IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PRINTING CONTROL METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND DATA SIGNAL

Abstract

There is provided an image forming apparatus including an added image detecting section that detects added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed; an added image determination section that, when added image data is detected by the added image detecting section, determines whether the detected added image data corresponds to any post-processing on a post-processing apparatus which applies post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing; an image forming section that forms a printed image with the added image data removed from image data to be printed if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus; and a post-processing controller that instructs the post-processing apparatus to apply the post-processing for the added image data if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the hardware configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the configurations of a printer and a post-processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus of the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary screen display of an electronic document on a display of the host computer in the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary data structure of an electronic document used in the exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating printing process in the exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an added image detecting section that detects added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed;an added image determination section that, when added image data is detected by the added image detecting section, determines whether the detected added image data corresponds to any post-processing on a post-processing apparatus which applies post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing;an image forming section that forms a printed image with added image data removed from image data to be printed if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds to a post-processing; anda post-processing controller that instructs the post-processing apparatus to apply post-processing for the added image data if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds to post-processing.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the added image detecting section obtains information on status of addition that includes at least the position of added image data within image data to be printed, andthe post-processing controller includes the status of addition obtained by the added image detecting section into an instruction to the post-processing apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein added image data is seal image data.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein added image data is data that is added as an annotation to an electronic document.

5. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an added image detecting section that detects added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed;an added image determination section that, when added image data is detected by the added image detecting section, determines whether the detected added image data corresponds with an added image that can be formed on a printing medium in post-processing by a post-processing apparatus which applies post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing;an image forming section that forms a printed image with added image data removed from image data to be printed if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds with an added image; anda post-processing controller that instructs the post-processing apparatus to apply a process of forming the added image that corresponds with the added image data on a printing medium if the added image determination section determines that the added image data corresponds with an added image

6. A printing control method that causes an image forming apparatus to which a post-processing apparatus is connected for applying post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing to execute processes, the processes comprising: detecting added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed:when added image data is detected, determining whether the detected added image data corresponds to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus; andif the detected added image data is determined to correspond to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus, forming a printed image with the added image data removed from the image data to be printed and instructing the post-processing apparatus to apply the post-processing corresponding to the added image data.

7. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program causing a computer to execute processes, the process comprising detecting added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed:when added image data is detected, determining whether the detected added image data corresponds to post-processing on a post-processing apparatus that applies post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing; andif the detected added image data is determined to correspond to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus, forming a printed image with the added image data removed from the image data to be printed and instructing the post-processing apparatus to apply the post-processing corresponding to the added image data.

8. A computer data signal for enabling a computer to perform processes, the processes comprising: detecting added image data contained in image data by analyzing input image data to be printed;when added image data is detected, determining whether the detected added image data corresponds to a post-processing on a post-processing apparatus that applies post-processing to a printing medium which has been subjected to printing; andif the detected added image data is determined to correspond to post-processing on the post-processing apparatus, forming a printed image with the added image data removed from the image data to be printed and instructing the post-processing apparatus to apply the post-processing corresponding to the added image data.