Image processing system, information processing system, control method, and program

In printing the same image data as image data printed by a printing unit of an image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, an image information processing system and an information processing system are capable of executing arbitrary high-quality printing, which can be implemented by acquiring image data received from an image processing server stored on the image forming apparatus, based on a reference location of a shortcut transmitted from the image processing server. The image information processing system and the information processing system can be controlled by a control method, which can be implemented by a program.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image processing system and an information processing system including an image processing apparatus configured to execute a part of image processing on input digital image data and an image forming apparatus configured to print image-processed image data and also relates to a method for controlling the systems and a program therefor.

BACKGROUND ART

In outputting color data generated on a computer by using a color printer or a color multifunction peripheral (MFP) (hereinafter simply referred to as an “image forming apparatus”), a conventional method executes image processing according to a characteristic of each output device. In recent years, with the widespread use of communication via the Internet, an external server, which functions as an image processing server, has been used to execute image processing instead of using a locally provided image forming apparatus to execute the image processing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-287745 discusses a method for storing image data of a format which is common to all image forming apparatuses connected to an image processing server and converting the stored image data of the common format into data of a format compliant with the specification of the image forming apparatus that prints the data.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processing system includes a first image forming apparatus, a second image forming apparatus of the same model as the first image forming apparatus, and an information processing system. In the image processing system, the first image forming apparatus includes a request unit configured, in printing an image designated by a user, to transmit a request for acquiring image data corresponding to the image designated by the user and having been stored within the information processing system to the information processing system. In addition, in the image processing system, the information processing system includes a dependent processing unit configured, if a request transmitted from the request unit has been received, to execute image processing dependent on a model of the first image forming apparatus on the image data. Furthermore, in the image processing system, the first image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to receive the image data that has been image-processed by the dependent processing unit and to store the received image data and a first printing unit configured to print the received image data stored on the storage unit. In addition, in the image processing system, the information processing system includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a shortcut for referring to the received image data stored on the storage unit to the second image forming apparatus of the same model as the first image forming apparatus. Furthermore, in the image processing system, the second image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured, in printing the image designated by the user, to acquire the received image data stored on the storage unit based on a reference location indicated by the shortcut transmitted from the transmission unit, and a second printing unit configured to print the image data acquired by the acquisition unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The conventional method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-287745 converts image data of a format common to a plurality of image forming apparatuses that request printing into a unique format of an image forming apparatus. Accordingly, an image processing server that executes image processing may suffer a high processing load.

Furthermore, as the number of image forming apparatuses increases, the processing load on the image processing server may increase. In addition, if the same image data is stored on a plurality of image forming apparatuses, storage areas of the storage unit of the image forming apparatuses may be wastefully consumed.

The present invention is directed to an image processing system which provides a method for reducing the processing load on the server.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described below. In the present exemplary embodiment, at least one image processing server is connected to a network. In addition, a plurality of image forming apparatuses is also connected to the network. The image processing server can implement device-independent image processing and device-dependent image processing. Various image processing including the two types of image processing will be described in detail below.

The present exemplary embodiment can output image data to the image forming apparatus by pull-printing the image data on an image forming apparatus designated by a user.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the entire image processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 1, an external apparatus100, such as a desktop personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, or a mobile terminal, an image processing server101, and an image forming apparatus102are connected to one another via a local area network (LAN)103. With this configuration, the apparatuses included in the image processing system can communicate with one another. Each apparatus is also a computer.

The external apparatus100includes a central processing unit (CPU)1001, a random access memory (RAM)1002, a read-only memory (ROM)1003, a hard disk drive (HDD)1004, and a network interface (I/F)1005. Various functions are implemented by the CPU1001by loading and executing a program from the HDD1004on the RAM1002. More specifically, various functions include, for example, a function for uploading image data onto the image processing server101.

The network I/F1005is connected to the LAN103and a system bus1006and functions to transmit and receive information to and from the image processing server101. The image processing server101is connected to an external apparatus via the LAN103. With this configuration, image data and device information can be input and output.

