Typewriting machines – Including control of format by programmed-control-system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-16
2001-10-09
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format by programmed-control-system
C400S070000, C400S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299364
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 251632/1997 filed on Sep. 17, 1997, No. 251633/1997 filed on Sep. 17, 1997, and No. 251634/1997 filed on Sep. 17, 1997, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of printing and a printing system for printing an image on the basis of an image data contained in an image file. The image file is specified by a user and transmitted from his or her data processor to a printer through a telecommunication line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With an increase in image software and with the spread of communication between personal computers, it is becoming possible for the user of a personal computer to allow any kind of images to be displayed on the screen of his or her personal computer. The availability of high-performance printers which are relatively inexpensive in cost makes it easy to print the images.
Some of the high-performance printers are capable of printing out color images in large-sized copy with picture quality approximating to that of silver photography. However, it should be realized that it would be expensive for a common user to personally possess such an extra-high-performance printer.
A printing system for solving the aforesaid problem has heretofore been proposed (as disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 9-39311), where a plurality of personal computers are connected to an extra-high-performance color printer by means of a telecommunication line so that the color printer may be put to common use by the users of the personal computers.
FIG. 20
depicts a conventional printing system
800
comprising personal computers
802
a
to
802
c
, high-performance color printer
804
, printer controller
805
for controlling the color printer
804
, display
803
attached to the printer controller
805
, and telecommunication line
806
. The personal computers
802
a
to
802
c
are provided at the residences of users, while the color printer
804
and the printer controller
805
are installed, e.g., in a convenience store.
Let it be assumed that the user of the personal computer
802
a
wishes to print out an image. He or she inputs an image file DFa, an instruction for giving advance notice of printing, and his or her name.
The personal computer
802
a
gives an image file number
903
a
to the image file DFa and transmits a headder file
902
a
, which consists of the user's name and the image file number
903
a
, to the printer controller
805
and the color printer
804
, in both of which headder files
902
a
to
902
c
transmitted from the personal computers
802
a
to
802
c
are stored. At this point of time, the image file DFa per se has not been transmitted to the printer controller
805
and the color printer
804
as yet.
The user of the personal computer
802
a
goes to the convenience store in which the printer controller
805
and the color printer
804
are installed, because he or she has to give to them a command to execute a printing process. He or she finds out his or her name and image file number
903
a
from among a plurality of users' names and image file numbers
903
a
to
903
c
displayed on the screen of the display
803
attached to the printer controller
805
, and inputs an instruction for causing the color printer
804
to execute the printing process for the image file number
903
a
. Then the image file DFa is transmitted from the personal computer
802
a
to the color printer
804
and stored in a memory
807
incorporated therein. Thereafter, the printing process is executed.
Because of a plurality of users' names and,image file numbers
903
a
to
903
c
displayed on the screen of the display
803
, it is difficult to preclude the possibility of a wrong image file number being chosen by mistake.
A further previously proposed printing system (see Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 7-14326) has been designed such that an image file transmitted from a client to a server is erased when a request for the image file is not made from a printer within a prescribed length of time.
A particular advantage obtained from this printing system resides in the fact that the necessity of storing a large number of image files, for which printing processes are not executed, is avoided.
On the other hand, one of the problems encountered with this printing system is that an image file, for which the execution of a printing process is necessary but has been delayed for some reason or other, is also erased.
In order to cope with the aforesaid problem, information on whether consent to the erasion is given or withheld may be regarded as suitable for being added to an image file when it is transmitted from a client to a server. The use of such information is, however, undesirable because many users will aimlessly withhold their consent to the erasion. The result is that a large number of image files will have to be stored in a memory.
The conventional printing system
800
shown in
FIG. 20
has another disadvantage which is derived from the fact that the image file DFa is not transmitted from a personal computer to the color printer
804
until the user of the personal computer inputs an instruction for causing the color printer
804
to execute the printing process. This means that execution has to be suspended while waiting for the image file DFa from the personal computer.
As is known, the capacity of an image file and the time required for transmitting it from a personal computer to the color printer
804
are proportional to the size and the desired picture quality of an image. Long waiting time comes to nothing and adversely affects the productive capacity of the color printer
804
.
As an alternative to the foregoing, all the image files DFa for which it may possibly be found desirable to execute printing processes in the future may be transmitted beforehand from the personal computer
802
a
to the color printer
804
. This alternative is, however, undesirable because it requires a large-capacity memory to be incorporated in the color printer
804
for storing a large number of image files DFa and will thereby result in high costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with eliminating these difficulties. As such, the primary object of the invention is to provide a printing system of the character referred to in which the user of a personal computer is prevented from obtaining a printout on the basis of another user's image file by mistake.
Another object of the invention is to provide a printing system of the character referred to in which the necessity of storing a large number of image files, for which printing processes are not executed, is avoided.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing system of the character referred to in which the necessity of providing a large-capacity memory in a printer is obviated and a printing process can be executed in the printer without waiting for a data file from a personal computer.
The printing system in accordance with the invention comprises a first data processor for transmitting a data file on the basis of which a user wishes to print out an image in hard copy and for transmitting a data code for distinguishing the data file from others, a second data processor connected to the first data processor by means of a telecommunication line, and a printer connected to the second data processor and adapted to execute a printing process on the basis of the data file. The second data processor includes identification (ID) code transmitting means for allotting an ID code to a data file or files or a data code or codes received from the first data processor and transmitting the ID code to the first data processor. The printer includes input means for entering data codes and ID codes. A data file transmitted from the first data processor to the second data processor is not transmitted from the second data processor to the printer unless a data code and an ID code tran
Ikenoue Yoshikazu
Maruta Syuji
Hilten John S.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Nolan, Jr. Charles H.
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