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 20030184791A1
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: MITANI, SHIGEYUKI
• Granted Patent: US 6,654,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 comprises 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 net work 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 printing image data, comprising:

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

a print controller for designating the print server for receiving the transmission of image data from said image server on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of each of the print servers prior to printing.

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 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.

5. 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.

6. A printing control system according to claim 5, 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.

7. 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.

8. A printing control system according to claim 7, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

9. 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.

10. A printing control system according to claim 4, 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.

11. A printing control system for printing image data, comprising:

an image server accumulating image data; and

a print controller for designating the print server for receiving the transmission of image data from said image server on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of each of the print servers prior to printing.

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 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.

15. 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.

16. A printing control system according to claim 15, 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.

17. 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.

18. A printing control system according to claim 17, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

19. 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.

20. A printing control system according to claim 14, 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.

21. A print controller comprising:

selection means for selecting a plurality of print servers for controlling the image data output by the utilization of the image data accumulated on the image server for accumulating image data; and

selection controlling means for controlling the selection of the print server for receiving the image data transmitted from said image server selected by said selection means on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of each print server.

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. An image server for accumulating image data, comprising:

transmission control means for transmitting the desired images to the print server determined on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of print server among a plurality of print servers for controlling the highly precise output of image data by the utilization of the image data accumulated on said image server prior to printing in accordance with the designation from the client designating the desired image printing.

32. An image server 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. An image server 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. An image server 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.

35. An image server according to claim 31, wherein said image server is further provided with a print controller, comprising:

print server designation means for designating 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 print server designating means.

36. An image server according to claim 35, 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.

37. An image server according to claim 35, 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.

38. An image server according to claim 37, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

39. An image server according to claim 31, wherein said client transmits to said print controller the information represented in the page description language containing said ID information.

40. An image server according to claim 31, 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.

41. An information processing apparatus for designating the desired image printing, comprising:

determination means for determining the selection of either the direct designation of a print server for controlling image data output or the designation of conditions of selecting a print server;

selection means for selecting the print server for controlling the image output when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the print server direction;

condition defining means for defining said conditions when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the conditions of selecting the print server; and

print requesting means for preparing a print order on the basis of the conditions defined by the print server selected by said selection means or defined by said condition defining means, and transmitting said print order to the print controller.

42. An information processing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising:

reception means for receiving image data of lower resolutions for editing use from the image server; and

editing means for editing the image data from said reception means to create the editing information indicating the contents of the editing, and

said print requesting means transmits to the print controller the editing information created by said editing means and said print order together.

43. An information processing apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the image data received from said image server are divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

44. An information processing apparatus according to claim 42, said editing information is provided with the ID information for identifying the image data required for said editing.

45. An information processing apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said editing information is written in the script form.

46. An information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said conditions contain at least either one of the distance from said information apparatus, the time required for completing the output depending on the loading status of the print server for executing the output, and the resolutions and other image quality required for image output.

47. An information processing apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising:

print server defining means for defining the parameters corresponding to said conditions of said print server; and

registration means for registering said parameters defined by said print server defining means on the print server management table stored on said print controller.

48. An information processing apparatus according to claim 47 wherein said print controller determines the print server at the destination of printing output of said print order on the basis of the parameters registered on said print server management table by said registration means.

49. An information processing apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said editing is the mosaic process, the gradation process, color conversion, and gradation conversion process or the processes of adding templates, stamps, illustrations and other data.

50. An information processing apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said information apparatus is connected with said print controller or said image server through the internet.

51. A method for controlling the print controller, comprising:

selection means for selecting a plurality of print servers for controlling the image data output by the utilization of the image data accumulated on the image server for accumulating image data; and

selection controlling means for controlling the selection of the print server for receiving the image data transmitted from said image server selected by said selection means on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of each print server.

52. A controlling method 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 controlling method 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 controlling method 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.

55. A controlling method according to claim 51, 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.

56. A controlling method 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.

57. A print controller according to claim 51, 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.

58. A controlling method according to claim 57, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

59. A print controlling method according to claim 53, further comprising:

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

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

61. A method for controlling the print controller, comprising:

the function for receiving designation from the client designating the desired image printing; and

the function for controlling the transmission to transmit said desired images to the print server determined on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of print server among a plurality of print servers for controlling the highly precise output of image data by the utilization of the accumulated imaged data prior to printing control in accordance with said designation.

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

63. A controlling method according to claim 61, 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.

64. A controlling method according to claim 61, wherein said method utilizes the image data divided into image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions, and recorded, respectively.

65. A controlling method for controlling the information processing apparatus for designating desired image printing, comprising:

determination means for determining the selection of either the direct designation of a print server for controlling image data output or the designation of conditions of selecting a print server;

selection means for selecting the print server for controlling the image output when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the print server direction;

condition defining means for defining said conditions when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the conditions of selecting the print server; and

print requesting means for preparing a print order on the basis of the conditions defined by the print server selected by said selection means or defined by said condition defining means, and transmitting said print order to the print controller.