A CPU1101centrally controls various processing executed within the image processing server101according to a control program stored on a ROM1103. The image processing server101can be an information processing system including a plurality of servers. In addition, the information processing system can also be a distributed processing system configured to process a job by using each of a plurality of virtual machines that becomes available by increasing the number thereof by using a method, such as “scale out”.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the image processing server101is also referred to as an “information processing system” because the number of the image processing servers101is not particularly limited to a specific number.

A RAM1102functions as a system work memory used for the CPU1101to operate. In addition, the RAM1102functions as a memory for temporarily storing image data. An HDD1104can store system software and image data. A network I/F1105is connected to the LAN103and the system bus1106. Accordingly, information can be input and output via the network I/F1105.

An image bus1107is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving image data. The image bus1107includes a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)1394. Compression/decompression units1108and1109compress or decompress image data.

A device-independent image processing unit1110receives image data transmitted from the compression/decompression unit1108and executes device-independent image processing on the received image data. The image-processed image data is stored on the HDD1104via the compression/decompression unit1108. The processing executed by the device-independent image processing unit1110will be described in detail below.

A device-dependent image processing unit1111receives the image data processed by the device-independent image processing unit1110and transmitted from the compression/decompression unit1109via the HDD1104and executes device-dependent image processing on the received image data. The image-processed image data is stored on the HDD1104via the compression/decompression unit1109. The processing executed by the device-dependent image processing unit1111will be described in detail later below.

The image forming apparatus102is electrically connected to the scanner unit1201and a printer unit1202. In addition, the image forming apparatus102is connected to an external apparatus via the LAN103. With this configuration, image data and device information can be input and output.

A CPU1203centrally controls an access to and from various devices connected to the system according to a control program stored on a ROM1205. In addition, the CPU1203centrally controls various processing executed within the image forming apparatus102.

The scanner unit1201implements a function for reading a document set on a document stand and for generating a document image (image data). In addition, the printer unit1202implements a function for printing the document image (raster image data) on a recording medium by using a printer engine (not illustrated).

A RAM1204functions as a system work memory used for the CPU1203to operate. In addition, the RAM1204functions as a memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM1204includes a static random access memory (SRAM) which holds the stored content even after the power off, and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in which the stored content is deleted after the power off. A ROM1205stores a boot program for the image forming apparatus102. An HDD1206stores system software and image data.

An operation unit I/F1207is an interface to connect a system bus1209to an operation unit1222. The operation unit I/F1207receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit1222via the system bus1209and outputs the received image data to the operation unit1222. Furthermore, the operation unit I/F1207outputs information input via the operation unit1222to the system bus1209.

The network I/F1208is connected to the LAN103and the system bus1209to implement the input and output of information. An image bus1210is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving image data. The image bus1210includes a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

A scanner image processing unit1218executes correction, processing, and editing on the image data received from the scanner unit1201via a scanner I/F1219. The scanner image processing unit1218determines the type of the received image data (i.e., whether the image data is color document image data or monochromatic document image data or whether the image data is text image data or photographic image data). In addition, the scanner image processing unit1218adds a result of the determination to the image data. The information added to the image data is referred to as “attribute data”.

A compression unit1213receives image data and divides the received image data into the unit of a 32×32-pixel block. The 32×32-pixel image data is referred to as “tile data”. A region of a document (a paper medium before its image is read) corresponding to the tile data is referred to as a “tile image”. To the tile data, average luminance information about the 32×32-pixel block and the coordinate position of the tile image within the document are added as header information. In addition, the compression unit1213compresses image data including a plurality of pieces of tile data.

A decompression unit1214decompresses the image data including a plurality of pieces of tile data and then rasterizes the decompressed image data and transmits the same to a printer image processing unit1220. The printer image processing unit1220receives the image data transmitted from the decompression unit1214. Furthermore, the printer image processing unit1220executes image processing on the image data while referring to the attribute data that has been added to the image data. The image-processed image data is output to the printer unit1202via a printer I/F1221. The processing executed by the printer I/F1221will be described in detail below.

