Abstract:
A scanner is connected to a printer to form a simple copying system in which the printer is controlled from the scanner. In one aspect of the invention, the scanner queries the printer to learn features implemented in the printer, and constructs a menu enabling a user of the scanner to control use of the printer&#39;s features, so that the scanner can be connected to a variety of printers without the need for firmware modifications. In another aspect of the invention, the printer has an accounting feature and manages printing fees according to account identifiers input by the scanner, eliminating the need to use copy cards to collect copying fees.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an image printing system, image input apparatus, and printing apparatus, more particularly to an image copying system comprising an apparatus such as a scanner connected to a separate apparatus such as a printer.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    It is known art to connect a scanner and a printer to function as a simple copying system in which an image is input by the scanner, transmitted to the printer, and printed, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-37014. In a conventional system of this type, the scanner and printer both have options that the user can select from menus, and the scanner&#39;s menu includes printing options configured to match the options of a particular type of printer, so that the scanner can control the printer without intervention by a host device such as a personal computer. The menus are generated by firmware in the scanner and printer.  
           [0005]    Dedicated copying machines, also referred to as copiers, often use copy cards to collect copying fees and restrict use of the copier to paying users. Some printers also have accounting features for restricting usage and calculating printing fees.  
           [0006]    A problem in the simplified copying system described above is that the system is limited to the type of printer for which the scanner&#39;s menu system is configured. Accordingly, unless the scanner&#39;s firmware is altered, the system may be limited to a single type of printer. Altering the scanner&#39;s firmware is a major undertaking, and a separate alteration must be made for each type of printer to which the scanner is connected.  
           [0007]    A problem with the use of copy cards to collect copying fees and restrict the usage of copiers is that the copier must be equipped with a copy card reader, which increases the cost of the copier.  
           [0008]    The accounting features of known printers are adapted to charge fees for printing jobs received from a personal computer or server, but not from a scanner. There has accordingly been no accounting procedure for a simplified copying system comprising a printer connected directly to a scanner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In a simple copying system comprising a printing apparatus connected to and controlled from an image input apparatus, one object of the present invention is to enable the image input apparatus to adapt to modifications in the features of the printing apparatus without requiring firmware changes.  
           [0010]    Another object is to provide the simple copying system with a low-cost accounting function that does not require the use of copy cards.  
           [0011]    The invention provides an image input apparatus having an information input unit for input of information other than image information. The image input apparatus is connected to a printing apparatus that operates according to the information input by the information input unit of the image input apparatus. For example, the printing apparatus may have a setting unit for setting printing conditions according to this information.  
           [0012]    According to one aspect of the invention, the image input apparatus has an acquisition unit for acquiring, from the printing apparatus, information concerning functions of the printing apparatus, and a display unit for displaying prompts for input of information concerning these functions. Information received by the information input unit in response to the prompts is sent to the printing apparatus, which controls its functions according to the input information. The functions controlled in this way may include hardware functions directly concerned with printing, and an accounting function concerned with printing fees. Since the image input apparatus begins by learning what functions the printing apparatus has from the printing apparatus itself, the image input apparatus can adapt to a variety of different types of printing apparatus.  
           [0013]    According to another aspect of the invention, the information input by the information input unit of the image input apparatus includes information identifying a user of the apparatus. The printing apparatus has an accounting function in which the identifying information is used. Copying service may be refused, for example, if the identifying information has not already been registered in the printing apparatus, or in the image input apparatus. If the identifying information has already been registered, fees may be charged according to, for example, the number of pages copied. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    In the attached drawings:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of an image printing system according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the scanner in the first embodiment;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a printer information table used in the first embodiment;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printer in the first embodiment;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the display procedure of the scanner in the first embodiment;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the acquisition of printer device information in the first embodiment;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the setting of the printing environment of the printer in the first embodiment;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 illustrates a printer information table used in a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the printer in the second embodiment;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 illustrates the data structure of an accounting command in the second embodiment;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 illustrates an accounting command with fixed contents;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the scanner in a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the printer in the third embodiment;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the scanner in the third embodiment;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printer in the third embodiment;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a-block diagram of the scanner in a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the printer in the fourth embodiment;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the entry of account identifier information in the scanner in the fourth embodiment;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the copying and of identification information from the scanner to the printer in the fourth embodiment;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the scanner in the fourth embodiment;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printer in the fourth embodiment;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the scanner in a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 23 is a block diagram of the printer in the fifth embodiment;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 24 illustrates the structure of an account identifier information query command in the fifth embodiment;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 25 illustrates the structure of a command replying to the command in FIG. 24;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 26 shows an example of an account identifier information query command in the fifth embodiment;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the scanner in the fifth embodiment;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 28 shows an example of a reply to the command in FIG. 26;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 29 shows another example of a reply to the command in FIG. 26; and  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printer in the fifth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which like elements are indicated by like reference characters.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 1, each embodiment that will be described below is an image printing system comprising a scanner  10  connected by a cable  20  to a printer  30 . The scanner  10  includes a lamp for illuminating a document, a lens, and an imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or imaging tube that scans and captures an image of the illuminated document through the lens. The document may be a printed document, a photograph, or any other type of document. The scanner  10  may be any type of scanner, e.g., a flatbed scanner, a sheet-feed scanner, a hand-held scanner, or a drum scanner. The scanner  10  is preferably a color scanner capable of capturing color images, but a monochrome scanner may be used instead. The scanner  10  also includes a computing device such as a central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor unit (MPU), a memory comprising, for example, one or more semiconductor memory devices, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light-emitting diode (LED) display, an input unit such as a keypad, pushbutton control panel, or touch panel, and a communication interface.  
