JP2000276311A - Device and method for outputting network information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save cost required for the acquisition and printing of an image file included in an HTML file. SOLUTION: When a network IF part 108 acquires an HTML file, the file is stored in an HTML file data storing part 105 and sent to a formatter part 106. When an image file is included in the HTML file, the formatter part 106 reads out a dummy image from a dummy image storing part 110, formats the read dummy image in accordance with in instruction based on an HTML and the formatted image is printed out from a printer part 107.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network information printing apparatus used when a user outputs a specific information resource on a computer network, for example, on the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of computer network technology, through various information media and information services,
Various information is freely available, and this information is updated daily in real time.

[0003] In order for users to always obtain new information,
It was necessary to repeatedly perform operations for accessing information resources on a computer on a regular basis. In such a case, the information obtained by the user is often printed.

However, in order to solve such a trouble, conventionally, a user sets in advance a time for accessing an information resource and a position information (URL: uniform resource locator) of the information resource in an image output apparatus connected to a network. In addition, a device has been proposed in which an image output device automatically acquires and prints a designated information resource. By using such a device, a user can automatically obtain an information resource while outputting it on paper.

In an apparatus for automatically acquiring and printing such information resources, an apparatus for acquiring and printing information resources only when the information resources have been updated from those previously acquired. Has been proposed, and an image output device that reduces unnecessary user cost has also been proposed.

[0006] HTML obtained by such a device
Information resources such as (hyper text mark-up language) files often include image files or have image files attached thereto.

[0007]

However, even if the information resource includes an image file or an information resource to which an image file is attached, the content of the image file is often not very important. Even if such an image file does not have an important meaning in the information resources, the communication fee required to obtain the image file to output the image file and the communication fee required to print the image are required. And consumables. In general, image files are often large data compared to characters and the like, and a lot of money is wasted for images that are not so important.

Further, depending on the performance of the image output device, the output speed may be reduced or the image file portion may be difficult to output clearly due to the fact that an image file is included in the information resource to be printed. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide a network information output apparatus and method for reducing costs and processing burdens associated with image acquisition and output.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, a network information output device connected to a network capable of specifying information by specifying position information, an information requesting unit for reading information specified by the specified position information, and image information attached to the read information. First determining means for determining whether image information has been attached, and second determining means for determining whether output of the image information has been designated if the image information is attached. If the output of the image information is specified, read and output the image information,
Output means for outputting predetermined image information instead of the image information when not specified.

Preferably, the information requesting means periodically reads information specified by the designated position information at a designated frequency.

[0012] Preferably, the first specifying means for specifying that the image information is to be output, determined by the second determining means, and the second specifying means for specifying the frequency. Is further provided.

Preferably, when the information specified by the designated position information is updated, the information requesting means reads the information.

Preferably, the output means prints image information information.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a network information printing device which is an embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a network information printing apparatus includes a data display unit 101, a data input unit 102, a user interface management unit 103, a data storage unit 104,
HTML file data storage unit 105, PDL formatter unit 106, printer unit 107, computer I / F
Unit 108, core unit 109, dummy image data storage unit 11
Consists of zero.

The data input unit 102 comprises an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse in a computer system, or a large liquid crystal operation panel included in the system. The user can use these input devices to specify a URL of an HTML file on a network, a command to specify a frequency of accessing a server having an HTML file, and a specification not to output an image file. This is where you enter the command to be performed.

The user interface management unit 103 includes:
It has a function of accepting a command from the data input unit 102 and passing it to the data storage unit 104, and displaying information stored in the data storage unit 104 on the data display unit 1.
01 is provided.

The HTML file data storage unit 105 includes:
It has a function of storing HTML file data supplied from the network I / F unit 108. It also has a function of managing and storing HTML file attachment information such as the acquisition time of the HTML file.

The formatter unit 106 develops data stored in the HTML file data storage unit 105 into print image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 107. Further, it has a function of supplying the developed print image data to the printer unit 107.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit and the printer unit 107. In brief, the reader unit scans a document image placed on a mounting table with a light source, and converts the reflected light into a luminance signal by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD. This luminance signal is output as it is or digitized.

In the printer unit 107, a laser driver 221 drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to print image data output from the formatter unit 106. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.
A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation, a recording sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and the transfer unit 206
To transfer the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 202 to recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each pin and sorts the recording paper. Note that the sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. When double-sided recording is set, the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path by the flapper 209. When multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing.

The dummy image data storage unit 110 is an HTM
It has a function of storing a dummy image file in place of the image file described in the L file and supplying the dummy image data to the formatter unit 106 in response to a request from the core unit 109.