A device-dependent image processing unit1216executes processing similar to that executed by the device-dependent image processing unit1111included in the image processing server101. More specifically, the device-dependent image processing unit1216receives the image data transmitted from the LAN103via the HDD1104included in the image processing server101and executes device-dependent image processing on the received image data. The image-processed image data is stored on an HDD1206via a compression/decompression processing unit1212.

A raster image processing (RIP) unit1215receives intermediate data generated based on page description language (PDL) code data transmitted from a PC and generates bitmap data (multivalued data) based thereon.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary configuration of the device-independent image processing unit1110included in the image processing server101. The device-independent image processing (hereinafter may also be simply referred to as “independent processing”) can process digital image data regardless of the type of the image forming apparatus by common processing.

A gamma correction unit201executes correction (input gamma correction processing) so that an input signal value should be proportional to a luminance value after the signal is output. The color balance/level correction unit202executes correction (color balance/level correction processing) of color cast of image data input as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (RGB) image or correction of overexposure and underexposure.

A photograph correction unit203executes correction of RGB image data captured by using a digital camera to increase the visibility (photograph correction processing) by, for example, increasing the brightness of a region of the image having an image of a person's face. A gray conversion unit204converts color data into monochromatic data (gray conversion processing). Various processing can be implemented by the CPU by loading and executing programs that implement various processing.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary inner configuration of the device-dependent image processing units1111and1216included in the image processing server101and the image forming apparatus102, respectively. The device-dependent image processing (hereinafter may also be simply referred to as “dependent processing”) implements optimum processing according to the type of the image forming apparatus. Basically, the device-dependent image processing is executed exclusively and uniquely for each type of the image forming apparatus. More specifically, if the color reproduction space is different for an image forming apparatus A and an image forming apparatus B, it is necessary to execute optimum image processing in the color reproduction space of each of the image forming apparatuses A and B.

The HDD1104of the image processing server101stores image processing settings of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

Various image data, such as gray scale image data, RGB image data, or cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) (CMYK) image data, can be input to a color management module (CMM) conversion unit301. The CMM conversion unit301executes color matching processing by the International Color Consortium (ICC) profile or the Windows Color System (WCS).

The monochromatic data generation unit302executes processing for converting color data into monochromatic data (monochromatic data generation processing). The log conversion unit303executes processing for converting the luminance density (luminance density conversion processing). More specifically, the log conversion unit303converts image data input as an RGB image into CMY image data.

An output color correction unit304corrects an output color (output color correction processing). More specifically, the output color correction unit304converts image data input as a CMY image into CMYK image data by using a table or a matrix.

A filtering processing unit305, in order to decrease the roughness of an image down to an almost invisible level, executes smoothing of high-frequency components only. In addition, the filtering processing unit305executes edge enhancement for sharply expressing a character (filtering processing).

An application amount control unit306executes processing for restricting a signal value to a highest possible signal value that can be expressed by the image forming apparatus102(application amount control processing). More specifically, if the application amount is 200%, the application amount control unit306corrects an output CMYK value with a configuration ratio of two colors, at the maximum, for four colors of CMYK. The above-described various processing is implemented by the CPU by loading and executing programs that implement the processing.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary inner configuration of the printer image processing unit1220. The printer image processing unit1220generates image data to be output to the printer unit1202. The printer image processing unit1220uses a coefficient optimum to a plurality of image forming apparatuses of the same model. The above-described processing executed according to the unique characteristic of the image forming apparatus (the device characteristic) is referred to as “unique dependent processing”. More specifically, for the image forming apparatuses A and B, which are of the same model, the printer image processing unit1220executes correction unique to individual machine of density variation or color misregistration, which may occur due to individual differences among the apparatuses.

A trapping/color misregistration correction unit401executes correction according to the amount of color misregistration on the printer unit (trapping/color misregistration correction processing). More specifically, if the amount of color misregistration between C and K is one pixel, white dots (white pixels) that may otherwise occur due to color misregistration can be prevented by adding one C pixel.

