JPH11348386A - Imaging method and apparatus, and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To request access from a PDA, or the like, even in the case of a high volume data on a WWW server such that it can be visually confirmed surely. SOLUTION: An access request command is issued from a PDA 812 through infrared communication and a digital copy machine 801 receiving that access request command access a data on a WWW server 810 and prints the data thus accessed. In an imaging apparatus having a function for printing a data obtained by accessing a WWW(World Wide Web) through a network comprises a radio communication means, and an access control means for acquiring a data on the WWW server by accessing it based on an access request command including at least address information, e.g. URL(User Resource Locator) received through the radio communication means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for accessing data to be subjected to image formation by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer by accessing a World Wide Web server (hereinafter referred to as a WWW server). Acquisition technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a WWW server which provides various data, and an HTTP (Hyper T)
ext Transfer Protocol) and a computer equipped with dedicated software (WWW browser) for accessing via a network.
It has become possible to refer to data on a W server from a computer. This makes it possible to refer to and share data on a specific WWW server from a plurality of computers.

Further, since the WWW browser can store data on a WWW server in a computer, a user instructs an information device having a printing function to print out data once stored in the computer. By doing so, data on the WWW server can be printed. In addition, since the information device itself having the printing function has an access function to the WWW server,
An information device can directly access a WWW server specified by a user, acquire data, and perform printing.

Further, recently, such a function of accessing a WWW server has become available not only for desktop computers and the like, but also for notebook computers and PDAs (per
A personal digital assistant called a personal digital assistant is also provided.

[0005]

However, a small WWW which is not directly connected to a network such as a PDA or the like.
The access device is connected to the W
It is necessary to access the WW server to acquire data, but it is not practical because the display unit is too small to view the data.

As a countermeasure, there is a method of saving the acquired data and connecting it to a printer, or transferring the data to another computer having a large display screen for viewing.
In a small WWW access device having a small memory capacity, only a small amount of data can be acquired.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to make an access request from a PDA or the like even for a large amount of data on a WWW server so that the data can be reliably viewed. .

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a WWW (World) via a network.
In an image forming apparatus having a function of printing data obtained by accessing a d Wide Web server, a wireless communication unit and at least a URL (User Resource Locate) received by the wireless communication unit are provided.
and access control means for accessing the WWW server based on an access request command including address information such as er) to obtain data on the WWW server.

[0009] The present invention also provides a W
In an image forming apparatus having a function of accessing a WW (World Wide Web) server and printing data obtained, a wireless communication step and at least a URL (User Resource) received in the wireless communication step are provided.
e Locator) to access the WWW server based on an access request command including address information such as e-Locator) to acquire data on the WWW server.

Also, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus through a network for WWW (World Wide Wed).
b) A storage medium for storing a program for accessing and printing data on a server, wherein the program includes a wireless communication routine and at least a URL (User Resource) received by the wireless communication routine.
e Locator), and an access control routine for accessing the WWW server based on an access request command including address information such as e.Locator and acquiring data on the WWW server.

In the present invention, the wireless communication means, steps, and routines perform wireless communication using infrared rays.

In the present invention, the wireless communication means, steps, and routines perform wireless communication by radio waves.

In the present invention, the access request command is a PDA (Personal Digital A).
sistant).

Further, in the present invention, the PDA includes a GUI
(Graphical UserInterface)
And a designating means / process / routine for designating the address information.

Further, in the present invention, the PDA includes a GUI
Setting means, steps, and routines for setting access reservation information according to the wireless communication. The access control means, steps, and routines transmit an access request command including the access reservation information set by the setting means, steps, and routines to the wireless communication. When the data is received by means, steps, or routines, the server automatically accesses the WWW server based on the access reservation information and acquires data on the WWW server.

Further, in the present invention, the PDA has a setting means, a step, and a routine for setting print mode information for printing data acquired by the access control means, the step, and the routine by using a GUI. .

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A digital copying machine 801 that plays a central role in the present system includes a hard disk 803 for storing image data, various programs, and the like.
A network interface unit 804 for communicating with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or an intranet; an operation unit 805 for instructing the digital copier 801 to operate on its own device; A formatter unit 806 that converts print data sent from an external device via a network into a format that can be printed by the digital copier 801, a digital image reading unit (hereinafter, referred to as a reader unit) 807, A digital image printing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a printer unit) 808 for printing and outputting, and an IrDA (Inf) for receiving URL data from an external PDA 812 by infrared communication.
The communication unit 811 includes a RAID (Data Association) communication unit 811 and a core unit 802 for integrating all of these components to perform a cooperative operation.

Further, a client computer (hereinafter, referred to as a client terminal) 809 for designating a URL, giving a print instruction, etc. to the digital copying machine 801 is instructed on the network by a URL via the Internet. A WWW server 810 is connected.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view mainly showing a reader unit 807 and a printer unit 808 of the digital copying machine 801. The document feeding device 101 of the reader unit 807 feeds the document one by one sequentially from the last page onto the platen glass 102, and after the reading operation of the document is completed, the platen glass 10
2 is for discharging the original. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanning unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. At this time, the reflected light from the original (optical image of the original) is transmitted to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108.
The light is guided to the device, photoelectrically converted, and output as image data. Then, the image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 808 and the core unit 802.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 808
Drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit 807. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, on which a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed. This photosensitive drum 20
The developer adheres to the portion of the second latent image by the developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, is conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and transfers the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 to the recording paper.

