JP4323924B2 - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to image processing for simulating the output of a printer at another site via a network such as the Internet.

  As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-222009, the color management system (CMS) is composed of a Color Management Module (CMM) and a device profile, a profile corresponding to the source device before conversion, and the destination after conversion Color conversion processing is performed using a profile corresponding to the device. The former profile is called a source profile, and the latter profile is called a destination profile.

  1 is a diagram showing color conversion processing for converting a monitor color space (monitor RGB) or a print color color space (print color CMYK) to a printer color space (printer CMYK), and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a device profile. is there.

  In this case, the source device is a monitor, a proof printer, or a standard print color, and the profile of the monitor or print color becomes the source profile 103. The destination device is a printer, and the profile of the printer is the destination profile 104.

  The profile is divided into a header part 105 and a data storage part 106 for management. The header unit 105 stores device information indicating which device (for example, a monitor) the profile corresponds to, CMM information indicating which CMM the profile is used in, and the like. The data storage unit 106 stores profile description information for identifying the profile and data necessary for color matching.

  The profile description information includes information on the manufacturer name and the product name such as “CanonIX-4015”. Also, as data necessary for color matching, data for conversion from monitor RGB to Profile Connection Space (PCS) 102 CIE XYZ or CIE Lab for monitor profile, and print color CMYK to PCS 102 for print color profile Data to be converted and the printer profile store data from the PCS 102 to the printer CMYK.

  With the spread of the Internet and the like, it has become possible to form images with printers at other sites. At that time, it is desired to simulate or preview the color matching output of the printer at the remote site (other site).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-222009

An object of the present invention is to accurately simulate the color matching output of a printer at another site.

  The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

Image processing according to the present invention, in order to simulate the printed via a computer network, to select a color printer on the network to become a target of the simulation, color printers on the network to simulate the output of the target printer select the required profile color matching process of the simulated selected through the network, sets the profile the selected to the target printer, and sends the image data to be subjected to color matching process to the target printer, the the image data expansion processing is performed to a color matching process and the bit map data according to profile the selected to the image data by the target printer target pre It received from the data, characterized in that to output an image based on the received image data to the printer for the simulation output.

When performing a print simulation via a computer network, a color printer on the network is selected as a target of the simulation, a color printer on the network that performs simulation output of the target printer is selected, and the simulation is performed. A profile necessary for color matching processing is selected through the network, the use of the selected profile is instructed to a server at a site where the target printer exists, and image data to be subjected to color matching processing is transmitted to the server, color matching processing according to the profile the selected to the image data by the server is performed, the image data after the color matching processing from the server to the target printer is feeding Is, the image data expansion processing is performed to the bit map data to the image data after the color matching processing by the target printer received via the server, for the simulation outputs an image based on the received image data Output to a printer.

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately simulate the color matching output of a printer at another site.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Constitution]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the network system according to the embodiment.

  The network system of the embodiment includes a remote site A and a site B connected by a large-scale network (WAN) 200 such as the Internet.

  Site A has a client 201, a network printer 202 (connected to the network by a printer controller), a server 203 having a connection interface function with the WAN 200, and profiles of devices connected to the server 203. A stored profile database (DB) 204 is included. The client 201 has a CPU and VRAM necessary for monitor display and image processing, and a communication function necessary for network communication.

  On the other hand, the site B includes a network printer (connected to the network by a printer controller) 211 and a server 213 having a connection interface function with the WAN 200. The printer controller of the printer 211 is connected to a profile DB 212 in which profiles such as devices on the site B are stored.

  Although FIG. 3 shows an example in which one printer is connected to each site, it goes without saying that a plurality of types of printers can be connected to each site. Further, the number of sites that make up the network system is not limited to two, and any number of sites that are two or more are arbitrary. Furthermore, the connection between the sites is not limited to the WAN, and may be a network system in which sites configured in units of buildings, units of floors of buildings, units of departments, or the like are connected.

[User interface]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for setting the color matching output of the printer 211 in the client 201 for simulation output by the printer 202. The software running on the client 201 can be used to monitor the client 201. Is displayed.

  The “target printer” is a printer to be simulated for color matching output, and the printer 211 is selected in the example of FIG. The “output printer” is a printer that performs simulation output. In the example of FIG. 4, the printer 202 is selected.

