Printing system, program and terminal device

Abstract

To provide a printing system that can additionally print an image of a two-dimensional code without changing a layout of an image to be visibly printed.SOLUTION: A printing system has an image forming apparatus that can perform visible printing and invisible printing, and a terminal device. The terminal device has page analysis means that analyzes a code description page included in data of an object to be printed, drawing means that adds a print command for invisibly printing an image of a two-dimensional code created on the basis of a code described on the code description page, to print data generated on the basis of the data of the object to be printed excluding the code description page, and transmission means that transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has printer means that performs visible printing based on the print data transmitted from the terminal device, and invisible printing of the image of the two-dimensional code according to the print command.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, a program, and a terminal device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A technique for converting a specific character string included in print data into a two-dimensional code and printing the converted two-dimensional code together with the print data has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In conventional technology that converts a specific character string included in print data into a two-dimensional code and prints the converted two-dimensional code together with the print data, the converted two-dimensional code is added to the manuscript print data so that it is printed at a position corresponding to insertion position information (either directly above, directly below, left, right, or diagonally below right of the specific character string). Therefore, the conventional technology has had the problem that the layout of the image printed on the printing paper using the manuscript print data after the two-dimensional code has been added differs from the layout of the image printed on the printing paper using the manuscript print data before the two-dimensional code has been added.

[0004] An object of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide a printing system that can add and print a two-dimensional code image without changing the layout of the image to be visibly printed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present application provides a printing system having an image forming apparatus capable of visible printing and invisible printing, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a page analysis means for analyzing a code description page included in data to be printed, and a page analysis means for analyzing a code described on the code description page based on the code described on the code description page. The image of the uncoded page included in the data to be printed Create an image of the 2D code, An image of the two-dimensional code that was created, and The image of the created 2D code Superimposed on the image of the page without codeThe print command for invisible printing is Not yet Description page Ji and a transmission means for transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus generates a print data based on the print data transmitted from the terminal apparatus. The image of the uncoded page Visible printing, and , the image of the visibly printed page without the code written therein, According to the print command and superimpose and a printer means for invisibly printing an image of the two-dimensional code. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the embodiment of the present invention, a two-dimensional code image can be added and printed without changing the layout of the image to be visibly printed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an example of an MFP according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an engine configuration of an MFP. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an engine configuration of an MFP. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating programs installed in a client terminal according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of an example of a client terminal according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process overview of a client terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for converting an image to be printed corresponding to a code description page into a two-dimensional code. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is an image diagram of an example of a process for converting an image to be printed corresponding to a code description page into a two-dimensional code. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of an example of a process for adding a print command for printing a two-dimensional code image with IR toner to print data. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a print result in which a two-dimensional code is invisibly printed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] [First embodiment] <System configuration> Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to this embodiment. In the printing system 1 of Fig. 1, a client terminal 10 and an image forming device 12 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate data via a wired or wireless network 14. The client terminal 10 is an example of a terminal device.

[0010] The client terminal 10 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 12, causing the image forming apparatus 12 to perform visible printing and invisible printing. The client terminal 10 may be an output device such as a projector, an IWB (Interactive White Board: an electronic white board with a blackboard function that allows mutual communication), digital signage, a HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, an imaging device, a sound collection device, medical equipment, a network home appliance, an automobile (Connected Car), a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable terminal, or the like.

[0011] The client terminal 10 accepts a print operation from a user specifying data to be printed. Based on the user's operation to execute printing, the client terminal 10 generates print data from the data to be printed and transmits the print data to the image forming device 12, causing the image forming device 12 to execute visible printing and invisible printing. The client terminal 10 converts the selected image to be printed, as described below, into a two-dimensional code, adds a print command to the print data that causes the image forming device 12 to invisible print the image of the two-dimensional code, and causes the image forming device 12 to execute visible printing of the image to be printed and invisible printing of the image of the two-dimensional code.

