JP4084442B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system including an external device that creates image data typified by a personal computer and an image forming apparatus that receives and prints image data from an external device typified by a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a printer, which is a conventional image forming apparatus, receives image data from an external device such as a personal computer or a host, it forms a print image based on the image data and prints the number of copies designated by the external device. .
[0003]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 31 prints image data received by the I / F unit 32 that receives image data from the outside and the I / F unit 32. A data conversion unit 33 for converting the data into the data for the image, a storage unit 34 for storing a program necessary for controlling the image forming apparatus 31, a font necessary for the data conversion unit 33, and the data from the data conversion unit 33 The print processing unit 35 for printing the image and the control unit 36 for controlling these units.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, after printing processing, in order to erase all the data related thereto, in order to obtain the same image, it is necessary to issue a print command again from an external device. When image data is not stored in a hard disk or the like, the printed paper must be copied by a copying machine, and there is a problem that data must be recreated by an external device in order to take advantage of high resolution.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. In an image forming system including an external device that creates image data and an image forming device that receives and prints image data from the external device, the image forming device includes: A first I / F unit that receives image data and transmits / receives an identification code, an identification code provision unit that assigns an identification code for each page of a print image, and stores a print image and a corresponding identification code The external device stores the identification code received by the second I / F unit and the second I / F unit that transmits and receives image data and the like and transmits / receives the identification code. A second storage unit, a display unit that displays the identification code stored in the second storage unit, and a selection unit that selects one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit. From the second I / F unit to the first identification code / Transmitted to the F portion, in which the printed image corresponding to the identification code and the first image forming system for printing is taken out from the storage unit.
[0006]
With such a configuration, the same image data can be printed many times simply by selecting the identification code displayed on the external device.
[0007]
Further, the first I / F unit and the second I / F unit transmit and receive related information of the print image corresponding to the identification code together with the identification code, and the identification code is stored in the second storage unit. The image forming apparatus stores the related information and displays the related information on the display unit.
[0008]
With such a configuration, it is possible to know rough information of the print image corresponding to the identification code without looking at the printed recording medium.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming system according to the present invention. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 1 and an external device 10. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first I / F unit 2 and data. The conversion unit 3, the first storage unit 4, the print processing unit 5, the control unit 6, and the identification code providing unit 7 are provided, and the external device 10 includes a second I / F unit 11, a second storage unit 12, and a display unit. 13, an input unit 14 and a control unit 15 are provided.
[0010]
The first I / F unit 2 is a part that is connected to the external device 10 via a cable or wirelessly, receives image data desired to be printed from the external device 10, and transmits and receives data such as an identification code. .
The data conversion unit 3 is a part that converts the image data received by the first I / F unit 2 into data that can be printed by the print processing unit 5.
[0011]
The identification code assigning unit 7 is a part that assigns an identification code corresponding to the print image for each page unit. The information included in the identification code may be a printer serial number, a document serial number, a password, or the like, and these information may be given as characters, numbers, symbols, or combinations thereof.
[0012]
The first storage unit 4 includes a program necessary for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1, a font necessary for the data conversion unit 3, a print image to be printed by the print processing unit 5, and an identification code providing unit 7. This is a part for storing an identification code corresponding to the given print image.
The print processing unit 5 is a part that prints the data formed by the data conversion unit 3 on a recording medium.
The control unit 6 is a part that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.
[0013]
The second I / F unit 11 is connected to the first I / F unit 2 via a cable or wirelessly, and transmits image data to the image forming apparatus 1 and transmits / receives data such as an identification code. is there.
The second storage unit 12 is a part that stores a program necessary for controlling the entire external device 10 and data such as an identification code received by the second I / F unit 11.
The display unit 13 displays characters, numbers, symbols, combinations thereof, and the like, and can display an identification code.
The input unit 14 is configured by a normal keyboard, can create an image, and is also a selection unit that can select one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit 13.
[0014]
According to the present invention, since the print image and the corresponding identification code are stored in the first storage unit 4 and at the same time the identification code is stored in the second storage unit 12, it is necessary to print again. In such a case, the identification code is displayed on the display unit 13, and the second I / F unit 11 and the first I / F unit 2 are connected by simply selecting the identification code desired to be printed by the input unit 14. The print image can be taken out from the first storage unit 4 via the printer, and printing can be performed any number of times.
[0015]
As a further embodiment, the first I / F unit 4 and the second I / F unit 11 transmit / receive related information of a print image corresponding to the identification code, such as a title and a document number, together with the identification code. May be stored in the second storage unit 12 and the identification code and related information thereof may be displayed on the display unit 13. In this way, it is possible to know rough information of the print image corresponding to the identification code without looking at the recording medium, and the time until printing can be greatly reduced.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the image forming system of the present invention, an identification code is assigned to the print image, the print image and the corresponding identification code are stored, and a print command can be issued by the identification code. Thus, it is possible to obtain an image forming system that can be printed at the same resolution any number of times and in a short time, and is effective particularly when employed in a color printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 31: Image forming apparatus 2: First I / F unit 3, 33: Data conversion unit 4: First storage unit 5, 35: Print processing unit 6, 15, 36: Control unit 7: Identification code assignment Unit 10: External device 11: Second I / F unit 12: Second storage unit 13: Display unit 14: Input unit 32: I / F unit 34: Storage unit

Claims (1)

In an image forming system having an external device for creating image data and an image forming apparatus for receiving and printing image data from the external device,
The image forming apparatus includes a first I / F unit that receives image data and transmits / receives an identification code, an identification code provision unit that assigns an identification code for each page of a print image, the print image, and the print image A first storage unit for storing a corresponding identification code,
The external device includes a second I / F unit that transmits image data and the like and transmits and receives an identification code, a second storage unit that stores an identification code received by the second I / F unit, A display unit that displays the identification code stored in the second storage unit, and a selection unit that selects one of the identification codes displayed on the display unit,
The identification code selected by the selection unit is transmitted from the second I / F unit to the first I / F unit, and a print image corresponding to the identification code is taken out from the first storage unit and printed . Done
The first I / F unit and the second I / F unit transmit and receive related information of the print image corresponding to the identification code together with the identification code, and the identification is stored in the second storage unit. An image forming system, wherein a code and related information are stored and displayed on a display unit .

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