Printing control system, a print controller, an image server, an information processing apparatus and a method therefor, and a storage medium storing a program readable by a computer

• US 6,654,135 B2
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mitani, Shigeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/064,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.7, 358/1.4, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/400, 358/500, 358/483, 358/448, 358/501, 710/20, 710/21, 710/100, 710/131, 711/1, 711/100, 711/127, 712/28, 712/33, 712/206, 709/220, 709/227, 709/200
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• 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 3/1242 Image or content composition onto a page
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

A printing control system utilizes the resources of the printer system effectively when the documentary image is printed including images. The format is used, in which image information is managed and controlled in a plurality of resolutions, as well as by a plurality of tile information. Such format is also effectively utilized. To this end, the printing control system includes the image server that supplies and/or controls image information, the print server that controls the output processes, the print controller that controls a plurality of print servers, and also controls the output processes, and the network that connects these constituents. It is made possible to determine the print server that executes the image output on the basis of the designated order of priorities. The image information is transmitted together with the print order, which are synthesized again on the designated print server.

Claims

1. A printing control system for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a plurality of print servers for controlling a highly precise output of image data by utilization of the image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

a print controller for receiving a print order from a client via the Internet and, when the received print order does not includes instruction information on print server selection, designating one of said plurality of print servers for executing a print process of image data accumulated on the image server by checking that an execution condition of said one print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

2. A printing control system according to claim 1, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

3. A printing control system according to claim 1, wherein said image data are divided into image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

4. A printing control system according to claim 3, wherein said client transmits to said print controller the information represented in the page description language containing said ID information.

5. A printing control system according to claim 1, wherein said image data are divided into image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions, and recorded in said image server, respectively.

6. A printing control system according to claim 5, wherein said printing control system further comprises the client for designating desired image printing, and

said client receives from said image server the image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions recorded in advance on said image server.

7. A printing control system according to claim 1, wherein said print controller comprises:

means for designating print server for specifying the image output to an appropriate print server; and

means for transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by said print server designating means.

8. A printing control system according to claim 7, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

9. A printing control system according to claim 1, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of output apparatus (printer) having the adaptability with respect to the distance from the client requesting the output or the time required for completing the output depending on the load condition of the print server executing the output or the resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting the contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including the intention of said client requesting the output.

10. A printing control system according to claim 9, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

11. A printing control system for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

an image server for accumulating image data; and

a print controller for receiving a print order from a client via the Internet and, when the received print order does not include instruction information on print server selection, designating one of a plurality of print servers for executing a print process of image data accumulated on said image server by checking that an execution condition of the one print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

12. A printing control system according to claim 11, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

13. A printing control system according to claim 11, wherein said image data are divided into image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

14. A printing control system according to claim 13, wherein said client transmits to said print controller the information represented in the page description language containing said ID information.

15. A printing control system according to claim 11, wherein said image data are divided into image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions, and recorded in said image server, respectively.

16. A printing control system according to claim 15, wherein said printing control system further comprises the client for designating desired image printing, and

said client receives from said image server the image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions recorded in advance on said image server.

17. A printing control system according to claim 11, wherein said print controller comprises:

means for designating print server for specifying the image output to an appropriate print server; and

means for transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by said print server designating means.

18. A printing control system according to claim 17, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server;

and image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

19. A printing control system according to claim 11, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of output apparatus (printer) having the adaptability with respect to the distance from the client requesting the output or the time required for completing the output depending on the load condition of the print server executing the output or the resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting the contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including the intention of said client requesting the output.

20. A printing control system according to claim 19, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

21. A print controller for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

reception means for receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

selection means for selecting a print server for executing a print process among a plurality of print servers so as to transmit the print order received by said reception means with image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

selection controlling means for, when the print order received by said reception means does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection means to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

22. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

23. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said image data are divided into the image tiles of small unit recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

24. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said image data is divided into the image tiles of small unit represented by plural kinds of resolutions and stored in said image server, respectively.

25. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said print controller comprises means for transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by print server designating means.

26. A print controller according to claim 25, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

27. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of output apparatus (printer) having the adaptability with respect to the distance from the client requesting the output or the time required for completing the output depending on the load condition of the print server executing the output or the resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting the contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including the intention of said client requesting the output.

28. A print controller according to claim 27, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

29. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said client transmits to said print controller the information represented in the page description language containing said ID information.

30. A print controller according to claim 21, wherein said client receives from said image server the image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions recorded in advance on said image server.

