Patent Publication Number: US-2003231345-A1

Title: Printer, printing method, medium recording data generation management program, print control device, print control method, medium recording print control program, and print system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method, a medium recording a data generation management program, a print control device, a print control method, a medium recording a print control program, and a print system.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] The conventional printing system constructed of a computer and a laser printer works in such a way that once a format pattern to be superposed over print data is generated by an application installed in a computer, the printer drive generates information data relating to this format pattern and stores it on the hard disk attached to the computer. The thus generated data for a format pattern is transferred to the laser printer, in which it is converted into printable image data, which is then stored in an internal hard disk. At the time of overlay printing, the computer displays this related information data, so that the user selects the format pattern to be supposed and indicates it to the print data. Upon reception of this print data, the laser printer reads out the image data corresponding to the specified format pattern and performs printing, with the print data superposed.  
       [0005] It is necessary that the related information data and the image data be stored such that they keep a one-to-one correspondence. The conventional printing system meeting this requirement stores the related information data in the computer and stores the image data in the printer. The disadvantage of this practice is that the one-to-one correspondence is lost when the hard disk in the computer or the printer is formatted or the printer is connected to a computer of different type. A problem in this case is that the related information data exists but the image data is missing or the related information data remains but the image data has disappeared.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention was completed to tackle the above-mentioned problem or to keep consistency between the related information data and the image data of format pattern.  
       [0007] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a printer to produce a printed matter in which print data is superposed over image data of format pattern, said print data being generated by data produced by execution of an application of the connected computer, said printer having image data and related information data stored therein. The print data and image data are entered into the connected computer through an input unit. The generating unit generates the related information data regarding the image data on the basis of the image data entered through the input unit. At the same time, the storing unit stores the image data and the related information data thus generated, while keeping their mutual correspondence. The related information data is necessary when the image data is superposed over the print data by the computer. Therefore, the output unit outputs to the computer the related information data, which has been stored, in compliance with the demand from the computer. In this way the computer is able to display the related information data. The printing unit produces a printed matter in which the stored image data is superposed over the print data thus entered. In other words, the printer stores the related information data and the image data while keeping their mutual correspondence and supplies them to the computer at an adequate time, so that the computer is able to perform superposed printing while keeping good consistency between the related information data and the image-data.  
       [0008] As explained above, the present invention permits the image of format pattern and the related information data to keep consistency between them.  
       [0009] The data of a format pattern, which is based on the data format produced by execution of an application of the computer, is stored in a printer such that it corresponds to the image data stored in the printer and it can be read from the computer. In this way the computer is able to read the data by using its application and produce the image data.  
       [0010] Alternatively, the storing unit of the printer stores the data of a format pattern, which is produced by execution of an application of the computer, such that the computer can read the thus stored data. In this way the computer is able to read and compile the data of a format pattern, which is stored in the printer, by using its application.  
       [0011] If the printer stores an application capable of generating a format pattern, then it is not necessary for the computer to have such an application. Thus, another embodiment of the present invention may be such that the printer stores in its storing unit an application capable of generating a form pattern in such a way that the computer can read such an application. The advantage of this embodiment is that all that is necessary for the computer to generate the data of format pattern is to read an appropriate application and the data of format pattern from the printer. There is no need to install purposely the application in the computer. The result is that the computer can generate a format pattern as it reads the application and the data of format pattern from the printer connected thereto regardless whether or not the application is installed in the computer.  
       [0012] The outputting unit is provided with a start signal inputting unit which inputs the start signal, which is output when the computer is turned on, to the outputting unit, and when this start signal inputting unit inputs the start signal, the outputting unit outputs to the computer the related information data stored in the storing unit.  
       [0013] Alternatively, the outputting unit is provided with a demand signal inputting unit which inputs the signal to demand the related information data, which is output when the computer generates the print data, to the outputting unit, and when this demand signal inputting unit inputs the signal to demand the related information data, the outputting unit outputs to the computer the related information data stored in the storing unit.  
       [0014] The generating unit may generate, based on the image data entered as the related information data, data to display the image data in reduced size. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer displays an image of the image data in reduced size; however, it is not always necessary that the computer display an image of the image data in reduced size. The image data to be displayed may be draft data or bitmap data.  
       [0015] The generating unit may also generate, based on the image data entered as the related information data, the attribute information data of the image data. This attribute information data, which is generated by the image data, may be acceptable so long as it shows the attribute of the image data. It includes such data as paper feed direction, resolution, paper size, file name, originator of the image data, etc.  
       [0016] The connected computer may output the demand to acquire the related information data and acquire the related information data when the printing data is generated or when the related information data is generated by the generating unit. The way in which the computer acquires the related information data as it is generated makes it possible for the computer to acquire the latest related information data every time when it is generated and renewed. When the generating unit generates the related information data, it informs the computer of the generation of the related information data. And the thus informed computer may acquire the generated/renewed related information data.  
       [0017] Informing the computer of the generation and renewal of the related information data permits the computer to acquire the renewed latest related information data.  
       [0018] Printing of a printed matter in which print data (which is generated on the basis of the data generated by execution of a prescribed application of the connected computer) is superposed over image data of format pattern does not always need a tangible apparatus installed in the printer to store the related information data of the image data. Such printing may be accomplished by using an adequate method. Thus the present invention is embodied in an apparatus as well as a method.  
       [0019] Incidentally, the printer mentioned above may be used alone or may be installed in a certain machine. Thus, the present invention covers various embodiments which manifest themselves as software or hardware. Such software may exist on a recording medium in which it is stored.  
       [0020] Such a recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium. It also includes any recording medium which would be developed in the future. The software may be a primary copy or a secondary copy. The present invention remains unchanged in its scope even though it is embodied in a combination of software and hardware. The software may be used in such a way that part of it is stored on the recording medium and it is read as needed.  
       [0021] The above-mentioned printer permits one to generate and control the related information data of the image of a format pattern. For this reason, the present invention may be embodied in a print controller which acquires and displays the related information data stored in the printer when the computer (connected to the printer) performs printing for the print data and image data which are supposed one over the other.  