The recording paper onto which the developer has been transferred is fixed to the fixing unit 207.
The developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each bin and sorts the recording paper. When the sorting by the sorter 220 is not set, the recording paper is stored in the uppermost bin. Also,
When double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the position of the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the sheet is reversed by the flapper 209 and guided to the re-feed conveyance path. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path by the flapper 209 in a non-reversed state so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is again painted on the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the core unit 802. The core unit 802 is connected to the reader unit 807 via the digital interface 121. On the other hand, the hard disk 803, the network interface unit 804, the operation unit 805, and the formatter unit 8 are connected via a bus.
06 and the IrDA communication unit 811.

The image data read by the reader unit 807 is transferred to the data processing unit 124 via the digital interface 121, and the control command from the reader unit 807 is transferred to the CPU 122. The data processing unit 124 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing.
The image data transferred to the CPU 24 is controlled by the CPU 122 in response to a control command transferred simultaneously with the image data.
The data is transferred to the hard disk 803 and the network interface unit 804 via the digital interface 120.

When a print request command is sent from the external client terminal 809 via the network interface unit 804, the CPU 122 sends the PDL (Page Description) sent at the same time.
ion Language) data to the formatter unit 8
06. Thereafter, the PDL data is developed into image data by the formatter unit 806, and the data processing unit 124
Is transferred to the printer unit 808 and printed out.

At this time, the CPU 122 performs the above control in accordance with the control program stored in the memory 123 and the control command transferred from the reader unit 807. The memory 123 is also used as a work area of the CPU 122. As described above, the core unit 802 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 807, the hard disk 803, the network interface unit 804, and the formatter unit 806, reads a document image, prints an image, and communicates with an external device. It is possible to perform processing that combines functions such as data input / output in a computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a program configuration of the network interface unit 804. IP (Internet Protocol) 405 is an Internet protocol layer that provides a service of transmitting a message from a sending host to a destination host in cooperation with a relay node such as a router. The most important information for delivering a message is the source and destination addresses, which are managed by the IP protocol. In the IP layer, the routing of the message to the destination host through the Internet system according to the address information is performed.

404 TCP (Transmission)
n Control Protocol), UDP (U
The “ser Datagram Protocol” is a transport layer, which is a layer that provides a service for sending a message from a sending application process to a receiving application process. TCP is a connection-type service and guarantees a high degree of communication reliability, but UDP is a connectionless service and does not guarantee reliability.

Reference numeral 401 denotes an application layer protocol, which is a remote login service telne.
t (telecommunication network
rk), FTP (File) which is a file transfer service
Transfer Protocol), SNMP (Simple Net) which is a network management protocol
Work Management Protocol
l), LPD (Line
Printer Diamond), WWW server 810
HTTP (Hyper Text T)
transfer protocol).
In the application layer, an HTTP client 403 for acquiring data of the WWW server 810, an acquired HTML (Hyper Text Markup Lap).
HTM for converting data in the form of an image (image) and image data into a data format for printing on paper
LParser 402 exists.

In this embodiment, the digital copier 80
1 actively accesses an external WWW server 810,
A function that acquires HTML data in the WWW server 810 and prints it with its own printer unit 808 is provided by Web Pu.
Called 11 Print.

The user operates the digital copier 801 with W
As a method of requesting the eb Pull Print,
There are two types of methods: One is a method using a dedicated program (hereinafter referred to as a print utility) operating on the client terminal 809 or the PDA 812, and the other is a method using the digital copier 80.
This is a method using the first operation unit 805.

First, the client terminal 809 or P
We using the print utility on DA812
b Pull Pull request method will be described. The user can use the print utility to access the Web
Various settings relating to Pull Print are made, and the setting contents are converted to a digital copier 8 using a packet described later.
01 can be sent.