The core unit 109 includes the data storage unit 104, H
TML file storage unit 105, network I / F unit 1
08, a function of referring to the data in the data storage unit 104, a function of requesting the server to obtain an HTML file from the network I / F unit 108,
A function of requesting the formatter unit 106 to output image data to the printer unit 107, and a function of sending dummy image data to the formatter unit 10 to the dummy image data storage unit 110.
6 has a function of requesting the transfer to

Next, the specific operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

First, according to the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the network information printing apparatus executes the present invention,
The details of the necessary setting operation will be described.

First, the data input unit 102 recognizes that the user performs setting when reading information from the network, and notifies the user interface management unit 103 as a data input request.

The user interface management unit 103
Upon receiving a data input request from the data input unit 102,
In the TEP 3001, the data display unit 101 displays an instruction to prompt the user to input a URL of an HTML file desired to be output by the user.

In STEP 3002, the user interface management unit 103 waits for the user to complete the input operation of the URL via the data input unit 102. ST
If it is confirmed in the EP 3003 that the input has been completed by the data input unit 102, the process proceeds to STEP 3004.

In STEP 3004, the user interface management unit 103 sets the U
An instruction prompting the user to specify the frequency at which the apparatus accesses the RL is displayed on the data display unit 101.

In STEP 3005, the user interface management unit 103 waits for the user to complete the operation of inputting the URL access frequency via the data input unit 102. If it is confirmed in STEP 3006 that the input has been completed by the data input unit 102, the process is terminated.
Move to 7.

In STEP 3007, the user interface management unit 103 determines the URL in STEP 3003.
When image data is included in the HTML file specified in step 1, the data display unit 1 prompts the user to select and specify whether to execute output of the image file.
01 is displayed.

In STEP 3008, the user interface management unit 103 waits for the user to complete the input operation of selecting image file output via the data input unit 102. If it is confirmed in STEP 3008 that the data input unit 102 has completed the input, the processing is terminated in STEP 30
Move to 09.

In STEP 3010, the user interface management unit 103 displays the URL input from the data input unit 102, the setting of the access frequency, and the setting of the image file output selection on the data display unit 101.
In step 011, the user confirms that the setting is correct.

If the user confirms that the settings are correctly made by the data input unit 101, the user interface management unit 103 stores the URL and access frequency setting information and the image file output selection setting in the data storage unit. 104, and the setting process ends.

If it cannot be confirmed that the settings have been made correctly, the process returns to STEP 3001, and the process is repeated until the settings are made correctly.

During the setting process, the user can arbitrarily interrupt the setting process.

According to the above procedure, the designation of the location of the access destination (URL), the designation of the access frequency, and the designation of whether to output the image file when the image file is described in the read HTML file. Is completed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the contents of the pre-processing required for the network printing apparatus to execute a printing operation as a specific processing of this embodiment will be described in detail.

The core unit 109 determines in step 4001 that the UR
An inquiry is made to the data storage unit 104 that L and the access frequency have already been specified.

If the URL and the access frequency are not set, the process returns to STEP 4001.

If the URL and the access frequency have been set, the process proceeds to STEP 4002, and the URL and the access frequency stored in the data storage unit 104 are read into the RAM of the core unit 109.

In step 4003, the core unit 109
From the access frequency read into RAM in EP4002,
Next, a time to access the HTML file is calculated and stored in the RAM in the core unit 109. For example, if the setting is 12
If the current time is 19:00 every hour, it is set to 7:00.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the HTML file acquisition operation and print execution processing will be described in detail at regular time intervals.

The core unit 109 is provided in STEP 4001 of FIG.
The time and current time for accessing the URL set in step S
Compare with TEP5001. If it is confirmed in STEP 5001 that the access time has been reached, STEP 5
002, and if it cannot be confirmed, the process proceeds to S.
Return to TEP5001 and wait until the access time is reached.

In STEP 5002, the core unit 109 sends a request to the WWW server via the network I / F unit 108 according to the URL entered by the user through the data input unit 102.
ttp (Hyper Text Transfer Pr)
requesting the transfer of the HTML file by using the H.O. At this time, if the core unit 109 has not accessed the HTML file of the URL before then, it always requests the www server to transfer the HTML file. If the HTML file of the URL has been acquired before, the core unit 109 uses http via the network I / F unit 108 and transfers the file only when the HTML file has been updated after a predetermined date and time. Request to the WWW server.

At this time, the core unit 109 sets the date and time when the HTML file was acquired before the predetermined date. In this case, the www server executes the transfer of the HTML file only when the HTML file has been updated after the designated date. Therefore, when the HTML file is normally received, the process proceeds to STEP 5004.