       [0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the print controller may be connected to the printer (which generates the prescribed related information data of the image of format pattern) so that it acquires the related information data of the image of format pattern to be superposed over the generated print data, from the printer and displays it. In this case, the generating unit generates the print data based on the data generated by a prescribed application. The generating unit also generates the image data of format pattern to be printed in superposition on the print data by a prescribed application. At this time, the output unit outputs the generated image data to the printer and causes the printer to generate and store therein the related information data of the image data. When the display unit displays the related information data, the acquisition demand output unit outputs to the connected printer a demand to acquire the related information data which has been generated and stored by the printer, and the storing unit stores the thus acquired related information data. Here, the display unit displays the thus stored related information data. In other words, the printer integrally stores and controls the related information data and the image data, so that the print controller only needs to display the related information data which has been read from the printer, when it generates the image data. Thus it is possible to keep a one-to-one correspondence between the related information data and the image data even though another print controller is connected to the printer.  
       [0023] It is desirable if the latest related information data can be acquired every time the related information data is generated and renewed by the printer. This may be achieved if the acquisition demand output unit informs of the renewal of the related information data which has been output from the connected computer. When the acquisition demand output unit enters this information, it outputs to the printer the demand to acquire the related information data.  
       [0024] The print controller mentioned above is not necessarily limited to a tangible one. Its function may also be achieved by an appropriate method. Therefore, the print control apparatus may be in the form of software or hardware. If the print control apparatus is in the form of software, such software is recorded on a recording medium.  
       [0025] It is desirable if the above-mentioned printer exists as part of the printing system to be used in the network environment. Such a printing system may consist of a printer (which has the same function as the above-mentioned printer), a computer (which has the same function as the print controller), and a server, which are connected to one another through a network capable of communication between them. The server in the present invention is provided with a server-side generating unit to generate the image of format pattern on the basis of data generated by execution of a prescribed application and an image data output unit to output the thus generated image data to the printer. Each client is provided with a print data generating unit to generate print data based on the data generated by execution of a prescribed application, a print data output unit to output the thus generated print data to the printer, and a related information data acquisition unit to acquire the prescribed related information data about the image data to be superposed over the print data. In this way the server can generate and control the image data of format pattern. This facilitates the control of image data.  
       [0026] The data of format pattern, which is generated by execution of an application, may be stored in the related information data storing unit such that it can be read from the computer. In this way the server can read the data of format pattern stored in the printer and compile it by using an application. Also, the related information data storing unit may store an application capable of generating the data of format pattern such that it can be read from the server. In this way the application in the server can read the data of format pattern stored in the printer and compile it adequately. Upon connection to the printer, the server can generate the format pattern regardless of whether or not the application is installed in the server.  
       [0027] Now, there is a practical printer which is provided with a storage unit (such as hard disk) in which the print job is registered.  
       [0028] Any printer which permits the print jot to be registered stores the registration order in the storage unit after adding identification information to print data relating to the registration order after it has received the registration order of the print job from the computer connected to the printer through a network or the like. When the printer receives a print instruction for the registered print job, it reads out the print data stored in the storage unit and performs printing.  
       [0029] If the user registers in the printer the print job relating to documents which are frequently printed, then printing is possible without the print data being sent from the computer to the printer. This offers the advantage that it is possible to save time necessary to call the document and order printing on the computer each time printing is performed and hence it is possible to perform printing from any computer on the network.  
       [0030] Any printer that stores the print job can usually permit registration of more than one print job. Therefore, any print system provided with such a printer displays a list of the print jobs registered therein, so that the user can select from the list one specific print job for printing. In other words, the printer has the function to prepare a list for display and sends it back to the computer when it receives a demand for displaying a list of the print jobs.  
       [0031]FIG. 22 is a list for display which is conventionally prepared by the printer. The list represents the information of print jobs (such as document name and the date and time of registration) in the text mode. Such a list poses a problem with poor legibility.  
       [0032] For the user to easily grasp the content of the registered print jobs, it is desirable to display the print image in the reduced thumbnail mode. However, the control of thumbnails has never been accomplished by the printer itself. For this reason it was necessary to use a separate printer for the server in order to achieve the thumbnail display. This results in a large-scale print system.  
       [0033] It is another object of the present invention to provide a print system provided with a printer capable of registration of print jobs, said print system displaying in the thumbnail mode a list of the print jobs registered in the printer without using the print server.  
       [0034] The invention to achieve this object is embodied in a printer of the type having an image data generating unit to generate image data based on the print data, a printing unit to perform printing based on the thus generated image data, and a storage device, wherein said printer comprises a print data storage unit to store the print data in said storage device, a thumbnail generating unit to generate thumbnails, for the print data to be stored in said storage device, based on the image data generated by said image data generating unit and stores the thumbnails in said storage device, and a thumbnail display unit to generate a display of a thumbnail list with reference to the thumbnails stored in said storage device.  
       [0035] The printer may further comprise a printing unit for the registered print data which works in such a way that when a particular thumbnail is specified in the display of a thumbnail list, the print data corresponding to this thumbnail is extracted from said storage device and printing is performed based on the thus extracted print data.  
       [0036] The image data generating unit can generate the image data in the units of band based on the print data. In this case, the thumbnail generating unit divides the image data in the units of band into a plurality of blocks and generates the thumbnails by processing the blocks one by one. The block should have a size (corresponding to the band width) which can divide the band width.  
       [0037] In the case where the print data consists of more than one page, the thumbnail generating unit mentioned above generates thumbnails for all the pages or generates the thumbnail for the first page according to the user&#39;s specification.  
       [0038] In addition, the print data to be registered in the storage device may contain the print data relating to library.  
       [0039] The present invention to tackle the above-mentioned problem is also embodied in a print system of the type having a print control device to output print data, an image generating unit to generate image data based on the print data received from said print control device, and a printer provided with a printing unit to perform printing based on the thus generated image data and a storage device, wherein said printer has a print data storage unit to store print data in said storage device, a thumbnail generating unit which, for print data stored in said storage device, generates thumbnails based on the image data generated by said image data generating unit and stores them in said storage device, and a thumbnail display unit which generates a list of thumbnails with reference to the thumbnails stored in said storage device and outputs it to said print controller, and said print controller displays the list of thumbnails received from said printer.  