On the other hand, the digital copying machine 801 receiving this packet analyzes the contents of the packet and starts a Web Pull Print operation according to the contents of the instruction. The digital copying machine 801 has a function of spooling a plurality of WebPull Print requests received from a print utility in a job format. Then, the print utility communicates with the digital copying machine 1 using a packet to be described later to acquire information on a job spooled inside or to delete a specific job.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a list of items that can be set by the user using the print utility. Here, each item in FIG. 26 will be briefly described. (1) “Printed document title” is a document title to be printed on the header portion of the print result, and can be edited by the user. (2) “URL” is an item for designating a domain name of the WWW server 810 in which a homepage desired to be printed is stored, and a file name of HTML format data to be acquired. (3) “Printer address” is Web Pull P
I of the digital copier 801 sending the print request command
P (Internet Protocol) address. (4) An arbitrary user name can be input in the “user name”. The digital copier 801 uses the user name to
Identifies the sender of the Pull Print request. (5) The “option file” is a file in which all the contents set by the print utility are stored. By creating an option file for each user in advance and designating one of the files in this setting item, it is possible to perform the setting for all the setting items collectively. (6) In the digital copying machine 801 according to the present embodiment, the “link level” indicates the HTML
If the L hyperlink is set, the home page of the link destination can be printed by following the hyperlink, but at this time, it is provided to specify up to which hierarchy the link is followed by this item. ing. (7) "Maximum number of printed pages" is the upper limit of the number of pages to be printed when the home page to be printed spans a plurality of pages. (8) "Print beyond the maximum number of printed pages" means that if one home page to be printed spans a plurality of pages, and a halfway page corresponds to the "maximum number of printed pages", whether to print to the end of the home page Is an item to specify. (9) “Print other site” is an item for specifying whether or not to print the link destination when the “link level” is 1 or more and the link destination is another site. . (10) “Print link map” can be created and printed by the digital copying machine 801 according to the present embodiment, when a homepage is printed following a link, the link map representing the link opening is created. Is an item for designating whether or not to print this link map as the last page of printing on the homepage. (11) “Print page number” is an item for designating whether to print a page number in the footer portion of the print result. (12) “Print date” is an item for designating whether to print the print execution date in the footer portion of the print result. (13) “Print URL” is an item for designating whether to print the URL in the footer portion of the print result. (14) “Print document title” is an item for designating whether or not to print the document title in the header portion of the print result. (15) "Contents of header to be printed" is an item for designating an arbitrary character string to be printed in the header portion of the print result. (16) The “position of the header to be printed” is an item for designating the position to print the character string specified in “the description of the header to be printed”. (17) “Background printing” is an item for designating whether or not to print an image for background drawing when the image is designated in the homepage. If the background color of the homepage is set to black, etc., there is no problem when displaying on a color display, but when printing with a black and white printer, the text part and the background will also be black and the text can not be judged. This is a setting to prevent. (18) “Numbering of <H> tags” is an item for designating whether or not to add a heading number to the head of a heading sentence in a homepage. (19) “Print linked documents first” is used to specify whether to print in the order of the read links or to print documents of the same link level first when two or more link levels are specified. Items. (20) “Enlargement / reduction rate” expands homepage /
This is an item for designating an enlargement ratio / reduction ratio when printing with reduction. (21) The “reduction ratio at the time of page boundary” is such that in the digital copying machine 801 according to the present embodiment, when an image on the homepage is over the page boundary, the image can be reduced and printed so as to fit within the page. It is possible to specify the reduction ratio at this time. (22) "Font name" is an item for designating a font name used when printing HTML text data. (23) “Font size” is an item for designating a font size used when printing a headline character string in a homepage. (24) “Font thickness” is an item for designating the font thickness used when printing the headline character string in the homepage. (25) “Use style sheet” is an item for specifying whether to use the file specified by the next “style sheet name”. (26) “Style sheet name” is “font name”,
If a file (style sheet) storing the settings of “font size” and “font weight” already exists, this item is used to specify the file name. By using this item, the user does not need to individually set these font-related settings. (27) "Print paper size" is an item for designating the size of paper used for printing. (28) The “printing paper direction” is an item for designating one of “Portrait” and “Landscape” as the paper direction at the time of printing. (29) “Left / Right / Top / Bottom Margin” is an item for designating a margin from the edge of the sheet when printing. (30) "Number of copies" is an item for designating the number of copies when printing a plurality of copies. (31) “Sorter” is an item for designating the operation mode of the sorter 220 connected to the digital copying machine 801. The operation mode includes normal sort, staple sort, group sort, and normal sort. When selected, a plurality of copies are sorted and discharged one by one for each bin of the sorter 220. When the staple sort is selected, it is set so that the sorted printed materials are stapled. When the group sort is selected, a plurality of documents are set so that printed matter of the same page is discharged to the same bin. (32) “Resolution” is 300 dpi, 400 dpi,
This is an item for designating any print resolution of 600 dpi. (33) "Duplex printing" is an item for designating whether or not to perform duplex printing. (34) “Schedule print setting”. This item is stored in the digital copying machine 301 at the designated time.
It is possible to start an II Print operation or to periodically repeat a Web Pull Print request from a user. These access reservation functions are called schedules. Specifically, an immediate execution mode, a time designation mode, There are regular tour modes (day designation / date designation / interval designation), and this item specifies any of these modes. (35) “Day of the week” is an item for specifying the day of the week to be executed when the periodic tour mode (day of the week) is specified in the “schedule print setting”. (36) “Specify date” is the time designation mode / periodic tour mode (date / interval designation) in “Schedule print settings”
Is an item for specifying the date to start execution when is specified. (37) "Time designation" is an item for designating the execution start time when the time designation mode / periodic tour mode is designated in "schedule print setting". (38) "Specify interval" is the periodic tour mode (specify interval)
Is an item for specifying the execution time interval in units of days and hours when is specified. (39) “Print only updated document” is an item for specifying whether to print only the homepage updated since the previous printing when executing in the periodic patrol mode.

