Network system, information processing apparatus, and...

Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C358S001130, C358S001140

Reexamination Certificate

active

06631008

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a network system, information processing apparatus, and information memory medium which convert image data transmitted from an information terminal connected to the same line, into print data for printing to a corresponding printer.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, a plurality of printers are often connected to a network, and image information handled by a terminal of, for example, a personal computer or the like, is printed using any one of the printers.
For image information handled by the above-mentioned computer, there are many still images and moving images obtained via, for example, the Internet, and the these types of images are often high quality images of many gray scales and high resolution.
However, in order to print this type of high image quality image data, it is necessary to perform a process of converting image data to print data suitable to the desired image quality. Therefore, a printer with a high processing capability is required.
However, many printers of various types are often attached to the network, and it is rare that all of the printers attached to the network have the above-mentioned processing capability.
Therefore, it is conceivable that an image processing server of a printer of low processing capability is attached to the network. Once image data which is output from the computer is inserted into the image processing server and print data is generated, this print data is transmitted to the low capability printer via a circuit and is printed.
However, when performed as such, the relationship between the image processing server and the printer is fixed. Because of this, the optimum printer cannot be determined or used while considering the conditions of use of all printers connected to the network. As a result, the problem arises of not being able to effectively use the plurality of printers connected to the network.
In addition, as described above, the relationship between the server and each printer is fixed. In the case of an additional new printer connected to the network, the server may not be able to correspond flexibly with the new printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention reflects upon these types of problems, and has an objective of providing a network system, information processing apparatus and information memory medium, which can effectively select the optimum printers from among the plurality of printer connected to the network based on the quality of printing image data and the availability of each printer to perform a printing operation.
To achieve the above objective, the invention may include a server which receives a printing instruction and image data for printing which are transmitted from a terminal, and at least one printer which is connected to the server through a wire. The server may include a printer server to output a device information inquiry signal based upon a printing instruction from the terminal. The printer server selects a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon device information which is received from each device in response to the inquiry signal.
The server may also include an image processing server which performs data conversion processing in order to convert image data from the terminal to printing data and transmits the printing data, which is formed by the data conversion processing, to the selected printer.
The printer may include a device information transmission control device which, in response to the device information inquiry signal, transmits the device information, including the printer's own classification information, to the server, and prints printing data received from the image processing server.
Furthermore, an information processing apparatus may be included that may receive a printing instruction and image data for printing which are transmitted from a terminal. The information processing apparatus may include a printer server which outputs a device information inquiry signal based upon a printing instruction from the terminal. The printer server selects a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon the device information which is received from each device corresponding to the inquiry signal.
An image processing server may be included that performs data conversion processing to convert image data from the terminal to printing data and transmits printing data formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer.
Moreover, an information memory medium may be included for controlling an information processing apparatus that can receive a printing instruction and image data for printing that are transmitted from a terminal.
The information memory medium may include information to output a device information inquiry signal based upon a printing instruction from a terminal and select a printer for an intended printing data transmission based upon device information which is received from each device in response to the inquiry signal. The information memory medium may also include information for performing data conversion processing to convert image data from the terminal to printing data and transmit the printing data that is formed by the data conversion processing to the selected printer.
The aforementioned image data is, for example, image data and the like which is retrieved from a network, such as the Internet or the like, image data obtained from image output devices, such as video cameras, electronic cameras and the like, or image data which is read-out from various types of memory apparatuses.
A printing instruction and image data for printing may be transmitted from a terminal to the server. First of all, the server outputs a device information inquiry signal to each printer or the like, based upon a printing instruction.
Any processor which responds to an inquiry signal from the server is an option selection for printing data from the network. This includes a response from an unknown processor or upgraded processor. Thus, if a user disconnects a printer, which is selected as a match to the printing data from the network, the network can re-submit the printing data to another printer that has responded to the inquiry signal as a match selected for printing.
Each printer transmits device information including its own classification information to a server in response to the inquiry signal. Based upon the device information from each printer, the server selects a printer for the intended printing data transmission. That is, from among the printers which are suitable as to the image quality of the image data, a printer which currently has the least printing delay is selected as the printer for the intended printing data transmission. Furthermore, the server directs the printing of printing data for each printer so that the printing delay of each printer described above, can be determined based upon the data which the server has acquired. In addition, when a plurality of servers exist, since the plurality of servers direct the printing operation, each server can determine the printing delay period of each printer, based upon the data which all of the servers have collected by using a configuration which performs sending and receiving of data between each server as needed.
As described above, the server can function as a printer server to determine the most appropriate printer from among a plurality of printers connected to the network when a printing instruction is transmitted from a terminal.
Next, the server performs data conversion processing to convert image data from the terminal to printing data, and the printing data which is formed is transmitted to the selected printer. In other words, the server functions as an image processing server.
Furthermore, the data conversion processing includes, for example, processing to convert RGB image data to CMYK, processing to develop characters and lines into a bit map, image processing, such as color conversion processing, to convert color according to printer type, printer language conversion pro

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