[0012] Image forming device 12 is an electronic device such as a printer or MFP that can visibly print and invisible print data. Image forming device 12 is colorless and transparent, making it invisible under natural light, and invisibly prints a two-dimensional code on paper using infrared ink or toner that can be read by an infrared reader. Note that printing using infrared ink or toner that can be read by an infrared reader (IR printing) is a well-known technology, as described in JP 2019-117352 A, for example. Image forming device 12 may be colorless and transparent, making it invisible under natural light, and invisibly print a two-dimensional code on paper using ultraviolet ink or toner that can be read by an ultraviolet reader.

[0013] For example, an infrared reader emits infrared light and can read images printed using infrared ink or toner. Furthermore, an ultraviolet reader emits ultraviolet light and can read images printed using ultraviolet ink or toner. For example, a reader can read a two-dimensional code printed on paper by the image forming device 12 using infrared or ultraviolet ink or toner. For example, a camera on a smartphone, tablet terminal, or the like can sometimes be used as an infrared or ultraviolet reader.

[0014] 1 is an example of the configuration of the printing system 1. For example, the client terminal 10 and the image forming device 12 may transmit and receive print data via a print server or a cloud service.

[0015] <Hardware configuration> "computer" The client terminal 10 shown in Fig. 1 is realized by, for example, a computer 500 having a hardware configuration as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer according to this embodiment.

[0016] The computer 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a HD 504, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, a display 506, an external device connection I / F (Interface) 508, a network I / F 509, a data bus 510, a keyboard 511, a pointing device 512, a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514, and a media I / F 516.

[0017] Of these, the CPU 501 controls the overall operation of the computer 500 in accordance with a program. The ROM 502 stores programs used to drive the CPU 501, such as the IPL. The RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls the reading and writing of various data from and to the HD 504 in accordance with the control of the CPU 501.

[0018] The display 506 displays various types of information such as a cursor, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 508 is an interface for connecting various types of external devices. In this case, the external devices are, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or reader, the image forming apparatus 12, etc. The network I / F 509 is an interface for data communication using the network 14. The data bus 510 is an address bus, a data bus, etc. for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501.

[0019] The keyboard 511 is a type of input means having multiple keys for inputting characters, numbers, various instructions, etc. The pointing device 512 is a type of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc. The DVD-RW drive 514 controls reading and writing of various data from a DVD-RW 513, which is an example of a removable recording medium. Note that this is not limited to a DVD-RW, and may be a DVD-R, etc. The media I / F 516 controls reading and writing (storing) of data from a recording medium 515, such as a flash memory.

[0020] <<MFP>> The image forming apparatus 12 shown in Fig. 1 is realized by, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral / Product / Printer) 900 having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of an example of the MFP according to this embodiment.

[0021] 3 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950. The controller 910 includes a CPU 901, which is the main part of the computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907, which is a storage unit, an HDD controller 908, and an HD 909, which is also a storage unit, and is configured such that the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

[0022] The CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP 900. The NB 903 is a bridge that connects the CPU 901 with the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921. The NB 903 also has a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0023] The MEM-P902 has a ROM 902a, which is memory for storing programs and data that realize the functions of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b, which is used for expanding the programs and data and as a drawing memory during memory printing. The programs stored in the RAM 902b may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD.

[0024] The SB 904 is a bridge for connecting the NB 903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 906 is an integrated circuit (IC) for image processing purposes that has hardware elements for image processing, and acts as a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD 908, and MEM-C 907.

[0025] The ASIC 906 has a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 907, a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that perform image data rotation and the like using hardware logic, and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931 and the printer unit 932 via a PCI bus 922. Note that a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface may be connected to the ASIC 906.

[0026] The MEM-C907 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer. The HD909 is a storage for storing image data, font data used during printing, and forms. The HD909 controls the reading and writing of data from and to the HD909 under the control of the CPU901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed to speed up graphics processing, and direct high-throughput access to the MEM-P902 enables the graphics accelerator card to operate at high speed.

[0027] Further, the short-distance communication circuit 920 includes a short-distance communication circuit 920a. The short-distance communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0028] Furthermore, the engine control unit 930 is made up of a scanner unit 931 and a printer unit 932. The operation panel 940 is equipped with a panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel that displays current setting values, selection screens, etc. and accepts input from the operator, and an operation panel 940b that includes a numeric keypad that accepts setting values ​​for image formation conditions such as density setting conditions, a start key that accepts a copy start instruction, etc.

