection information, device information connected in the past, image data that you want to save, and the like. Application management information managed by the poster creation application of this embodiment is also stored in the nonvolatile memory 210 .

The terminal device 200 may be a mobile terminal installed with iOS or Android (registered trademark) OS, or a host device installed with Windows/macOS/Linux (registered trademark).

<Configuration of printing device>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus 300. As shown in FIG. The printing device 300 includes a main board 304 that controls the entire device, a wireless LAN unit 301 , an NFC unit 302 and an operation panel 303 . Here, the wireless LAN unit 301 and NFC unit 302 function as communication units of the printing apparatus 300 .

A CPU 305 in the form of a microprocessor arranged on the main board 304 is connected via an internal bus 314 to a control program stored in a program memory 306 in the form of a ROM and contents of a data memory 307 in the form of a RAM. and operate according to.

The CPU 305 controls the scanner unit 309 to read the document and stores it in the image memory 308 in the data memory 307 . Also, the CPU 305 can control the printing unit 313 to print the image in the image memory 308 in the data memory 307 on a recording medium. It is also possible to transmit scanned image data to the terminal device 200 via the wireless LAN unit 301 controlled by the wireless LAN control circuit 310 .

The CPU 305 controls the wireless LAN unit 301 through the wireless LAN control circuit 310 to perform wireless LAN communication with the other communication terminal device 200 . It is assumed that the wireless LAN unit 301 is capable of data (packet) communication using a communication method conforming to the IEEE802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, etc.), for example.

Further, by controlling the NFC unit 302 via the NFC control circuit 311, the CPU 305 can detect a connection by NFC with another NFC terminal and transmit/receive data with the other NFC terminal. .

By controlling the operation unit control circuit 312 , the CPU 305 can display the status of the printing apparatus 300 and the function selection menu on the operation panel 303 and receive operations from the user.

The printing apparatus 300 of this embodiment can receive and print JPEG file format data to which a printer control command is added.

Further, the printing device 300 may be a printing device capable of printing using special color ink. A special color ink is an ink that expresses a special color (hereinafter also referred to as a “spot color”), and for example, an ink that cannot display the color that appears during printing in the SRGB color space. That is, the printer 14 is configured to be capable of spot color printing, which is printing using spot color ink (that is, special color ink, hereinafter also referred to as "spot color ink") other than normal ink. there is

“Normal ink” is ink for printing process colors (normal colors), and cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), etc., which are the bases of process colors. color ink. A process color is a color represented by one color of CMYK or a combination of two or more colors of CMYK.

In this embodiment, fluorescent pink ink and fluorescent orange ink are used as the spot color inks. That is, a spot color is a color different from a process color, and a color that cannot be represented by only one color out of CMYK or a combination of two or more colors out of CMYK.

However, the present invention is not limited to this form, and the number and color of spot color inks may be arbitrary, and non-fluorescent color inks may be used. For example, violet ink, green ink, orange ink, gold ink, silver ink, or the like may be used as the spot color ink. Ink of other metallic colors may also be used. Furthermore, ink in which a special color ink and another ink (for example, normal ink) are blended may also be treated as a special color ink.

Further, in the present embodiment, an object to be printed in a spot color among image data is associated with information indicating that it is printed in a spot color (referred to as spot color information). Then, the pixels to which the spot color information is added are printed with the spot colors corresponding to the RGB values of the pixels. Note that the RGB values of the pixels corresponding to the special colors can also be used as the RGB values of the pixels corresponding to the colors expressed only with normal ink (that is, normal colors). In other words, the same RGB values as the RGB values of the pixels corresponding to the spot color may also be set to the pixels corresponding to the colors expressed only with normal ink. In that case, whether or not special ink is used for printing pixels of the RGB values is controlled by whether or not special color information is added.

<Web application server configuration>
FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the web application server 102. As shown in FIG. The web application server 102 includes a CPU 421 that controls the entire server, a volatile memory 422 , a nonvolatile memory 423 , and a communication circuit 424 .

The CPU 421 controls the entire web application server 102 by deploying the programs stored in the nonvolatile memory 423 in the volatile memory 422 and executing them. Further, the CPU 421 realizes software modules such as the Frontend 400 and the Backend 404 shown in FIG. 4B by executing the above programs. Also, the communication circuit 424 can communicate with the terminal device 200 via the Internet.