  In profile setting, it is possible to set or select a profile corresponding to the color characteristics of the input image data and the profiles of the output printer and the target printer. In the example of FIG. 4, the “Japan Color” print profile is selected (set) when the input image is CMYK, and the “sRGB Monitor” profile is selected when the input image is RGB. Further, the profile of the B printer that is the target printer is selected (set) as the simulation target, and the profile of the A printer that is the output printer is selected (set) as the printer.

  In the file setting, TIFF, JPEG, JFIF and the like that are often used as image file formats can be selected. In the example of FIG. 4, TIFF is selected.

  Although not shown in the figure, in profile setting, resolution, mapping algorithm (for example, emphasis on color, faithful reproduction, and emphasis on color), the type of recording medium, the type of ink, the regional characteristics of the person who watches the image, etc. Setting in consideration is also possible, and when such information is set, a profile corresponding to the set information is selected.

[processing]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for causing the printer 202 to perform simulation output of the color matching output result of the printer 211 at the site B, and is a process executed by software running on the client 201.

  When the user sets each item of the user interface shown in FIG. 4 and presses the [OK] button, the target printer and the output printer are set according to the setting of the user interface (S100-S101). Subsequently, a profile required for simulation output is set according to the user interface setting (S102), and it is checked whether there is an error in the profile setting (S103). If there is an error, an error message is displayed on the monitor (S106), and then the process ends.

  If there is no error in the profile setting, the file format of the bitmap image data after color matching is instructed to the printer controller of the target printer according to the setting of the user interface (S104), and the simulation output process is executed (S105).

  As a result, when the setting shown in FIG. 4 is performed, the image output from the client 201 is color-matched by the printer 211 at the site B, and the color matching result is output by simulation by the printer 202.

Profile Setting FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the profile setting process (S102).

  According to the user interface settings, a color characteristic profile to be applied when the input image is CMYK data is set (S200), and a color characteristic profile to be applied when the input image is RGB data is set (S201). Then, the profile of the target printer is set (S202), and the profile of the output printer is set (S203).

  With this series of settings, a profile necessary for the simulation output process is set in the printer controller of the printer 211.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of profile setting in each of steps S200, S201, S202, and S203.

  First, the profile DB 212 of the site B is accessed, the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 212 is acquired (S300), and it is checked whether or not the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information. (S301). If the desired profile is listed, the selection is instructed to the printer controller of the printer 211 (S302), and the process is terminated.

  If the desired profile is not listed, the profile DB 204 of the site A is accessed and the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 204 is acquired (S303). Then, it is checked whether or not the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information (S304). If the desired profile is listed, the profile is downloaded from the profile DB 204 to the profile DB 212, the selection of the downloaded profile is instructed to the printer controller of the printer 211 (S305), and the process ends.

  If the desired profile is not listed in the profile information of the profile DB 204, an error message is returned (S306) and the process is terminated.

  Through this series of processing, a profile DB on the network is accessed and necessary profiles are set. In this example, the profile search is first started from the profile DB 212 connected to the printer 211 at the site B. In general, this is done by using the printer 211 (B printer) as a target printer. When performing matching, it is highly likely that the latest profile of the B printer has been downloaded to the profile DB 212. Searching and using it can shorten the search time and use a newer profile. Because it is expensive. Of course, the search at the time of setting the source profile (S200, S201) may be started from either profile DB, and the search at the time of setting the profile of the output printer (S203) is preferably started from the profile DB 204.

Simulation Output Process FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the simulation output process in step S105.

  The printer driver on the client 201 converts the image data into Page Description Language (PDL) data that can be interpreted by the printer 211 (S400), and transmits the PDL data to the printer 211 via the servers 203 and 213 (S401).

  Upon receiving the PDL data, the printer controller of the printer 211 analyzes the PDL data (details will be described later, including color matching processing) (S421), and checks the analysis result of the PDL data to determine whether an error has occurred. Is determined (S422). If there is an error, an error message is returned to the client 201 (S423), and the process is terminated. Although not shown in the figure, the client 201 that has received the error message displays the message on the monitor and ends the process.