[0029] The controller 910 controls the entire MFP 900, for example, drawing, communication, and input from the operation panel 940. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

[0030] The MFP 900 can sequentially switch among the document box function, copy function, printer function, and facsimile function using an application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, the MFP 900 enters document box mode, when the copy function is selected, the MFP 900 enters copy mode, when the printer function is selected, the MFP 900 enters printer mode, and when the facsimile mode is selected, the MFP 900 enters facsimile mode.

[0031] The network I / F 950 is an interface for performing data communication using the network 14. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via a PCI bus 922.

[0032] Here, an example of the engine configuration of the MFP 900 when using infrared ink or toner (hereinafter referred to as IR toner) will be described. Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining an example of the engine configuration of the MFP.

[0033] For example, Figure 4 shows an example in which four visible toner colors (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow, K: black) are used, as well as invisible IR toner as a special color. In the engine configuration example in Figure 4, the 2D code image is printed in the special color, and everything other than the 2D code image is printed with the four visible toner colors.

[0034] For color printing that is not IR printing, the print image is printed with four color visible toners. For monochrome printing that is not IR printing, the print image is printed with K color visible toner. For color printing that is IR printing, everything except the 2D code image is printed with four color visible toners. For monochrome printing that is IR printing, everything except the 2D code image is printed with K color visible toner.

[0035] Also, for example, Figure 5 shows an example in which IR toner is used as the K toner in addition to three visible toner colors (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow). In the engine configuration example in Figure 5, the 2D code image is printed in K color using IR toner, and everything other than the 2D code image is printed using the three visible toner colors. For example, by converting the color information of images other than the 2D code image into C, M, and Y colors, the K color other than the 2D code image can be expressed by mixing the three visible toner colors.

[0036] In the case of color printing that is not IR printing, the color information of the print image is converted to C, M, and Y colors, and the image is printed using three visible colors, including the K color of the image contained in the data to be printed.In the case of color printing that is IR printing, the 2D code image is printed using K color with IR toner, and everything other than the 2D code image is printed using three visible colors, including K color.

[0037] In this way, in the example of Fig. 4, the color information of the print image is left as is, and the print data is generated with the image of the two-dimensional code that has been converted from the print image into a two-dimensional code as a special color. Also, in the example of Fig. 5, the color information of the print image is converted to C, M, and Y colors, and then the print data is generated with the image of the two-dimensional code that has been converted from the print image into a two-dimensional code as K color.

[0038] <Functional configuration> The client terminal 10 is loaded with programs such as those shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the programs loaded in the client terminal of this embodiment. Fig. 6 shows an example in which the client terminal 10 is loaded with an OS (Operating System) 20, a printer driver 22, and an application 24 as programs.

[0039] The hardware of the client terminal 10 is controlled by the OS 20. The printer driver 22 and application 24 operate via the OS 20. When executing printing using an application 24 such as a word processor or spreadsheet, the user sets print settings in the printer driver 22 via the OS 20. Application data generated by the application 24 is sent to the printer driver 22 via the OS 20.

[0040] The printer driver 22 generates print data by converting the data into data that can be interpreted by the image forming device 12 and adding post-processing print commands corresponding to the print settings. The print data generated by the printer driver 22 is sent from the OS 20 to the image forming device 12 via the hardware of the client terminal 10 and the network 14.

[0041] The client terminal 10 executes the program of Fig. 6 to realize, for example, a functional configuration as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of an example of a client terminal according to this embodiment. In the functional configuration of Fig. 7, configurations that are not necessary for explaining this embodiment are omitted as appropriate.

[0042] 7 is configured to include an application unit 30, a UI unit 32, a print setting storage unit 34, a transmission unit 36, a drawing unit 38, and a page analysis unit 40. The transmission unit 36 ​​is, for example, a spooler.

[0043] The application unit 30 is a function realized by executing the application 24. The application unit 30 accepts user operations and generates application data. When executing printing, the application unit 30 calls the UI unit 32 to accept print settings from the user.