<Software configuration>
FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the software configuration within the web application server 102. As shown in FIG. Frontend 400 mainly controls the display of the web browser of the terminal device. Specifically, the Frontend 400 manages and retains programs (JavaScript) executed on the browser. Specifically, a UI (user interface) control unit 402 for controlling user operations in a browser, a work editing unit 401 for processing work editing created by an application, and a user authentication unit 403 for user authentication. Manage and maintain programs (JavaScript). The Frontend 400 transmits the programs to the terminal device, thereby causing the web browser of the terminal device to display the programs. That is, when the terminal device receives the program, it uses the program to display a screen corresponding to the program on the web browser.

The Backend 404 includes a user management unit 405 that manages users, a content management unit that manages content, and a rendering processing unit that performs rendering. Frontend 400 and Backend 404 are implemented by CPU 421 in Web application server 102 executing programs stored in nonvolatile memory 423 .

FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing a software configuration when the terminal device is a PC. As for the Web browser 500, "Internet Explorer", "Microsoft Edge", "Google Chrome", "Safari", "Fire Fox" and the like are listed as representative ones. The print application 501 is an application program that performs printing based on print settings made by the user. The print application 501 has a print setting processing unit 502 for making print settings and a thumbnail display unit 503 for displaying thumbnails. Also, in this embodiment, the print application 501 is saved in the terminal device by being downloaded and installed in the terminal device from a server different from the web application server 102 .

When the terminal device is a PC, the printer driver 504 performs print data generation processing. The printer driver 504 has printer model information 505 and a print data generation processing unit 506 . The printer driver 504 is distributed by the printer vendor and can be used by being installed by the user. It may also be included with the OS.

The model information 505 stores print setting information that can be used by the printer. Specifically, it includes setting values and function information that can be used by the printer. Usable setting values include, for example, a setting value for the paper feed method and a setting value for the type of paper. Usable function information includes, for example, information on whether the spot color printing function can be used.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the software configuration when the terminal device is a mobile terminal. Only points different from FIG. 5(a) will be described. There is no printer driver for mobile terminals. Therefore, a print processing module 507 is provided to perform print data generation processing. The print processing module 507 includes a model information acquisition processing unit 508 . A model information acquisition processing unit 508 communicates with the printing apparatus 300 to acquire model information 505, and stores it in the data memory 208 or the nonvolatile memory 210 (see FIG. 2).

<Application configuration>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a web application screen displayed on the browser by the UI control unit 402. As shown in FIG. The screen is displayed on the browser of the terminal device by transmitting the program held by Frontend 400 to the terminal device, as described above.

In this embodiment, an example in which the web application is an application for printing posters will be described. When one of the template button 600, photo button 601, and clip art button 602 is pressed, a list of contents corresponding to the pressed button is displayed in the list display area 603. FIG. For example, when the template button 600 is pressed, a list of selectable templates is displayed in the list display area 603 . When a desired template is selected from the list displayed in list display area 603, it is displayed in edit area 604 and becomes editable. The user edits the template and finally generates work data. Here, work data includes image data and various print settings.

When the photo button 601 is pressed, a list of selectable images is displayed in a list display area 603, and when a desired image is selected, it is superimposed on the template displayed in the editing area 604 and added. Similarly, when the clip art button 602 is pressed, a list of selectable clip arts is displayed in a list display area 603, and when a desired clip art is selected, it is superimposed on the template displayed in the editing area 604. Added. The template will be described as an example of SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), but may be in Canvas format.

When the export button 605 is pressed, the created work data information can be downloaded and saved in the data memory 208 or non-volatile memory 210 of the terminal device 200 . When the print button 606 is pressed, the print application 501 is activated.

Selectable colors are displayed in the palette area 607, and when a desired color is selected while the clip art in the editing area 604 is active, it can be changed to the selected color. A spot color palette area 608 displays selectable spot colors and can be changed to the selected color when a desired color is selected with the clip art in edit area 604 active.

In this embodiment, the display contents of this screen are controlled by a program that the Frontend 400 transmits to the terminal device. In this embodiment, the web application server 102 having Frontend 400 does not recognize the capabilities of the printer to which the print data is to be sent. Therefore, the web application server 102 does not recognize whether the printer to which the print data is sent is a printer that can use special ink (can execute spot color printing). Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the print setting screen controlled by the program that the Frontend 400 transmits to the terminal device, as shown in FIG. area shall be displayed regardless of whether the printer to which the print data is sent is capable of using specialty inks.