  If there is no error, the printer controller of the printer 211 expands the PDL data into bitmap data (S424), converts the expanded bitmap data into the file format specified in step S104 (S425), and converts the file data to Then, the data is transmitted to the client 201 via the servers 213 and 203 (S426).

  Upon receiving file data from the printer 211 (S402), the client 201 transfers the file data to the printer 202 (S403).

  Upon receiving file data from the client 201, the printer 202 converts the file data into bitmap data (S441), and prints an image based on the bitmap data (S442).

  Through this series of processing, an image output from the client 201 is subjected to color matching by the printer 211 at the site B, and then output by simulation by the printer 202 at the site A.

Analysis of PDL Data FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the PDL data analysis processing in step S421.

  The printer controller of the printer 211 extracts color data (CMYK or RGB) from the PDL data (S500), and performs color matching processing on the extracted color data (S501). Then, it is checked whether or not an error has occurred (S502). If an error has occurred, an error message is returned (S503), and the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of the color matching process in step S501.

  The printer controller of the printer 211 has a profile set in steps S200 to S203, that is, a monitor profile for RGB (sRGB monitor profile in the example of FIG. 4), and a print color profile for CMYK (Japan Color in the example of FIG. 4). Profile) and printer profile (B printer profile in the example of FIG. 4), color data is converted into CMYK data corresponding to the color characteristics of the B printer. Furthermore, the CMYK data of the B printer is converted into CMYK data according to the color characteristics of the A printer based on the printer profile (B printer profile in the example of FIG. 4) and the printer profile (A printer profile in the example of FIG. 4). Convert.

  That is, the bitmap data developed in step S424 is converted so that the output image of the printer 211 can be simulated by the printer 202. Therefore, the user of the client 201 can confirm the color of the image output from the printer 211 at a remote location by the simulation output of the nearby printer 202.

  The image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same configurations as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system according to the second embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the profile DB 212 is connected not to the printer controller of the printer 211 but to the server 212.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the simulation output process in step S105.

  The printer driver on the client 201 converts the image data into PDL data that can be interpreted by the printer 211 (S400), and transmits the PDL data to the server 213 via the server 203 (S501).

  Upon receiving the PDL data, the server 213 analyzes the PDL data (details will be described later, including color matching processing) (S521), and checks the PDL data analysis result to determine whether an error has occurred. (S522). If there is an error, an error message is returned to the client 201 (S523), and the process is terminated. Although not shown in the figure, the client 201 that has received the error message displays the message on the monitor and ends the process.

  If there is no error, the server 213 transmits the PDL data to the printer 211 (S524). Upon receiving the PDL data, the printer controller of the printer 211 expands the PDL data into bitmap data (S424), converts the expanded bitmap data into the file format specified in step S104 (S425), and converts the file data to , To the server 213 (S527).

  Upon receiving the file data (S525), the server 213 transmits the file data to the client 201 via the server 203 (S426). When the client 201 receives file data from the server 213 (S502), the client 201 transfers the file data to the printer 202 (S403).

  Upon receiving file data from the client 201, the printer 202 converts the file data into bitmap data (S441), and prints an image based on the bitmap data (S442).

  Through this series of processing, the image output from the client 201 is subjected to color matching by the server 213 and the printer 211 at the site B, and then output by simulation by the printer 202 at the site A.

  In this case, the profile selection instruction and profile download shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of the PDL data analysis processing in step S521.

  The server 213 extracts color data (CMYK or RGB) from the PDL data (S700), and performs color matching processing on the extracted color data (S701). Then, it is checked whether or not an error has occurred (S702). If an error has occurred, an error message is returned (S704), and the process ends. If no error occurs, the PDL data is reconstructed, that is, based on the color data converted in step S701, the color data is converted back to the converted PDL data (S703). The process ends.

  In this way, the bitmap data developed in step S424 is converted so that the output image of the printer 211 can be simulated by the printer 202. Therefore, the user of the client 201 can confirm the color of the image output from the printer 211 at a remote location by the simulation output of the nearby printer 202.

  The image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same configurations as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system according to the third embodiment. Compared to the configuration of the first embodiment, a profile DB 214 connected to the server 213 is added. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of profile setting in steps S200, S201, S202, and S203 shown in FIG.