       [0040] The advantage of this embodiment is that the print system provided with a printer capable of registering print jobs can display With thumbnails a list of print jobs registered in the printer without having to use the print server. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0041]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the printer and print controller pertaining to the present invention.  
     [0042]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a print system consisting of a computer (as a print controller) and a laser printer (as a printer).  
     [0043]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure and data flow in the print system consisting of a computer and a laser printer.  
     [0044]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a composition of a display used to define a format pattern.  
     [0045]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process for data generation and control.  
     [0046]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the process for display.  
     [0047]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the other process for display.  
     [0048]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the other process for data generation and control.  
     [0049]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the other process for display.  
     [0050]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the print system (as a modified embodiment) consisting of a computer and a laser printer and also showing the data flow in the print system.  
     [0051]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the process for editing.  
     [0052]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the print system (as the second embodiment) including a server and also showing the data flow in the print system.  
     [0053]FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a network print system to which the present invention is applied.  
     [0054]FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a printer in the network print system.  
     [0055]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing how the printer is constructed of various components.  
     [0056]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the data flow in the printer (from the reception of a print command from a computer through a network to the execution of printing).  
     [0057]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the data flow in the printer (from the reception of a print job registration command from a computer through a network to the generation of print job thumbnails).  
     [0058]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the data flow in the printer (from the reception of a library registration command from a computer through a network to the registration of library and the generation of library thumbnails).  
     [0059]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the data flow in the printer (from the reception of a command for display of thumbnails of registered print jobs from a computer through a network to the display of thumbnails on a computer screen).  
     [0060]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the data flow in the printer (from the reception of print jobs specified in a list of thumbnails to the execution of printing).  
     [0061]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a list of thumbnails of registered print jobs.  
     [0062]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a list of print jobs which is prepared by a conventional printer. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0063] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.  
     [0064] (1) Outline of the present invention  
     [0065] (2) Outline of the function of the first embodiment  
     [0066] (3) Process for data generation and control  
     [0067] (4) Content of display process  
     [0068] (5) Content of display  
     [0069] (6) Outline of the function of a modified embodiment  
     [0070] (7) Content of editing process  
     [0071] (8) Outline of the function of the second embodiment  
     [0072] (9) Summary of the first and second embodiments  
     [0073] (10) Outline of the construction of the third embodiment  
     [0074] (11) Outline of the function of the third embodiment (regarding the first process)  
     [0075] (12) Outline of the function of the third embodiment (regarding the second process)  
     [0076] (13) Outline of the function of the third embodiment (regarding the third process)  
     [0077] (14) Outline of the function of the third embodiment (regarding the fourth process)  
     [0078] (15) Outline of the function of the third embodiment (regarding the fifth process)  
     [0079] (1) Outline of the Present Invention  
     [0080]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the printer and print controller pertaining to the present invention.  
     [0081] In FIG. 1, there are shown a print controller C 1  (a computer) and a printer C 2  (a laser printer) which are connected to each other for two-way communication. The print controller C 1  has applications C 11  and C 12  installed therein which work under a prescribed operating system. The application C 11  generates documents and graphics. The user employs this application C 1  to prepare desired documents and graphics. When the application C 11  generates documents and graphics and they are printed, the generating unit C 13  generates print data based on data representing the documents and graphics. The print data is sent to the printer C 2 , which receives it through the input unit C 21 .  
     [0082] The print data thus entered is used for printing by the printing unit C 22 . According to this embodiment, printing is done in such a way that a prescribed format pattern (such as frame and confidential mark) is superposed over the documents and graphics prepared by the application C 11  in the print controller C 1 . The application C 12  in the print controller C 1  is capable of generating such a format pattern. The thus generated format pattern is converted into image data by the generating unit C 14  and the resulting image data is sent to the printer C 2  through the image data output unit C 15 . The printer C 2  enters the image data of format pattern into the input unit C 21  and, at the same time, stores it in the storage unit C 23 . In this case, the generating unit C 24  generates the related information data of the image data entered through the input unit C 21 . The thus generated related information data is stored in the storage unit C 23  in such a way as to keep correspondence between them.  
     [0083] Thus, the image data for a format pattern and the related information data are stored in the printer C 2 , such that one-to-one correspondence is kept between them. At the time of superposition of a format pattern over the documents and graphics prepared by the application C 11  in the print controller C 1 , the related information data stored in the storage unit C 23  in the printer C 2  is referenced and the image data to be superposed according to the related information data is selected. At this point, the print controller C 1  sends a command to acquire the related information data to the printer C 2  by means of the acquisition demand output unit C 16 . The printer C 2  receives this acquisition demand by means of the output unit C 25 , and the output unit C 25  reads the related information data from the storage unit C 23  and sends it to the print controller C 1 . The print controller C 1  stores the related information data (sent from the print controller C 1 ) in the storage unit C 17  and displays it by means of the display unit C 18 . The user selects the image data to be superposed by referencing the related information data displayed on this display unit C 18 . When selected, it adds the selected data to the print data and sends to the printer C 2 . At this point, the printing unit C 22  acquires the specified image data from the storage unit  23  and performs printing by superposing it over the print data.  
     [0084]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a print system consisting of a computer (as the print controller C 1 ) and a laser printer (as the printer C 2 ). In this figure, the print system  10  consists of a computer  20  and a laser printer  30 . The computer  20  and the laser printer  30  are connected to each other through the interface  40  that permits two-way communications. This communication interface may be a USB interface or a parallel interface so long as it permits two-way communications. The laser printer  30  has a hard disk (not shown) in which are registered and stored the image data D 1  of format pattern and the related information data D 2  showing the attributes and thumbnails of the image data D 1 . The computer  20  prepares a document and graphic and a format pattern and superposes the format pattern over the document and graphic. At this point, the computer  20  acquires the related information data D 2  from the laser printer  30  and displays a prescribed image on a CRT.  