66. A controlling method according to claim 65, wherein said controlling method, further comprising:

reception means for receiving from the image server the image data of lower resolutions for editing use; and

editing means for editing the image data from said reception means to create the editing information indicating the contents of the editing, and

said print requesting means transmits to the print controller the editing information created by said editing means and said print order together.

67. A controlling method according to claim 66, wherein the image data received from said image server are divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

68. A controlling method according to claim 66, said editing information is provided with the ID information for identifying the image data required for said editing.

69. A controlling method according to claim 68, wherein said editing information is written in the script form.

70. A controlling method according to claim 65, wherein said conditions contain at least either one of the distance from said information apparatus, the time required for completing the output depending on the loading status of the print server for executing the output, and the resolutions and other image quality required for image output.

71. A controlling method according to claim 65, further comprising:

print server defining means for defining the parameters corresponding to said conditions of said print server; and

registration means for registering said parameters defined by said print server defining means on the print server management table stored on said print controller.

72. A controlling method according to claim 71 wherein said print controller determines the print server at the destination of printing output of said print order on the basis of the parameters registered on said print server management table by said registration means.

73. A controlling method according to claim 65, wherein said editing is the mosaic process, the gradation process, color conversion, and gradation conversion process or the processes of adding templates, stamps, illustrations and other data.

74. A controlling method according to claim 66, wherein said information apparatus is connected with said print controller or said image server through the internet.

the function for receiving designation from the client designating the desired image printing;

the function for controlling the transmission to transmit said desired images to the print server determined on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of print server among a plurality of print servers for controlling the highly precise output of image data by the utilization of the accumulated imaged data prior to printing control in accordance with said designation.

75. A storage medium comprising:

selection means for selecting a plurality of print servers for controlling the image data output by the utilization of the image data accumulated on the image server for accumulating image data; and

selection controlling means for controlling the selection of the print server for receiving the image data transmitted from said image server selected by said selection means on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of each print server.

76. A storage medium according to claim 75, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

77. A storage medium according to claim 75, 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.

78. A storage medium according to claim 75, 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.

79. A storage medium according to claim 75, 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.

80. A storage medium according to claim 79, 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.

81. A storage medium according to claim 75, 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.

82. A storage medium according to claim 81, wherein the appropriate print server is automatically selected with the provision of the priority order with respect to said various conditions.

83. A storage medium according to claim 77, further comprising;

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

84. A storage medium according to claim 75, wherein said printing control is executed by the print controller.

85. A storage medium, comprising:

the function for receiving designation from the client designating the desired image printing; and

the function for controlling the transmission to transmit said desired images to the print server determined on the basis of information different from the information designating the selection of print server among a plurality of print servers for controlling the highly precise output of image data by the utilization of the accumulated imaged data prior to printing control in accordance with said designation.

86. A storage medium according to claim 85, wherein said image data are transmitted after being divided into image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

87. A storage medium according to claim 85, 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.

88. A storage medium according to claim 85, wherein said medium utilizes the image data divided into image tiles of small units represented in plural kinds of resolutions, and recorded, respectively.

89. A storage medium storing the program for controlling the information processing apparatus for designating desired image printing, comprising:

determination means for determining the selection of either the direct designation of a print server for controlling image data output or the designation of conditions of selecting a print server;

selection means for selecting the print server for controlling the image output when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the print server direction;

condition defining means for defining said conditions when the selection is made by said determination means to designate the conditions of selecting the print server; and

print requesting means for preparing a print order on the basis of the conditions defined by the print server selected by said selection means or defined by said condition defining means, and transmitting said print order to the print controller.

90. A storage medium according to claim 89, wherein said controlling method, further comprising:

reception means for receiving from the image server the image data of lower resolutions for editing use; and

editing means for editing the image data from said reception means to create the editing information indicating the contents of the editing, and

said print requesting means transmits to the print controller the editing information created by said editing means and said print order together.

91. A storage medium according to claim 90, wherein the image data received from said image server are divided into the image tiles of small units recorded in advance on said image server.

92. A storage medium according to claim 90, said editing information is provided with the ID information for identifying the image data required for said editing.

93. A storage medium according to claim 91, wherein said editing information is written in the script form.

94. A storage medium according to claim 89, wherein said conditions contain at least either one of the distance from said information apparatus, the time required for completing the output depending on the loading status of the print server for executing the output, and the resolutions and other image quality required for image output.

95. A storage medium according to claim 89, further comprising:

print server defining means for defining the parameters corresponding to said conditions of said print server; and

registration means for registering said parameters defined by said print server defining means on the print server management table stored on said print controller.

96. A storage medium according to claim 95, wherein said print controller determines the print server at the destination of printing output of said print order on the basis of the parameters registered on said print server management table by said registration means.

97. A storage medium according to claim 89, wherein said editing is the mosaic process, the gradation process, color conversion, and gradation conversion process or the processes of adding templates, stamps, illustrations and other data.

98. A storage medium according to claim 90, wherein said storage medium is connected with said print controller or said image server through the internet.