[0044] The UI unit 32 is a function realized by executing the printer driver 22. The UI unit 32 provides a UI for accepting print settings from the user by displaying a screen on the display 506. The UI unit 32 saves the print settings accepted from the user in the print setting saving unit 34. The print setting saving unit 34 saves the print settings.

[0045] The application unit 30 sends the generated application data to the drawing unit 38 as data to be printed. The data to be printed includes an image to be printed. The drawing unit 38 is a function realized by executing the printer driver 22. The drawing unit 38 receives the data to be printed from the application unit 30. The drawing unit 38 also reads out print settings from the print setting storage unit 34.

[0046] In accordance with the print settings, the drawing unit 38 converts the data to be printed into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the image forming device 12. The page analysis unit 40 is a function that is realized by executing the printer driver 22. The page analysis unit 40 analyzes the received data to be printed, for example, page by page, and returns the analysis results to the drawing unit 38.

[0047] For example, if the data to be printed includes a code, as described below, the rendering unit 38 adds a print command to print a two-dimensional code image with IR toner to the page of print data, as described below. The two-dimensional code image printed with IR toner by the added print command is, for example, a two-dimensional code created from the image to be printed. Hereinafter, the two-dimensional code image created by two-dimensionally encoding the image to be printed will simply be referred to as the two-dimensional code image.

[0048] The drawing unit 38 can add a print command for printing a two-dimensional code image with IR toner to the print data converted from the image to be printed, and then send the data to the sending unit 36. If the data to be printed does not contain a code, which will be described later, the drawing unit 38 sends the print data converted from the image to be printed to the sending unit 36. The sending unit 36 ​​spools the print data sent from the drawing unit 38 and sends it sequentially to the image forming device 12.

[0049] Each of the above functional configurations is realized by cooperation between the hardware and software of the computer 500. The software also includes the operation of one or more pieces of hardware of the computer 500 and a plurality of pieces of software working together.

[0050] <Processing> The client terminal 10 of the printing system 1 according to this embodiment executes processing in accordance with, for example, the procedure shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the outline of processing by the client terminal according to this embodiment.

[0051] When a user operation to execute printing is accepted, the process proceeds to step S10, where the application unit 30 calls the UI unit 32 to display a print setting screen in order to accept print settings from the user.

[0052] When the UI unit 32 accepts the print settings from the user, in step S12, the UI unit 32 stores the print settings accepted from the user in the print setting saving unit 34. The UI unit 32 also notifies the application unit 30 that the print settings have been accepted from the user.

[0053] In step S14, the application unit 30 sends the generated application data as data to be printed to the drawing unit 38. In step S16, the drawing unit 38 reads the print settings from the print setting storage unit 34. In step S18, the drawing unit 38 sends the data to be printed to the page analysis unit 40.

[0054] The page analysis unit 40 analyzes the data to be printed, for example, page by page, and if a page in which a code (described later) is written (a code-written page) is included, returns the analysis result to the drawing unit .

[0055] In step S20, the rendering unit 38 converts the data to be printed into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the image forming device 12, in accordance with the print settings. If a code description page is included, the rendering unit 38 adds a print command to the converted print data to print an image of a two-dimensional code with IR toner. Note that the print data converted by the rendering unit 38 excludes the code description page, as described below. If a code description page is not included, the rendering unit 38 does not add a print command to the converted print data to print an image of a two-dimensional code with IR toner.

[0056] In step S22, the drawing unit 38 transmits the print data to the transmission unit 36. In step S24, the transmission unit 36 ​​spools the print data received from the drawing unit 38 and transmits it to the image forming device 12 in sequence.

[0057] The client terminal 10 generates a two-dimensional code for an image to be printed that corresponds to a code-description page, for example, according to the procedure shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart of an example of a process for generating a two-dimensional code for an image to be printed that corresponds to a code-description page. Fig. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a process for generating a two-dimensional code for an image to be printed that corresponds to a code-description page.

[0058] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the data to be printed is shown in Fig. 10(A). The data to be printed in Fig. 10(A) is an example in which a code-described page 1002 is included on the first page and a code-described page 1006 is included on the third page. The data to be printed in Fig. 10(A) is also an example in which a code-undescribed page 1004 is included on the second page and a code-undescribed page 1008 is included on the fourth page.

