Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-29
2001-07-03
Popovici, Dov (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256107
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system composed of a plurality of image forming devices which are connected with each other so that they reciprocally send/receive image data and the like through communication means, and particularly relates to an image forming system arranged so that an outputting job is allocated through a sole certain image forming device to other image forming devices of the image forming system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A digital copying machine reads an image of a document on its own, processes data of the image thus read (image information) under appropriately set conditions, and reproduces the image on a sheet of paper so as to output the image in a form of a hard copy.
There is an image forming system in which the digital copying machine is connected with a plurality image input devices through communication lines so that image data sent from the image input devices are reproduced and outputted in a form of a hard copy by the digital copying machine. Such an image forming system may include, other than the digital copying machine, a facsimile machine, a personal computer, a printer, a scanner, and the like.
For example, the Japanese Publication for Laid-Open Patent Application No. 53-116834/1978 (Tokukaisho 53-116834) discloses an image forming system in which a plurality of image reading devices and a plurality of image forming devices for reproducing image data are interconnected so as to transmit information. In the foregoing image forming system, image data read by the image reading device are transmitted to the image forming device through a single control unit, and the image data are reproduced by the image forming device receiving the image data. Thus, the image data read by one certain image reading device (scanner) are transferred to one certain image forming device, and the image data are reproduced and outputted in a form of a hard copy by the image forming device.
The Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-36592/1995 (Tokukohei 7-36592) discloses an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming devices each of which is equipped with an image reading device, an image processing unit, and an image forming unit are interconnected through communication means. In the foregoing image forming system, a set of image data to be reproduced is transmitted to the plural image forming devices interconnected with each other in the image forming system, so that the outputting job of the image data is allocated to the image forming devices in accordance with a set document image copy mode (copy mode), whereby the outputting of the image data in a form of a hard copy is performed by the image forming devices in parallel.
Such a conventional image forming system as described above, in producing hard copies, provides an advantage that an outputting time is reduced, since a necessary number of image forming devices are utilized and a job of producing a set number of copies is allocated to the image forming devices. However, in the case where a digital copying machine is adapted to be used as the foregoing image forming device, the following problems arise.
For example, in the case where other copying machines do not have a function for image processing now requested, an unexpected output is sometimes obtained when attempting to obtain the output in a hard copy form by utilizing the copying machines and allocating the outputting job to the copying machines. Besides, the conventional image forming system does not have means for informing an operator of a current output state, and hence, when such unexpected output is made, the operator cannot know it.
Furthermore, the greatest advantage of the output job allocation is that a job length, that is, a time for outputting operation is reduced, but this is not fully taken into consideration in the case of the conventional image forming system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system characterized in (1) having a network of a plurality of digital copying machines interconnected with each other, and (2) that burden borne by an operator is reduced in selecting a digital copying machine to which image data are allocated.
To achieve the above object, the image forming system of the present invention is characterized in comprising a first image forming device which an operator directly utilizes to set various conditions, and a plurality of second image forming devices connected with the first image forming device through a communication line, wherein the first image forming device includes a control section for searching the second image forming devices for any one capable of outputting in accordance with previously set conditions for outputting, allocating an outputting job and transferring image data to the second image forming device thus searched out so as to cause them to perform the allocated outputting job.
Since in the case where a large number of copies are to be produced, the foregoing system is capable of completing an outputting job by allocating it to the image forming devices connected through the communication line, an outputting time is shortened.
Here, the operator desirably sets conditions for outputting, including not only the number of copies to be produced but also formats outputted, by utilizing the first image forming device the operator directly uses. For example, the operator sets a magnification rate, image editing conditions, and the like. The first image forming device searches a plurality of the image forming devices interconnected for those capable of outputting in accordance with the set conditions, and transfers image data to the image forming devices thus searched out.
By doing so, output the operator desires can be obtained from the second image forming devices to which the outputting job is allocated, and output the operator does not desire never occurs. Besides, since the operator merely sets the conditions in order to obtain desired output, the burden borne by the operator decreases.
Another image forming system to achieve the aforementioned object is characterized in comprising a first image forming device which an operator directly utilizes to set various conditions, and a plurality of second image forming devices connected with the first image forming device through a communication line, wherein the first image forming device includes (1) a control section for searching the second image forming devices and selecting any ones capable of outputting in accordance with previously set conditions for outputting, (2) a display section for displaying information about the selected second image forming devices, and (3) a setting section for allowing the operator to arbitrarily select any ones to be used for performing the outputting operation from among the selected second image forming devices, referring to the displayed information, wherein the control section allocates an outputting job, and transfers image data to the second image forming devices thus selected so as to cause them to perform the allocated outputting job.
With the foregoing image forming system, the processing efficiency is further enhanced since the operator is allowed to select image forming devices which are the most convenient for the operator. For example, in the case where the second image forming devices selected by the control section include one placed at a remote location from the first image forming device, the operator can exclude the second image forming device at the remote location from a list of the selected second image forming devices. By doing so, the operator does not have to go to a remote location to fetch the hard copies.
Furthermore, in the case where the selected second image forming devices have image processing functions the operator further desires, the operator is allowed to further requests image processing by such functions. In other words, the image processing functions of the selected image forming devices can be fully utilized, whereby an output in a format the operator fu
Conlin David G.
Dike Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman LLP
Garcia Gabriel I.
Popovici Dov
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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