     [0085] Based on the related information data D 2  which has been displayed, the user of the computer  20  selects the image data D 1  to be superposed. Data to specify the selected image data D 1  is added to the print data when the print data is sent to the laser printer  30 . According to this instruction, the laser printer  30  reads the image data D 1  from the hard disk and superposes it on the print data. The fact that the image data D 1  and the related information data D 2  are stored altogether in the laser printer  30  offers the advantage that when the computer  20  connected to the laser printer  30  is replaced by a new computer  20 ′, the user of the new computer  20 ′ can utilize the image data D 1  and the related information data D 2  stored in the laser printer  30 .  
     [0086] (2) Outline of the Function of the First Embodiment  
     [0087]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure and data flow in the print system  10  consisting of the computer  10  and the laser printer  20 .  
     [0088] In this figure, as mentioned above, the print system  10  consists of the computer  20  and the laser printer  30  which are connected together through the communication interface  40  that permits two-way communications. The computer  20  works under control of a prescribed operating system. This operating system permits software (such as application  20   a  and printer driver  20   b ) to function properly. The application  20   a  prepares the document  20   a   1  (having a character “A”) to be printed and generates the document data  20   a   2 . In addition, it stores them in a storage region (not shown) and prepares the format pattern  20   a   3  to be superposed over the document  20   a   1  and generates the format pattern data  20   a   4 .  
     [0089] Once the document data  20   a   2  and the format pattern data  20   a   4  have been generated, they are entered into the printer driver  20   b  when the former is printed and the latter is transferred. The printer driver  20   b  has a module to convert the data  20   a   2  and  20   a   4  into PDL data, so that this module converts the data  20   a   2  and  20   a   4  into PDL data. At this time, the document data  20   a   2  is converted into the print PDL data  20   b   1  and the format pattern data  20   a   4  is converted into the image PDL data  20   b   2 . The thus converted print PDL data  20   b   1  and image PDL data  20   b   2  are sent to the laser printer  30 .  
     [0090] On the other hand, the laser printer  30  has several modules therein, which realize the printed matter  30   d  in which a format pattern is superposed over a document. In this case, the print actual data generating module  30   a  enters the document PDL data  20   b   1  which has been output from the computer  20 . It interprets the PDL data and generates the print actual data  30   a   1  (developed into a bit map). The laser printer  30  enters the image PDL data  20   b   2  (which has been output from the computer  20 ) into the data generation control module  30   b.  It interprets the PDL data and generates the image data  30   b   1  (developed into a bit map). This image data  30   b   1  is registered as the format pattern and stored in a hard disk (not shown). The duplicate print actual data generating module  30   c  generates the duplicate print actual data  30   c   1  in which the image data  30   b   1  is superposed over the print actual data  30   a   1 . It also prints the duplicate print actual data  30   c   1  by means of a print engine (not shown), thereby producing the printed matter  30   d  in which a format pattern (like a frame) is superposed over the document having a character “A”.  
     [0091] In the above-mentioned construction, the laser printer  30  causes the data generation control module  30   b  to generate the image data  30   b   1 , thereby performing the data generation control (mentioned later). In this way the laser printer  30  generates the related information data  30   b   2  of the image data  30   b   1  (composed of the attribute information data  30   b   21  and the thumbnail image data  30   b   22 ) and stores it in a hard disk (not shown) installed therein. When the user of the computer  20  prepares the document and graphic by using the application  20   a  and performs printing in which a prescribed format pattern is superposed, the display module  20   c  possessed by the printer driver  20   b  executes the display process (mentioned later) and outputs the read command of the related information data  30   b   2  to the laser printer  30 . Then, this read command is received by the above-mentioned data generation control process, and the related information data  30   b   2  stored in the hard disk is sent to the computer  20 . The display module  20   c  enters this related information data  30   b  and makes a display based on the related information data  30   b   2 . Then the user selects, based on this display, the format pattern to be superposed.  
     [0092]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a composition of a display used to define a format pattern. This display is one example which is based-on the related information data  30   b   2 . In this figure, the format pattern setting screen  50  is composed of a format pattern data name section  51 , a thumbnail image  52 , a print paper information section  53 , and an overlay data information section  54 . The format pattern data name section  51  contains a list of data names of the image data  30   b   1  registered and stored in the hard disk of the laser printer  30 . The user selects any one of the data name by using an input unit such as a mouse. The thumbnail image  52  shows the thumbnail image of the image data  30   b   1  selected in the format pattern data name section  51 .  
     [0093] Thus, the user selects the image data  30   b   1  to be superposed from the format pattern data name section  51  while watching the thumbnail image displayed on the thumbnail image  52 . The print paper information section  53  contains print paper information about the print paper that permits printing of the selected image data  30   b   1 , such as paper size and printing direction. The overlay data information section  54  contains the print setting to be used when the image data  30   b   1  is superposed. Therefore, the user selects prescribed data in this overlay information section  54  so as to print the image data  30   b   1 . After this selection, the user presses the OK button  55 . This step confirms the selection. If the user does not want to superpose the format pattern, the user presses the cancel button  56  to close the format pattern setting screen  50 .  
     [0094] With the help of the format pattern setting screen  50  composed as mentioned above, the user selects the format pattern to be superposed over the document and graphic prepared by using the application  20   a , while confirming the content of the related information data  30   b   2  stored in the laser printer  30 . The data relating to the thus selected format pattern is added to the print PDL data  20   b   1  and then sent to the laser printer  30 . Upon reception of the print PDL data  20   b   1 , the laser printer  30  searches the registered image data  30   b   1  according to the added data relating to the format pattern and reads the searched image data  30   b   1  from the hard disk. Finally, the duplicate print actual data generating module  30   c  generates the duplicate print actual data  30   c   1  in which the image data  30   b   1  is superposed over the print actual data  30   a   1 , and printing is carried out to produce the printed matter  30   d.    
     [0095] (3) Process for Data Generation and Control  
     [0096]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the process for data generation and control which is carried out by the data generation control module  30   b  mentioned above.  