FIGS. 5 to 11 show a GUI (Graphical User Interface) using the print utility.
(fface) operation screen. Client terminal 80
9 or when the print utility is activated on the PDA 812, first the operation screen of FIG. 5 is displayed. When setting the above-mentioned setting items (6) to (38), pressing the “Print Setup” button on this operation screen newly displays the operation screen of FIG. Further, by pressing the tag at the top of the operation screen, it is possible to shift to the operation screens of FIGS. In the operation screens of FIGS. 6 to 9, an “OK” button or a “Cancel” button is displayed.
By pressing the button, it is possible to return to the operation screen of FIG.

Also, “Bookm” in the upper right of the operation screen in FIG.
By pressing the “ark” button, a new bookmark screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. This bookmark is a list of URLs of home pages and their titles. The contents of the list are displayed on the screen.When a URL is designated from the list, the target URL is selected and highlighted, and the "OK" button is pressed to display the list shown in FIG. The selected title and URL are displayed in areas 1 and 2 on the operation screen. New title and URL
Is added, enter a title and a URL in areas 1 and 2 on the operation screen in FIG. 5, and then add “Add Book”.
Pressing the "mark" button adds them to the above list.

Here, the setting method on the operation screen of FIG. 9 will be described in detail. When setting the schedule, the user first checks the “Enable Schedule” check box 34. At the time of initial setting, this check box is not checked, and in this state, no schedule can be set. When the check box 34 is checked, setting can be performed for each of the setting items 34 to 39. Subsequently, the user selects “0n” indicated by 34 in FIG.
ce "," Weekly "," Monthly "," R
Epeat ”mode.

When the "Once" mode is selected,
Only the setting items 36 and 37 in FIG. 9 become settable, and the user inputs the execution start time (year, month, day, hour, minute) of Web Pull Print. With this designation, the digital copying machine 801 performs Web Pull Print only once at the designated date and time.

When the "Weekly" mode is selected, the setting items 35 and 37 in FIG. 9 become settable, and the user inputs the execution day of the week and the execution start time (hour, minute) of the Web Pull Print. I do. A plurality of execution days can be specified at the same time. With this designation,
The digital copier 801 repeatedly performs Web Pull Print every week at a specified time on a specified day of the week.

When the “Monthly” mode is selected, the “Day” of 36 and the setting items of 37 in FIG. 9 become settable, and the user sets the Web Pull Pri.
Enter the execution date and execution start time (hour, minute) of nt. With this designation, the digital copying machine 801 repeatedly performs Web Pull Print every month at the designated date and time.

When the "Repeat" mode is selected, the setting items 36, 37 and 38 in FIG. 9 are settable, and the user sets the WebP. An execution start date, execution start time (hour / minute), and execution interval (day / hour) of the u-th Print are input. With this designation, the digital copying machine 801
Web Pull Print is repeatedly performed at a specified execution interval from a specified execution start date and time. In addition, "W
eekly "," Monthly "," Repeat "
When the mode is selected, “ModifiedOnl
The “y” check box 39 becomes checkable.

The user can open each of the operation screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 with the client terminal 809 or the PDA 812 in the manner described above, and can make settings for necessary items. For example, in the case of using the PDA 812,
After all settings are completed, “Pri” on the operation screen in FIG. 5 is displayed.
nt "button (step S60 in FIG. 28).
1) The print utility is a digital copier 80
1 is transmitted to Step 1 (Step S6 in FIG. 28).
02). Further, “Monitor” is displayed on the operation screen of FIG.
When the button is pressed (step S610 in FIG. 28), the operation screen in FIG. 11 is displayed (step S61 in FIG. 28).
2). At this time, the print utility communicates with the digital copying machine 801 (step S61 in FIG. 28).
1) Information about the job spooled in the digital copying machine 801 is acquired and displayed on the operation screen (step S613 in FIG. 28). The user can grasp the progress of the spooled job by referring to the display contents. The user can also delete the spooled job. In this case, the user selects the job to be deleted from the job information displayed on the operation screen, highlights it, and displays “Delete
Press the "te" button (step S61 in FIG. 28).
4). Then, the print utility transmits a deletion request command including the job number of the designated job to the digital copying machine 801 (step S61 in FIG. 28).
5), the digital copying machine 801 that has received the delete request command deletes the spooled job whose job number matches.

FIGS. 22 to 24 show HTMLParser.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for printing a homepage of the WWW server 810 using a program such as an HTTP client 402 or an HTTP client 403.

Hereinafter, focusing on this flowchart,
The overall processing flow will be described. Client terminal 80
Utility and Digital Copier 801
Is TCP (Transmission) which is an upper layer protocol of IP (Internet Protocol).
n Control Protocol). In the network interface unit 804 of the digital copying machine 801, LPD (L
ine Printer Diamond) is operating. Then, the Web Pull Print issued from the print utility on the client terminal 809
The t request is an LPR command, the job information request is an LPQ command, and a job deletion request LPRM command (FIG. 22).
(Step S511), the LPD receives the information (Step S512), and transmits an instruction to the core unit 802 (Step S502).