  First, the profile DB 212 of the site B is accessed, the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 212 is acquired (S800), and it is checked whether the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information. (S801). If the desired profile is listed, the selection is instructed to the printer controller of the printer 211 (S802), and the process is terminated.

  If the desired profile is not listed, the profile DB 214 at the site B is accessed and the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 214 is acquired (S803). Then, it is checked whether or not the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information (S804). If the desired profile is listed, the profile is downloaded from the profile DB 214 to the profile DB 212, the selection of the downloaded profile is instructed to the printer controller of the printer 211 (S805), and the process ends.

  If the desired profile is not listed, the profile DB 204 of the site A is accessed and the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 204 is acquired (S806). Then, it is checked whether or not the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information (S807). If the desired profile is listed, the profile is downloaded from the profile DB 204 to the profile DB 212, the selection of the downloaded profile is instructed to the printer controller of the printer 211 (S805), and the process ends.

  If the desired profile is not listed in the profile information of the profile DB 204, an error message is returned (S808), and the process is terminated.

  Through this series of processing, the profile DB on the network is accessed, and the necessary profile is set in the printer controller of the printer 211. In this example, the search for the profile of the printer 211 (B printer) is first started from the profile DB 212 connected to the printer 211 of the site B. If there is no corresponding profile, then the profile of the site A is searched. Search site B's profile DB 214 instead of DB 204. This is because the profile of the B printer is higher in the profile DB 214 of the site B where the printer 211 exists than the site A. Of course, as in the first embodiment, the search at the time of setting the source profile may be started from any profile DB, and the search at the time of setting the profile of the output printer is preferably started from the profile DB 204.

  Further, the color preferred in the area where the site B exists and the area where the site A exists may be different. For example, site B is in a high latitude area, and people in the area where site B is located prefer cold colors, while site A is located in a low latitude area and people in areas where site A exists prefer warm colors. Is the case. In this case, when a user belonging to site A previews the color matching result of the printer 211 with the printer 202 and then tries to print with the printer 211 a printout distributed in the area where the site B exists, the site B It is considered that a preferable print result can be obtained by using a profile depending on the characteristics of the existing area. Therefore, in such a case, considering that there is a high possibility that the profile depending on the regional characteristics is managed for each site, the site DB profile DB 212 and the site B profile DB 204 It is preferable to search 214.

  The image processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first to third embodiments denote the same components, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The configuration of the network system of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

[User interface]
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a user interface for performing preview setting when previewing the color matching output of the printer 211 shown in FIG. 3 on the monitor of the client 201 shown in FIG. Displayed on the monitor of the client 201 by software.

  A “target printer” is a printer to be previewed for color matching output. In the example of FIG. 16, the printer 211 is selected. The “output monitor” is a monitor that performs a preview. In the example of FIG. 16, A monitor is selected.

  In profile setting, a profile corresponding to the color characteristics of the input image data and a profile of the target printer can be set or selected. In the example of FIG. 16, the print profile of “Japan Color” is selected (set) when the input image is CMYK, and the profile of “sRGB Monitor” is selected when the input image is RGB. Further, the profile of the B printer that is the target printer is selected (set) as the printer profile.

  In the file setting, TIFF, JPEG, JFIF and the like that are often used as image file formats can be selected. In the example of FIG. 16, TIFF is selected.

  Although not shown in the figure, in profile setting, resolution, mapping algorithm (for example, emphasis on color, faithful reproduction, and emphasis on color), the type of recording medium, the type of ink, the regional characteristics of the person who watches the image, etc. Setting in consideration is also possible, and when such information is set, a profile corresponding to the set information is selected.

[processing]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process for previewing the color matching output result of the printer 211 of the site B on the monitor via the network, and is a process executed by software running on the client 201.

  When the user sets each item of the user interface shown in FIG. 16 and presses the [OK] button, the target printer and the output monitor are set according to the setting of the user interface (S1100 to S1101). Subsequently, a profile required for the preview is set according to the user interface setting (S1102), and it is checked whether there is an error in the profile setting (S1103). If there is an error, an error message is displayed on the monitor (S1106), and then the process ends.

  If there is no error in the profile setting, the file format of the bitmap image data after color matching is instructed to the printer controller of the target printer according to the setting of the user interface (S1104), and the preview process is executed (S1105).