         [0047]    The printer  30  may be either a monochrome or a color printer and may use any type of image forming method, such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, a wire dot impact method, an ink ribbon method, or a thermal transfer method. The printer  30  also includes a computing device such as a CPU or MPU, a semiconductor memory or other type of memory, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an LED display, an input unit such as a keypad, pushbutton control panel, or touch panel, and a communication interface.  
         [0048]    The cable  20  may be, for example, a so-called Centronics cable conforming to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1284 standard, a universal serial bus (USB) cable conforming to the USB standard, a cable conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard, or a {fraction (10/100)} Base T cable for a local area network (LAN).  
         [0049]    In the copying system in FIG. 1, the scanner  10  scans a document and transmits the resulting image data through the cable  20  to the printer  30 , which prints a copy of the document on paper or other printing media.  
         [0050]    Next, a first embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.  2  to  7 .  
         [0051]    Referring to FIG. 2, the scanner  10  in the first embodiment comprises a scanning unit  11  for scanning a document to obtain image data, an image processing unit  12  that carries out image processing on the image data, an operation panel  13  on which a copy mode can be specified and copy operations performed, a command analyzer  14  for analyzing commands received from the printer  30 , a command generator  15  for generating commands to be sent to the printer  30 , an operation panel controller  16  for displaying a copy operation menu according to printing options implemented in the printer  30 , an external interface controller  17  for controlling data transfer between the scanner  10  and printer  30  by carrying out a protocol for sending and receiving commands bidirectionally between the scanner  10  and printer  30 , a printer information storage unit  18  for storing printer information received from the printer  30 , and a scanner controller  19  that controls the overall operation of the scanner  10  by controlling each of the preceding elements  11 - 18 . The operation panel  13  functions as both an information input unit and a display unit; the command analyzer  14  functions as an acquisition unit.  
         [0052]    The external interface controller  17  may be adapted for control of any type of interface, including the IEEE 1284 interface, USB interface, IEEE 1394 interface, or a LAN interface, or for two or more types of interfaces.  
         [0053]    The printer information storage unit  18  has a printer information table  18   a . Referring to FIG. 3, each entry in the printer information table  18   a  includes an entry number field  25 , a printer option name field  26 , an option status field  27 , and a menu display field  28 . The menu display field  28  indicates whether the information in the entry is to be displayed in the scanner&#39;s operation menu. The first entry in FIG. 3 indicates that the printer  30  has a double-sided printing option and that this option is to be displayed in the scanner&#39;s menu; the second entry indicates that the printer  30  does not have a document binding option and that this option is not to be displayed; the third entry indicates that the printer  30  has a hard disk option and that this option is not to be displayed.  
         [0054]    The options in FIG. 3 are all hardware functions, but the options may also include software or firmware functions such as an accounting function.  
         [0055]    Referring to FIG. 4, the printer  30  in the first embodiment comprises a printing unit  31  for controlling printing operations, an image processing unit  32  that carries out image processing on image data to be printed, an operation panel  33  on which, for example, settings of the printer  30  can be specified, a command analyzer  34  that functions as an acquisition unit and analyzes commands received from the scanner  10 , a command generator  35  for generating commands to be sent to the scanner  10 , an external interface controller  36  for controlling data transfer between the scanner  10  and printer  30  by carrying out a protocol, the physical interface of which is not specified, for sending and receiving commands bidirectionally between the scanner  10  and printer  30 , an option information collector  37  for collecting information on printer options implemented in the printer  30 , and a printer controller  38  that controls the overall operation of the printer  30  by controlling each of the preceding elements  31 - 37 .  