The print utility on the PDA 812 communicates with the digital copier 801 using the IrDA protocol. In the lrDA communication unit 811 of the digital copier 801, as shown in FIG. 25, on a physical layer including an infrared transmitting / receiving element and a driving device,
A driver layer including a driver for driving the driving device; and an IrLAP (IrDA Link A).
access Protocol), IrLMP (IrD
A Link Management Protocol
l), and IrTP (IrDA Transport)
A job command communication service operates to receive an IrDA layer composed of a protocol (Protocol) and a job command for performing processing in the core unit 802 thereon. Then, a Web Pull Print request command (equivalent to the LPR) issued from the print utility and a job information request command (the LPQ
), A job deletion request command (equivalent to the LPRM) (step S514), and is received by the IrDA protocol stack composed of these layers (step S5).
15), and transmits an instruction to the core unit 802 (step S50).
2). The processing content of step S502 is as shown in FIG.

At this time, each parameter set by the print utility is stored as character string data in a data file in the LPR command packet,
Sent to FIG. 27 shows an example of this data file. As shown in FIG. 27, the character string data is “STAR
T-OF-NETRETRIEVER-PARAMET
ERS "and" END-OF-NETRETRI "
EVER-PARAMETERS ”. Each parameter is described in the format of “parameter name = value”. The numbers on the right side in FIG. 27 are for associating with the serial numbers of the setting items of the print utility shown in FIG. 26, and are not described in the actual data file. However, among the parameters set by the print utility, only the "print document title" and "user name" are stored in the control file in the command packet.

FIG. 12 shows an example of this control file. Since the data that flows on the network as a command packet is only the setting parameters necessary for printing, compared to the case where the data obtained by converting the homepage data into a printable format and flowing over the network as in the related art, The amount is very small.

On the other hand, in the core unit 802, a command receiving process for receiving a request command from the LPD or IrDA protocol stack is constantly operating.
The DA protocol stack and LPD are provided by LPR (Web Pull Print) from the print utility.
t), LPQ (job information request) command, and LPRM (job deletion request) command are converted into the formats shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, respectively, and sent to the command receiving process. An identifier indicating a command type (LPR / LPQ / LPRM) is added to the head of these formats, and the command reception processing determines the command type by referring to the identifier, and the content of the command according to each format. Is analyzed (FIG. 22).
Step S502). Incidentally, each of the above request commands is also issued from a schedule job process described later (step S513).

The above is the description of the method for requesting the Web Pull Print using the print utility.

Next, the operation unit 80 of the digital copying machine 801
5, a method of requesting a Web Pull Print will be described.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the copy mode display of the operation unit 805. FIG. The display screen 300 is a window that displays the current state, and is currently in a copy-enabled state.
The paper size, the enlargement ratio is 100%, and one copy is displayed.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a guide key for displaying an appropriate advice when the operation is unknown. 302-304
Is a mode change key. When the key 302 is pressed, the mode is changed to the copy mode, and when the key 304 is pressed, the mode is changed to the web print mode. A key 305 is a key for displaying a mode key which cannot be displayed at present. When this key is pressed, a printer mode key is displayed. Reference numeral 306 denotes a paper selection key. When this key is pressed, FIG. 15A is displayed, and the paper size stored in the cassettes 204 and 205 can be selected.

When the user presses the image processing key 307, a processing menu for performing settings relating to image processing is displayed.
Settings such as trimming, masking, negative / positive reversal, and shadow processing can be performed. A double-sided key 308 is a key for displaying a menu for performing processing settings relating to double-sided printing, and performs three settings for copying from one-sided original to one-sided original, from one-sided original to two-sided original, and from two-sided original to two-sided original. be able to. The advanced zoom key 309 is a key for displaying a menu screen for changing the vertical and horizontal magnifications.

Reference numeral 310 denotes a sorter key. When this key is pressed, a menu shown in FIG. 15B relating to the sorter 220 is displayed. If you select sort in this menu,
A plurality of printed materials are sorted and discharged one by one for each bin of the sorter 220. If you select staple sort,
The sorted prints are stapled. When the group sort is selected, the printed matter of the same page for a plurality of originals is discharged to the same bin.

A mixed original key 311 is a key for designating whether originals of different sizes are mixed or only originals of the same size. When mixed originals are designated, the original is loaded every time scanning is performed. A size check is performed, and if mixed originals are not specified, the original size of only the first page is checked. 1x key 31
Reference numeral 4 denotes a key for returning the enlargement ratio to 100%.
15, an enlargement key 316 is a key for displaying a menu for setting an enlargement ratio and a reduction ratio, respectively. The numeric keypad 318 is used to set the number of copies on this screen. By pressing the reset key 320, each parameter required for copying is returned to the default value. When the start key-319 is pressed after setting necessary parameters before copying, a copying operation is started. After the start of copying, pressing the STOP key 321 or the reset key 320 interrupts the copying operation.

FIGS. 16 to 21 show Web Pull P
7 is a Web Pull Print mode screen displayed when a print mode key 304 is pressed.

