Image processing system, information processing apparatus, control method of the information processing apparatus, and storage medium for storing program for implementing the control method

• US 20020196452A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Komiya, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/007 only remotely, e.g. at a host computer dedicated computer interfaces to print systems G06F3/1201
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax

Abstract

An information processing apparatus receives image data and an output condition. The information processing apparatus combines additional data to the received data and enables a first output device to perform the test printing based on the output condition. After the user checks the result of the test printing, the information processing apparatus enables a second image output device to perform the actual printing of the image data based on the output condition. A charge for the test printing is accounted in accordance with the combined additional information.

Claims

1. An image processing system for outputting image data based on a designated output condition, comprising:

combining means for combining additional data to said image data;

a first image processing device for outputting the image data combined by said combining means based on said output condition; and

a second image processing device for outputting said image data based on said output condition after outputting said image data by said first image processing device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first image processing device is operated independently of said second image processing device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said output condition includes at least one of information on output sheet size, a type of output sheet, page layout, color/monochrome, resolution, binding, designation of said first image processing device, output date of said designated first image processing device, designation of said second image processing device, and output date of said designated second image processing device.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting means for detecting an area of a margin of an output medium which outputs said image data,

wherein said combining means combines said additional data to said image data in accordance with the area of the margin of the output medium, which is detected by said detecting means.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

user information storing means for storing user information which designates said output condition,

wherein said combining means combines to said image data, the additional data selected from a plurality of pieces of said additional data in accordance with the information stored in said user information storing means.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein a charge for the output of said first image processing device is calculated based on the additional data which is combined to said image data by said combining means.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said additional data is advertisement data.

8. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an output condition to output image data; and

transmitting means for transmitting said image data and said output condition,

wherein said transmitting means transmits said image data and said output condition to a destination designated by said detected output condition so as to generate first job data for outputting combined image data obtained by combining additional data to said image data in accordance with said output condition detected by said detecting means, based on said output condition, or so as to generate second job data for outputting said image data based on said output condition.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first job data is outputted by a first image output device, and

said second job data is outputted by a second image output device different from said first image output device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output condition includes at least one of information on output sheet size, a type of output sheet, page layout, color/monochrome, resolution, binding, designation of said first image output device for outputting said first job data, output date of said designated first image output device, designation of said second image output device for outputting said second job data, and output date of said designated second image output device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said combined image data is formed by combining to said image data said additional data selected in accordance with an area of a margin of an output medium which outputs said image data.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said combined image data is formed by combining to said image data the additional data selected in accordance with user information which designates said output condition.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a charge for the output of said first job data is calculated based on the additional data which is combined to said image data.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the printing request received by the service center comprises the print data.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the printing options comprise performing printing of a test job.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the network is the Internet.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the service center and the printing provider are one in the same.

14. A control method of an information processing apparatus, said control method comprising the steps of:

detecting an output condition for outputting image data; and

transmitting said image data and said output condition,

to a destination which is designated under said detected output condition so as to generate first job data for outputting combined image data obtained by combining additional data to said image data in accordance with said output condition detected in said detecting step or so as to generate second job data for outputting said image data based on said output condition.

15. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program for implementing a control method of an information processing apparatus communicable with a plurality of image output devices, wherein said program comprises the steps of:

detecting an output condition for outputting image data;

transmitting said image data and said output condition,

to a destination which is designated under said detected output condition so as to generate first job data for outputting combined image data obtained by combining additional data to said image data in accordance with said output condition detected in said detecting step or so as to generate second job data for outputting said image data based on said output condition.

16. A method of printing over a network, comprising the steps of:

a service center receiving a printing request from a user terminal;

the service center transmitting information to the user terminal for inputting of printing options;

the service center receiving, from the user terminal, the input printing options;

the service center transmitting confirmation information to the user terminal for confirmation of the printing options;

the service center receiving confirmation of the printing options from the user terminal, and in response thereto, transmitting print data and the printing options to a print provider; and

the print provider printing the print data with additional data based on the printing options, thereafter, printing the print data without the additional data based on the printing options, and providing a completed print job to a receiving party.

21. A server terminal for printing service provider, comprising:

a processor that executes computer-executable process steps; and

a memory that stores the computer-executable process steps, wherein the computer-executable process steps comprise the steps of (a) receiving a printing request from a user terminal, (b) in response to the received printing request, transmitting information to the user terminal for inputting of printing options, (c) receiving, from the user terminal, the input printing options, (d) transmitting confirmation information to the user terminal for confirmation of the printing options, (e) receiving confirmation of the printing options from the user terminal, (f) in response to receiving the confirmation, transmitting print data, and the printing options to a print provider, (g) printing the print data with additional data based on the printing options, (h) thereafter, printing the print data without the additional data based on the printing options, and (i) providing a completed print job to a receiving party.

22. Computer-executable process steps for printing over a network, comprising the steps of:

a service center receiving a printing request from a user terminal;

the service center transmitting information to the user terminal for inputting of printing options;

the service center receiving, from the user terminal, the input printing options;

the service center transmitting confirmation information to the user terminal for confirmation of the printing options;

the service center receiving confirmation of the printing options from the user terminal, and in response thereto, transmitting print data and the printing options to a print provider; and

the print provider printing the print data with additional data based on the printing options, thereafter, printing the print data without the additional data based on the printing options, and providing a completed print job to a receiving party.

23. A computer-readable medium on which are stored computer-executable process steps for printing over a network, the computer executable process steps comprising the steps of:

a service center receiving a printing request from a user terminal;

the service center transmitting information to the user terminal for inputting of printing options;

the service center receiving, from the user terminal, the input printing options;

the service center transmitting confirmation information to the user terminal for confirmation of the printing options;

the service center receiving confirmation of the printing options from the user terminal, and in response thereto, transmitting print data and the printing options to a print provider; and

the print provider printing the print data with additional data based on the printing options, thereafter, printing the print data without the additional data based on the printing options, and providing a completed print job to a receiving party.