[0059] In this embodiment, as will be described later, a code written on the code-written page 1002 is recognized, a two-dimensional code is created based on the recognized code, and the two-dimensional code is invisibly printed by superimposing it on the code-unwritten page 1004. In this embodiment, a two-dimensional code is created from the image of the code-unwritten page 1004 corresponding to the code-written page 1002 based on the recognized code.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the code written on the code-written page 1006 is recognized, a two-dimensional code is created based on the recognized code, and the two-dimensional code is invisibly printed by superimposing it on the code-unwritten page 1008. In this embodiment, the image of the code-unwritten page 1008 corresponding to the code-written page 1006 is converted into a two-dimensional code based on the recognized code.

[0061] Note that Figure 10(A) shows an example in which code-described pages such as code-described pages 1002 and 1006 corresponding to code-described pages such as code-described pages 1004 and 1008 are inserted before the corresponding code-described pages, but they may also be inserted after the code-described pages.

[0062] 9 manages the page images to be read using a read page count value (ReadPageCount). Also, Fig. 9 manages the page images and 2D code images to be stored using a store page count value (StorePageCount). In step S30, the page analysis unit 40 initializes the read page count value and the store page count value to "1".

[0063] In step S32, the page analysis unit 40 reads the page image specified by the read page count value from the data to be printed. For example, in the example of Fig. 10A, the page image of the code description page 1002, which is the first page, is read.

[0064] In step S34, the page analysis unit 40 attempts to extract a predefined code from the read page image using, for example, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), and provides the result of extracting the predefined code to the drawing unit 38.

[0065] If the page image read in step S32 does not contain a predefined code, the drawing unit 38 proceeds from step S36 to step S38. On the other hand, if the page image read in step S32 contains a predefined code, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to step S44 and performs processing. In the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the code description page 1002, the first page, contains a predefined code, so the drawing unit 38 performs step S44.

[0066] In step S44, the drawing unit 38 discards the page image read in step S32 so as not to print the page image of the code description page. In the example of Fig. 10(A), the page image of the first code description page 1002 is discarded, for example, as shown in Fig. 10(B).

[0067] In step S46, the page analysis unit 40 adds "1" to the read page count value. In step S48, the page analysis unit 40 reads the page image specified by the read page count value from the data to be printed. In the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the second page, page 1004, where no code is written, is read.

[0068] If there is no page following the code description page read in step S32 and the page image cannot be read in step S48 (NO in step S50), the page analysis unit 40 ends the process with an error.

[0069] If the page image can be read in step S48, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to the process from step S50 to step S52, and saves the page image read in step S48 as the page specified by the saved page count value. For example, in the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the second page, page 1004, where no code is written, is saved as the first page, as shown in Figure 10(B).

[0070] Proceeding to step S54, the drawing unit 38 creates a two-dimensional code for the page image read out in step S48 in accordance with the code extracted in step S34. Proceeding to step S56, the drawing unit 38 saves the image of the created two-dimensional code in association with the page specified by the save page count value.

[0071] For example, in the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the second page, page 1004, where no code is written, is converted into a two-dimensional code, and the image 1010 of the two-dimensional code 1014 created as shown in Figure 10(C) is saved in association with the page image of page 1004 where no code is written.

[0072] The process proceeds from step S56 to step S40, and if the page analysis unit 40 read out in step S48 has a next page, the process proceeds to step S42, where it adds "1" to the read page count value and the saved page count value. Note that if the page analysis unit 40 read out in step S48 has no next page, the process of the flowchart in FIG. 9 ends.

[0073] In the example of Figure 10(A), there is a third code description page 1006, so the process proceeds to step S42, where "1" is added to the read page count value and the saved page count value, and then the process returns to step S32. In the example of Figure 10(A), the read page count value becomes "3", and the saved page count value becomes "2".

[0074] In step S32, the page analysis unit 40 reads the page image specified by the read page count value from the data to be printed. For example, in the example of Fig. 10A, the page image of the code description page 1006, which is the third page, is read.