In the window 300 of FIG.
b Pull Print mode, A4 paper size, 100% enlargement ratio, 1 copy printing is displayed. On the URL key 331, the WWW to be accessed is displayed.
The domain name of the server 810 and the file name of the HTML data to be obtained are displayed. By pressing this URL key, an alphabet keyboard not shown is displayed, and it is possible to input a sentence string. The print time key 332 is a Web PullPrin
A key for opening a window shown in FIG. 17 for setting a date, a time, and the like at which t is started. The contents of the parameters set in the window in FIG. 17 are the same as those in the case of the operation screen in FIG.

When the Book Mark key 334 shown in FIG. 16 is pressed, a Book Mark window shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. When the time designation list key 335 in FIG. 16 is pressed, the time designation list window in FIG. 19 is displayed.
Is displayed. When the log key 337 in FIG. 16 is pressed, a log list window in FIG. 21 is displayed. The detail setting key 338 is
eb A key for displaying a menu window for setting detailed parameters relating to Pull Print. The parameters set in this menu window are all the items except the setting items of FIG. 28 except for the print paper size, double-sided printing, sorter, URL, schedule print setting, day of the week, date, time, and interval. is there.

In the Book Mark window of FIG. 18, a list of registered URLs 350 to 354 is displayed.
Is displayed, when the up arrow key 356 is pressed, the URL list is scrolled up, and when the down arrow key 357 is pressed, the URL list is scrolled down. Registration key 35
By pressing 5, the UPL displayed above with the URL key 331 in FIG. 16 is additionally registered in this URL list. Also, by selecting any one of the URLs in the displayed UPL list and highlighting it, and then pressing the “0K” key 359, the selected URL is set on the URL key 331 in FIG. Similarly, by pressing the delete key 358 after highlighting, the selected U
The RL is deleted from the URL list.

In the time designation list window shown in FIG.
A list 360 to 364 of jobs whose print time has been designated is displayed in the print time designation window of FIG. The display contents are URL 366, print date 367, and print time 368. Jobs on this list can be deleted by the same operation method as in FIG.

The waiting job list window shown in FIG. 20 includes an HTTP client process (step S504 in FIG. 22) and an HTML versa process (step S504).
506) displays a list of jobs 380 to 384 that are waiting to be executed because another job is already being executed. The jobs on the waiting job list are shown in FIG.
8 can be deleted from the list by the same operation method.

In the log list window of FIG. 21, lists 388 to 392 indicating the execution results of each job are displayed. The execution time is displayed in order from the newest one, and when the maximum number is exceeded, the oldest one is automatically deleted from the list. Display contents are URL 393, date 39
4, time 395, and result display 396. URL393
Is the URL of the accessed WWW server 810,
The date 394 and the time 395 are the date and time when the WWW server 810 was accessed. Jobs 388 and 39 for which access to the WWW server 810 and printing have been performed normally
In the result 396 of 1, 392, "normal end" is described, and in the result 396 of the job 389 in which the user interrupted the printing by the reset key, "reset end" is described, and the state of the network, the WWW server 810, and the like are described. In the result 396 of the job 432 that cannot be normally printed, “error end” is described.

After the necessary parameters are set in each of the setting windows for Web Pull Print described above, the start key 319 in FIG. 16 is finally pressed to operate the command receiving process in step S502 in FIG. From section 805 to Web Pull Pr
An int request command is issued.

The above is a description using the operation unit 805 for the Web.
This is a description of a method for requesting a Pull Print.

The print instruction command from the operation unit 805 and the print instruction command from the schedule job process have the same data format as the print instruction command from the client terminal 809 (see FIG. 13). Print instruction commands from these three locations can be handled uniformly. The client terminal 809 and the operation unit 805 issue a job inquiry instruction, a schedule job deletion instruction, an immediate job deletion instruction, and the like in addition to the print instruction instruction.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing details of the command receiving process in step S502 in FIG. Upon receiving the command, the core unit 802 first determines whether the command is a job inquiry command (step S520). If the command is a job inquiry command, the core unit 802 acquires a job list (step S52).
1), the acquired job list is transmitted as a message to the command transmission source (step S524). At this time, if the command transmission source is the print utility, the operation screen of the print utility (FIG. 11)
Above, the received job list is displayed.

On the other hand, if the received command is not a job inquiry command, it is determined whether or not it is a schedule job deletion command (step S522).
As a result, if the command is a schedule job deletion command, the job information corresponding to the designated job number is deleted from the schedule list (step S523), and the deleted schedule list is transmitted as a message to the command transmission source (step S523). S524). If the received command is not a schedule job deletion command, it is determined whether or not the received command is an immediate job deletion command (step S525).

As a result, if the command is an immediate job deletion command, the HTTP client 403 or the HTML
It is determined whether the job related to the deletion designation is being executed in the Parser 402 (S526). As a result, if the job information is not being executed, the job information corresponding to the specified job number is immediately deleted from the job list (step S52).
7), the job list after deleting the command is transmitted as a message to the transmission source (step S524). If the job specified to be deleted is being executed, a cancel flag is set (step S529), and the process ends.