31. A method of controlling the print controller which provides an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a reception step of receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

a selection step of selecting a print server for executing a print process among a plurality of print servers so as to transmit the received print order with image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

a selection controlling step of, when the received print order does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection step to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

32. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

33. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said image data are divided into the image tiles of small unit recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

34. A print controlling method according to claim 33, further comprising:

the function of receiving information written in the page description language containing said ID information.

35. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said image data is divided into the image tiles of small unit represented by plural kinds of resolutions and stored in said image server, respectively.

36. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said controlling method is provided further with the function of transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by print server designating means.

37. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

38. A print controller according to claim 31, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of output apparatus (printer) having the adaptability with respect to the distance from the client requesting the output or the time required for completing the output depending on the load condition of the print server executing the output or the resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting the contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including the intention of said client requesting the output.

39. A controlling method according to claim 38, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

40. A controlling method according to claim 31, wherein said print controlling is executed by the print controller.

41. A storage medium having recorded thereon codes for implementing a computer implementable method of providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a reception step of receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

a selection step of selecting a print server for executing a print process among a plurality of print servers so as to transmit the received print order with image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

a selection controlling step of, when the received print order does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection step to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

42. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

43. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said image data are divided into the image tiles of small unit recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

44. A storage medium according to claim 43, further comprising;

the function for receiving the information written in the page description language containing said ID information.

45. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said image data is divided into the image tiles of small unit represented by plural kinds of resolutions and stored in said image server, respectively.

46. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said storage medium comprises means for transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by print server designating means.

47. A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

48. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of output apparatus (printer) having the adaptability with respect to the distance from the client requesting the output or the time required for completing the output depending on the load condition of the print server executing the output or the resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting the contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including the intention of said client requesting the output.

49. A storage medium according to claim 48, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

50. A storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said printing control is executed by the print controller.

51. A computer program for controlling a print controller which provides an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

program code for a reception step of receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

program code for a selection step of selecting a print server for executing a print process among a plurality of print servers so as to transmit the received print order with image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

program code for a selection controlling step of, when the received print order does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection step to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

52. A program according to claim 51, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

53. A program according to claim 51, wherein said image data are divided into the image tiles of small unit recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

54. A program according to claim 53, further comprising:

the function of receiving information written in the page description language containing said ID information.

55. A program according to claim 51, wherein said image data is divided into the image tiles of small unit represented by plural kinds of resolutions and stored in said image server, respectively.

56. A program according to claim 51, wherein said program is provided further with a function of transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by program code for a print server designating step by a print server.

57. A program according to claim 51, wherein said print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for synthesizing the output images again on the basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

;

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

58. A program according to claim 51, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with a function of an output apparatus (printer) having adaptability with respect to a distance from the client requesting an output or a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server executing the output or resolutions needed for output images and other image quality or meeting contents of output images, or provided with print server designating means for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including an intention of said client requesting the output.

59. A program according to claim 58, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

60. A program according to claim 51, wherein said print controlling is executed by the print controller.

61. A print controller for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a reception unit adapted for receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

a selection unit adapted for selecting a print server for executing a print process among a plurality of print servers so as to transmit the print order received by said reception unit with image data accumulated on an image server for accumulating image data; and

a selection controlling unit adapted for, when the print order received by said reception unit does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection unit to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including a plurality of parameters different from the instruction information.

62. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

63. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said image data are divided into the image tiles of small unit recorded in advance on said image server, and the ID information identifying them is transmitted.

64. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said image data is divided into the image tiles of small unit represented by plural kinds of resolutions and stored in said image server, respectively.

65. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said print controller comprises a transmitter adapted for transmitting page description language to transmit the information written in the page description language to the print server designated by print server designating means.

66. A print controller according to claim 65, wherein said print server comprises:

an image synthesizing device adapted for synthesizing the output images again on a basis of the page description language transmitted from said print controller, and of the image tiles divided into small units and transmitted from said image server; and

an image output device adapted for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing device.

67. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein when selecting said print server, said print controller is provided with the function of an output apparatus (printer) having an adaptability with respect to a distance from the client requesting an output or a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server executing the output or resolutions needed for the output images and other image quality or meeting contents of output images, or provided with a print server designating device adapted for determining an appropriate print server in accordance with various conditions including an intention of said client requesting the output.

68. A print controller according to claim 67, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with a provision of a priority order with respect to said various conditions.

69. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said client transmits to said print controller information represented in the page description language containing said ID information.

70. A print controller according to claim 61, wherein said client receives from said image server the image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions recorded in advance on said image server.

71. A print controller for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

reception means for receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

selection means for selecting a print server for executing a print process, from among a plurality of print servers, so as to transmit the print order received by said reception means with image data which is not received with the print order from the client; and

selection controlling means for, when the print order received by said reception means does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling said selection means to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including at least one parameter different from the instruction information.