The output gamma correction unit402executes correction processing (output gamma correction processing) so that the signal value input to the output gamma correction unit402should be proportional to a reflection density value after the signal is output. A halftone correction unit403executes halftone correction processing according to the number of gradations of the printer unit that outputs the input image data. More specifically, the halftone correction unit403binarizes the received high-gradation image data or multiplicates the received high-gradation image data into 32-pixel image data. The above-described various processing is implemented by the CPU by loading and executing programs that implement various processing.

Now, job generation processing by the image processing server101and pull printing processing by the image forming apparatus102will be described in detail below. To begin with, the job generation processing by the image processing server101will be described in detail.

In the present first exemplary embodiment, it is supposed, as illustrated inFIG. 5, that a plurality of image forming apparatuses102athrough102hof the same model and a plurality of image forming apparatuses102ithrough102m, of models different from the image forming apparatuses102athrough102h, is connected to the network. In other words, the image forming apparatus102b(a second image forming apparatus) is another image forming apparatus of the same model as the model of the image forming apparatus102a(a first image forming apparatus). Furthermore, the image forming apparatus102iis also another image forming apparatus (a third image forming apparatus) whose model is different from the model of the image forming apparatus102a.

FIG. 6is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary flow of job generation processing, which is executed by the image processing server101, according to the present exemplary embodiment. A control program for implementing the processing illustrated inFIG. 6is loaded and executed by the CPU1101from the ROM1103as described above.

When a job (including image data) is received from an external apparatus, the processing illustrated inFIG. 6starts.

In step S501, after receiving a job (including image data) from the external apparatus100, the CPU1101verifies the number of network-connected image forming apparatuses N. In the image processing system illustrated inFIG. 5, the number of the network-connected image forming apparatuses N is 13.

In step S502, the CPU1101controls the device-independent image processing unit1110to execute image processing by the device-independent image processing on the externally received image data. In step S503, the CPU1101stores the image data processed by the device-independent image processing on the HDD1104.

In step S504, the CPU1101transmits an inquiry to each of the image forming apparatuses102athrough102mas to whether each apparatus can store image data. The determination as to whether each apparatus can store image data is made as follows. To begin with, the CPU1101requests and acquires device configuration information to each of the image forming apparatuses102athrough102m. If it is determined that an HDD has been mounted according to the acquired device configuration information, then it is determined that the image forming apparatus102can store image data.

If it is determined that the image data can be stored on the image forming apparatuses102athrough102m(YES in step S504), then the processing advances to step S505. In step S505, the CPU1101transmits a shortcut image to the storage area of the image forming apparatuses102athrough102m, such as the HDD1206.

To the shortcut image, identification information indicating the storage location of original image data stored on the HDD1104, has been added. The identification information indicating the storage location of the original image data can be described by a data format such as a uniform resource locator (URL), for example. In other words, the shortcut image indicates a reference location of predetermined image data (the original image data). In the present exemplary embodiment, the shortcut image may also be simply referred to as a “shortcut”.

In step S506, the CPU1101decrements the number of network-connected image forming apparatuses N. In step S507, the CPU1101determines whether the number of network-connected image forming apparatuses N is “0”.

If it is determined that the number of network-connected image forming apparatuses N is “0” (YES in step S507), then the processing according to the flow chart ofFIG. 6ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of network-connected image forming apparatuses N is not “0” (NO in step S507), then the processing returns to step S504. If it is determined that image data cannot be stored on the image forming apparatuses102athrough102m(NO in step S504), then the processing advances to step S506.

By executing the above-described processing, a shortcut image of the image data that has been subjected to the device-independent image processing by the image processing server101is transmitted to the HDD1206of all the network-connected image forming apparatuses102athrough102mduring the job generation processing.

Now, the pull-printing processing by the image forming apparatus102will be described in detail. In the present exemplary embodiment, it is supposed, as illustrated inFIG. 5, that a plurality of image forming apparatuses102athrough102hof the same model and a plurality of image forming apparatuses102ithrough102m, of models different from the image forming apparatuses102athrough102h, is connected to the network.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of the pull-printing processing. A control program that implements the processing illustrated inFIG. 7is stored on the ROM1205as described above and is executed by the CPU1203.

