Abstract:
A document management software is executed in print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto. The software includes: a step of determining if a non-native document is selected, wherein the non-native document is stored in a detachable memory connected to the print control device; a step of sending to the information processing device the selected non-native document so as to convert the non-native document into a native document; and a step of receiving the converted native document from the information processing device for printing, wherein the native document is printable document.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto and the information processing device connectable via the network to the print control device that receives an instruction and document therefrom.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Many varieties of memory device go on sale in the world, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, SD (Secure Digital) card and CF (Compact Flash) card etc. A user of USB memory device can carry it with huge amount of data freely like a tote bag and connect it to personal computers in an office and home. For enhanced security of the memory device, recently USB memory device having fingerprint authentication system is going sale. There are two types of the USB memory device for the specialized market. The first type of the USB memory device obtains fingerprint of the user by a sensor on the memory device and sends information related to the obtained fingerprint to application software installed into the personal computers in order to register the fingerprint information in the personal computers for the fingerprint authentication. After registering it in the personal computer, when the USB memory device is connected to it and sends to it new fingerprint information obtained by the sensor, the personal computer (PC) executes the application software in order to determine if the new finger print information corresponds with the registered fingerprint information for the fingerprint authentication.  
         [0005]     The second type of the USB memory device has a microprocessor and application software for the fingerprint authentication therein. The second type of the USB memory device obtains fingerprint of the user by a sensor on the memory device and registers the fingerprint information therein. After registering it in the USB memory device, when the USB memory device is connected to the personal computer, the microprocessor executes the application software in order to determine if the new fingerprint information obtained by the sensor corresponds with the registered fingerprint information for the fingerprint authentication. The second type of the USB memory device has more higher security system than the first type of the USB memory device, since the second type of the USB memory device does not send the fingerprint information outside of the device and sends only a result of the fingerprint authentication to the personal computer.  
         [0006]     Recently it has been necessary to connect the USB memory device to MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) in order to print documents stored in the USB memory device or store scanned documents into the USB memory device. Generally MFP is shared in an office and used to process many confidential information.  
         [0007]     However, under the situation, in case that the USB memory device stores non-native document (non-printable format document) and is connected to MFP, MFP cannot interpret it and print it, since the non-native document has a format that MFP is not able to interpret. The non-native document can be interpreted by appropriate applications, but it cannot be interpreted in MFP. And also, if the USB memory device storing a non-native document and native document is connected to MFP, a user of MFP cannot see which document is a non-native document on an operation panel of MFP. Also, in case that the SD card or CF card (memory) storing the non-native document is connected to a digital camera, the digital camera cannot display information related to the non-native document on an operation panel of the digital camera, since the digital camera does not recognize it. The user of digital camera can see only information (icon or thumbnail, etc.) related to native document like image data on.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention has been made in order to solve at least one of the problems described above. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a document management software to be executed in print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto. The software includes: a step of determining if a non-native document is selected, wherein the non-native document is stored in a detachable memory connected to the print control device; a step of sending to the information processing device the selected non-native document so as to convert the non-native document into a native document; and a step of receiving the converted native document from the information processing device for printing, wherein the native document is printable document.  
         [0009]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a document management software to be executed in print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto. The software includes: a step of detecting a non-native document stored in a detachable memory connected to the print control device; and a step of displaying respective information related to the detected non-native document and a native document on a display of the print control device so as to discriminate between the non-native document and the native document, wherein the native document is printable document.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto, the print control device includes a controller for determining if a non-native document is selected, wherein the non-native document is stored in a detachable memory connected to the print control device, sending to the information processing device the selected non-native document so as to convert the non-native document into a native document and receiving the converted native document from the information processing device for printing, wherein the native document is printable document.  
         [0011]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a print control device connectable via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and document thereto, the print control device includes a controller for detecting a non-native document stored in a detachable memory connected to the print control device and for displaying respective information indicating the detected non-native document and a native document on a display of the print control device so as to discriminate between the non-native document and the native document, wherein the native document is printable document.  