     [0097] In this process, the module judges whether or not there is an input for command to read the related information data  30   b   2  to be output from the printer driver  20   b  of the computer  20  (Step S 100 ). If there is no input for read command, the module judges whether or not the image PDL data  10   b   2  has been entered into the data generation control module  30   b  from the printer driver  20   b  of the computer  20  (Step S 101 ).  
     [0098] Then, if there is an input of the image PDL data  20   b   2 , the module generates the attribute information data  30   b   21  (as the related information data  30   b   2  ) based on the image PDL data  20   b   2  thus entered (Step S 105 ). Subsequently, the module generates the thumbnail image data  30   b   22  (Step S 110 ) and stores the thus generated related information data  30   b   2  in a prescribed region in the hard disk (Step S 115 ). The module judges again whether or not there is an input for command to read the related information data  30   b   2  to be output from the printer driver  20   b  of the computer  20  (Step S 116 ). If there is no input for read command, the process returns to Step S 100 . If the module judges (in Step S 100  and Step S 116 ) that there is an input for read command, then the module reads related information data  20   b   2  from the hard disk (Step S 120 ) and sends it to the computer  20  (Step S 125 ).  
     [0099] (4) Content of Display Process  
     [0100]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the process for display to be executed by the display module  20   c  of the printer driver  20   b.    
     [0101] In this process, as soon as the printer driver  20   b  is started (Step S 200 ), the module judges whether or not the format pattern setting screen  50  (capable of display) has been opened by the printer driver  20   b  (Step S 205 ). If the format pattern setting screen  50  has been opened, the module sends the read command to the laser printer  30  (Step S 210 ). According to this read command, the module acquires the related information data  30   b   2  which has been output from the data generation control module  30   b  of the laser printer  30  (Step S 215 ) and stores it in the hard disk (Step S 220 ). As soon as the module stores the related information data  30   b   2  in the hard disk, it reads the related information data  30   b   2  (which has been stored) and displays it on the format pattern setting screen  50  (Step S 225 ).  
     [0102] In the above-mentioned display process, the module outputs the read command to the laser printer  30  when the printer driver  20   b  opens the format pattern setting screen  50 , thereby acquiring the related information data  30   b   2  and displaying the format pattern setting screen  50 . Timing to acquire the related information data  30   b   2  is not limited to timing to open the format pattern setting screen  50 ; but it may be timing to turn on the computer  20 .  
     [0103] (5) Content of Display  
     [0104]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the other process for display in which the related information data  30   ba  is acquired when the computer  20  is turned on.  
     [0105] In this process, the module judges whether or not prescribed notification (which is output first when the computer  20  is turned on) has been entered (Step S 300 ). If such notification has been entered, the module sends the above-mentioned read command to the laser printer  30  (Step S 305 ). The module receives the related information data  30   b   2  which is output from the data generation control module  30   b  of the laser printer  30  according to this read command (Step S 310 ) and stores it in an appropriate region of the hard disk in the computer  20  (Step S 315 ). As soon as the printer driver  20   b  is started (Step S 320 ), it judges whether or not the format pattern setting screen  50  (which is capable of display) has been opened (Step S 325 ). If it judges that the format pattern setting screen  50  has been opened, it reads out the related information data  30   b   2  stored in an appropriate region of the above-mentioned hard disk (Step S 330 ) and displays it on the format pattern setting screen  50  (Step S 335 ).  
     [0106] In the above-mentioned display process, the module outputs the read command from the computer  20  when the printer driver  20   b  in the computer  20  is started or when the computer  20  is turned on, and then it acquires the related information data  30   b   2  which has been output from the data generation control module  30   b  in the laser printer  30  and stores it in an appropriate region of the hard disk in the computer  20 . In other words, the read command is output to the laser printer  30  according to the prescribed action in the computer  20 . When to output the read command from the computer  20  to the laser printer  30  is not limited to the time which depends on the action of the computer  20 . The timing may depend on the action of the laser printer  30 . In such a case, for example, the process may be modified such that when the laser printer  30  renews the related information data  30   b   2 , it notifies the computer  20  of this change and the read command is output according to this notification.  
     [0107]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing another example of the process for data generation and control which is carried out by the data generation control module  30   b . In this process, the module first judges whether or not the image PDL data  20   b   2  has been entered into the data generation control module  30   b  from the printer driver  20   b  of the computer  20  (Step S 150 ). If the image PDL data  20   b   2  has been entered, the module generates the attribute information data  30   b   21  (as the related information data  30   b   2 ) (Step S 155 ) and generates the thumbnail image data  30   b   22  (Step S 160 ) according to the image PDL data  20   b   2  thus entered, and then it stores the related information data  30   b   2  thus generated in an appropriate region of the hard disk, thereby renewing the related information data  30   b   2  (Step S 165 ). At this point, the module sends a signal to inform the computer  20  that the related information data  30   b   2  stored in the hard disk has been renewed (Step S 170 ). Upon reception of this signal, the computer  20  sends a read command to the laser printer  30  in order to acquire the latest version of the related information data.  
     [0108]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing one example of the process for display which is implemented when the computer  20  acquires the related information data  30   b   2  in response to the data generation control process which notifies of the renewal of the related information data  30   b   2 . In this process, the module first judges whether or not a notification of the renewal of the related information data  30   b   2  has been received from the laser printer  30  (Step S 350 ). If a notification of renewal has been received, the module sends a command to read the related information data  30   b   2  to the laser printer  30  (Step S 355 ). Then, according to this read command, the module acquires the related information data  30   b   2  sent from the data generation control module  30   b  of the laser printer  30  (Step S 360 ) and stores it in an appropriate region of the hard disk in the computer  20  (Step S 365 ). At this point, the printer driver  20   b  is started (Step S 37 ), then the printer driver  50  judges whether or not the format pattern setting screen  50  (ready for display) is open (Step S 375 ). If it judges that the format pattern setting screen  50  has been opened, it reads out the related information data  30   b   2  stored in an appropriate region in the hard disk (Step S 380 ) and displays it on the format pattern setting screen  50  (Step S 385 ).  