A document size selection unit 609 allows selection of a desired document size. The finally completed work data includes document size information, clip art information to which spot colors are applied, and R, G, and B value information to which spot colors are applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen of the print application 501. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the case where the terminal device 200 is a mobile terminal will be described as an example, but the effect that can be achieved is the same as when the terminal device 200 is a PC. Note that in FIG. 7, the display content is controlled by the print application 501 which is a program that is not a program transmitted from the web application server 102 . FIG. 7 shows a screen that is not displayed on the web browser.

In the preview display area 700, thumbnails of work data to be printed created by the Backend 404 are displayed. A printer selection unit 701 can select a printer for printing. If the terminal device 200 is a mobile terminal, it is necessary to register selectable printers in advance in order to display selectable printers in the printer selection section 701 .

A paper feed method selection portion 702 displays a list of paper feed methods that can be used by the selected printer, and allows the user to select a desired paper feed method from the list. A paper type selection portion 703 displays a list of paper types that can be used by the selected printer, and allows the user to select a desired paper type from the list.

An enlarged/reduced print selection portion 704 has a check box, and when checked, enlargement/reduction processing is performed according to the radio button arranged below the check box, and printing is performed. When the fit long side button 705 is selected, the roll paper width provided in the printing apparatus 300 and the long side of the work data are enlarged and printed. When the short side fit button 706 is selected, the roll paper width provided in the printing apparatus 300 and the short side of the work data are enlarged and printed.

When the Fit to Printable Area button 707 is selected, enlargement/reduction processing is performed according to the output paper size selection section 708 arranged below the button, and printing is performed. The list displayed in the output paper size selection field 708 lists only paper sizes that can be selected by the selected printer. If the check box of the enlarged/reduced printing selection portion 704 is not checked, the radio buttons arranged below cannot be selected.

A special ink selection section 709 has a check box and can select whether or not to use the special ink. When the check is enabled, printing with special ink is performed according to the radio button placed under the check box. If the Use Fluorescent Spot Color button 710 is selected, the clip art portion selected in the Fluorescent Spot Color palette area 608 is printed in the fluorescent spot color. When the button 711 to brighten the whole is selected, predetermined R, G, and B pixels are printed in the fluorescent spot color when the work data is rendered to RGB data.

If the check box of the special ink selection portion 709 is not checked, the radio buttons arranged below cannot be selected. Also, if the work data does not contain information on the fluorescent spot color, the check box of the special ink selection section 709 is in a non-selectable state. Further, in this embodiment, the terminal device can control the display content of the screen using the print application 501 according to the capabilities of the printer. Therefore, the terminal device checks the model information 505 regardless of whether or not information about special ink is included in the work data. is controlled so that it cannot be selected. In other words, if the work data created by the Web application server 102 includes information about special ink and the printer to which the print data is sent cannot use special ink, the print settings for printing using special ink are set to print. Make the application 501 unexecutable. Specifically, the screen for executing the print settings is not displayed in the print application 501 . Note that when work data created by the web application server 102 includes information about special ink, the web application server 102 uses special ink as a setting for printing the work data created by the web application server 102. This is the case when settings related to printing are executed.

<Overall sequence>
The main operation of the entire system will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Details of individual processes of the program transmitted from the Frontend 400 to the terminal device (hereinafter referred to as the Frontend program), the Backend 404, and the print application 501 will be described later. Note that the processing described as processing executed by the Backend 404 is actually realized by the CPU 421 of the Web application server 102 executing a program corresponding to the Backend 404 . Further, the processing described as processing executed by the Frontend program is actually realized by the CPU 206 executing the Frontend program. Also, the processing described as processing executed by the print application 501 is actually realized by the CPU 206 executing the print application 501 .

When the user generates work data in the browser and presses the print button 606, the Frontend program requests the Backend 404 to create a print job in step S801. The Backend 404 creates thumbnails to be passed to the print application 501 in step S802. Subsequently, in step S803, the Frontend program activates the print application 501. FIG.

After the print application 501 is activated, authentication processing is performed in step S804. After completing the authentication process, the print application 501 receives the thumbnail from the Backend 404 in step S805 and activates the screen in FIG. When the user makes print settings and presses the print button in step S806, the print application 501 requests the Backend 404 to render work data in step S807.

Backend 404 then renders the work data in step S808. Next, the print application 501 receives the rendered data in step S809. The print application 501 generates print data from the received rendered data in step S810, and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 300 in step S811.

<Flow of each process>
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing operations performed by the terminal device according to the Frontend program. The processing shown in this flowchart is implemented by the CPU 206 executing the Frontend program.

When the user causes the CPU 206 to open the web browser 500 on the terminal device and inputs the URL of the web application server 102, the CPU 206 causes the user authentication unit 403 to display a screen for authentication (not shown) in step S901.

