Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-23
2001-08-21
Coles, Edward (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001130, C358S296000, C358S442000, C358S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278526
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system which reproduces inputted image data according to a selected operation mode.
(2) Related Art
A digital copying machine, which reproduces an image based on image data obtained by reading an original document using a scanner unit, subjects the image data to the necessary correction processing, processes the image data according to a designated copy mode, and reproduces the image on a copy sheet with a printer unit based on the processed image data.
After an operator designates a desired copy mode using hard keys or a touch panel which are provided on an operation panel, a control unit in the copier has the image data subjected to processing corresponding to the designated copy mode and has the processed image data printed out, thereby executing the desired copy mode.
However, in recent years, various kinds of image processing have become possible because of the digitalization of copiers, so that a variety of copy mode settings are now possible. To achieve such various copy modes, it is necessary to increase the capacity of a memory which stores programs for performing copy modes. However, it is comparatively high in cost to install a high-capacity memory into a general-purpose digital copier.
Even if the capacity of a memory were increased to enable data processing corresponding with various copy modes, there are cases where it is still difficult to provide all input means for designating the various copy modes on an operation panel, since the operation panel is provided within the limited available space at the front of the copier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Regarding the problems as described above, the object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system in which various copy modes can be set by an external control apparatus which is separate from the copier.
The above object can be achieved by an image processing system including an image forming apparatus and an external computer which are connected to each other. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit for controlling an image forming operation according to an image forming operation mode which is selected from a plurality of image forming operation modes, and a first operation mode selecting unit for selecting an image forming operation mode from predetermined image forming operation modes in the plurality of image forming operation modes. The external computer includes a second operation mode selecting unit for selecting an image forming operation mode from image forming operation modes including image forming operation modes that are not included in the predetermined image forming operation modes. As mentioned above, the external computer includes the second operation mode selecting unit for setting operation modes which cannot be set by the first mode selecting unit of the image forming apparatus, which enables selecting of additional print operation modes.
The above object can also be achieved by an image processing system including an image forming apparatus, an external computer, and an external image editing apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a first control unit for controlling an image forming operation according to an image forming operation mode which is selected from a first group of image forming operation modes. The external image editing apparatus includes a second control unit for controlling an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus according to an image forming operation mode which is selected from a second group of image forming operation modes. The external computer includes an operation mode recognizing unit for recognizing image forming operation modes included in the first group and image forming operation modes included in the second group, an operation mode selecting unit for selecting an image forming operation mode from the image forming operation modes in the first group and the second group recognized by the operation mode recognizing unit, and a determination unit for determining which of the first control unit and the second control unit is to perform the operation mode selected by the operation mode selecting unit.
The image processing system in the present invention having such a structure as mentioned above enables not only the first control unit of the image forming apparatus but the second control unit of the external image editing apparatus to perform operation modes. The external computer recognizes the operation modes of the image forming apparatus and the external image editing apparatus by its operation mode recognizing unit and determines which of the image forming apparatus and the external image editing apparatus should perform a mode selected by the operation mode selecting unit, which enables performing a desired operation mode. This increases the number of operation modes that can be set since additional operation modes are performed by the external image editing apparatus.
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Coles Edward
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Sidley & Austin
Wallerson Mark
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