[0075] In step S34, the page analysis unit 40 attempts to extract a predefined code from the read page image using, for example, OCR, and then provides the result of extracting the predefined code to the drawing unit 38.

[0076] If the page image read in step S32 does not contain a predefined code, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to step S36 to perform the process in step S38. On the other hand, if the page image read in step S32 contains a predefined code, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to step S44 and performs the process. In the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the code description page 1006, the third page, contains a predefined code, so the process in step S44 is performed.

[0077] In step S44, the drawing unit 38 discards the page image read in step S32 so as not to print the page image of the code description page. In the example of Fig. 10(A), the page image of the third code description page 1006 is discarded, for example, as shown in Fig. 10(B).

[0078] In step S46, the page analysis unit 40 adds "1" to the read page count value. In step S48, the page analysis unit 40 reads the page image specified by the read page count value from the data to be printed. In the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the fourth page, page 1008, where no code is written, is read.

[0079] If there is no page following the code description page read in step S32 and the page image cannot be read in step S48 (NO in step S50), the page analysis unit 40 ends the process with an error.

[0080] If the page image can be read in step S48, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to the process from step S50 to step S52, and saves the page image read in step S48 as the page specified by the save page count value. For example, in the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the fourth page, page 1008, where no code is written, is saved as the second page, as shown in Figure 10(B).

[0081] Proceeding to step S54, the drawing unit 38 creates a two-dimensional code for the page image read out in step S48 in accordance with the code extracted in step S34. Proceeding to step S56, the drawing unit 38 saves the image of the created two-dimensional code in association with the page specified by the save page count value.

[0082] For example, in the example of Figure 10(A), the page image of the fourth page, page 1008, where no code is written, is converted into a two-dimensional code, and the image 1012 of the two-dimensional code 1016 created as shown in Figure 10(C) is saved in association with the page image of page 1008 where no code is written.

[0083] The process proceeds from step S56 to step S40, and if the code-free page read in step S48 has a next page, the page analysis unit 40 proceeds to step S42 and adds "1" to the read page count value and the saved page count value. Also, if the code-free page read in step S48 does not have a next page, the page analysis unit 40 ends the process of the flowchart in Fig. 9. In the example of Fig. 10(A), the code-free page 1008 read in step S48 has no next page, so the process of the flowchart in Fig. 9 ends.

[0084] If the page image read in step S32 does not contain a predefined code, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to processing from step S36 to step S38, saves the page image read in step S32 as the page specified by the saved page count value, and then proceeds to processing of step S40.

[0085] The drawing unit 38 adds a print command to print the image of the two-dimensional code generated and saved by the process of the flowchart in FIG. 9 using IR toner to the print data, for example, using the procedure shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of a process for adding a print command to print the image of the two-dimensional code using IR toner to the print data. FIG. 11 manages the page images to be read using a read page count value. In step S60, the drawing unit 38 initializes the read page count value to "1."

[0086] In step S62, the drawing unit 38 reads out the page image specified by the read page count value from the page images saved by the processing in the flowchart of Fig. 9. For example, in the example of Fig. 10(B), the page image of the code-unwritten page 1004 is read out as the page image of the first page.

[0087] In step S64, the drawing unit 38 determines whether or not there is a two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value among the two-dimensional code images saved by the processing in the flowchart of Fig. 9. For example, in the example of Fig. 10(B), it is determined that there is an image 1010 of a two-dimensional code 1014 associated with the page image of page 1004 with no code written therein.

[0088] If there is a two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value, the drawing unit 38 proceeds from step S64 to step S72, and reads out the two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value. For example, in the example of Figure 10(C), an image 1010 of the two-dimensional code 1014 associated with the page image of the code-unwritten page 1004 is read out.

[0089] In step S74, the drawing unit 38 initializes the coordinates at which the two-dimensional code is to be printed (hereinafter referred to as print coordinates). The print coordinates may be set in advance, such as the upper left corner or the center. The print coordinates may be set on the system, or may be set by the user on the printer driver 22.

