Data communication apparatus, image server, control method, storage medium, and image system

• US 20050088684A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Toshiyuki, Naito, Kikuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,271,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/124 Parallel printing or parallel ripping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

This invention provides a service which allows the user of the client apparatus that submits a print request to preview an image to be printed, and can reduce the information volume with the client apparatus to achieve quick response, and prints a high-quality image with the requested size. For this purpose, a center server (102) on the network stores and manages display image data, and transfers requested display image data upon receiving a request from a client computer. Upon receiving a request including a print size from the client computer, the center server sends the print size and information that specifies an image to an image server which saves high-resolution images. Upon receiving the information, the image server processes high-resolution image data to have the designated size, and sends back the processed image data to the center server. The center server sends the received image data to a print server to make it print the data.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A data communication apparatus connected to an image storage apparatus via a network, said communication apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a print request ID information identifying an image and an actual print size of the image to be printed;

acquisition means for, if the print request includes a plurality of actual print sizes for the same ID information, requesting one of the plurality of actual print sizes from the image storage apparatus via the network and acquiring image data having the requested actual print size from the image storage apparatus; and

generating means for generating print information corresponding to each of the plurality of actual print sizes, using the acquired image data.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image storage apparatus obtains image data from an image storage device on the basis of a characteristic of a printer to be used and a characteristic of a recording medium on which image is printed, and transfers the obtained image data to said data communication apparatus.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image storage apparatus comprises:

calculation means for calculating the size of image to be obtained, on the basis of the actual print size requested by said data communication apparatus; and

means for obtaining the image data having the ID information from an image storage device and transferring the obtained image data to said data communication apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said image storage apparatus obtains image data having a size larger than the calculated size and closest size to the calculated size.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said image storage apparatus comprises correction means for correcting the size of the obtained image so as to match with the actual print size requested by said data communication apparatus.

26. A control method of a data communication apparatus connected to an image storage apparatus via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a print request including ID information identifying an image and an actual image size of the image to be printed;

if the print request includes a plurality of actual image sizes for the same ID information, requesting one of the plurality of actual image sizes from the image storage apparatus via the network and acquiring image data having the requested actual print size from the image storage apparatus; and

generating print information corresponding to each of the plurality of actual print sizes, using the acquired image data.

27. A storage medium storing a program that causes a computer, which loads and executes the program, to serve as a data communication apparatus connected to an image storage apparatus via a network, wherein the program comprises:

program code of a reception step of receiving a print request including ID information identifying an image and an actual image size of the image to be printed;

program code of an acquisition step of, if the print request includes a plurality of actual image sizes for the same ID information, requesting one of the plurality of actual image sizes from the image storage apparatus via the network and acquiring image data having the requested actual print size from the image storage apparatus; and

program code of a generating step of generating print information corresponding to each of the plurality of actual print sizes, using the acquired image data.

28. An image print system having a center server, an image storage apparatus, and a client apparatus which communicates with each other via a network, wherein said center server comprises:

transferring means for transferring images data having a resolution for displaying to said client apparatus;

reception means for receiving, from said client apparatus, a print request including ID information identifying the image data transferred by said transferring means and an actual print size of the image data;

acquisition means for, if the print request includes a plurality of actual print sizes for the same ID information, requesting one of the plurality of actual print sizes from the image storage apparatus via the network and acquiring image data having the requested actual print size from the image storage apparatus; and

generating means for generating print information corresponding to each of the plurality of actual print sizes, using the acquired image data.

29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising charging means for charging image use fee on the basis of the actual print sizes, a characteristic of a printer to be used and a characteristic of recording mediums on which images are printed.