         [0056]    Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.  
         [0057]    First, when the external interface controller  17  of the scanner  10  recognizes that the scanner  10  is connected to the printer  30 , the command generator  15  generates a device information acquisition request command and the external interface controller  17  sends it to the printer  30 . The command is received by the external interface controller  36  of the printer  30  and analyzed by the command analyzer  34 . When the command is recognized as a device information acquisition request command, the option information collector  37  collects information on printer options implemented in the printer  30 , on the basis of which the command generator  35  generates a device information command including the information in the printer information table  18   a  shown in FIG. 3 and sends it to the scanner  10 .  
         [0058]    When the scanner  10  receives the device information command including the information in the printer information table  18   a , the operation panel controller  16  generates an operation menu for the scanner  10 . The operation panel controller  16  first checks the menu display field  28  to tell which entries in the printer information table  18   a  should be displayed in the menu and the option status field  27  to tell which entries indicate implemented options. The menu that will appear on the operation panel  13  is generated in part from the entries that are to be displayed.  
         [0059]    When the printer information table  18   a  shown in FIG. 3 is received, from the first entry the operation panel controller  16  recognizes that the printer  30  implements the first option (double-sided printing), and that this option is to be displayed on the scanner&#39;s menu; from the second entry the operation panel controller  16  recognizes that the second option (document binding) is not implemented and need not be displayed; and from the third entry the operation panel controller  16  recognizes that the third option (hard disk) is implemented but need not be displayed. From this and other information, the operation panel controller  16  sets the operation panel  13  to follow the display procedure in FIG. 5, which shows the individual items displayed in the menu on the operation panel  13 .  
         [0060]    The first option displayed on the scanner&#39;s menu (in steps S 21  and s 22 ) is the double-sided printing option. The user can choose whether to use this option or not by toggling the setting on or off as shown in FIG. 5. The document binding option (steps S 23  and S 24 ) and hard disk option are omitted from the scanner&#39;s menu; the next menu item displayed is a printing media setting (steps S 25  and S 26 ), followed by a multipurpose (MP) tray specification (steps S 27  and S 28 ).  
         [0061]    The operator selects the desired options and other settings by operating the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 , and starts the copying operation. The scanning unit  11  captures an image of the document. The command generator  15  of the scanner  10  then generates commands according to the information the operator sets from the menu, and the external interface controller  17  sends the commands together with the image data processed by the image processing unit  12  to the printer  30 .  
         [0062]    Although the hard disk option (the third entry) is not displayed on the scanner&#39;s menu, since it is implemented, the command generator  15  also generates a command that that enables the hard disk option and the external interface controller  17  sends this command to the printer  30 .  
         [0063]    In the printer  30 , the external interface controller  36  receives the image data and the above-described commands, with which the scanner sets up the printing environment. The command analyzer  34  analyzes the commands, the image processing unit  32  performs image processing, and the printing unit  31  carries out printing. As described above, the image printing system according to this embodiment functions as a simplified copy system through cooperation between the scanner  10  and printer  30 .  
         [0064]    The communication procedure between the scanner  10  and printer  30  is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In step S 1  in FIG. 6, the scanner  10  sends a device information acquisition request to the printer  30 ; in step S 2  the printer  30  returns device information to the scanner  10 . In step S 11  in FIG. 7, the scanner  10  sends printer environment setting information to the printer  30 ; in step S 12  the scanner  10  sends image data to the printer  30 .  
         [0065]    The procedure for displaying the scanner&#39;s menu is illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0066]    In step S 21 , the double-sided printing option is indicated to be enabled (on), and the operator is given an opportunity to turn it off. If the operator presses a ‘Yes’ key (in this case, a left arrow key) on the printer  30  to leave the double-sided printing option on, the menu display proceeds to the next setting. If the operator presses a ‘No’ key (a right arrow key) to turn the double-sided printing option off, the menu display proceeds to step S 22 .  
         [0067]    In step S 22 , the double-sided printing option is indicated to be off, and the operator is given an opportunity to turn it back on. If the operator presses the ‘Yes’ key to leave the double-sided printing option turned off, the menu display proceeds to the next setting. If the operator presses the ‘No’ key to turn the double-sided printing option back on, the menu display returns to step S 21 .  
         [0068]    The next steps (S 23  and S 24 ) are skipped because the document binding option is not displayed.  
         [0069]    In step S 25 , the media type is indicated to be OHP (overhead projector film). If the operator presses the ‘Yes’ key to select this setting, the menu display proceeds to the tray setting (step S 27 ). If the operator presses the ‘No’ key, the menu proceeds to display other media types, continuing until the ‘Yes’ key is pressed and then proceeding to step S 27 .  