[0090] In step S76, the drawing unit 38 specifies print coordinates, adds a print command for printing the image of the two-dimensional code read in step S72 with IR toner to the print data for the page image of the code-free page read in step S62, and then proceeds to the processing of step S68. For example, in the examples of Figures 10(B) and 10(C), a print command for printing an image 1010 of the two-dimensional code 1014 with IR toner is added to the print data for the page image of the code-free page 1004.

[0091] The process proceeds from step S76 to step S68, and if the page with no code written in it read in step S62 has a next page, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to step S70 and adds "1" to the read page count value and the saved page count value. Note that if the page with no code written in it read in step S62 does not have a next page, the drawing unit 38 ends the process of the flowchart in FIG.

[0092] In the example of Figure 10(B), since there is an image of the second page, page 1008, where no code is written, the process proceeds to step S70, and after "1" is added to the read page count value, the process returns to step S62. In the example of Figure 10(B), the read page count value becomes "2".

[0093] In step S62, the drawing unit 38 reads out the page image specified by the read page count value from the page images saved by the processing in the flowchart of Fig. 9. For example, in the example of Fig. 10(B), the page image of page 1008 where no code is written is read out as the page image of the second page.

[0094] In step S64, the drawing unit 38 determines whether or not there is a two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value among the two-dimensional code images saved by the processing in the flowchart of Fig. 9. For example, in the example of Fig. 10(B), it is determined that there is an image 1012 of a two-dimensional code 1016 associated with the page image of page 1008 with no code written therein.

[0095] If there is a two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value, the drawing unit 38 proceeds from step S64 to step S72, and reads out the two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value. For example, in the example of Figure 10(C), an image 1012 of a two-dimensional code 1016 associated with the page image of page 1008 with no code written therein is read out.

[0096] In step S74, the drawing unit 38 initializes the print coordinates. In step S76, the drawing unit 38 specifies the print coordinates, adds a print command for printing the image of the two-dimensional code read in step S72 with IR toner to the print data for the page image of the code-free page read in step S62, and then proceeds to the processing of step S68. In the examples of Figures 10(B) and 10(C), a print command for printing the image 1012 of the two-dimensional code 1016 with IR toner is added to the print data for the page image of the code-free page 1008.

[0097] The process proceeds from step S76 to step S68, and if the page with no code read in step S62 has a next page, the drawing unit 38 proceeds to step S70 and adds "1" to the read page count value and the saved page count value.

[0098] If the code-free page read in step S62 does not have a next page, the drawing unit 38 ends the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 11. For example, in the example of Fig. 10(B), the code-free page 1008 does not have a next page, so the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 11 ends.

[0099] If there is no two-dimensional code image associated with the page specified by the read page count value, the drawing unit 38 proceeds from step S64 to step S66. The drawing unit 38 saves the read page image as the page specified by the save page count value, and then proceeds to step S68.

[0100] By processing the flowchart in Fig. 11, the drawing unit 38 can add a print command to the print data so that the image of the two-dimensional code is printed (invisibly printed) with IR toner. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a print result in which the two-dimensional code is invisibly printed.

[0101] Printed image 1020 in Fig. 12 is an image of the print result of code-free page 1004 on which two-dimensional code image 1024 is written. Printed image 1022 in Fig. 12 is an image of the print result of code-free page 1008 on which two-dimensional code image 1026 is written. The range of the code-free page to be two-dimensionally coded may be the entire image to be printed, or just a part of it.

[0102] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, an invisible two-dimensional code image 1024 can be printed on the same side as the image of the code-free page 1004 in Fig. 10(B) without changing the layout of the code-free page 1004 in Fig. 10(B). In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, an invisible two-dimensional code image 1026 can be printed on the same side as the image of the code-free page 1008 in Fig. 10(B) without changing the layout of the code-free page 1008 in Fig. 10(B). In Fig. 12, the two-dimensional code images 1024 and 1026 are displayed as visible for the purpose of explanation, but they are invisible in natural light environments.

[0103] According to the printing system 1 of this embodiment, a two-dimensional code image can be invisibly printed by superimposing (overlapping) it on an image of a page in which no code is written. Therefore, according to the printing system 1 of this embodiment, a two-dimensional code image can be added and printed on the same surface as the image to be printed, without changing the layout of the image to be visibly printed.