  As a result, when the setting shown in FIG. 16 is performed, the image output from the client 201 is color-matched by the printer 211 at the site B, and the color matching result is preview-displayed on the monitor.

Profile Setting FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing details of the profile setting process (S1102).

  According to the user interface settings, a color characteristic profile that is applied when the input image is CMYK data is set (S1200), and a color characteristic profile that is applied when the input image is RGB data is set (S1201). Then, the profile of the target printer is set (S1202).

  With this series of settings, a profile necessary for the preview process is set in the printer controller of the printer 211.

  Note that details of profile setting in each of steps S1200, S1201, and S1202 are the same as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Preview Process FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing details of the preview process in step S1105.

  The printer driver on the client 201 converts the image data into Page Description Language (PDL) data that can be interpreted by the printer 211 (S1400), and transmits the PDL data to the printer 211 via the servers 203 and 213 (S1401).

  Upon receiving the PDL data, the printer controller of the printer 211 analyzes the PDL data (details will be described later, including color matching processing) (S1421), and checks the analysis result of the PDL data to determine whether an error has occurred. Is determined (S1422). If there is an error, an error message is returned to the client 201 (S1423), and the process is terminated. Although not shown in the figure, the client 201 that has received the error message displays the message on the monitor and ends the process.

  If there is no error, the printer controller of the printer 211 expands the PDL data into bitmap data (S1424), converts the expanded bitmap data into the file format specified in step S104 (S1425), and converts the file data to Then, the data is transmitted to the client 201 via the servers 213 and 203 (S1426).

  When the client 201 receives the file data from the printer 211 (S1402), the client 201 converts the file data into the set printer profile (B printer profile in the example of FIG. 16) and the monitor profile (A monitor profile in the example of FIG. 16). ) To RGB data (S1403), and an image is displayed on the monitor based on the RGB data (S1404). Note that the processing in step S1403 includes resolution conversion and the like.

  Through this series of processing, the image output from the client 201 is color-matched by the printer 211 at the site B, and then previewed on the monitor of the client 201 at the site A.

Analysis of PDL Data Details of the PDL data analysis processing in step S1421 are the same as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing details of the color matching process in step S501 shown in FIG.

  The printer controller of the printer 211 has a profile set in steps S1200 to S1202, that is, a monitor profile for RGB (sRGB monitor profile in the example of FIG. 12), and a print color profile for CMYK (Japan Color in the example of FIG. 12). Color data is converted into CMYK data corresponding to the color characteristics of the B printer based on the profile), printer profile (B printer profile in the example of FIG. 12), and monitor profile (A monitor profile in the example of FIG. 12).

  That is, the bitmap data developed in step S1424 has been converted so as to simulate the output image of the printer 211. Therefore, the user of the client 201 can confirm the color of the image output from the printer 211 at a remote location by the preview display on a nearby monitor.

  The image processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first to fourth embodiments denote the same parts, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The configuration of the network system of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing details of the simulation output process in step S1105.

  The printer driver on the client 201 shown in FIG. 11 converts the image data into PDL data that can be interpreted by the printer 211 shown in FIG. 11 (S1400), and transmits the PDL data to the server 213 via the server 203 (S1501). .

  Upon receiving the PDL data, the server 213 analyzes the PDL data (S1521), checks the analysis result of the PDL data, and determines whether an error has occurred (S1522). If there is an error, an error message is returned to the client 201 (S1523), and the process is terminated. Although not shown in the figure, the client 201 that has received the error message displays the message on the monitor and ends the process.

  If there is no error, the server 213 transmits the PDL data to the printer 211 (S1524). Upon receiving the PDL data, the printer controller of the printer 211 expands the PDL data into bitmap data (S1424), converts the expanded bitmap data into the file format specified in step S1104 (S1425), and converts the file data to Then, it transmits to the server 213 (S1527).

  When the server 213 receives the file data (S1525), it transmits the file data to the client 201 via the server 203 (S1426). When the client 201 receives the file data from the server 213 (S1502), it sends the file data to the set printer profile (B printer profile in the example of FIG. 12) and monitor profile (A monitor profile in the example of FIG. 12). ) To RGB data (S1403), and an image is displayed on the monitor based on the RGB data (S1404).