If the HTML file has not been updated since the designated date and time, the network I / F unit 108
In this case, STE
The process shifts to P5015, where the current time is stored in the HTML file storage unit 105 and the process returns to STEP5001.

The core section 109 is described in STEP 5003,
After confirming that the ML file has been obtained, STEP5004
Then, the HTML file transferred from the www server to the network I / F unit 108 is transferred to the HTML file data storage unit 105. The HTML file data storage unit 105 stores the transferred HTML file.

When storing a file in the HTML file data storage unit 105, the core unit 109 determines the URL used when the network I / F unit 108 accesses the www server and the time when the UTML file was acquired by the HT.
The HTML file data storage unit 105 stores the ML file data access information as well as the HTML file data.
Request to be stored in

In STEP 5005, the core unit 109 determines the HT of the URL specified by the user from the data input unit 102.
Whether image data is included in the ML file (HT
In the description in the ML file, imgsrc = xxx. gif
Is included in the HTML file, and if the image file is not included in the HTML file, STEP 5
The process shifts to 013.

In STEP 5013, the HTML file storage unit 105 transfers the HTML file to the formatter unit 106 according to a request from the core unit 109. HTM
Upon receiving the L file, the formatter unit 106
From the format of the ML file, print image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 108 is formed. After that, the process proceeds to STEP 5014, and the printer unit 107 prints out printable print image data transferred from the formatter unit.

If it is determined in STEP 5005 that the image file is included in the HTML file, the process proceeds to S
The process moves to TEP5006.

In STEP 5006, the core unit 109 confirms the image file output selection input by the user from the data input unit 102, and shifts the processing to STEP 5011 when it is set not to output image data. At this time, if it is not set not to output the image data, the process proceeds to STEP5007.

In STEP 5007, the image file included in the HTML file is converted to a W file by using http.
Request transfer to WW server. After acquiring the image file, the process proceeds to STEP 5008, and it is confirmed whether all the image files in the HTML file have been acquired.
The image file acquired at this time is stored in the HTML file storage unit 105. Steps 5007 to 5008 until all images in the HTML file are obtained
Is repeatedly executed.

If it is confirmed in STEP 5008 that all the image files in the HTML file have been obtained, the processing shifts to STEP 5009.

In STEP 5009, the HTML file storage unit 105 transfers the HTML file and the image file to the formatter unit 106 according to a request from the core unit 109. The formatter unit 106 that has received the HTML file and the image file forms print image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 108 based on the format of the HTML file.

After that, the processing shifts to STEP5014,
The printer unit 107 prints out printable print image data transferred from the formatter unit.

The output result thus output is the same as the output that can be confirmed with a normal WWW browser, and is an orderly output in which images and text are mixed as shown in FIG.

Next, STEP 5 most relevant to the present invention
The case where no image data is set to be output in 006 will be described in detail.

If it is set in STEP 5006 that no image data is output, the processing is terminated.
Move to

In STEP 5011, the image file is not obtained, and the core unit 109 requests the dummy image data storage unit to transfer the dummy image data to the formatter unit 106.

In STEP 5012, the formatter receives the dummy image data and the HTML file, formats them together, and forms print image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 108 from the format of the HTML file.

Thereafter, the processing shifts to STEP 5014,
The printer unit 107 prints out printable print image data transferred from the formatter unit.

The output result output in this way is different from the output that can be confirmed with a normal WWW browser, and is an output in which a dummy image and text are mixed as shown in FIG.

The operation has been described above.

As described above, by outputting image information according to the user's settings, it is possible to save time for reading the image file from the server, communication cost, time for printing, and consumables.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the processing in which the network information printing apparatus accesses the www server at regular time intervals, obtains an HTML file, and prints the HTML file has been described.

When printing an HTML file, it is conceivable to add the URL information of the HTML file and the date and time when the HTML file was obtained as a header or footer of printing paper.

In this embodiment, the processing will be specifically described.

URL in the header or footer of printing paper
Even when the information and the HTML file acquisition date and time are added, the outline of the processing is the same as that of the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, STEP5009 to STEP50
Although the processing contents of Step 12 are different from those of the first embodiment, the other steps are not particularly different from those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

In STEP 5008, the HTML file storage unit 105 transfers the HTML file, the acquired image file, and the HTML file access information including the URL information and the date and time when the HTML file was acquired to the formatter unit 106.

In STEP 5009, the formatter unit 106 that has received the HTML file and the image file
In addition to the image file and the HTML file, the HTML file access information is formatted as a header or footer of a page to be output, and print image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 107 is formed. Then, the data is transferred to the printer unit 107.