         [0070]    In step S 27 , the multi-purpose (MP) tray selection is indicated to be turned on. If the operator presses the ‘Yes’ key, the procedure ends with the MP tray selected. If the operator presses the ‘No’ key, the menu display proceeds to step S 28 , in which the MP tray selection is indicated to be turned off. The operator can press the ‘Yes’ key to end the procedure with the MP tray not selected, or can press the ‘No’ key to return to step S 27 .  
         [0071]    As described above, the scanner  10  and printer  30  in this embodiment have external interface controllers  17  and  36 , respectively, for carrying out a bidirectional protocol for sending and receiving commands and transferring data. The scanner  10  requests device information from the printer  30 . The menu settings of the scanner  10  are generated in part from the information obtained in reply. Accordingly, even if the options of the printer  30  are changed, it is not necessary to change the firmware of the scanner  10 . When options are added to the printer  30 , they can be enabled and disabled by settings made from the scanner  10 . If some options are removed from the printer  30 ., it is not necessary for the scanner  10  to present them on its menu and send meaningless option selection commands to the printer  30 . The image printing system can thereby be improved and made more convenient to use.  
         [0072]    Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.  8  to  11 .  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 8 illustrates a printer information table used in the second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0074]    The scanner  10  in the second embodiment has the same hardware configuration as in the first embodiment, so only the printer information table  18   a  will be described, omitting descriptions of the other parts of the scanner  10 . As shown in FIG. 8, a fourth printer option is listed in the printer information table  18   a , indicating that an accounting option is implemented in the printer  30  and is not to be displayed.  
         [0075]    Next, the printer  30  in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 9. The printer  30  in the second embodiment adds a printer accounting controller  48  to the printer of the-first embodiment. The printer accounting controller  48  has functions for charging copying fees and restricting copying according to the data contents of accounting commands sent from the scanner  10 . The printer accounting controller  48  can also be used for charging fees and restricting the printing of image data received from computer terminals such as personal computers and servers, which are connected through a network (not shown) to the printer  30 . If the printer  30  is set to prohibit printing of image data received from the scanner  10  or a computer terminal, the printer accounting controller  48  controls the printer  30  so as not to print the image data.  
         [0076]    Next, the accounting command structure in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10, which illustrates the data structure of the accounting command, and FIG. 11, which illustrates an accounting command with fixed values.  
         [0077]    As shown in FIG. 10, the accounting command has an account identifier (ID) area  41 , a user ID area  42 , and a job name area  43 . If the accounting option is turned on but is not displayed in the scanner&#39;s menu, as shown in FIG. 8, the accounting command is sent from the scanner  10  to the printer  30  with fixed values, preset in the scanner  10 , in the account ID area  41 , user ID area  42 , and job name area  43 . If the accounting option is turned on and is to be displayed in the menu, the menu is configured to let the operator input the user ID on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 , and the input data are sent to the printer  30  in the user ID area  42 .  
         [0078]    As shown in FIG. 11, the fixed data in the account ID area  41  is the scanner&#39;s name or identifier, such as ‘Scanner’, the fixed data in the user ID area  42  is also the scanner&#39;s name or identifier, and the fixed data in the job name area  43  is a fixed job name, such as ‘ScannerJob’.  
         [0079]    Next, the operation of the image printing system in the second embodiment will be described.  
         [0080]    First, as in the first embodiment, the scanner  10  acquires the printer information table  18   a  from the printer  30 , and stores it in the printer information storage unit  18 . The printer information table  18   a  in the second embodiment includes accounting option information. If the printer information table  18   a  indicates that the accounting option is turned on but is not to be displayed in the scanner&#39;s the menu, the image printing system operates as follows:  
         [0081]    The operator operates the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  to start the copying operation, and the scanning unit  11  captures an image of the document as in the first embodiment. The image processing unit  12  processes the image data, and the command generator  15  generates commands according to the information set from the menu. An accounting command-having the fixed data shown in FIG. 11 is then generated and sent to the printer  30 . The printer  30  now operates differently depending on whether printing of the data received from the scanner  10  is prohibited or not. If printing is prohibited, it is not performed. Otherwise, a copying fee is charged by, for example, counting the number of copied pages printed. Accounting information, such as, for example, the counted number of printed pages is stored in the printer accounting controller  48 , related to the scanner name used as an account ID.  