72. A print controller according to claim 71, further comprising transmission means for transmitting information written in a page description language to the print server selected by said selection means.

73. A print controller according to claim 72, wherein the print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for again synthesizing output images to be output on a basis of the page description language transmitted by said transmission means, and of image tiles divided into small units; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

74. A print controller according to claim 71, wherein said selection means selects the print server in accordance with the execution condition including at least one of (a) a distance from the client, (b) a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server, (c) an adaptability for image quality including resolutions needed for the output images, (d) the function of an output apparatus (printer) corresponding to contents of the output images, and (e) an intention of the client requesting the output.

75. A print controller according to claim 74, wherein said selection means automatically selects the appropriate print server with a provision of a priority order with respect to the execution condition.

77. A controlling method according to claim 74, further comprising a transmission step, of transmitting information written in a page description language to the print server selected in said selection step.

78. A controlling method according to claim 77, wherein the print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for again synthesizing output images to be output on a basis of the page description language transmitted in said transmission step, and of image tiles divided into small units; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

76. A method of controlling a print controller which provides an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a reception step, of receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

a selection step, of selecting a print server for executing a print process, from among a plurality of print servers, so as to transmit the print order received in said reception step with image data which is not received with the print order from the client; and

a selection controlling step, of, when the print order received in said reception step does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling execution of said selection step so as to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including at least one parameter different from the instruction information.

79. A controlling method according to claim 76, wherein said selection step includes selecting the print server in accordance with the execution condition including at least one of (a) a distance from the client, (b) a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server, (c) an adaptability for image quality including resolutions needed for the output images, (d) the function of an output apparatus (printer) corresponding to contents of the output images, and (e) an intention of the client requesting the output.

80. A controlling method according to claim 79, wherein said selection step includes automatically selecting the appropriate print server with a provision of a priority order with respect to the execution condition.

81. A computer program for controlling a print controller which provides an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

program code for a reception step, of receiving a print order from a client via the Internet;

program code for a selection step, of selecting a print server for executing a print process, from among a plurality of print servers, so as to transmit the print order received in said reception step with image data which is not received with the print order from the client; and

program code for a selection controlling step, of, when the print order received in said reception step does not include instruction information on print server selection, controlling execution of said selection step so as to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including at least one parameter different from the instruction information.

82. A computer program according to claim 81, further comprising program code for a transmission step, of transmitting information written in a page description language to the print server selected in said selection step.

83. A computer program according to claim 82, wherein the print server comprises:

image synthesizing means for again synthesizing output images to be output on a basis of the page description language transmitted in said transmission step, and of image tiles divided into small units; and

image output means for outputting the images synthesized by said image synthesizing means.

84. A computer program according to claim 81, wherein said selection step includes selecting the print server in accordance with the execution condition including at least one of (a) a distance from the client, (b) a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server, (c) an adaptability for image quality including resolutions needed for the output images, (d) the function of an output apparatus (printer) corresponding to contents of the output images, and (e) an intention of the client requesting the output.

85. A computer program according to claim 84, wherein said selection step includes automatically selecting the appropriate print server with a provision of a priority order with respect to the execution condition.

86. A print controller for providing an online print service via an Internet, comprising:

a reception unit adapted to receive a print order from a client via the Internet;

a selection unit adapted to select a print server for executing a print process, for among a plurality of print servers, so as to transmit the print order received by said reception unit with image data which is not received with the print order from the client; and

a selection controlling unit adapted to control, when the print order received by said reception unit does not include instruction information on print server selection, said selection unit to select the print server for executing the print process by checking that an execution condition of the print server is satisfied, the execution condition including at least one parameter different from the instruction information.

87. A print controller according to claim 86, further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit information written in a page description language to the print server selected by said selection unit.

88. A print controller according to claim 87, wherein the print server comprises:

an image synthesizing device adapted again to synthesize output images to be output on a basis of the page description language transmitted by said transmitter, and of image tiles divided into small units; and

image output device adapted to output the images synthesized by said image synthesizing device.

89. A print controller according to claim 86, wherein said selection unit selects the print server in accordance with the execution condition including at least one of (a) a distance from the client, (b) a time required for completing the output depending on a load condition of the print server, (c) an adaptability for image quality including resolutions needed for the output images, (d) the function of an output apparatus (printer) corresponding to contents of the output images, and (e) an intention of the client requesting the output.

90. A print controller according to claim 89, wherein said selection unit automatically selects the appropriate print server with a provision of a priority order with respect to the execution condition.