     [0109] The above-mentioned embodiment is carried out in such a way that the laser printer  30  registers the format pattern  20   a   3  (generated by the computer  20 ) as the image data  30   b   1 , and the data generation control module  30   b  generates its related information data  30   b   2  and stores it, while keeping correspondence with the image data  30   b   1 , in the hard disk in the laser printer  30 . The laser printer  30  sends the related information data  30   b   2  to the computer  20  for display in answer to the read command from the computer  20 . The fact that the laser printer stores and controls the image data  30   b   1  and the related information data  30   b   2  offers the advantage that it is possible to save the image data  30   b   1  and the related information data  30   b   2  while keeping their one-to-one correspondence even though the hard disk of the computer  20  is formatted by mistake.  
     [0110] (6) Outline of the Function of a Modified Embodiment  
     [0111] The user installs an application that works on the computer  20  in the hard disk of the laser printer  30  and also stores the format pattern data (corresponding to the image data  30   b   1  registered in the laser printer  30 ) which can be read and written by the installed application. Storing the application and the format pattern data in the laser printer  30  permits the computer  20  to read the application and the format pattern data when the format pattern is generated and edited. This obviates the necessity of installing in the computer  20  the application  20   a  to generate the format pattern. Regardless of installing, the computer  20  can edit the image data  30   b   1  registered in the laser printer  30  only if it reads out the application and the format pattern data stored in the laser printer  30 .  
     [0112]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the print system  10  (as a modified embodiment) consisting of a computer  20  and a laser printer  30  and also showing the data flow in the print system. In this figure, the computer  20  is constructed in the same way as that shown in FIG. 3. The laser printer  30  is constructed in the same way as that shown in FIG. 3, except that it has an additional hard disk (not shown) storing the application  30   e  (which works in the same way as the application  20   a ) and the format pattern data  30   e   1  which can be read and written by the application  30   e . The format pattern data  30   e   1  corresponds to the image data  30   b   1  registered and stored in the laser printer  30 .  
     [0113] Thus, when the user of the computer  20  generates a format pattern, he reads out the application  30   e  from the laser printer  30 , thereby making the computer  20  operable, and also reads out the format pattern  30   e   1 . In this way it is possible to confirm the content of the image data  30   b   1  registered in the laser printer  30 . The user may edit, by using the application  30   e,  the format pattern data which has been read out and registers again the edited data (as the image data  30   b   1 ) in the laser printer  30 . In this way it is possible to maintain and customize the image data  30   b   1  in the laser printer  30 . Here, the format pattern data  30   e   1  may be stored in the laser printer  30  by the application  30   e  when the image data  30   b   1  is output to the laser printer  30 .  
     [0114] (7) Content of Editing Process  
     [0115]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the content of the editing process to be executed by the application  30   e  which has been read into the computer  20  from the laser printer  30 .  
     [0116] In this figure, when the user of the computer  20  confirms and edits the content of the format pattern image data  30   b   1  registered in the laser printer  30 , the application  30   e  is read from the laser printer  30  to start (Step S 400 ) and then the format pattern data  30   e   1  is read from the laser printer  30  (Step S 405 ). The user edits the content of the format pattern data  30   e   1  (which has been read out) by using the application  30   e  (Step S 410 ). After editing, the user selects “save” (Step S 415 ), then the edited data is converted into the format pattern PDL data  20   b   2  and sends it to the laser printer  30 . At this point, the application  30   e  sends the format pattern data to the laser printer  30  (Step S 420 ). Then, the format pattern PDL data  20   b   2  (as the image data  30   b   1 ) is stored in the laser printer  30 , and the format pattern (which has been output at the same time) is stored as the format pattern data  30   e   1  in the laser printer  30  (Step S 425 ).  
     [0117] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the print system  10  is constructed of the computer  20  and the laser printer  30 . Storing the format pattern image data  30   b   1  and the related information data  30   b   2  in the laser printer  30  makes it possible to realize the unitary control of the image data  30   b   2  and the related information data  30   b   2 . According to the first embodiment, the user of the computer  20  can register the image data  30   b   1  of the format pattern in the laser printer  30  and edit it. This is convenient for the user of the computer  20 ; however, there is a possible inconvenience in controlling the image data  30   b   1  of the format pattern to be registered in the laser printer  30 . In such a case, the computer  20  and the laser printer  30  are connected together through a network (like LAN) and a server is placed in the network. The server is provided with an application to generate the format pattern, so that the administrator of the server can control the registration and editing of the image data  36   b   1 .  
     [0118] (8) Outline of the Function of the Second Embodiment  
     [0119]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the print system (as the second embodiment) including a server (mentioned above) and also showing the data flow in the print system.  
     [0120] In this figure, the print system  10  is constructed of a plurality of computers  20 , a laser printer  30 , and a server  60 , which are connected together through a network interface that permits two-way communications. Each computer  20  is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except that the application  20   a  is not capable of generating the format pattern  20   a   3 . The laser printer  30  is the same as that shown in FIG. 3. The server  60   a   3  has an application  60   a  which can generate the format pattern  60   a   3 .  
     [0121] The application  60   a  generates the format pattern data  60   a   4  based on the format pattern  60   a   3  which has been produced, and then transfers it to the application  60   b  capable of conversion into PDL data. The application  60   b  converts the format pattern data  60   a   4  into the format pattern PDL data  60   b   2  and sends it to the laser printer  30 . The laser printer  30  generates the image data  30   b   1  based on the format pattern PDL data  60   b   2  which has been received, and generates the related information data  30   b   2  and registers and stores it in a hard disk (not shown). In this way, the administrator can make the server  60  to generate the format pattern  60   a   3  and register and store it in the laser printer  30 . This facilitates the control of the image data  30   b   1  stored in the laser printer  30 .  
     [0122] (9) Summary of the First and Second Embodiments  
     [0123] In the first and second embodiments, the print system  10  consists of the computer  20  and the laser printer  30  such that the computer generates the document  20   a   1  and the laser printer  30  stores the image data  30   b   1  and the related information data  30   b   2  of the format pattern  20   a   3  to be superposed over the document  20   a   1 . This construction facilitates the unitary data control, so that the computer  20  can use the image data  30   b   1  stored in the laser printer  30  by reading the related information data  30   b   2  from the laser printer  30  even in the case where the hard disk in the computer  20  is formatted by mistake or the computer  20  is replaced by another one.  