At first, a user inputs an instruction for executing pull printing via the operation unit1222of the image forming apparatus102a. In the present exemplary embodiment, “pull printing” refers to processing in which a user acquires desired image data from the image processing server101, to which the image forming apparatus102ais connected, and prints the acquired image data. In executing the pull-printing, a screen illustrated inFIG. 8for instructing pull printing is displayed on the operation unit1222.

The user selects an image to be printed from among those included in a list illustrated inFIG. 8. When the user selects an image, the CPU1203starts processing for acquiring the image data corresponding to the selected image and having been stored on the image processing server101. More specifically, at this timing, the CPU1203starts processing for transmitting a request for acquiring in the above-described manner to the image processing server101.

After receiving the request, in step S601, the image processing server101verifies the number P of image forming apparatuses of the same model as the request input source image forming apparatus102. In the image processing system illustrated inFIG. 5, the number P of the image forming apparatuses of the same model as the image forming apparatus102ais “8”.

In step S602, the image processing server101selects image data corresponding to the image whose printing has been instructed by the user via the operation unit1222of the image forming apparatus102a. In step S603, the image processing server101executes device-dependent image processing on the corresponding image data (i.e., the image data stored on the image processing server101) by using the device-dependent image processing unit1111.

In step S604, the image processing server101transfers the image data processed by the device-dependent image processing to the image forming apparatus102a. In step S605, the image forming apparatus102astores the transferred image data on the HDD1206. In step S606, the printer image processing unit1220executes device-unique image processing on the image data and prints the image data by using the printer unit1202(equivalent to a first printing unit) of the image forming apparatus102a.

In step S607, the image processing server101gives an inquiry as to whether image data can be stored on the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102hof the same model as the image forming apparatus102a. In order to determine whether the image data can be stored, the image processing server101acquires device configuration information from each of the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102h.

If it is determined that an HDD has been mounted based on the acquired device configuration information, the determined image forming apparatus102can store image data. In addition, the image processing server101can determine whether the image data can be stored based on the capacity of the HDD.

If it is determined that the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102hcan store the image data, the following processing is executed.

In step S608, the CPU1203executes control for transmitting the shortcut image of the image data printed by the image forming apparatus102ato the storage area of the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102h, such as the HDD1206. The image data printed by the image forming apparatus102ais stored on the HDD1206of the image forming apparatus102aand the shortcut image indicates the reference information to the image data.

To the shortcut image, identification information indicating the storage location of the image data, which has been processed by the device-dependent image processing and stored on the HDD1206of the image forming apparatus102a, has been added. The identification information indicating the storage location of the original image data can be described by a URL, for example.

In addition, among the image forming apparatus102bthrough102h, the image forming apparatus that has been determined to be able to store the image data replaces the shortcut of the image data that has been processed by the device-independent image processing with the shortcut of the image data that has been processed by the device-dependent image processing and transmitted from the image processing server101.

Accordingly, the image data can be acquired from the functions as existing in the same network without acquiring the image data from the image processing server101. In other words, the processing load on the image processing server101can be effectively reduced.

In step S609, the CPU1203decrements the number P of the image forming apparatuses of the same model as the image forming apparatus102a. In step S610, the CPU1203determines whether the number P of the image forming apparatuses of the same model as the image forming apparatus102ais “0”.

If it is determined that the number P of the image forming apparatuses of the same model as the image forming apparatus102ais “0” (YES in step S610), then the processing ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number P of the image forming apparatuses of the same model as the image forming apparatus102ais not “0” (NO in step S610), then the processing returns to step S607.

If it is determined that the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102hof the same model as the image forming apparatus102acannot store the image data (NO in step S607), then the processing advances to step S609.

By executing the above-described processing, a shortcut image of the image data that has been processed by the device-dependent image processing by the image processing server101is generated on the HDD1206of the network-connected image forming apparatuses102bthrough102hduring the pull printing processing.