If the received command is not an immediate job deletion command, it is determined whether or not the received command is an immediate job print command (step S528). As a result, if it is not the immediate job print command, it means that it is the print command of the schedule job, so this job is registered in the schedule job list (step S530), and the process ends. On the other hand, if the command is an immediate job print command, H in step S504 in FIG.
The processing shifts to processing by the TTP client 403.

Note that the HTTP client 403, the HTTP
The MLParser 402 does not process a plurality of jobs in parallel at once, and if another job is already being processed, this job is immediately registered in the job list and executed as soon as the process is completed.

Here, the schedule job registration processing in step S530 will be described in more detail. The core unit 802 first detects the schedule print mode in the received print command, and determines the actual Web Pull Print start date and time according to each mode.

If there is the “Once” mode, the actual Web Pull Print start date and time use the date and time specified in the command.

In the case of the “Weekly” mode,
The actual Web Pull Print start date and time is the date at the time of registration and the date and time corresponding to the closest designated day of the week after the time. For example, the date and time at the time of registration are 15:00 on one day (Saturday), and the designated day and time are
If it is 12:00 on Monday and Thursday, the actual WebPu
ll Print start date and time is Monday, 3rd, 12:
00.

In the “Monthly” mode, the actual Web Pull Print start date and time are
The date and time at the time of registration are the specified date and time that are the closest after the time. For example, the date and time at the time of registration is 1 on November 1
At 5:00, when the designated date and time is 12:00 of the day, the actual Web Pull Print start date and time is 12:00 on December 1.

In the case of the “Repeat” mode, the actual Web Pull Print start date and time are
Among a plurality of start timings calculated from the designated start date and time and the designated interval, it is assumed to be closest after the date / time at the time of registration. For example, if the date and time at the time of registration are 1
If the specified start date and time is 12:00 on January 1 at 15:00 on January 1 and the specified interval is 3 days and 12 hours, the actual Web Pull Print start date and time is November 5 0:00 of the day.

After determining the actual Web Pull Print start date and time according to each mode in this way,
The job is registered in the schedule job list while being sorted in the order of earliest start date and time.

In FIG. 22, in step S504,
The HTTP client 403 operates to acquire HTML data, image data, and the like, which are homepage data, from the WWW server 810.

After the operation of the HTTP client 403 is completed, it is determined in step S505 in FIG. 22 whether or not the cancel flag is set. As a result, if the cashel flag is set, a print cancel process is executed (step S509), and a message indicating that the print has been canceled is transmitted to the issuer of the canceled job (step S510). finish. If the cancel flag is not set, HTMLPar
The process shifts to processing by ser402 (step S50).
6). HTMLParser 402 is a WWW server 8
10 is a program for creating image data so that printing can be performed by the printer unit 808 based on the data acquired from the printer 10.

After the processing by the HTMLParser 402 is completed, it is determined whether or not the cancel flag is set (step S507). As a result, if the cashel flag is set, a print cancel process is executed (step S509), and a message indicating that the print has been canceled is transmitted to the issuer of the canceled job (step S510). finish. If the cancel flag is not set, HTMLPar
The image data created by the server 402 is transmitted to the core unit 802 (step S508).

The core unit 802 that has received the image data
The image data is transferred to the printer unit 808 and the cassette 20
4, or printing is performed on the paper stored in 205, and the Web Pull Print process is completed.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the schedule job process. This schedule job process is started periodically every minute.

First, it is checked whether or not a schedule job has been registered in the schedule job list (step S541). If a schedule job has been registered, the current date and time start the designation of the first job in the list. It is determined whether the date and time have been reached (step S542). As a result, if the specified start date and time of the first job have not been reached, the process ends.

On the other hand, if the designated start date and time of the first job have been reached, the schedule print mode of the first job is changed to the immediate mode, and step S502 in FIG.
The print instruction command is transmitted to the command receiving process (step S543). At this time, the print instruction command transmitted to the command receiving process is processed as an immediate job, and the HTT of step S504 in FIG.
The processing is passed to the processing by the P client 403, and thereafter, the same processing as described above is performed.

The schedule job processing side (core unit 802)
On the side), after transmitting the print instruction command, the next Web Pull Print of the job instructed to print
The start date and time are determined, and the schedule job list is sorted based on the start date and time (step S544). Then, the process returns to step S542 to determine again whether the current date and time have reached the designated start date and time of the first job in the list.

As described above, steps S542 to S544
By repeating this process, all scheduled jobs that have reached the execution time are reliably executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the access request command is issued from the PDA by infrared communication, and the data on the WWW server is accessed and printed by the digital copying machine having received the access request command. Therefore, even large-capacity data on the WWW server can be reliably viewed by making an access request from a display screen or a PDA with a small memory capacity.

In the present embodiment, the wireless communication between the PDA 812 and the digital copier 801 is performed by infrared rays. An access request command may be issued. The image forming apparatus may be a printer other than a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus as long as the image forming apparatus is connected to the WWW server 810 via a network. It is also possible to wirelessly transmit an access request command to the image forming apparatus using a mobile phone other than the PDA 812.