         [0082]    If the printer information table  18   a  indicates that the accounting option is turned on and is to be displayed in the menu, a menu item prompting for input of a user ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . By operating the operation panel  13 , the operator enters a user ID, which is placed in an accounting command and sent to the printer  30 . If the user ID in the received accounting command coincides with one of the registered user IDs, the printer  30  performs printing and charges a copying fee; if not, printing is not performed. To charge a copying fee, the number of pages printed is counted and stored as accounting information related, in this case, to the scanner name used as an account ID.  
         [0083]    As described above, in this embodiment, the scanner  10  decides whether to prompt for input of a user ID depending on how the accounting option is implemented in the printer  30 . The scanner  10  sends an accounting command to the printer  30 , and the printer  30  charges a copying fee or restricts usage according to the received accounting command. The image printing system can thereby manage copying fees and restrict usage to authorized users at a low cost and without using copy cards.  
         [0084]    Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0085]    First, the scanner  10  in the third embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 12. The scanner  10  in this embodiment is similar to the scanner  10  in the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, except that the operation panel  13  has an account ID setting facility  13   a , and there is no command analyzer  14  or printer information storage unit  18 . The account ID setting facility  13   a  may be any type of facility having an on state and an off state, such as a pushbutton switch.  
         [0086]    Next, the printer  30  in the third embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 13. The printer  30  in this embodiment is similar to the printer  30  in the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, except that instead of a command generator  35  and option information collector  37 , it has an accounting and usage restriction controller  65 . The accounting and usage restriction controller  65  comprises an accounting controller  65   a  for counting numbers of pages printed and calculating printing fees, an ID storage unit  65   b  for storing account IDs used for charging fees and restricting usage of the printer  30 , an ID checking unit  65   c  for checking whether an account ID sent from the scanner  10  coincides with one of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , and a count storage unit  65   d  for storing data indicating numbers of pages printed, as accounting information.  
         [0087]    The data structure of the accounting command in this embodiment is identical to that in the second embodiment, comprising an account ID area  41 , user ID area  42 , and job name area  43  as shown in FIG. 10. When the account ID setting facility  13   a  in the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  is set to the off state, the scanner&#39;s identifier is set in the account ID area  41  and user ID area  42  and a fixed job name is set in the job name area  43 , as shown in FIG. 11, and this information is sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0088]    To use the printer&#39;s accounting and restriction features, the operation panel  13  is operated to set the account ID setting facility  13   a  in the scanner  10  to the on state. The scanner&#39;s menu is then configured to let the operator input an account ID on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . The input ID is then placed in the account ID area  41  of an accounting command by the command generator  15 , and sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0089]    The accounting and usage restriction controller  65  of the printer  30  can also be used for charging fees and restricting usage when data to be printed are received from computer terminals such as personal computers and servers, which are connected through a network (not shown) to the printer  30 . If the printer  30  is set to prohibit printing of the image data received from the scanner  10  or computer terminals, the accounting and usage restriction controller  65  controls the printer  30  so as not to print the image data.  
         [0090]    Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described.  
         [0091]    When the account ID setting facility  13   a  in the scanner  10  is turned off, the operator operates the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  to start the copying operation, and the scanning unit  11  captures an image of the document as in the first embodiment. The image processing unit  12  processes the image data, and the command generator  15  of the scanner  10  generates commands according to the information set in the menu. An accounting command having the fixed data shown in FIG. 11 is generated and sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0092]    The printer  30  now operates differently depending on whether printing of the data received from the scanner  10  is prohibited or not. If printing is prohibited, it is not performed. Otherwise, a copying fee is charged by, for example, counting the number of copied pages printed. Accounting information, which is, for example, the counted number of printed pages, is stored into the count storage unit  65   d  in the accounting and usage restriction controller  65  of the printer  30 , wherein the accounting information is related to the account ID.  
         [0093]    When the account ID setting facility  13   a  of the scanner  10  is turned on, a menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . The operator operates the operation panel  13  and enters the account ID, which is placed in an accounting command and sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0094]    The scanner  10  operates according to the process illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 14. In step S 31 , the account ID setting facility  13   a  is checked to see whether it is turned on or not. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned off, data including a fixed account ID are sent to the printer  30  in step S 32  and the process terminates. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned on, a menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  in step S 33 . In step S 34  processing waits for input of an account ID. When the account ID is input, it is placed in the accounting command in step S 35 . In step S 36 , the accounting command is sent to the printer  30  together with the data to be printed, and the process terminates.  
         [0095]    Upon receiving the accounting command and data to be printed, the printer  30  operates as follows. First, the ID checking unit  65   c  in the accounting and usage restriction controller  65  checks the received account ID. The account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  may include IDs sent from computer terminals such as personal computers and servers, which are connected through a network (not shown) to the printer  30 , and IDs sent from the scanner  10  when an account ID is registered at the scanner  10 . If the received account ID does not coincide with one of the account IDs already stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , printing is not performed. If the received account ID coincides with one of the account IDs already stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , the printer  30  performs printing and charges a copying fee by, for example, counting the number of pages printed and storing the number in the count storage unit  65   d  together with the received account ID as accounting information.  