  Through this series of processing, an image output from the client 201 is color-matched by the server 213 and the printer 211 at the site B, and then previewed on the monitor at the site A.

  In this case, the profile selection instruction and profile download shown in FIG.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing details of the PDL data analysis processing in step S1521.

  The server 213 extracts color data (CMYK or RGB) from the PDL data (S1700), and performs color matching processing on the extracted color data (S1701). Then, it is checked whether or not an error has occurred (S1702). If an error has occurred, an error message is returned (S1704), and the process ends. If no error occurs, PDL data is reconstructed, that is, based on the color data converted in step S1701, only the color data is converted back to the converted PDL data (S1703). The process ends.

  In this way, the bitmap data developed in step S1424 has been converted to simulate the output image of the printer 211. Therefore, the user of the client 201 can confirm the color of the image output from the printer 211 at a remote location by the preview display on a nearby monitor.

  The image processing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals in the present embodiment denote the same parts as in the first to fifth embodiments, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The configuration of the network system of the sixth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a user interface for setting the color matching output of the printer 211 in the client 201 shown in FIG. 3, for example, when previewing on the monitor of the client 201. By software operating on the client 201, FIG. It is displayed on the monitor of the client 201. Note that the difference from the user interface of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is that there are no file format setting items.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a process for previewing the color matching output result of the printer 211 at the site B on the monitor via the network, and is a process executed by software running on the client 201. Note that the difference from the flowchart of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is that there is no file format designation processing in step S1104.

  The profile necessary for the preview process is set by the same process as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing details of profile setting in steps S1200, S1201, and S1202.

  First, the profile DB 212 of the site B is accessed, the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 212 is acquired (S1300), and it is checked whether or not the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information. (S1301). If the desired profile is listed, the profile is uploaded from the profile DB 212 to the profile DB 204, the selection of the uploaded profile is instructed to the server 203 (S1312), and the process ends.

  If the desired profile is not listed, the profile DB 204 of the site A is accessed and the profile information (list) stored in the profile DB 204 is acquired (S1303). Then, it is checked whether the desired profile is listed in the acquired profile information (S1304). If the desired profile is listed, the server 203 is instructed to select the profile (S1315), and the process ends.

  If the desired profile is not listed in the profile information of the profile DB 204, an error message is returned (S1306), and the process is terminated.

  Through this series of processing, a profile DB on the network is accessed and necessary profiles are set.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing details of the preview process in step S1105.

  The client 201 transmits RGB or CMYK image data to the server 203 (S1601).

  The server 203 that has received the image data analyzes the image data (S1611), checks the analysis result of the image data, and determines whether an error has occurred (S1612). If there is an error, an error message is returned to the client 201 (S1613), and the process is terminated. Although not shown in the figure, the client 201 that has received the error message displays the message on the monitor and ends the process.

  If there is no error, the server 203 transmits the RGB image data to the client 201 (S1614). Upon receiving RGB image data from the server 203 (S1602), the client 201 displays an image on the monitor based on the RGB image data (S1603).

  Through this series of processing, the image output from the client 201 is color-matched by the server 203 and then previewed on the monitor of the site A.

  In this case, the profile selection instruction and profile download shown in FIG.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing details of the image data analysis processing in step S611.

  The server 203 extracts color data (CMYK or RGB) from the image data (S1710), and performs color matching processing on the extracted color data (S1711). Then, the image data is converted into RGB image data based on the color data converted in step S1711 (S1703), and then the process ends.

  In this way, the RGB image data converted in step S1703 is converted so as to simulate the output image of the printer 211. Therefore, the user of the client 201 can confirm the color of the image output from the printer 211 at a remote location by the preview display on a nearby monitor.

  It should be understood by those skilled in the art that a similar result can be obtained by combining the configuration of the network system of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 11 and the processing procedure described in the sixth embodiment. is there.

  Furthermore, in consideration of the regional characteristics of the profile described in the third embodiment, if the preview process is performed preferentially using the profile of the target printer existing at the site where the image is printed out, a more preferable print result can be obtained. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can understand that there is a high possibility of being performed.

[Other embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device. You may apply to.