         [0012]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates relationship between the information processing devices (client PC and Network server) and print control device (MFP) on the network according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a document management system including one of the information processing devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of the document management system to be executed in the MFP.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a display process of the document management system to be executed in the MFP.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an operation window to be displayed on an operation panel of the MFP.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an another operation window to be displayed on an operation panel of the MFP.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an another operation window to be displayed on an operation panel of the MFP.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an another operation window to be displayed on an operation panel of the MFP.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a message window to be displayed on an operation panel of the MFP. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     A document management software, a document management method and a print control device according to the present embodiment enable printing of a non-native document in a MFP and displaying respective information related to a non-native document and a native document on a display of the print control device so as to discriminate between the non-native document and the native document.  
         [0023]     In the following, a detailed description will be given of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanied drawings.  FIG. 1  illustrates relationship between the information processing devices (personal computers like Client PC  1  and NS  3 ) and print control device (MFP) on the network according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  denotes a Client Personal Computer (information processing device) and includes at least one USB connector to connect a USB memory device  2 . Also, reference numeral  3  denotes Network Server (information processing device) and includes at least one document convert software to convert a non-native document to a native document and send the converted document to MFP  4  via a network  5 . The USB memory device  2  stores a non-native document and/or a native document. The native document is printable document in MFP  4  and the non-native document is not printable document in MFP. MFP  4  has platform software not shown in this embodiment and executes application software not shown in this embodiment based on the platform software. In order to print the non-native document in MFP  4  by using the application software, it is necessary to convert the non-native document to the native document in NS  3 . The non-native document depends on OS (operation software) of personal computers (Client PC  1  and Network Server  3 ).  
         [0024]     The non-native document is converted into a native document comprising a page description language (PDL) to be interpreted in MFP  4 . The native document is interpreted by interpreter software in MFP  4  not shown in this embodiment and is converted into image data to be printed by MFP  4 . Also, the non-native document is converted into a native document comprising a document format to be interpreted in MFP  4 . The native document is interpreted by interpreter software in MFP  4  not shown in this embodiment and is converted into image data to be printed by MFP  4 . The non-native document may be converted into image data directly in NS  3 . And the converted image data may be encrypted in NS  3  and sent to MFP  4 . The encrypted image data may be decrypted in MFP  4  and printed by MFP  4 . The non-native document is converted into the native document by conversion software stored in NS  3 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a memory management system including one of the information processing devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this regard, although a memory management system is shown as an embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is applied to a network system in which processing is performed by connecting through a network such as a LAN (local area network), WAN (wide area network), etc., as long as it is an environment in which the memory management software can be executed.  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  1  denotes one of personal computers (Client PC  1  and NS  3 ) shown in  FIG. 1 , and includes a CPU (central processing unit)  14  which executes processing on documents including a combination of graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets), etc., based on a document processing program, etc., stored in a program ROM of a ROM (read only memory)  16  or an external memory  24  (HD, USB chip and so on). The CPU  14  integrally controls each of the devices connected to a system bus  17 . Also, the program ROM of the ROM  16  or the external memory  24  stores an operating system (OS), which is the control program of the CPU  14  and the conversion software, etc., a font ROM of the ROM  16  or the external memory  24  stores font data, etc., to be used for the document processing described above, and a data ROM of the ROM  16  or the external memory  24  stores various data to be used for the above-described document processing and the conversion software, etc. Reference numeral  15  denotes a RAM (random access memory), and functions as a main memory, a work area, etc., of the CPU  14 .  
         [0027]     Reference numeral  18  is a keyboard controller (KBC), and controls the input from a keyboard  22  and an unillustrated pointing device. Reference numeral  19  is a CRT controller (CRTC), and controls the display of a CRT (cathode ray tube) display  23 . Reference numeral  20  is a disk controller (DKC), and controls the access to and from the external memory  24  such as a hard disk (HD), a USB memory device, etc., which store a boot program, various applications including the conversion software to convert the non-native document into the native document, font data, user files, etc.  
