JPH10154046A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an image forming system capable of obtaining printing at the same resolution many times and in a short time. An identification code assigning unit assigns an identification code corresponding to a print image for each page or print job, and stores the identification code in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus. When the identification code is received by the connected terminal adapter device, the identification code is received from the I / F unit 2, a print image corresponding to the identification code is taken out from the storage unit 4, and printing processing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for creating image data typified by a personal computer, and receives image data from an information processing apparatus typified by a printer, converts the image data into a print image, and performs print processing. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which a terminal adapter device that performs speed conversion or protocol conversion and performs data communication with an external device wirelessly or by wire is combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus, a printer,
When image data is received from an information processing device such as a personal computer or a host, a print image is formed based on the image data, and the number of copies specified by the information processing device or the like is printed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus 21 includes an I / F section 22 for receiving image data from the outside, and an image data received by the I / F section 22. A data conversion unit 23 for converting the image data into data for printing; a storage unit 24 for storing a program required for controlling the image forming apparatus 21 and a font required for the data conversion unit 23; And a control unit 26 that controls these units.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, after performing the print processing, in order to erase all the data related thereto, in order to obtain the same image, a print command is again issued from the information processing apparatus. Must be issued,
If the image data is not stored on a floppy disk or hard disk, the printed paper must be copied with a copier, and the data must be recreated with an information processing device to take advantage of the high resolution. was there.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has one or more information processing apparatuses for creating image data, and receiving and printing image data from the information processing apparatus. Image formation formed by connecting, via a network, one or more image forming apparatuses that convert to an image and perform print processing, and a terminal adapter apparatus that performs speed conversion or protocol conversion and performs data communication with an external device wirelessly or by wire. In the system, the image forming apparatus includes an I / F unit that receives data such as image data, an identification code assigning unit that assigns an identification code for each page or print job of a print image, and a print image and a corresponding print image. A print processing unit that prints the identification code on the transfer material; and a storage unit that stores the print image and the identification code corresponding to the print image. When the data of the identification code is received, the data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and a print image corresponding to the identification code is taken out of the storage unit from the image forming apparatus in which the identification code is stored, and the image forming system performs a printing process. .

With this configuration, the same image data can be printed many times simply by transmitting the data of the identification code from the external device to the terminal adapter device by wire or wirelessly.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an I / F unit 2, a data conversion unit 3, a storage unit 4, a print processing unit 5, a control unit 6, an identification code. An application unit 7 is provided.

The I / F unit 2 is connected to a network bus line, and receives image data desired to be printed from the information processing device and data of an identification code from the terminal adapter device. The data conversion unit 3 is a unit that converts the image data received by the I / F unit 2 into data that can be printed by the print processing unit 5. The identification code providing unit 7
This is a part for assigning an identification code in correspondence with a print image for each page or each print job (that is, for each file). The information included in the identification code may be a printer serial number, a document serial number, a password, or the like, and the information may be given as characters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof.

The storage unit 4 includes a program necessary for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1, a print image to be printed by the print processing unit 5 such as a font required by the data conversion unit 3, and an identification code providing unit 7. This is a part for storing an identification code corresponding to the given print image. Print processing unit 5
Is a part for printing a print image formed by the data conversion unit 3 and an identification code corresponding thereto on a transfer material. The control unit 6 is a part that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. The image forming system comprises a bus line 11 provided with a plurality of information processing apparatuses 12, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1, and a terminal adapter apparatus 13.

According to the present invention, the print image and the identification code corresponding to the print image are stored in the storage unit 4 by the image forming apparatus 1 and the identification code is printed on the transfer material by the print processing unit 5. When printing is necessary again, the identification code printed on the transfer material is simply transmitted from the external device to the terminal adapter device 14, and the identification code is stored in the storage unit 4 via the I / F unit 2. A print image corresponding to the code can be taken out, and printing can be performed any number of times.

When the terminal adapter device 13 is connected to a public line, characters, numbers, or symbols serving as identification codes can be input as external devices, and the external device can be connected to a telephone line or communicate with a base station. Any information processing device such as a personal computer, a telephone, a mobile phone, or a portable terminal may be used. If the terminal adapter device 13 is wirelessly received, characters, numerals, Alternatively, any device capable of inputting a symbol and transmitting wirelessly may be used. For example, a wireless cordless telephone may be used.

After the print image corresponding to the identification code is extracted from the storage unit 4, the print image may be printed by an image forming apparatus having the storage unit 4. To another image forming apparatus,
The print processing may be performed by another image forming apparatus.

Further, after the printing according to the command from the external device is completed, a message of the printing completion is transmitted from the terminal adapter device 13 to the external device, so that the user of the external device can perform the printing even when not near the image forming apparatus. Can be confirmed whether or not is completed. In addition, the printed identification code is transmitted together with the print completion message, and the external device stores the identification code, so that the same can be used again when printing the same code, and the reception history is used for the electronic filing system. be able to.

[0015]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming system of the present invention, an identification code is added to a print image, and the print image and the identification code corresponding to the print image are stored.
To provide an image forming system that can be printed at the same resolution many times and in a short time because a print command can be issued by the identification code, and is particularly effective when employed in a color printer. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21: Image forming apparatus 2, 22: I / F section 3, 23: Data conversion section 4, 24: Storage section 5, 25: Print processing section 6, 26: Control section 7: Identification code adding section 11: Bus Line 12: Information processing device 13: Terminal adapter device

Claims (1)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus for generating image data; an image forming apparatus for receiving image data from the information processing apparatus, converting the image data into a print image, and performing print processing; In an image forming system formed by connecting a terminal adapter device capable of performing data conversion with a wireless or wired external device by performing conversion or protocol conversion via a network, the image forming device performs data reception such as image data. / F section, an identification code providing section for providing an identification code for each page or print job of the print image, a print processing section for printing the print image and the identification code corresponding thereto on a transfer material, A storage unit for storing an image and an identification code corresponding thereto, and when the terminal adapter device receives data of the identification code from an external device, A code is transmitted to one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a print image corresponding to the identification code is taken out of a storage unit from the image forming apparatus in which the identification code is stored, and is sent to the image forming apparatus or another image forming apparatus. An image forming system that performs a printing process.