         [0096]    This procedure is illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 15. The ID checking unit  65   c  compares the account ID sent from the scanner  10  with the IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  (step S 41 ) to decide whether the account ID is already stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  or not (step S 42 ). If the account ID is not stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , printing is not carried out (step S 43 ) and the process terminates. If the account ID is stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , printing and accounting operations are carried out (step S 44 ), and the process terminates.  
         [0097]    As described above, in the third embodiment, a prompt for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 , and an accounting command including the input account ID is sent from the scanner  10  to the printer  30 . The printer  30  charges a copying fee or restricts usage according to the received accounting command. The third embodiment can thereby manage copying fees and restrict usage to authorized users at a low cost, without using copy cards or copy card readers.  
         [0098]    Since the printer  30  decides whether to perform printing or not after the scanner  10  captures an image of the document and sends the image data to the printer  30 , it is not necessary for the scanner  10 -to manage account IDs. Even though the user operates the image printing system in the third embodiment from the scanner  10 , the scanner  10  does not have to be equipped with any special features for managing individual user accounts.  
         [0099]    Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0100]    First, the scanner  10  in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 16. The scanner  10  in the fourth embodiment is similar to the scanner in the first embodiment, except that the operation panel controller  16  has an ID registration unit  16   a  for registering IDs, and the command analyzer and printer information storage unit are replaced by an ID management table  77  for storing the IDs registered by the ID registration unit  16   a , and an ID checking unit  78  for checking IDs.  
         [0101]    Next, the printer  30  in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram in FIG. 17. The printer  30  in the fourth embodiment is similar to the printer in the first embodiment except that the command generator and option information collector are replaced by an accounting and usage restriction controller  65 . The accounting and usage restriction controller  65  has an accounting controller  65   a  and count storage unit  65   d  as described in the third embodiment, and a scanner ID information storage unit  65   e  for storing the same IDs as stored in the ID management table  77  of the scanner  10 . The accounting and usage restriction controller  65  in the fourth embodiment does not have the ID storage unit and ID checking unit shown in the third embodiment.  
         [0102]    Next, the operation of the image printing system having the above-described configuration will be described.  
         [0103]    First, the procedure for entering account ID information in the scanner  10  will be described. This procedure begins with the display of a menu item prompting for input of an account ID on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . The ID registration unit  16   a  in the operation panel controller  16  of the scanner  10  carries out a registration operation to store the input account ID in the ID management table  77 . The command generator  15  then generates an accounting command data packet including the account ID information, and the external interface controller  17  transmits the data packet through the cable  20  to the printer  30 .  
         [0104]    This procedure is illustrated by the flowchart in FIG. 18. In step S 51 , the menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . In step S 52 , the procedure waits for input of an account ID. When the account ID is input, it is registered by storing it in the ID management table  77  in step S 53 , and the registered account ID is placed in an accounting command. In step S 54 , the accounting command is sent to the printer  30  and the process terminates.  
         [0105]    Next, the copying and storing of scanner ID information in the printer  30  will be described. First, the command analyzer  34  in the printer  30 , under the control of the external interface controller  36 , receives the data packet including account ID information sent from the scanner  10 . After the command analyzer  34  recognizes that the received data packet includes account ID information, the scanner ID information storage unit  65 e stores the account ID.  
         [0106]    This procedure is illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 19. In step S 61 , the printer  30  receives a data packet. In step S 62 , the command analyzer  34  decides whether the data packet includes account ID information or not. If account ID information is not included it is not stored in the scanner ID information storage unit  65 e (step S 63 ), and the process terminates. If account ID information is included, it is stored in the scanner ID information storage unit  65   e  (step S 64 ) and the process terminates.  
         [0107]    Next, the copying operation performed by the scanner  10  in the fourth embodiment will be described.  
         [0108]    When the account ID setting facility  13   a  in the scanner  10  is turned off, the operator operates the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  to start the copying operation, and the scanning unit  11  captures an image of the document. The image processing unit  12  processes the image data, and the command generator  15  of the scanner  10  generates commands, including an accounting command having the fixed data shown in FIG. 11, which is sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0109]    The printer  30  now operates differently depending on whether printing of the data received from the scanner  10  is prohibited or not. If printing is prohibited, it is not performed. Otherwise, printing is performed and a copying fee is charged by, for example, counting the number of copied pages printed. The counted number of printed pages, for example, is stored in the count storage unit  65   d  in the printer&#39;s accounting and usage restriction controller  65  as accounting information, associated with the scanner&#39;s name as an account ID.  