         [0028]     Reference numeral  21  is a print controller (PRTC), which is connected to a print control device (MFP)  4  through a predetermined bi-directional interface (interface)  25  via the network  5 , and executes communication control processing with print control device  4 . In this regard, CPU  26  executes, for example, outline-font expansion (rasterization) processing into a display information RAM, which is set in RAM  27 , and provides WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) on CRT  23 . Also, CPU  26  opens various registered windows, and executes various data processing based on the commands instructed by an unillustrated mouse cursor, etc., on CRT  23 .  
         [0029]     In print control device  4 , reference numeral  26  is a CPU. CPU  26  outputs an image signal as output information to a print part (printer engine)  32  connected to a system bus  29  based on the control program, etc., stored in a program ROM of a ROM  28  or the control program, etc., stored in HD  36 . Also, the program ROM of the ROM  28  stores a control program, etc., of the CPU  26 . A font ROM of the ROM  28  stores font data, etc., to be used when the above-described output information is created. A data ROM of the ROM  28  stores information, etc., to be used in Client PC  1  when the print control device  4  does not have a hard disk (HD)  36 , etc.  
         [0030]     CPU  26  is capable of performing communication processing with Client PC  1  and/or NS  3  through an I/F unit  30 . Reference numeral  27  is a RAM which functions as a main memory, a work area, etc., of CPU  26 , and the memory capacity thereof can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an unillustrated expansion port. In this regard, the RAM  27  is used for an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM), etc.  
         [0031]     HD  36  stores font data, an emulation program, form data, memory management software shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , information related to operation windows shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 9 ., etc. Reference numeral  33  is a scanner part I/F and controls documents scanned by scanner part  34  (scanner engine). The scanned document may be printed by print engine  32  and sent to Client PC  1  by using a telephone line in a facsimile mode of print control device  4 . The scanned document is stored into external memory  38  like USB memory device  2 . If a user select documents stored in USB memory device  2 , the documents are printed by print engine  32 . Also, reference numeral  35  is an operation panel (part) to select documents to be printed or to be stored into USB memory device  2 . Reference numeral  37  is a disk controller (DKC), and controls the access to and from the external memory  38  such as a hard disk (HD), a USB memory device  2 , etc., which store a boot program, various applications, memory management software shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , font data, user files, etc.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of the document management system to be executed in NS  3  (information processing device). If a user connects external memory device  38  like a USB memory device  2  to MFP  4 , the document management software shown in  FIG. 3  is executed in MFP  4  and window  40  of  FIG. 5  is displayed on operation panel  35 . And then CPU  26  in MFP  4  determines if file in memory device  2  is selected for printing in step  101 . If Yes in step  101 , CPU  26  determines if the selected file is a document in step  102 . If No in step  102 , CPU  26  informs a user that the selected file is program file and not available for printing on operation panel  35  of MFP  4  returns to step  101 . If Yes in step  102 , CPU  26  determines if the selected document is native document like documents of type D and type E shown in  FIG. 5  in step  103 . If Yes in step  103 , CPU  26  prints the native document by using print engine  32 . If No in step  103 , CPU  26  displays a message  50  of  FIG. 9  on operation panel  35 . The message is “the selected document is not available in MFP. Do you want to convert it to available format for printing?” If the user select icon  51  of “YES” on operation panel  35 , CPU  26  establishes a connection with NS  3  via network  5  in step  105  and sends to NS  3  the non-native document like documents of type A, B and C shown in  FIG. 5  in step  106 . If NS  3  cannot convert the documents to the native documents after they have been sent to NS  3  in step  106 , CPU  26  establishes a connection with another NS (not shown) via network  5  in step  105  based on a type of a document conversion software, and automatically sends the documents to the other NS in step  106 . A user may select a desirable NS on a GUI displayed on the operation panel  35 . NS  3  receives the non-native document from MFP  4  and converts it to the native document by using the conversion software. And then the converted native document is sent to MFP  4 . CPU  26  determines if MFP  4  received the converted native document from NS  3  in step  107 . If Yes in step  107 , CPU  26  prints it by using print engine  32  in step  108 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a display process of document management system to be executed in MFP  6 . The display process shown in  FIG. 4  is a part of the printing process shown in  FIG. 3 . According to the printing process in  FIG. 3 , after selecting the document, the user can recognize that the selected document is the non-native document or the native document. The display process of  FIG. 4  is to inform the user which document is non-native document before selecting the non-native document. If the user connects USB memory device  2  into MFP  4 , CPU  26  loads files from it and stores them in RAM  27  in step  201 . CPU  26  determines if non-native document is selected on operation panel  35  in step  202 . If No in step  202 , CPU  26  displays information related to the native document on operation panel shown in  FIG. 6 . The information is visual feedback such as the mark  43  on icons shown in  FIG. 6  and indicates that the selected document is printable in MFP  4 . And then CPU  26  returns to step  104  of  FIG. 3 . If Yes in step  202 , CPU  26  displays information related to the non-native document on operation panel shown in  FIG. 7 . The information is visual feedback such as the mark  45  on icons shown in  FIG. 7  and indicates that the selected document is not printable in MFP  4 . And then CPU  26  displays the message  50  of  FIG. 9  on operation panel  35  and returns to step  105  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0034]     In step  202  of  FIG. 4 , before the user selects the non-native document or the native document, CPU  26  may detect that the non-native document is stored in USB memory device  2  and display information related to the detected non-native document on operation panel  35 . The information is visual feedback such as the fill effect of icons  46  to  48  shown in  FIG. 8  and indicates that the detected non-native document is not printable in MFP  4 . And then if the user selects the native document (like document of type D or type E), CPU  26  returns to step  104  to print it. If the user selects the non-native document (like document Type A to C CPU  26  displays the message  50  of  FIG. 9  on operation panel  35  and returns to step  105  of  FIG. 3 . The above mentioned information is displayed on operation panel  35  like windows shown in  FIG. 6  to  8  so as to discriminate between the non-native document and the native document.  
         [0035]     Also, in the above-described embodiment, various functions are achieved by reading the programs for achieving the functions in Client PC  1 , NS  3  or MFP  4  into the memory (RAM) and the CPU executing these functions. However, the invention is not limited to this, and all of the processing or part of the functions may be achieved by dedicated hardware. Also, the above-described memory may be constituted by a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic optical disk unit, a flash memory, etc., a read-only recording medium such as a CD-ROM, etc., a volatile memory other than a RAM, or a computer-readable and writable recording medium by the combination of these.  
         [0036]     Also, a program for achieving various processing functions in Client PC  1 , NS  3 , MFP  4  may be recorded into a computer-readable recording medium, and the program code recorded in the recording medium may be read into a computer system, and each processing may be performed by executing the program code. In this regard, a “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS, hardware such as a peripheral device, etc.  
         [0037]     Also, a “computer-readable recording medium” means a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magnetic optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, etc., and a storage device such as a hard disk contained in a computer system. Furthermore, a “computer-readable recording medium” includes a device for holding a program for a certain period of time such as an internal volatile memory (RAM) of a computer system to be a server or a client when the program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet, etc., and a communication line such as a telephone line, etc.  
         [0038]     Also, the above-described program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device, etc., through a transmission medium, or may be transmitted to another computer system by a transmitted wave in the transmission medium. Here, a “transmission medium” for transmitting the program means a medium having an information transmission function such as a network (communication network), for example, the Internet, etc., and the communication line such as a telephone line, etc. Also, the above-described program may achieve part of the above-described functions. Furthermore, the program may achieve the above-described functions by combining with the program that is already recorded in a computer system, that is to say, the program may be a differential file (differential program).  
         [0039]     Also, a program product such as a computer-readable recording medium which records the above-described program may be applied to an embodiment of the present invention. The above-described program, recording medium, a transmission medium, and the program product are included in the scope of the present invention. As described above, a detailed description has been given of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, a specific structure is not limited to the embodiments, and a design, etc., are included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0040]     While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.