     [0124] (10) Outline of the Construction of the Third Embodiment  
     [0125]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the network print system to which the present invention is applied.  
     [0126] In this figure, the network print system consists of a plurality of printers  21  connected together through the network and a printer  31  which works on the network. The network  41  may typically be a LAN based on the Intranet; it may be a wide area network based on the Internet.  
     [0127] The present invention may be applied to not only the network print system shown in FIG. 13 but also to the print system in which a local printer is connected a single computer.  
     [0128] In FIG. 13, the computer  21  sends the print data to the printer  31 , thereby causing the printer  31  to perform printing. The printer  21  also registers the print job or library (such as overlay form) in the printer  31 , reads the image (such as print job) registered in the printer  31 , and specifies the print job, thereby causing the printer  31  to perform printing. These processes are accomplished by the computer program (such as exclusive software and printer driver) installed in the computer  21 .  
     [0129] Incidentally, the computer  21  may be any ordinary personal computer which is provided with devices for display, input, storage, communication, etc. In addition, the computer  21  is provided with Web browser software to read Web pages so that it can handle the print job information registered in the printer  31  by using HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) as the general-purpose protocol or by using files written in HTML (hypertext markup language). The protocol for information exchange is not limited to HTTP and the file format is not limited to HTML either. The software to read information may be modified according to the protocol and file format.  
     [0130]FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the printer  31 .  
     [0131] As shown in the figure, the printer  31  consists of the controller  32  to control the printer  31 , the interface  33  to connect the printer  31  to the network, the print engine  34  having the printing mechanism and paper feeding and discharging mechanism, and the storage device  35  having a hard disk drive.  
     [0132]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing how the printer  31  (shown in FIG. 14) is constructed of various components.  
     [0133] As shown in the figure, the printer  31  is constructed of the data receiver  101 , the controller  102 , the image data generator  103 , the printer engine  104 , the thumbnail controller  105 , the print job storage  106 , and the library storage  107 .  
     [0134] The data receiver  101  receives the print command, print job registration command, and print data from the computer  21 .  
     [0135] The controller  102  controls various processes by the printer  31  (such as printing process, thumbnail generating process, and thumbnail displaying process) according to the command received from the computer  21 . The details of the process will be given later.  
     [0136] The image data generator  103  generates the image data according to the print data received from the computer  21 . The print data is a group of commands which express the content of print in a format of functions (such as PDL). The image data is in the data format represented by bit units to be actually printed.  
     [0137] While the image data is being generated according to the print data, the print data is temporarily converted into the index format (called intermediate code) and then developed into the image data.  
     [0138] On account of the limit of memory capacity, the conversion of print data into intermediate code and the development of intermediate code into image data are accomplished by the unit called band. The band is one of regions (say, 64 regions) constituting one page. The advantage of processing by the units of band is that the printer can accomplish printing by the units of page even though it does not have a memory capacity necessary for one page.  
     [0139] The printer engine  104  executes printing based on the image data.  
     [0140] The thumbnail controller  105  controls the thumbnails which display in reduced size the print image of the print job and library registered in the printer  31 .  
     [0141] To accomplish this processing, the thumbnail controller  105  has the thumbnail generator  105   a,  thumbnail display  105   b,  and thumbnail storage  105   c.    
     [0142] The print job storage  106  stores the print job registered in the printer  31 .  
     [0143] The library storage  107  stores the library data registered in the printer  31 . The library data may be, for example, form data to be used for overlay printing and stamp marks to be printed at a prescribed position in the page.  
     [0144] The thumbnail data is generated in such a way as to establish association among the print job stored in the print job storage  106 , the library data stored in the library storage  107 , and the thumbnail data of these print data stored in the thumbnail storage  105   c.    
     [0145] The printer  31  in this embodiment works in the following manner.  
     [0146] (11) Outline of the Function of the Third Embodiment (Regarding the First Process)  
     [0147] The following explains how printing is accomplished when the printer  31  receives a print command from the computer  21  connected through the network  41 . FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the data flow in the ordinary printing process.  
     [0148] First, the data receiver  101  receives a print command and print data relating to the print command from the computer  21  (D 11 ).  
     [0149] The controller  102  sends the print data (received by the data receiver  101 ) to the image data generator  103  by the units of band. The image data generator  103  generates the image data (based on the print data) by the units of band (D 12 ).  
     [0150] Then, the controller  102  sends the image data to the printer engine  104  by the units of band. As soon as the image data for one page is formed, the printer engine  104  carries out printing (D 13 ).  
     [0151] (12) Outline of the Function of the Third Embodiment (Regarding the Second Process)  
     [0152] The following explains how the printer  31  registers print jobs and generates thumbnails of print jobs upon reception of print jobs from the computer  21  connected through the network  41 . FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the data flow in this occasion.  
     [0153] First, the data receiver  101  receives from the computer  21  a command for registration of print jobs and print data relating to registration (D 21 ).  
     [0154] The controller  102  registers the received print data in the print job storage  106  (D 22 ) and sends the print data to the image data generator  103  by the units of band (D 23 ). The image data generator  103  generates, based on the print data, the image data by the units of band. Incidentally, the format for registration in the print job storage  106  is not limited to the received print data but it may be the image data generated by the image data generator  103  or the format of intermediate code.  
     [0155] Next, the controller  102  sends the image data generated by the image data generator  103  to the thumbnail generator  105   a  by the units of band (D 24 ).  
     [0156] The thumbnail generator  105   a  generates the thumbnail based on the image data and registers it in the thumbnail storage  105   c  (D 25 ). At this point, the thumbnail to be registered is made to correspond to the print data registered in the print job storage  106  (D 26 ). In addition, the thumbnail storage  105   c  permits the registration of the data and time of registration, paper size, and other information relating to the print job.  