In executing pull printing from the image forming apparatus102b, the CPU1203acquires the image data that has been processed by the device-dependent image processing based on the shortcut image. The acquired image data is then subjected to image processing dependent on the device characteristic of the image forming apparatus102b(unique to the second image forming apparatus) and then is printed by the printer unit1202(equivalent to the second printing unit) of the image forming apparatus102b.

In printing the same image data as the image data printed by the image forming apparatus102afrom the image forming apparatuses102ithrough102m, the CPU1203acquires image data based on the reference location of the shortcut of the image data processed by the device-independent image processing. Once the pull printing is executed from one of the image forming apparatuses102ithrough102m, a shortcut of the image data that has been processed by the device-dependent image processing is stored on the image forming apparatuses102ithrough102mas the case of the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102h.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the image processing server executes the device-independent image processing during the job generation processing. On the other hand, during the pull printing processing, the present exemplary embodiment executes the device-dependent image processing. Accordingly, the image quality of arbitrary printing can be improved. In addition, the processing load on the image processing server can be reduced.

In addition, as described above, the present exemplary embodiment generates a shortcut image for and according to the status of all the network-connected image forming apparatuses. Therefore, the present exemplary embodiment can effectively reduce the amount of data to be processed by the image processing server.

In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, in executing the device-independent image processing on the image processing server101, a common shortcut image is transmitted to a plurality of the image forming apparatuses102connected to the network. In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in executing the device-independent image processing to predetermined image data, two types of processing, i.e., full color image processing and monochromatic image processing are executed. In addition, the shortcut image to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus102is changed according to the type of the image forming apparatus102. Processing, components, and units similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment are provided with same reference numerals and symbols. Accordingly, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

In the present exemplary embodiment, it is supposed, as illustrated inFIG. 5, that a plurality of image forming apparatuses102athrough102hof the same model and a plurality of image forming apparatuses102ithrough102m, of models different from the image forming apparatuses102athrough102h, is connected to the network.

FIG. 9is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary flow of job generation processing executed by the image processing server101. A control program for implementing the processing illustrated inFIG. 9is loaded and executed by the CPU1101from the ROM1103as described above.

Referring toFIG. 9, processing in steps S501, S504, S506and S507is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

In step S502, the device-independent image processing unit1110executes two types of device-independent image processing (i.e., image processing on full color image data and on monochromatic image data) on the image data. In generating full color image data and monochromatic image data on the device-independent image processing unit1110, such image data can be generated by the determination as to whether to execute the processing by the gray conversion unit204.

In step S503, the CPU1101stores the full color image data and the monochromatic image data generated in step S502on the HDD1104. If it is determined that the image forming apparatuses102athrough102mcan store the image data (YES in step S504), then the processing advances to step S510. In step S510, the CPU1101determines whether the data transmission target image forming apparatuses102athrough102mcan output a color image.

In step S511, the CPU1101transmits a shortcut image for color image to the image forming apparatus that has been determined to be able to output a color image among the image forming apparatuses102athrough102min step S510. More specifically, the CPU1101stores the shortcut image for color image on the HDD1206of the data transmission target image forming apparatus102. To the shortcut image, identification information indicating the storage location of the full color image data stored on the HDD1104has been added.

On the other hand, the CPU1101transmits a shortcut image for monochromatic image to the image forming apparatus that has been determined not to be able to output a color image among the image forming apparatuses102athrough102m. More specifically, in step S512, the monochromatic shortcut image is stored on the HDD1206of the data transmission target image forming apparatus102. To the shortcut image, identification information indicating the storage location of the monochromatic image data stored on the HDD1104has been added.

By executing the above-described processing, the shortcut image for full color image data that has been processed by the device-independent image processing by the image processing server101is generated and stored on the HDD1206of the network-connected color image forming apparatus102during the job generation processing. Furthermore, by executing the above-described processing, the shortcut image for monochromatic image data that has been processed by the device-independent image processing by the image processing server101is generated and stored on the HDD1206of the network-connected color image forming apparatus102.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment having the above-described configuration, a shortcut image for full color image data is generated on the image forming apparatuses102athrough102h,102j, and102lwhile a shortcut image for monochromatic image data is generated on the image forming apparatuses102i,102k, and102m.