  Also, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment ¥ are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code However, it is needless to say that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU of the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

A diagram showing a color conversion process for converting a monitor color space (monitor RGB) or a print color color space (print color CMYK) to a printer color space (printer CMYK). Diagram showing device profile structure, The figure which shows the structure of the network system of embodiment, Figure showing the user interface, Flowchart showing simulation output processing; A flowchart showing details of the profile setting process; Flowchart showing details of profile settings, Flowchart showing the details of the simulation output process, Flowchart showing details of PDL data analysis processing, Figure showing the details of the color matching process, The figure which shows the structure of the network system of 2nd Embodiment, Flowchart showing the details of the simulation output process, Flowchart showing details of PDL data analysis processing, The figure which shows the structure of the network system of 3rd Embodiment, Flowchart showing details of profile settings, The figure which shows the user interface of 4th Embodiment, Flowchart showing preview processing; A flowchart showing details of the profile setting process; A flowchart showing details of the preview process; Figure showing the details of the color matching process, A flowchart showing details of preview processing according to the fifth embodiment; Flowchart showing details of PDL data analysis processing, The figure which shows the user interface of 6th Embodiment, Flowchart showing preview processing; Flowchart showing details of profile settings, A flowchart showing details of the preview process; It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the analysis process of image data.

Claims (9)

An image processing apparatus for performing a simulation of printing via a computer network,
A device selector which selects a color printer on the network, to select a color printer on the network to simulate the output of the target printer as the target of the simulation,
A profile selector the simulation profiles required color matching processing to select through the network, sets the profile the selected to the target printer,
Image data to be subjected to color matching processing is transmitted to the target printer, and image data obtained by performing color matching processing according to the selected profile and development processing into bitmap data on the image data by the target printer. Communication means to receive from,
The image processing apparatus characterized by an output means for outputting an image based on the received image data to the printer for the simulation output.   2. The image processing apparatus and the simulation output printer exist in the same site, the target printer exists in another site, and both sites are connected via the computer network. The described image processing apparatus.   3. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the profile is searched in the order of a profile database connected to the target printer and a profile database existing at the same site as the image processing apparatus. apparatus.   The profile is searched in the order of a profile database connected to the target printer, a profile database existing in the same site as the target printer, and a profile database existing in the same site as the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The image data communication means receives, the by the target printer, any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in Oh Rukoto in the converted image data to the data format by the image processing apparatus is designated The image processing apparatus described in 1. An image processing apparatus that simulates printing via a computer network,
Selecting a color printer on the network as a target of the simulation, and selecting a color printer on the network that performs simulation output of the target printer; and
A profile selector that selects a profile required for the color matching process of the simulation through the network, and instructs a server of a site where the target printer exists to use the selected profile;
Image data to be subjected to color matching processing is transmitted to the server, and the server performs color matching processing according to the selected profile on the image data, and the image data after the color matching processing is sent from the server to the target printer. transmitted, a communication device for receiving image data expansion processing is performed to the bit map data to the image data after the color matching processing by the target printer through the server,
An image processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting an image based on the received image data to the simulation output printer. An image processing method for performing a simulation of the print through a computer network,
Select a color printer on the network to become a target of the simulation, select the color printer on the network to simulate the output of the target printer,
Select a profile necessary for the color matching process of the simulation through the network,
Set the profile the selected to the target printer,
Send image data to be subjected to color matching processing to the target printer,
Receives the image data expansion processing is performed to a color matching process and the bit map data according to profile the selected to the image data by the target printer from the target printer,
An image processing method for causing output an image based on the received image data to the printer for the simulation output. An image processing method for simulating printing via a computer network,
Selecting a color printer on the network as a target of the simulation, selecting a color printer on the network that performs simulation output of the target printer,
Select a profile necessary for the color matching process of the simulation through the network,
Instruct the server at the site where the target printer exists to use the selected profile;
Send image data to be color-matched to the server,
Color matching processing according to the selected profile is performed on the image data by the server, image data after the color matching processing is transmitted from the server to the target printer, and image data after the color matching processing is performed by the target printer. Receiving the image data that has been subjected to the development processing to bitmap data in the server,
An image processing method, wherein an image based on the received image data is output to the printer for simulation output. 9. A program for causing an image processing apparatus to execute the image processing according to claim 7 or 8 .

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