         [0110]    If the account ID setting facility  13   a  of the scanner  10  is turned on, a menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . The operator operates the operation panel  13  and inputs an account ID, and the ID checking unit  78  determines whether the input account ID is stored in the ID management table  77  or not.  
         [0111]    If the input account ID coincides with an ID stored in the ID management table  77 , the scanner  10  scans the document to be copied and the command generator  15  generates a data packet with the accounting command shown in FIG. 10, including the input account ID information. Under the control of the external interface controller  17 , the data packet is sent to the printer  30  together with the data to be printed. The printer  30  then prints a copy of the scanned document.  
         [0112]    If the input account ID does not coincide with an ID stored in the ID management table  77 , the copying operation does not start and a message is displayed on the operation panel  13 , indicating that the printer cannot be used because the input account ID is not registered.  
         [0113]    This procedure is illustrated by the flowchart in FIG. 20. In step S 71 , the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned to see whether it is turned on or off. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned off, data including a fixed account ID are sent to the printer  30  in step S 72  and the process terminates. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned on, a prompt for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  in step S 73 . In step S 74  processing waits for input of an account ID. When the account ID is input, in step S 75  the operation panel controller  16  determines whether the input account ID is stored in the ID management table  77  or not. If the input account ID is not stored in the ID management table  77 , then a message is displayed in step S 76 , indicating that the account ID is not registered, and the process terminates. If the input account ID is stored in the ID management table  77 , then the command generator  15  generates an accounting command including the input account ID in step S 77 . In step S 78 , the accounting command is sent to the printer  30  together with the data to be printed, and the process terminates.  
         [0114]    Next, the operation of the printer  30  will be described.  
         [0115]    In this embodiment, the printer  30  prints received data without checking the account ID received from the scanner  10 , and manages accounts on the basis of that account ID and the data stored in the scanner ID information storage unit  65   e . The procedure is illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 21.  
         [0116]    In step S 81 , the printer  30  carries out printing without performing an account ID check. In step S 82 , the printer  30  uses the account ID received from the scanner  10  and the data stored in the scanner ID information storage unit  65   e  to update its accounting information, and the process terminates.  
         [0117]    Like the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment can manage copying fees and restrict usage at a low cost, without using copy cards. In the third embodiment, since the input account ID is not checked in the scanner  10 , the operator cannot immediately tell whether printing is allowed or not. When printing is not allowed, the operator learns this from, for example, a warning indication displayed on the printer  30 . In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, the operator can immediately tell whether printing-is allowed or not, so the system is more convenient for the operator to use.  
         [0118]    Next, a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0119]    First, the scanner  10  in the fifth embodiment will be described. As shown in the block diagram in FIG. 22, the scanner  10  in the fifth embodiment is similar-to the scanner  10  in the fourth embodiment, except that the operation panel controller  16  does not have an ID registration unit, and the ID management table and ID checking unit are eliminated.  
         [0120]    Next, the printer  30  in the fifth embodiment will be described. As shown in the block diagram in FIG. 23, the printer  30  is similar to the printer in the fourth embodiment, except that the accounting and usage restriction controller  65  has an ID storage unit  65   b  and an ID checking unit  65   c  instead of a scanner ID information storage unit.  
         [0121]    In the fifth embodiment, the scanner  10  uses an account ID information query command to ask the printer  30  whether an account ID input on the scanner&#39;s operation panel  13  is registered in the ID storage unit  65   b  of the printer  30 . The account ID information query command has the structure shown in FIG. 24, comprising a command type area  91  for identifying the command as an account ID information query command, an account ID area  92  for storing an account ID input on the scanner  10 , a user ID area  93  for storing an arbitrary user ID input on the scanner  10 , and a job name area  94  for identifying the command as originating from the scanner  10 .  
         [0122]    The printer  30  replies to an account ID information query command sent from the scanner  10  by sending an ID information query reply command with the structure shown in FIG. 25. This command comprises a command type area  101  for identifying the command as a account ID information query reply command, an account ID area  102 , a user ID area  103 , a job name area  104 , and a result area  105  for indicating whether the account ID input on the scanner  10  is stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  or not.  
         [0123]    Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment will be described.  
         [0124]    When the account ID setting facility  13   a  of the scanner  10  is turned off, the system operates as described in the third and fourth embodiments, so the following description will deal only with the case in which the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned on.  