Further, although TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol of the network, IPX / SPX (Int
erworkwork Packet eXchange
/ Sequenced Packet eXchange
e), a communication protocol such as Apple Talk may be used. Also, LPR / LPD is used as a communication protocol between the client terminal 809 and the digital copying machine 801.
(Please tell us what abbreviations are)
Communication protocols such as P and FTP may be used. In addition, communication between the client terminal 809 and the digital copier 801 is performed via the LAN.
284, SCSI (Small Computer S)
system (Interface), USB (User
(Serial Bus) or the like.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Through the network, WWW (World Wide W
eb) an image forming apparatus having a function of printing data acquired by accessing a server;
At least the URL (U
W based on an access request command including address information such as a service resource locator.
Since access control means for accessing the WWW server and acquiring data on the WWW server is provided, even a large amount of data on the WWW server can be reliably viewed by making an access request from a PDA or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a core unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a network interface unit of the digital copying machine;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation screen (top window) on a client terminal.

FIG. 6 shows an operation screen (HTML P) on a client terminal.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print option window.

FIG. 7 shows an operation screen (HTML P) on a client terminal.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a print style window.

FIG. 8 shows an operation screen (PostSc) on a client terminal.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a (List Option window).

FIG. 9 shows an operation screen (Schedu) on a client terminal.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a “le window”.

FIG. 10 shows an operation screen (Book) on a client terminal.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a Mark window.

FIG. 11 shows an operation screen (Monit) on a client terminal.
(or window).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a control file.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the format of each command of LPR, LPQ, and LPRM.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of an operation unit in a copy mode.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sheet selection screen and a sorter setting screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of an operation unit in a Web Pull Print mode.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a print time designation screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a Book Mark screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a time designation list screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a standby job list screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a log list screen on the operation unit.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the entire system.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a command receiving process.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a schedule job process.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an IrDA protocol stack of the IrDA communication unit.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a list of items that can be set at the time of a Web Pull Print request.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example of a data file.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a process of issuing a job by operating from the PDA.

[Explanation of symbols]

 122 CPU 123 Memory 402 HTML Parser 403 HTTP Client 801 Digital Copier 802 Core 803 Hard Disk 804 Network Interface 805 Operation Unit 808 Printer 809 Client Terminal 810 WWW Server 811 IrDA Communication Unit 812 PDA

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kotaro Yamaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Yaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Kenzo Sekiguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toru Maeda 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. WWW (World) via a network
d Wide Web) an image forming apparatus having a function of printing data obtained by accessing the server, comprising: a wireless communication unit; and at least a URL (U
W based on an access request command including address information such as a service resource locator.
An image forming apparatus comprising: an access control unit that accesses a WWW server to acquire data on the WWW server. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication using infrared rays. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication using radio waves. 4. The access request command is a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistan
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is transmitted by t). 5. The PDA includes a GUI (Graphic).
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a specifying unit configured to specify the address information by using an al user interface. 6. The PDA has setting means for setting access reservation information by a GUI, and the access control means transmits an access request command including the access reservation information set by the setting means to the wireless communication means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when received, the image forming apparatus automatically accesses the WWW server based on the access reservation information to acquire data on the WWW server. 7. The PDA stores print form information for printing data acquired by the access control means in a G format.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set by a UI. 8. WWW (World) via a network
d Wide Web) An image forming apparatus having a function of printing data obtained by accessing a server, comprising: a wireless communication step; and at least a URL (U) received in the wireless communication step.
W based on an access request command including address information such as a service resource locator.
An access control step of accessing a WWW server to acquire data on the WWW server. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communication step performs wireless communication using infrared rays. 10. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein said wireless communication step performs wireless communication by radio waves. 11. The access request command is a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistan
9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the transmission is performed by t). 12. The PDA includes a GUI (Graphic).
9. The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising a designation step of designating the address information by using a "cal User Interface". 13. The PDA has a setting step of setting access reservation information by a GUI, and the access control step transmits an access request command including the access reservation information set in the setting step by the wireless communication step. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein, when received, the image forming apparatus automatically accesses the WWW server based on the access reservation information and acquires data on the WWW server. 14. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the PDA has a setting step of setting print mode information for printing data acquired in the access control step by a GUI. 15. A storage medium for storing a program for accessing and printing data on a WWW (World Wide Web) server via a network by an image forming apparatus, the program comprising: a wireless communication routine; At least the URL received by the wireless communication routine
A storage medium, comprising: an access control routine for accessing the WWW server based on an access request command including address information such as (User Resource Locator) and acquiring data on the WWW server. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said wireless communication routine performs wireless communication using infrared rays. 17. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said wireless communication routine performs wireless communication by radio waves. 18. The method according to claim 18, wherein the access request command is a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistan
The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the storage medium is transmitted by t). 19. The PDA may be a GUI (Graphic).
16. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising a designation routine for designating the address information by using a "cal User Interface". 20. The PDA has a setting routine for setting access reservation information by a GUI, and the access control routine transmits an access request command including the access reservation information set by the setting routine by the wireless communication routine. If received, automatically access the WWW server based on the access reservation information and
16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein data on a WW server is obtained. 21. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the PDA has a setting routine for setting print mode information for printing data acquired by the access control routine by using a GUI.