[0104] Furthermore, according to the printing system 1 of this embodiment, by inserting a code-described page, which sets a two-dimensional code in association with a code-free page that is the page to be printed, into the data to be printed, it is possible to invisibly print the image of the two-dimensional code superimposed on the page to be printed. For example, in this embodiment, the code-free page and the code-described page are associated by inserting a code-described page as the page before the code-free page. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the code-described page and the code-described page may be associated by inserting a code-described page as the page after the code-free page. In this way, according to the printing system 1 of this embodiment, by inserting a code-described page, on which an image of a two-dimensional code to be invisibly printed is set, as the page before the page to be printed, it is possible to easily invisibly print the image of the two-dimensional code on the page to be printed.

[0105] The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiment described above, and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims. Note that the printing system 1 described in this embodiment is just one example, and it goes without saying that there are various system configuration examples depending on the application and purpose.

[0106] Each function of the above-described embodiments can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the term "processing circuit" in this specification includes a processor programmed to perform each function by software, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, as well as devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a conventional circuit module designed to perform each function described above.

[0107] The devices described in the example are merely representative of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0108] In one embodiment, printing system 1 includes multiple computing devices, such as a server cluster, configured to communicate with each other over any type of communications link, including network 14, shared memory, etc., and to perform the processes disclosed herein.

[0109] Furthermore, units such as the client terminal 10 and the image forming device 12 can be configured to share the disclosed processing steps in various combinations. For example, a process performed by a given unit can be performed by another unit. Similarly, the function of a given unit can be performed by another unit. Furthermore, the elements of the client terminal 10 and the image forming device 12 can be integrated into a single device or separated into multiple devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 1 Printing System 10 Client Terminal 12 Image forming device 14 Network 20 OS 22 Printer Driver 24 Applications 30 Application Section 32 UI section 34 Print settings storage section 36 Transmitter 38 Drawing section 40 Page Analysis Section 506 Display 932 Printer section [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0111] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-26353

Claims

1. A printing system having an image forming apparatus capable of visible printing and invisible printing and a terminal device, The terminal device a page analysis means for analyzing a code description page included in the data to be printed; a drawing means for creating a two-dimensional code image of the code-blank page image included in the data to be printed based on the code described in the code-described page, and adding the created two-dimensional code image and a print command for invisibly printing the created two-dimensional code image by superimposing the created two-dimensional code image on the code-blank page image to print data generated based on the code-blank page; a transmitting means for transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus, a printer means for visibly printing an image of the code-free page based on the print data transmitted from the terminal device, and for invisiblely printing an image of the two-dimensional code superimposed on the visibly printed image of the code-free page in accordance with the print command; A printing system having:

2. The drawing means adds to the print data the print command for invisibly printing the image of the two-dimensional code on the same surface as the image of the code-free page without changing the layout of the image of the code-free page.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The terminal device, a page analysis means for analyzing a code description page included in the data to be printed; a drawing means for creating a two-dimensional code image of the code-blank page image included in the data to be printed based on the code described in the code-described page, and adding the created two-dimensional code image and a print command for invisibly printing the created two-dimensional code image by superimposing the created two-dimensional code image on the code-blank page image to print data generated based on the code-blank page; a transmitting means for transmitting the print data to an image forming device capable of visibly printing the image of the code-free page and invisibly printing the image of the two-dimensional code superimposed on the visibly printed image of the code-free page in accordance with the print command; A program that functions as a

4. a page analysis means for analyzing a code description page included in the data to be printed; a drawing means for creating a two-dimensional code image of the code-blank page image included in the data to be printed based on the code described in the code-described page, and adding the created two-dimensional code image and a print command for invisibly printing the created two-dimensional code image by superimposing the created two-dimensional code image on the code-blank page image to print data generated based on the code-blank page; a transmitting means for transmitting the print data to an image forming device capable of visibly printing an image of the code-free page and invisible printing an image of the two-dimensional code superimposed on the visibly printed image of the code-free page in accordance with the print command; A terminal device having the above configuration.

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