     [0157] In other words, this embodiment works in such a way that upon reception of a command for registration of the print job, the printer  31  stores the print data relating to the command for registration and generates the thumbnail based on the print data and stores it in association with the print data.  
     [0158] In this embodiment, the process for thumbnail generation is accomplished in the following manner. The thumbnail generator  105   a  generates the thumbnail based on the image data generated by the image data generator  103 . At this time, the image data generator  103  generates the image data by the units of band based on the print data by the units of band. The thumbnail generator  105   a  also generates the thumbnail by the units of band based on the image data by the units of band. For this reason, it is possible to generate the thumbnail without having to secure the memory capacity to store the print data for one page and hence it is possible to reduce the memory capacity necessary to generate the thumbnail.  
     [0159] The thumbnail is generated basically by dividing the bit map image data into several blocks and thinning out bits from each block according to a prescribed rule. The size (the number of bits) of one block divided in the band direction should be any value which divides the number of bits in the band width. In this way it is possible to simplify the processing, without the block extending over more than one band.  
     [0160] The method for generating the thumbnail is not limited to this. Any other known methods may be used.  
     [0161] One of the feature of the present invention is that the thumbnail is generated based on the image data which has been generated in the same way as the ordinary printing process. In other words, it performs the virtual printing process at the time of print job registration, thereby generating the image data for each band, and then generates the thumbnail.  
     [0162] In the case where the print data composed of more than one page, the user may choose any one of two modes. In the first mode, the thumbnails are generated for the entire pages, and in the second mode, the thumbnails are generated for a prescribed page, say, the first page only.  
     [0163] This is realized by displaying a set-up screen which permits the user&#39;s selection. Alternatively, the user is prompted to make a selection when the command for registration of the print job is received.  
     [0164] The set-up for registration of thumbnails may be modified such that the user specifies the size of thumbnail, the quality of display image, the method of reduction, and the items of display. Incidentally, the print data as the basis of thumbnails varies in paper size (e.g., A3, A4, etc.) and resolution (e.g., 300 dpi, 600 dpi, etc.) depending on the content of each image. Therefore, reduction in the same ratio results in varies thumbnail size and resolution. Therefore, the system may be modified such that the thumbnail generator  105   a  adjusts the reduction ratio and resolution according to the user&#39;s instruction about the thumbnail size and resolution.  
     [0165] (13) Outline of the Function of the Third Embodiment (Regarding the Third Process)  
     [0166] The following description is concerned with the process in which the printer  31  registers library when it receives a command to register library from the computer  21  connected through the network  41  and then generates thumbnails of library. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the data flow in this process.  
     [0167] This process is basically the same as the abovementioned process in which the printer  31  registers print jobs when it receives a command to register print jobs from the computer  21  connected through the network  41  and then generates thumbnails of print jobs.  
     [0168] First, the data receiver  101  receives from the computer  21  a command for registration of library and print data relating to library for registration (D 31 ).  
     [0169] The controller  102  registers the received print data in the library storage  107  (D 32 ) and sends the print data to the image data generator  103  by the units of band (D 33 ). The image data generator  103  generates, based on the print data, the image data by the units of band. Incidentally, the format for registration in the library storage  107  is not limited to the received print data but it may be the image data generated by the image data generator  103  or the format of intermediate code.  
     [0170] Next, the controller  102  sends the image data generated by the image data generator  103  to the thumbnail generator  105   a  by the units of band (D 34 ).  
     [0171] The thumbnail generator  105 a generates the thumbnail based on the image data and registers it in the thumbnail storage  105   c  (D 35 ). At this point, the thumbnail to be registered is made to correspond to the print data registered in the library storage  107  (D 36 ). In addition, the thumbnail storage  105   c  permits the registration of the data and time of registration, paper size, and other information relating to the library.  
     [0172] If the received object for registration is a print job for overlay of the form data stored in the library storage  107 , the print job is registered according to the command for registration for the print data which is a combination of the print data relating to the overlay printing and the form data relating to the overlay printing stored in the library storage  107 , and the thumbnails of the print job are generated.  
     [0173] (14) Outline of the Function of the Third Embodiment (Regarding the Fourth Process)  
     [0174] The following description is concerned with the process in which the printer  31  displays a list of thumbnails on the screen of the computer  21  as it receives a command to display thumbnails of the registered print jobs (including library) from the computer  21  connected through the network  41 . FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the data flow in this process.  
     [0175] First, the data receiver  101  receives from the computer  21  a command for display of thumbnails (D 41 ). The thumbnail display  105   b  generates the screen for list display by referencing the thumbnail stored in the thumbnail storage  105   c,  and sends it to the computer  21  (D 42 ).  
     [0176] The screen for display of a list of thumbnails is generated in HTML file. This general-purpose file format permits the computer  21  to read the display of a list of thumbnails by using the general-purpose software such as Web browser.  
     [0177]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a list of thumbnails of registered print jobs which is displayed on the screen of the computer  21 . What the user sees in this screen is the information (at the left side) about print jobs corresponding to the thumbnails selected in the screen and the enlarged thumbnail image (at the lower right side). The information includes the date and time of registration, file size, the number of pages, and paper size. The user clicks the “List print” button to print the screen of a list of thumbnails of the registered print jobs.  
     [0178] (15) Outline of the Function of the Third Embodiment (Regarding the Fifth Process)  
     [0179] The following description is concerned with the process in which the printer  31  receives the specification of print jobs from the display of a list of thumbnails and then executes the printing. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the data flow.  
     [0180] The user specifies the thumbnails in the screen (shown in FIG. 21) of a list of the registered print jobs and clicks the print button to print the print jobs corresponding to the specified thumbnails.  
     [0181] The controller  102  extracts the print jobs (which are made to correspond to the thumbnails specified on the screen) or the print data of library from the print job storage  106  or the library storage  107  and then send it to the image data generator  103  (D 51 ). Thus, the image data generator  103  generates the image data based on the print data by the units of band. Then, the controller  102  sends the image data to the printer engine  104  by the units of band, and the printer engine  104  executes printing (D 52 ).