With the above-described configuration, the present exemplary embodiment can implement full color image processing and monochromatic image processing on the image processing server101before pull printing. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiment having the above-described configuration can reduce the number of man-hours of the image processing executed during the pull printing. Furthermore, the present exemplary embodiment can effectively reduce the processing load on the image processing server.

In a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is supposed that the image forming apparatus102can store image data that has been subjected to halftone processing on an HDD. Processing, components, and units similar to those of the first and the second exemplary embodiments described above are provided with same reference numerals and symbols. Accordingly, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

In the present exemplary embodiment, it is supposed, as illustrated inFIG. 10, that a plurality of image forming apparatuses102athrough102hthat stores halftone-processed image data on a HDD and that a plurality of image forming apparatuses102ithrough102mof models, which is different from the image forming apparatuses102athrough102h, is connected to the network.

FIG. 11is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the entire image processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 11, a compression/decompression unit1112of the image processing server101compresses and decompresses image data.

A printer image processing unit1113receives the image data processed by the device-dependent image processing unit1111from the compression/decompression unit1112. Subsequently, the printer image processing unit1113executes image processing similar to the image processing executed by the printer image processing unit1220of the image forming apparatus102on the image data. The image-processed image data is stored on the HDD1104via the compression/decompression unit1112.

FIG. 12is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary flow of job generation processing by the image processing server101. A control program that implements the processing illustrated inFIG. 12is stored on the ROM1103as described above and is executed by the CPU1101.

Referring toFIG. 12, processing in steps S501through S507is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated here. In addition, for the image forming apparatus102, the image forming apparatuses102athrough102mare searched in this order.

If it is determined by the image processing server101that the image forming apparatus102acan store the image data (YES in step S504), then the processing advances to step S513. In step S513, the CPU1101determines whether the image forming apparatus102ais an apparatus that stores the halftone-processed image data on the HDD.

If it is determined that102ais an apparatus that stores the halftone-processed image data on the HDD (YES in step S513), then the processing advances to step S514. In step S514, the CPU1101determines whether a transfer completion flag Flg is set to be ON. If it is determined that the transfer completion flag Flg is not set to be ON (NO in step S514), then the processing advances to step S515. In step S515, the device-dependent image processing unit1111executes the device-dependent image processing on the image data.

In step S516, the printer image processing unit1113executes printer image processing on the image data. In step S517, the CPU1101transfers the image data to the image forming apparatus102a. In step S518, the image forming apparatus102astores the transferred image data on the HDD1206. In step S519, the CPU1101sets the transfer completion flag Flg to be ON.

In step S520, the image processing server101generates a shortcut image of the image data that has been processed by the printer image processing on the HDD1104. Then the processing advances to step S506. To the shortcut image, identification information indicating the storage location of the transferred image data stored on the HDD1206of the image forming apparatus102ahas been added.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the transfer completion flag Flg has been set to be ON (YES in step S514), then the processing advances to step S505. Furthermore, if it is determined that the image forming apparatus102ais not an apparatus that stores the halftone-processed image data on the HDD (NO in step S513), then the processing advances to step S505. The present exemplary embodiment repeats the above-described processing for the number of times equivalent to the number of the network-connected image forming apparatuses.

By executing the above-described processing, the shortcut image corresponding to the data storage capacity of the image forming apparatus is generated and stored on the HDD1206of the network-connected image forming apparatus102during the job generation processing.

As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the halftone-processed image data that has been processed by the printer image processing is stored on the HDD1206of the image forming apparatus102aand the shortcut image of the image data stored on the image forming apparatus102ais generated and stored on the HDD of each of the image forming apparatuses102bthrough102h.

According to the present exemplary embodiment having the above-described configuration, the image processing server can flexibly comply with the method of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses for storing data. Furthermore, with the above-described configuration, the present exemplary embodiment can generate and transfer image data dependent on the capacity of the model of the image forming apparatus during pull printing processing. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiment can effectively reduce the processing load on the image processing server.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-050756 filed Mar. 8, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.