Data communication apparatus, image server, control method, storage medium, and image system

A method of controlling a data communication apparatus which serves as a server connected to a predetermined network, comprising:

• the step of saving first image data for display, and second image data having a higher resolution than the first image data in image saving means;
• the transmission step of sending the first image data to a client via the network in accordance with a request from the client on the network;
• the reception step of receiving a print request including a print size from the client via the network;
• the calculation step of calculating a size of print image data, which is to be generated from the second image data corresponding to the first image data, on the basis of the print size included in the print request, when the print request is received;
• the processing step of processing the second image data to obtain print image data in accordance with the size calculated in the calculation step;
• and
• the output step of outputting the print image data obtained in the processing step to predetermined print means.

A storage medium storing a program code that makes a computer, which loads and executes the program code, serve as a server connected to a predetermined network, said medium storing program codes making the computer function as:

• image saving means for saving first image data for display, and second image data having a higher resolution than the first image data;
• transmission means for sending the first image data to a client via the network in accordance with a request from the client on the network;
• reception means for receiving a print request including a print size from the client via the network;
• calculation means for calculating a size of print image data, which is to be generated from the second image data corresponding to the first image data, on the basis of the print size included in the print request, when the print request is received;
• processing means for processing the second image data to obtain print image data in accordance with the size calculated by said calculation means;
• and
• output means for outputting the print image data obtained by said processing means to predetermined print means.

An image server which saves high-resolution image data, generates print image data based on the stored image data in accordance with a request from a main server on a network, and sends the print image data to the main server, comprising:

• reception means for receiving from the main server information which pertains to request information including a print size requested by a client on the network;
• processing means for retrieving image data to be printed from a predetermined storage device on the basis of the received information, and processing the retrieved image data to have the requested size;
• and
• transfer means for transferring print image data obtained by said processing means to the main server.

A method of controlling an image server which saves high-resolution image data, generates print image data based on the stored image data in accordance with a request from a main server on a network, and sends the print image data to the main server, comprising:

• the reception step of receiving from the main server information which pertains to request information including a print size requested by a client on the network;
• the processing step of retrieving image data to be printed from a predetermined storage device on the basis of the received information, and processing the retrieved image data to have the requested size;
• and
• the transfer step of transferring print image data obtained in the processing step to the main server.

A storage medium storing a program code that makes a computer, which loads and executes the program code, serve as an image server which saves high-resolution image data, generates print image data based on the stored image data in accordance with a request from a main server on a network, and sends the print image data to the main server, said medium storing program codes making the computer function as:

• reception means for receiving from the main server information which pertains to request information including a print size requested by a client on the network;
• processing means for retrieving image data to be printed from a predetermined storage device on the basis of the received information, and processing the retrieved image data to have the requested size;
• and
• transfer means for transferring print image data obtained by said processing means to the main server.

A system which is built by a center server connected to a network, an image server for storing high-resolution image data, and a print server for printing an image using print means, and prints an image using the center, image, and print servers in accordance with a request from a client on the network,

• the center server comprising:
• saving means for saving display image data having a lower resolution than the image data stored in the image server,
• means for transferring display image data requested from the client to the client,
• means for receiving a print request including a print size from the client,
• means for informing the image server to generate print image data having a print size on the basis of the received print request, and
• means for receiving print image data sent from the image server, and sending the received print image data to the print server to print;
• the image server comprising:
• means for retrieving image data requested from the center server from predetermined storage means, and generating print image data having the number of pixels which matches the requested print size, and
• means for sending the generated print image data to the center server;
• and
• said print server comprising:
• print means for printing on the basis of the print image data sent from the center server.