When the login ID and password are input by the user, the CPU 206 confirms whether or not the input information is registered information by the user authentication unit 403 in step S902. If the user has already been registered, the UI control unit 402 displays the main screen in step S903 and waits for an event. If the user is not a registered user, the process returns to step S901 to display the authentication screen again.

Upon receiving an event in step S905, the CPU 206 determines in step S906 whether the received event is an event related to editing. If the received event is an event related to editing, the CPU 206 causes the work editing unit 401 to perform editing processing such as template editing in step S907.

In step S908, the CPU 206 determines whether the received event is the export button 605 pressing event. If the received event is the export button 605 pressing event, in step S909 the CPU 206 performs work data export processing.

In step S910, the CPU 206 determines whether the received event is an event of pressing the button 606 to proceed to printing. If the received event is an event of pressing the button 606 to proceed to printing, in step S912, the CPU 206 transmits to the Frontend 400 job information mainly including work data and token information acquired at the time of authentication.

In step S913, the CPU 206 activates the print application 501 within the terminal device. A custom URL scheme for the print application 501 is registered in the OS, and the print application 501 can be activated from the Frontend program by calling the scheme from the Web browser. As for the method of starting from the browser, for example, a method other than the custom URL scheme, such as FireBase Dynamic Link, may be used.

In step S<b>911 , the CPU 206 determines whether or not the received event is an event instructing termination of the application. If the received event is an event instructing the termination of the application, this flow is terminated. Otherwise, the process returns to step S904 to wait for an event.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of Backend 404 . The processing shown in this flowchart is implemented by the CPU 421 of the web application server 102 executing a program corresponding to the Backend 404 .

In step S<b>1001 , the Backend 404 receives job information from the Frontend 400 . Note that the job information is transmitted from the terminal device to Frontend 400 .

The Backend 404 checks Token information included in the job information in step S1002. If the Token information is in an invalid state such as expired, the Backend 404 displays an error in step S1012 and terminates the process.

If the Token information is correctly checked, the Backend 404 renders the work data included in the job information and generates a thumbnail in step S1003. The generated thumbnail may be JPEG data or PNG data. Next, the Backend 404 waits for a request from the print application 501 in step S1004.

Upon receiving the request from the print application 501 in step S1005, the Backend 404 checks the token information included in the request of the print application 501 in step S1006. If the Token information is in an invalid state such as expired, the Backend 404 displays an error in step S1012 and terminates the process.

If the check of the Token information is correctly completed, the Backend 404 determines in step S1007 whether the request from the print application 501 is a thumbnail request. If the request of the print application 501 is a thumbnail request, the Backend 404 transmits the thumbnail created in step S1003 to the print application 501 in step S1008.

The Backend 404 determines in step S1009 whether the request from the print application 501 requests rendering. If the request of the print application 501 requests rendering, the Backend 404 performs rendering based on the size information included in the print application 501 in step S1010. The data after rendering may be JPEG data or PNG data. If the request from the print application 501 does not request rendering, the process returns to step S1004 to wait for a request from the print application 501 .

In step S<b>1011 , the Backend 404 transmits the rendered rendering data to the print application 501 .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the print application 501. As shown in FIG. The processing shown in this flowchart is implemented by the CPU 206 executing the print application 501 . Also, the processing described as processing executed by the print application 501 is actually realized by the CPU 206 executing the print application 501 .

Since the user who uses the print application 501 must be the same user who created the work data using the Frontend program, the print application 501 displays a screen for authentication in step S1101. When the user inputs the login ID and password, the user authentication unit of the print application 501 confirms whether or not the input information is registered information in step S1102. If the user is a registered user, the print application 501 transitions to processing of a print setting screen in step S1103. If the user is not a registered user, the process returns to step S1101 to display the authentication screen again.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of the print setting screen. The processing shown in this flowchart is implemented by the CPU 206 executing the print application 501 .

The print application 501 acquires a thumbnail from the Backend 404 in step S1201. The print application 501 displays a print setting screen in step S1202, and waits for an event in step S1203.

Upon receiving the event in step S1204, the print application 501 determines in step S1205 whether the event is a setting update event. If the event is a setting update event, the print application 501 executes processing to update the print settings in step S1206.

The print application 501 determines in step S1207 whether the event is a print execution event. If the event is a print execution event, the print application 501 executes print processing in step S1208. Details of the print processing will be described later.