         [0125]    First, the operation of the scanner  10  in the fifth embodiment will be described.  
         [0126]    In this embodiment, when the account ID setting facility  13   a  of the scanner  10  is turned on, a menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10 . The operator operates the operation panel  13  and inputs an account ID. The command generator  15  then places the input account ID in the account ID area  92  of an account ID information query command. By way of example, if the number ‘1234’ is input as an account ID, the account ID information query command may have the content shown in FIG. 26.  
         [0127]    The external interface controller  17  now sends the account ID information query command to the printer  30 . In the third embodiment, the accounting command is sent to the printer  30  together with the data to be printed, but in the fifth embodiment the account ID information query command is sent to the printer  30  to inquire whether the account ID is stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  before the data to be printed are sent to the printer  30 .  
         [0128]    The scanner  10  in the fifth embodiment accordingly follows the procedure shown in the flowchart in FIG. 27.  
         [0129]    In step S 91 , the account ID setting facility  13   a  is checked to decide whether it is turned on or not. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned off, data including a fixed account ID are sent to the printer  30  in step S 92 , and the process terminates. If the account ID setting facility  13   a  is turned on, a menu item prompting for input of an account ID is displayed on the operation panel  13  of the scanner  10  in step S 93 . In step S 94 , processing waits for input of an account ID. When the account ID is input, it is placed in an account ID information query command in step S 95 . In step S 96 , the account ID information query command is sent to the printer  30 . In step S 97 , the reply from the printer  30  is analyzed to determine whether it indicates that the account ID is registered in the printer  30 . If the account ID is not registered, then in step S 98  a message is displayed, indicating that the copying operation cannot be carried out because the account ID is not registered, and the process terminates. If the account ID is not registered, then a copying operation is started in step S 99 , after which the process terminates.  
         [0130]    Next, the operation of the printer  30  in the fifth embodiment upon receiving an account ID information query command from the scanner  10  will be described. The command is received under the control of the external interface controller  36  and recognized as an account ID information query command by the command analyzer  34 . The ID checking unit  65   c  in the accounting and usage restriction controller  65  then determines whether the account ID in the account ID information query command coincides with one of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b . The account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b  may include IDs sent from computer terminals such as personal computers and servers, which are connected through a network (not shown) to the printer  30 , as well as IDs sent from the scanner  10  when an account ID is registered on the scanner  10 .  
         [0131]    If the account ID in the account ID information query command coincides with one of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , the command generator  35  generates an account ID information query reply command as shown in FIG. 28, setting the result area  105  to indicate that the account ID in question is registered. The account ID information query reply command is sent to the scanner  10  under the control of the external interface controller  36 .  
         [0132]    If the account ID in the account ID information query command does not coincide with any of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , the command generator  35  generates an account ID information query reply command as shown in FIG. 29, setting the result area  105  to indicate that the account ID in question is not registered. The account ID information query reply command is sent to the scanner  10  under the control of the external interface controller  36 .  
         [0133]    The scanner  10  receives the account ID information query reply command from the printer  30  under the control of the external interface controller  17 . The command analyzer  14  analyzes the content of the account ID information query reply command. If the content indicates that the account ID is registered, the copying operation is allowed. Otherwise, a message is displayed on the operation panel  13 , indicating that the copying operation is not allowed because the account ID is not registered.  
         [0134]    The printer  30  accordingly follows the procedure shown in the flowchart in FIG. 30. In step S 101 , the printer  30  receives an account ID information query command. In step S 102 , the accounting controller  65 a determines whether the account ID coincides with one of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b . If the account ID does not coincide with any of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , a reply is sent to the scanner  10  in step S 103 , indicating that the account ID is not registered, and the process terminates. If the account ID coincides with one of the account IDs stored in the ID storage unit  65   b , a different reply is sent to the scanner  10  in step S 104 , indicating that the account ID is registered, and the process terminates.  
         [0135]    As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the scanner  10  and printer  30  carry out a bidirectional protocol for sending and receiving commands. The scanner  10  sends the input account ID to the printer  30  as an account ID information query command before sending the data to be printed. The printer  30  compares the received accounting command with its registered account IDs, and returns the result to the scanner  10  as an account ID information query reply command. Accordingly, the person operating the scanner  10  and can easily tell whether the input account ID has already been registered or not.  
         [0136]    Like the third embodiment, the fifth embodiment can manage copying fees and restrict usage to authorized users at a low cost, without using copy cards, and the scanner does not have to store a table of account IDs. In addition, as in the fourth embodiment, the operator can immediately decide whether printing is allowed or not.  
         [0137]    The present invention is not limited to the preceding embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that further variations are possible within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.