Patent Application
20070041038
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is capable of receiving data from a personal computer, which is connected to the image forming apparatus, and executing facsimile transmission or image formation, and to a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, in a state in which a personal computer (PC) is connected to a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) over a LAN, a printer driver (including PC-Fax) is installed on the PC side, a document that is prepared on the PC is sent to the MFP, and the MFP processes the sent document and executes print-out or facsimile transmission, or stores the processed document as image data (Box function).
In the above case, however, the following problems will arise.
In the prior art, in usual cases, the data that is sent from the PC is subjected to a uniform image development process in consideration of printing characteristics of the MFP. Thus, when the data is output from the MFP as a print, an optimized image is output. However, in the case where the same data for printing is used and the data is facsimile-transmitted as PC-Fax and printed at the destination of transmission, there arises such a problem that the data does not match with the printing characteristics at the destination of transmission, and an expected image cannot be printed.
Moreover, in the case where there are a plurality of MFPs that have different printing characteristics, even a document that is prepared by the same PC may be subjected to different image development processes, depending on the MFP (origin of transmission) that executes processing. Consequently, even if the facsimile that receives the data is the same, a difference in image may occur depending on the origin of transmission.
The object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, which can receive data from a personal computer that is connected to the image forming apparatus and execute an optimized image development process in accordance with processing of the received data, and a control method therefor.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that receives data from a personal computer, and executes facsimile transmission or image formation, comprising: interpretation means for interpreting, when receiving data from the personal computer, a rendering command of the received data; first control means for executing, when an interpretation result of the interpretation means shows that the received data is data for image formation, a control to execute a rendering process using a first parameter and to form an image; and second control means for executing, when the interpretation result of the interpretation means shows that the received data is data for facsimile transmission, a control to execute a rendering process using a second parameter, which is different from the first parameter, and to execute facsimile transmission.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming apparatus that receives data from a personal computer, and executes facsimile transmission or image formation, comprising: interpreting, when receiving data from the personal computer, a rendering command of the received data; executing, when an interpretation result shows that the received data is data for image formation, a control to execute a rendering process using a first parameter and to form an image; and executing, when the interpretation result shows that the received data is data for facsimile transmission, a control to execute a rendering process using a second parameter, which is different from the first parameter, and to execute facsimile transmission.
Additional objects and advantages of an aspect of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of an aspect of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of an aspect of the invention.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) 1 comprises an image development unit 10 that executes image development process together with a control unit that executes an overall control; a scanner unit 11 that reads an image on an original; a printer unit 12 that forms an image on paper on the basis of image data; a data receiving unit 13 that receives data from the PC 2; and an interface 14 that sends facsimile data from the image development unit 10 to a public line.
Data (print data) that is generated by a printer driver 21 of the PC 2 is received by the data receiving unit 13 of the MFP 1 via the LAN 3.
The image development unit 10 executes an interpretation process for a rendering command in the received data. As mentioned above, in the case of print data, the print data is subjected to a rendering process using a parameter for a printer, which corresponds to the characteristics of the MFP 1, and the print data is printed out on paper as a printed matter in the printer unit 12.
On the other hand, data (PC-FAX data: facsimile data) that is generated by a PC-FAX driver 22 of the PC 2 is received by the data receiving unit 13 of the MFP 1 via the LAN 3.
The image development unit 10 executes an interpretation process for a rendering command in the received data. As mentioned above, in the case of PC-FAX data, the PC-FAX data is subjected to a rendering process using a parameter for PC-FAX, which does not depend on the characteristics of the MFP 1. The PC-FAX data is converted to a facsimile (FAX) image by a conversion process such as a resolution conversion process, and the facsimile (FAX) image is facsimile-transmitted to the public line via the interface (I/F) 14.
Referring now to a flow chart of
To start with, in the case of print-out, the PC 2 sends data to the MFP 1 via the LAN 3 using the printer driver 21 (ST1). In the case of facsimile transmission, the PC 2 transmits data to the MFP 1 via the LAN 3 using the PC-FAX driver (ST1).
The image development unit 10 of the MFP 1 executes an interpretation process for a rendering command in the data received by the data receiving unit 13 (ST2).
If the result of the interpretation process shows that the received data is print data (ST3), the image development unit 10 executes the rendering process using a parameter for the printer, which corresponds to the characteristics of the MFP 1 (ST4).
Subsequently, the printer unit 12 executes printing on paper on the basis of image data that is obtained by the rendering process in the image development unit 10, and produces a printed matter (ST5).
In step ST3, if the result of the interpretation process shows that the received data is PC-FAX data, the image development unit 10 executes the rendering process using a parameter for PC-FAX, which does not depend on the characteristics of the MFP 1 (ST6). Further, the image development unit 10 subjects the data, which is obtained by the rendering process, to a conversion process such as a resolution conversion process, thereby converting the data to a facsimile image. The facsimile image is facsimile-transmitted to the public line via the interface unit 14 (ST7).
The above-described parameters may not correspond to the MFP characteristics, and a plurality of parameters, as indicated in items 1-4 below, for instance, may be prepared. An optimal parameter may be selected in accordance with the interpretation process.
1. A threshold value for binarizing multi-value data (generally called “screen” or “half-tone table”)
2. A gamma table (density curve).
3. A threshold value of “Thin Line Limit” (for instance, a value of “2 dots” in a case where a thin line of 2 dots or less is treated as a 2-dot line).
4. A parameter for color conversion (parameter that is used in a calculation formula when RGB or CMYK is converted to grey).
In the above-described embodiment, the image development unit 10 executes the process using software, but hardware may be used for the process.
In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 1 and PC 2 are connected over the LAN 3. Alternatively, a parallel cable may be used, or a USB memory that stores printer driver output data may be used.
As has been described above, according to the embodiment of the invention, the image development process is executed by selecting a parameter in accordance with the data that is sent from the PC, and thereby the optimized process can be executed.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