The print application 501 determines in step S1209 whether the event is an event that instructs termination of the application. If the received event is an event instructing the termination of the application, this flow is terminated. Otherwise, the process returns to step S1203 to wait for an event.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of print processing. The processing shown in this flowchart is implemented by the CPU 206 executing the print application 501 .

The print application 501 calculates the rendering size requested to the Backend 404 in step S1301. If the check box of the enlarged/reduced printing selection section 704 on the print setting screen is not checked, the rendering size is calculated from the document size information received from the Frontend program. If the check box in the enlarged/reduced print selection section 704 is checked and Fit to Printable Area is selected, the rendering size is calculated based on the output paper size. When the fit long side button 705 is selected, enlargement processing is performed so that the roll paper width provided in the printing apparatus 300 and the long side of the work data match. When the short side fit button 706 is selected, enlargement processing is performed so that the width of the roll paper provided in the printing apparatus 300 and the short side of the work data match.

The print application 501 requests rendering to the Backend 404 in step S1302. The print application 501 checks in step S1303 whether rendering has been completed. If rendering has not completed, wait until it completes.

The print application 501 receives the rendering data in step S1304. The print application 501 generates print data from the rendering data in step S1305, and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 300 in step S1306.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the server includes the work editing unit, the UI control unit, the user authentication unit, and the rendering processing unit, and the terminal device includes the model information, the print setting processing unit, and the print data generation unit. A processing unit is provided. Then, according to the print settings determined by the print setting process of the terminal device, the rendering size is determined, the server is requested to perform rendering in that size, the rendered data is received, and print data is generated. With such a configuration, it is possible to edit work data without installing a dedicated application on a terminal device such as a PC or tablet, and print content without the complicated authentication process with a printer. becomes.

[Other embodiments]
It is an object of the present invention to supply a recording medium recording software program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device, and to store the code in the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device. Needless to say, it can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of storage media for supplying program codes include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs. can.

In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) etc. running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. Needless to say, a case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing are included.

Furthermore, after the program code read out from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is executed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where a CPU or the like provided in an expansion board or a function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the processing implements the functions of the above-described embodiments.

100: Access Point, 101: User Authentication Server, 102: Web Application Server, 200: Terminal Device, 300: Printer, 1000: Print Processing System

Claims (15)

An image processing system in which a terminal device and a server device are communicably connected,
The server device comprises editing means for editing image data and rendering means for rendering the image data,
The terminal device comprises setting means for setting print settings for printing the image data, and generating means for generating print data for printing the image data,
The terminal device determines a rendering size of the image data according to the print settings by the setting means, requests the server device to render the image data based on the rendering size, and renders the data rendered by the server device. An image processing system for receiving and generating the print data. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device transmits said print data to a printing device. 3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said server device further comprises UI control means for controlling a user interface. 4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said server device further comprises user authentication means for authenticating a user. 5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said terminal device further comprises storage means for storing model information of a printer for printing said image data. A case where, as a setting for printing the image data, a setting related to printing using special ink is executed by the server device, and the printing device to which the print data is transmitted cannot execute printing using special ink. 6. The image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the terminal device does not display a screen for executing settings related to printing using the special ink. 7. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a printing application that operates on the terminal device and implements the setting means and the generating means is activated by an instruction from the server device. processing system. 8. The image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the server device renders the image data according to an instruction from the print application. 9. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device enables printing of the image data after user authentication. A terminal device capable of communicating with a server device comprising editing means for editing image data and rendering means for rendering the image data,
setting means for setting print settings for printing the image data;
generating means for generating print data for printing the image data;
determining the rendering size of the image data according to the print setting by the setting means, requesting the server device to render the image data based on the rendering size, receiving the data rendered by the server device, A terminal device, wherein generating means generates the print data. A server device capable of communicating with a terminal device,
editing means for editing image data;
rendering means for rendering the image data,
The server device, wherein the rendering means renders the image data based on the rendering size transmitted from the terminal device. A method for controlling a terminal device capable of communicating with a server device comprising editing means for editing image data and rendering means for rendering the image data, comprising:
a setting step of setting print settings for printing the image data;
a generating step of generating print data for printing the image data;
In the setting step, the rendering size of the image data is determined according to print settings, and the server device is requested to render the image data based on the rendering size. A control method for a terminal device, comprising receiving data and generating the print data. A method for controlling a server device communicable with a terminal device, comprising:
an editing process of editing image data;
a rendering step of rendering the image data;
A method of controlling a server device, wherein in the rendering step, the image data is rendered based on a rendering size transmitted from the terminal device. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to claim 12 or 13. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to claim 12 or 13.

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