On the other hand, if no image data is output, the STE
In P5011, the HTML file storage unit 105 stores
TML file and dummy image data, and the above URL
HTML including information and HTML file acquisition date and time
The file access information is transferred to the formatter unit 106.

At STEP 5012, the formatter unit 10 receiving the HTML file and the dummy image file
Reference numeral 6 forms, in addition to the dummy image file and the HTML file, HTML file access information as a header or a footer of a page to be output, to form print image data (bitmap data) that can be output by the printer unit 107. Then, the data is transferred to the printer unit 107.

The image printed in STEP 5014 is shown in FIG.
The format is as shown in the example below. The example of the output image in FIG.
It is an example of an image in which the URL at which the ML file was obtained is added as a header and the date and time of the acquisition is added as a footer.

As described above, instead of the image file specified in the HTML file, a predetermined dummy image
By outputting the image file together with the TML file, the cost and time required for reading and outputting the image file can be saved.
Further, if a URL is output as the access information, it is easy to newly obtain the image file that should have been output from the URL. If the access date and time is output as the access information, the HTM output periodically
The update history of the L file can be known.

[Modification of Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, the access information is printed on the header or the footer as shown in FIG. 8, but in this modification, the access information is printed on an independent page, for example, Print as cover. This example is shown in FIG.

In STEPs 5009 and 5012, instead of editing the access information as a footer and a header, the formatter unit 106 forms a cover image including one page of access information and prints it. Thereafter, the HTML file and the image file or the dummy file are printed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

By printing the access information on the cover in this way, the HTML file and the image file can be printed in the original format.
It is possible to prevent the contents from being erroneously read as the contents of the file.

[0082]

[Other Embodiments] The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine). Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or recording medium) storing software program codes in accordance with the procedures shown in FIGS. Supply to the system or device computer (or CPU or MPU)
Is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
In addition, by the computer executing the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
This also includes a case where an operating system (OS) or the like running on a computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By setting the image file not to be output, the cost and time required to acquire and output the image file can be reduced by not outputting the image file when periodically reading and outputting the information on the network. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a network information printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating in detail an internal configuration of a printer unit 107 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a setting operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating preprocessing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an image acquisition and printing method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output image.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output image according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output image according to the third embodiment.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 354 G06F 13/00 354D F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 HJ06 JJ04 2C087 AA03 AA09 AB06 AC08 BA02 BA03 BA06 BA14 BD52 5B021 AA01 BB02 BB04 CC05 CC06 5B082 AA00 FA00 5B089 GA21 GB03 JB03 KA06 KB07 KC30 LB12

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A network information output device connected to a network capable of specifying information by specifying position information, comprising: an information requesting unit for reading information specified by the specified position information; First to determine whether information is attached
Determining means for determining that image information is attached; and determining whether output of the image information is designated. If the output of the attached image information is An output unit for reading and outputting the image information when specified, and outputting predetermined image information instead of the image information when not specified. apparatus. 2. The network information output device according to claim 1, wherein said information requesting means periodically reads information specified by the specified position information at a specified frequency. 3. A first method for designating output of the image information, which is determined by the second determination unit.
3. The network information output apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a designation unit for specifying the frequency; and a second designation unit for designating the frequency. 4. The network information output device according to claim 2, wherein the information requesting unit reads the information specified by the designated position information when the information is updated. 5. The network information output device according to claim 1, wherein said output means prints image information information. 6. A network information output method in a network capable of specifying information by specifying position information, comprising: an information requesting step of reading information specified by the specified position information; and image information attached to the read information. First to determine if
A determining step of determining whether the image information is attached, and a second determining step of determining whether designation of outputting the image information is specified; and outputting the attached image information. A step of reading and outputting the image information if specified, and an output step of outputting predetermined image information instead of the image information if not specified. Method. 7. The network information output method according to claim 6, wherein the information requesting step periodically reads information specified by the specified position information at a specified frequency. 8. A first method for designating output of the image information, which is determined in the second determination step.
8. The network information output method according to claim 7, further comprising: a designation step of designating the frequency; and a second designation step of designating the frequency. 9. The network information output method according to claim 7, wherein in the information requesting step, when information specified by the designated position information is updated, the information is read. 10. The network information output method according to claim 6, wherein said output step prints image information information. 11. A computer connected to a network capable of specifying information by specifying position information, an information requesting unit for reading information specified by the specified position information, and image information attached to the read information. First to determine
Determining means for determining that image information is attached; and determining whether output of the image information is designated. If the output of the attached image information is If the image information is specified, the image information is read and output. If the image information is not specified, a computer program for realizing output means for outputting predetermined image information instead of the image information is stored. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized by: