JP2006240151A - Image output unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output unit in which combination of an image processing controller and a printer engine is facilitated, a product achieving high image quality and high function can be manufactured at a limited cost, and efficient image processing can be ensured even with remote print function. <P>SOLUTION: Spool system is switched depending on the processing rate of a controller and the processing rate of a printer connected locally. When the processing rate of the controller is high and the processing rate of the local printer is low, a contone spool is employed and when the processing rate of the controller is low and the processing rate of the local printer is high, a halftone spool is employed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to printing and transmission of printed images.

  In conventional printers and multi-function copiers, PDL data sent during printing from a host PC, etc. is rasterized for sorting and jam recovery, and halftone processing is performed before printing. Is going to accumulate. In addition, for high-quality, high-function multifunction devices, density adjustment during printing, or the result of rasterization is sent to a PC or color fax. Toned image data is stored in an HDD or the like, and halftone processing is performed during printing for printing.

As a conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-40040

  Conventionally, it has been fixed whether to store halftone images or continuous tone images depending on the configuration of the image processing controller. For this reason, when combining a printer engine with a different speed for the same image processing controller to make a product lineup, the processing capacity of the image processing controller may be wasted or insufficient. There is. For example, if a printer engine with a throughput lower than the processing capability is connected to an image processing controller that accumulates halftone images, even if there is image processing capability that can perform calibration during printing or send continuous tone images, halftone Cannot be implemented to store images. On the other hand, when a printer engine with a throughput higher than the processing capability is connected to an image processing controller that accumulates continuous tone images, the throughput of the printer engine cannot be achieved even for the second and subsequent copies of a plurality of copies. In remote printing, where the image of your machine is output to a remote printer over the network, it is more efficient to compare the image processing capabilities of the remote printer and your controller and perform halftone processing with the higher processing capacity. Is.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention compares the printing speeds of the image processing controller and the printer engine at the time of printing, and accumulates and prints a continuous tone image if the processing capacity of the image processing controller is higher. If the processing capability of the image processing controller is lower, a method is taken in which halftone images are accumulated and printed. Thereby, there is no waste of processing capability due to the combination of the image processing controller and the printer engine, and the performance of the product can be improved. In remote printing, the image processing controller capability of the device that performs the development is compared with the image processing controller capability of the device that performs the printing, and halftone processing is performed with the higher processing capability.

  According to the present invention, it becomes easy to combine an image processing controller and a printer engine, and it is possible to make a product that realizes high image quality and high functionality within a limited cost. Also, efficient image processing is possible with the remote print function.

Example 1
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 2070 that is an image input device, a printer unit 2095 that is an image output device, a controller unit 2000, and an operation unit 2012 that is a user interface. The scanner unit 2070, the printer unit 2095, and the operation unit 2012 are each connected to the Controller Unit 2000, and the Controller Unit 2000 is connected to a network transmission means such as LAN 2011 and a public line. G3 and G4 fax transmission including color image transmission is possible from the public line. In addition, other image forming apparatuses 220 and 230 having the same device configuration as the image forming apparatus 200 can be connected to the LAN 2011. In addition, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 240 is connected, and can send and receive files and e-mails using FTP and SMB protocols. The image forming apparatuses 220 and 230 have scanner units 2270 and 2370, printer units 2295 and 2395, and operation units 2212 and 2312, which are connected to the Controller Units 2200 and 2300, respectively.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus. The Controller Unit 2000 is connected to the color scanner 2015, which is an image input device, and the color printer 2017, which is an image output device. On the other hand, the Controller Unit 2000 is connected to a LAN 2008 or public line (WAN) 2051 to input and output image information and device information. Controller. The CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for operating the CPU 2001, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, which stores a system boot program. HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data. An operation unit I / F 2005 is an operation unit (UI) 2006 and an interface unit, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2006 to the operation unit 2006. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the system user from the operation unit 2006 to the CPU 2001. Network2007 connects to LAN2008 and inputs and outputs information. A Modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs / outputs image information. Binary image rotation 2052 and binary image compression / decompression 2053 are for changing the direction of the image before transmitting the binary image with Modem 2053, or converting it to a predetermined resolution or a resolution suitable for the other party's ability. It is. Compression and decompression support JBIG, MMR, MR, and MH. The DMAC 2009 is a DMA controller that reads an image stored in the RAM 2002 without going through the CPU 2001 and transfers the image to the ImageBus I / F 2011, or writes an image from the image bus into the RAM 2002 without going through the CPU 2001. The above devices are connected to the system bus 2008. ImageBus2011 is an interface for controlling high-speed image input / output via the image bus 2010. The compressor 2012 is a compressor for JPEG compression in units of 32 pixels × 32 pixels before sending an image to the image bus 2010. A decompressor 2013 is a decompressor for decompressing an image sent via the image bus 2010.

  The raster image processor (RIP) 2018 receives the PDL code from the host computer via Network 2007, and the CPU 2001 stores it in the RAM 2002 through the system bus 2008. The CPU 2001 converts the PDL into intermediate code, inputs it again into the RIP 2018 via the system bus 2008, and develops it into a bitmap image (multi-value). The scanner image processing 2014 performs various appropriate image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) on the color image and black-and-white image from the scanner 2015 and outputs (multi-value). The printer image processing 2016 performs appropriate various image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) on the printer 2017, performs halftone processing such as screen processing and error diffusion, and outputs a halftone image. When printing, binary multi-value conversion is performed in decompression 2013, so binary and multi-value output is possible. Halftone image data output from the printer image processing 2016 can be directly sent to the inter-drum delay memory 2607 and output to the printer 2017. The inter-drum delay memory 2607 is a memory for superimposing CMYK images by shifting the CMYK print timing by the distance between the drums in a color printer having CMYK drums. A color printer with 4 drums for each CMYK color can be delayed to align the image. Further, halftone image data output from the printer image processing 2016 can be transmitted to the ImageBus 2010 through the ImageBus I / F 2011 after being compressed by the compressor 2012, and can be stored in the main RAM 2002 using the DMAC 2009. When storing image data to the built-in HDD for sort output or jam recovery, when storing continuous tone image data, the output data of RIP2018 is stored in the HDD as it is, and the print image processing 2016 to the inter-drum delay memory at the time of printing Print directly to the 2607. When storing to the HDD with halftone image data, the output data of RIP2018 is processed by the print image processing 2016 and then stored to the HDD. During printing, the halftone image data read from the HDD is directly stored in the delay memory between drums. Send to 2607 for printout.

  The image conversion unit 2030 has various image conversion functions used when converting an image on the RAM and returning it to the RAM 2030 again. The rotator 2019 can rotate an image of 32 pixels × 32 pixels unit at a specified angle, and supports binary and multi-value input / output. The magnification changer 2020 has a function (for example, from 25% to 400%) for converting the resolution of an image (for example, 600 dpi to 200 dpi) and for changing the magnification. Before scaling, the image of 32 × 32 pixels is rearranged into an image in units of 32 lines. The color space conversion 2021 converts, for example, a YUV image on the memory into a Lab image by matrix calculation and LUT for the multi-value input image, and stores it on the memory. In addition, this color space conversion has a 3 × 8 matrix operation and a one-dimensional LUT, and can perform well-known background removal and show-through prevention. The converted image is output in multiple values. The binary multi-value conversion 2022 converts a 1-bit binary image into multi-value 8 bits and 256 gradations. On the other hand, the multi-level binary conversion 2025 converts, for example, an 8-bit, 256-gradation image on the memory into 1-bit, 2-gradation by a technique such as error diffusion processing, and stores it on the memory. Compositing has a function of combining two multi-valued images on the memory into one multi-valued image. For example, a company logo can be easily attached to a document image by combining the image of the company logo in the memory with the document image. The thinning 2024 is a unit that performs resolution conversion by thinning out pixels of a multilevel image, and can output 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 multilevel images. By using it together with the variable magnification 2020, a wider range of enlargement and reduction can be performed. The move 2025 can be output by adding a margin part to the input binary image or multi-valued image or deleting the margin part. Rotation 2019, scaling 2020, color space conversion 2021, binary multi-value 2022, composition 2023, thinning 2024, movement 2025, multi-value binary 2026 can be connected and operated, for example, multi-value on memory When the image is rotated and the resolution is converted, both processes can be performed without using a memory.

  FIG. 4 shows the format of the image. The image format used in the present invention utilizes the image packet structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-103473. In compression 2012, raster format images are rearranged as packets of 32 × 32 pixel units as shown in FIG. 4, and JPEG compression is performed in packet units. At the same time, information such as an ID indicating the position of the packet, a color space, a Q table ID, and a data length is added to the packet as a header. Binary data (image area flag) indicating characters and photographs is also compressed in the same manner and attached after JPEG. FIG. 5 shows packet data. In decompression 2013, JPEG is expanded based on this header information and rearranged into a raster image. By making such a packet image, only the image inside the packet is rotated when rotating the image, and by changing the position of the packet ID, it can be partially rotated by decompression and compression, so it is very efficient. . All images flowing through ImageBus2010 are packet images.

  Further, when an image is handled on a memory, a packet table is used. In the packet table, one element is the start address and size of one packet, and one image is shown by arranging this in main scanning and sub scanning. By using the packet table, even if packets constituting an image are discretely arranged on a memory, it can be handled as one image.

  When a raster image is required for FAX transmission, binary image rotation 2052, binary image compression, expansion 2053, etc., conversion from a packet image to a raster image is performed by software.

  FIG. 6 shows a detailed description of the scanner image processing 2014. The RGB 8-bit luminance signals input from the scanner are converted into standard RGB color signals that do not depend on the CCD filter color by masking 2501. In the filter 2502, for example, a 9 × 9 matrix is used, and an image is blurred or sharpened. A histogram 2503 is a processing unit that samples image signal data in an input image, and is used to determine the background level of the input image. In this module, RGB data in a rectangular area surrounded by the specified start and end points in the main and sub-scan directions is sampled at a constant pitch in the main and sub-scan directions to create a histogram. . This histogram is read when background skipping or prevention of show-through is specified, and the background of the original is inferred from the histogram, and is stored and managed in the memory or HDD along with the image as the background skipping level. Used for image processing. In gamma 2504, processing is performed so that the density of the entire image is increased or decreased. For example, it is a part that converts the color space of the input image into an arbitrary color space or performs correction processing relating to the color of the input system. In order to determine whether the document is color or black and white, the image signal before scaling is converted into a known Lab by color space conversion 2505. Of these, a and b represent color signal components, and a 1-bit determination signal is output from the comparator 2505 as a chromatic color if it is equal to or higher than a predetermined level in the comparator 2505, and as an achromatic color otherwise. The counter 2507 measures the output from the comparator. Character / photo determination is a function that extracts a character edge from an image and separates the image into characters and a photo. As an output, a character photograph determination signal is obtained. This signal is also stored in the memory or HD together with the image and used during printing. Reference numeral 2509 denotes a specific document determination device. The specific document determination unit can compare the input image signal and the degree to which the pattern held in the determination unit matches, and can read the determination result of matching or mismatching as illustrated. The image is processed according to the determination result to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes and securities.

  FIG. 7 shows a detailed description of the printer image processing 2016.

  In 2601, the background color of the image data is skipped and unnecessary background fogging is removed. For example, the background removal is performed by a 3 × 8 matrix operation or a one-dimensional LUT. This is a function included in 2032 as described above, and is a completely equivalent circuit. Reference numeral 2602 denotes a monochrome generation unit that converts color image data, for example, RGB data into Gray single color when color image data is converted into monochrome data and printed as a single color. For example, it is composed of a 1 × 3 matrix operation that multiplies RGB by an arbitrary constant to obtain a Gray signal. An output color correction unit 2603 performs color correction according to the characteristics of the printer unit that outputs image data. For example, it includes processing by 4 × 8 matrix calculation or direct mapping. A filter processing unit 2604 arbitrarily corrects the spatial frequency of the image data, and includes, for example, a process of performing a 9 × 9 matrix operation. Reference numeral 2605 denotes a process for performing gamma correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit to be output, and is usually composed of a one-dimensional LUT. A processing unit 2606 performs arbitrary halftone processing according to the number of gradations of the output printer unit, and is a halftone processing unit that performs arbitrary screen processing such as binarization and binarization and error diffusion processing. is there. Each process can be switched by a character / photo determination signal (not shown).

  FIG. 3 shows a second controller configuration.

  Compared to the controller of FIG. 2, the controller of FIG. 3 omits the image conversion unit 2030, the scanner image processing unit 2014, and the printer image processing unit 2016, and has a configuration specialized for PDL development and printing. Since the printer image processing unit 2016 is omitted, halftone processing by hardware cannot be performed. Therefore, RIP2018 receives the PDL intermediate code input and develops it into a multi-valued bitmap image, and also performs halftone processing on this bitmap image and develops it into halftone image data. In this case, since the halftone processing is performed by RIP2018, the processing speed is lower than that of the controller configuration of FIG. 2, but there is an advantage that the cost of the controller itself is reduced.

  An image input / output device is shown in FIG. The scanner unit 2015, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper as a document, and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The manuscript paper is set on the tray 2702 of the manuscript feeder 2701, and when the device user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 2006, the controller CPU2001 gives an instruction to the scanner 2015, and manuscript paper is fed one by one from the tray 2702 of the feeder 2071. Feeds and reads the original image.

  The printer unit 2017, which is an image output device, is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array. There is an ink jet method for printing an image directly on paper, but any method may be used. The start of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has paper cassettes 2703, 2704, and 2705 corresponding thereto. A paper discharge tray 2706 is a paper discharge tray that receives the printed paper.

  The configuration of the operation unit 2006 is shown in FIG. The LCD display unit 2801 has a touch panel sheet 2802 affixed on the LCD, displays a system operation screen and software keys, and transmits position information to the controller CPU 2001 when the displayed keys are pressed. A start key 2014 is used when starting a document image reading operation. There is a green and red two-color LED 2804 at the center of the start key 2803, and the color indicates whether the start key 2803 is ready for use. A stop key 2805 serves to stop the operation during operation. An ID key 2806 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 2807 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  FIG. 10 is an initial screen in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and is also a standard screen that returns after setting each image forming function. 3101 switches screens for performing copy settings. A screen 3102 switches a screen for setting to send a scanned image by fax or e-mail. A screen 3103 switches the screen for storing scan images and PDL images in the built-in HDD, or setting for printing, transmitting, or editing the stored scan images and PDL images. Reference numeral 3104 denotes a window for displaying settings at the time of image reading set in 3105. In 3105, the resolution and density at the time of image reading are set. In 3106, a timer setting at the time of timer transmission, a setting for printing on an HDD or a printer, and the like are performed. 3107 displays the transmission destination designated by 3108. 3109 displays detailed information of one destination displayed in 3107. 3110 deletes one destination displayed in 3107.

  FIG. 11 is a pop-up window displayed when 3105 is pressed. In 3201, the read original size is selected and input from the pop-up, and the set read size is displayed in 3202. 3203 is for selecting a document reading mode, and when pressed, three types of color / black / automatic (ACS) can be selected. The color mode can be selected in the same way for copy and box. If the measurement result of the counter 2507 is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined as a black and white document, and if it is large, it is determined as a color document. If it is color, a color image is displayed. If black, a black and white image is displayed. Accumulate the result of determining whether it is color or black and white. 3204 is a selection input from a pop-up for designating the resolution of reading. Reference numeral 3205 denotes a slider for adjusting the reading density of the original, and can be adjusted in nine steps. 3206 is for automatically determining the density when reading an image with a background like a newspaper. For 3206, the same setting can be made by copying.

  FIG. 12 shows a screen when the copy tab 3101 is pressed. 3301 indicates whether or not copying is possible, and the number of copies set at the same time is also displayed. 3302 is a function equivalent to 3206, and is a button for selecting whether to automatically remove the background. 3303 has the same function as 3205, and is a slider capable of nine-level density adjustment. In 3304, the type of the original is selected, and text / photo / map, text, photographic paper photo, and printed photo can be selected. Reference numeral 3305 denotes an application mode button, which can set a reduced layout (a function for reducing and printing a plurality of documents on one sheet), a color balance (each CMYK color fine adjustment), and the like. Reference numeral 3306 denotes a button for performing settings related to various finishings, and shift sort, staple sort, and group sort can be set. Reference numeral 3307 denotes a button for performing settings relating to duplex reading and duplex printing.

  FIG. 13 shows a screen when the box tab 3103 is pressed. Reference numeral 3401 denotes each folder that logically divides the HDD. Folder numbers are assigned to the folders in advance, and 3401 is the 0th folder. Next to the folder number, the percentage of disk space used by the folder is displayed. Folders can be given any name, and the name is displayed here. 3402 displays the usage amount of the entire HDD.

  FIG. 14 shows a screen when 3401 is pressed. 3501 and 3502 indicate documents stored in the folder. A document is composed of a plurality of pages. Reference numeral 3501 denotes a scanned document, which displays an icon display indicating a scanned document, an HDD usage amount, and a document name display that can be arbitrarily set by the user. An icon 3502 is a PDL document stored from the PDL. By depressing the icon, it is shown in reverse video that the document has been selected. Reference numeral 3503 denotes a button for transmitting the selected document. Reference numeral 3504 denotes a button for reading a document from the scanner and generating a document. Reference numeral 3505 denotes a button for selecting all the documents in the folder. Reference numeral 3506 denotes a button for deleting the selected document. Reference numeral 3507 denotes a button for printing the selected document. Reference numeral 3508 denotes a button for editing the selected document. For example, you can select two documents, combine them, save them as one document, or delete a specific page. Reference numeral 3509 denotes a button for displaying detailed information of the last selected document. In addition to the document name, information such as resolution, document size, and color can be viewed.

  FIG. 15 shows a software configuration diagram. 4010 is a UI control unit that controls the display operation unit, receives a command from the UI control unit, and performs a copy operation, a transmission operation, a scan from the box screen, a copy application unit 4020 that executes printing, a transmission application unit 4021, a BOX application unit There is 4022. There is also a PDL application unit 4023 that receives PDL print data from the network application 4120 and inputs a PDL print job. Reference numeral 4030 denotes a common interface part for absorbing a device-dependent part of the device control part, and 4040 denotes a job manager that organizes job information received from the common interface and transmits it to a lower-level document processing unit. The document processing unit is a scan manager 4050 and print manager 4090 for a local copy, a scan job for remote copy, or a scan job for a send job 4050 and a file store manager 4100, and a file read manager 4060 for a remote copy receive job. And print manager 4090, and PDL manager 4070 and print manager 4090 for PDL printing such as LIPS and PostScript. The synchronization between the document managers and the image processing request to the image manager 4110 that performs various image processing are made through the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 performs image processing during scanning and printing and storage of image files.

  First, local copy software processing will be described. A copy setting is transmitted from the UI control unit 4010 together with a copy instruction to the copy application unit 4020 according to a user instruction. The copy application unit 4020 transmits information from the UI control unit 4010 to the job manager 4040 that performs device control via the common interface 4030. The job manager 4040 transmits job information to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090. The scan manager 4050 issues a scan request to the scanner 2070 via a device I / F (not shown) (the device I / F is a serial I / F connecting the controller 2000 and the scanner 2015 and the controller 2000 and the printer 2017). At the same time, an image processing request for scanning is sent to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 performs settings of the scanner image processing unit 2014 in accordance with an instruction from the scan manager 4050. When the setting is completed, a scan preparation completion is notified via the sync manager 4080. Thereafter, the scan manager 4050 instructs the scanner 2070 to scan. The completion of scan image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the scan completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the scan completion to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090. At the same time, the sync manager 4080 instructs the image manager 4110 to file the compressed image stored in the RAM 2002 into the HDD 2004. The image manager 4110 stores the image on the memory (including the character / photo determination signal) in the HDD 2004 according to the instruction. As the accompanying information of the image, a color determination / monochrome determination result, a background skip level for performing background skip, a scanned image as the image input source, and a color space RGB are also stored in an unillustrated SRAM. When the storage in the HDD 2004 is completed and the scan completion from the scanner 2070 is received, the scan manager 4050 is notified of the completion of file formation via the sync manager 4080. The scan manager 4050 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns it to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The print manager 4090 issues a print request to the printer 2095 via the device I / F when an image is stored in the memory. At the same time, a print image processing request is sent to the sync manager 4080. When the sync manager 4080 receives a request from the print manager 4090, it requests the image manager 4110 for image processing settings. The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing unit 2015 according to the accompanying information of the image, and notifies the print manager 4090 that the print preparation is complete via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer. The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). In response to the completion of printing from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the print manager 4090 of the completion of printing. In response to the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, the print manager 4090 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

  In the case of a remote copy scan job or transmission job, the store manager 4100 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the print manager 4090. When the scan image is stored in the HDD, the storage manager 4080 receives a storage completion notification from the sync manager 4080, and notifies the copy application unit 4020 of the remote copy via the common interface 4030 and the transmission application unit 4021 of the transmission job. After this notification, the copy application unit 4020 and the transmission application 4021 request the network application 4420 to transmit the file stored in the HDD. The network application 4420 that has received the request transmits the file. The network application 4420 receives setting information related to copying from the copy application unit 4020 at the start of the job, and also notifies the remote device thereof. In the case of remote copy, the network application 4420 performs transmission using a device-specific communication protocol. For transmission jobs, standard file transfer protocols such as FTP and SMB are used.

  In the case of fax transmission, after the file is stored, the transmission application 4021 instructs the FAX manager 4041 to transmit via the common interface 4030 and the job manager 4040. The fax manager 4041 negotiates with the other device via the Modem2050, requests the image manager 4110 to perform the necessary image processing (color-to-black and white conversion, multi-level binary conversion, rotation, scaling), and converts the converted image to Modem Send using.

  When there is a printer at the transmission destination, the transmission application issues a print instruction as a print job via the common interface 4000. The operation at that time is the same as that of the remote copy print job described below. When the transmission destination is a box destination in the device, the file store manager 4100 stores it in the file system in the device.

  When receiving a fax, the fax manager receives the image using Modem and stores it in the HDD 2004 as an image file. When the box application 4021 is notified after the HDD 2004 is stored, a reception print instruction is issued from the box application 4021 to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Thereafter, the operation is the same as that of a normal box print job, and the description is omitted.

  In the case of a remote copy print job, the network application 4420 saves the image from the transmission side in the HDD and issues the job to the copy application unit 4020. The copy application unit 4020 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding the received image from the HDD to the memory is made to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080.

  The image manager 4110 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the completion of expansion via the sync manager 4080 when the expansion is completed. When an image is stored in the memory, the print manager 4090 selects a paper feed stage designated by the job manager or a stage having the paper size for the printer 2017 via the device I / F, and issues a print request. In the case of automatic paper, the paper feed stage is determined from the image size and a print request is issued. At the same time, a print image processing request is sent to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 to set print image processing. (At this time, for example, if the optimum size paper runs out and rotation is necessary, a separate rotation instruction is also requested. If there is a rotation instruction, the image manager uses the image rotation 2019 to rotate the image.) The image manager 4110 The printer image processing unit 2090 is set, and the print manager 4090 is notified of completion of print preparation via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer. The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The file read manager 4060 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The print manager 4090 receives the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, and returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The job manager 4040 returns an end notification to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

  In the case of a PDL data development storage job, a request from the host PC that has input the PDL print is transmitted to the PDL application 4023 via the network application 4120. The PDL application instructs the job manager 4040 through the common interface 4030 for the PDL data expansion storage job. At this time, the job manager uses either one of the two data flows shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 based on the print image processing speed of the controller and the print speed of the printer engine held on the SRAM (not shown). Determine whether to store images. The print image processing speed of the controller is set on the SRAM (not shown) at the time of assembling the equipment in the factory, based on whether the print image processing 2031 is mounted on the controller and the drive clock speed of the print image processing 2031. The printing speed of the printer engine is notified from the printer engine via the printer I / F. Here, when the print image processing speed of the controller is faster than the print speed of the printer engine, the job manager 4040 and the PDL manager 4070 and the store manager store the continuous tone image in the HDD using the data flow of FIG. Direct to 4100. On the other hand, when the job manager 4040 determines that the print image processing speed of the controller is slower than the printer engine speed, the PDL manager 4070 and the store manager store the halftone image in the HDD using the data flow of FIG. Direct to 4100. The PDL manager 4070 and the store manager 4100 perform processing according to the data flow instructed by the job manager 4040.

  When the data flow of FIG. 16 is instructed, the store manager 4100 reads the HDD in the process 5005, expands the PDL data 5001 stored in the HDD on the memory, and notifies the PDL manager 4070 of it. The PDL manager PDL data 5001 is used to perform PDL interpretation of processing 5006 to generate intermediate data 5002. Further, the PDL manager performs processing 5008 using RIP2018 to generate a continuous tone image 5003. The PDL manager 4070 compresses the continuous tone by executing the process 5009 in FIG. 5003, generates a continuous tone compressed image 5004, and notifies the store manager 4100. The store manager 4100 stores the HDD in the process 5010 and stores the continuous tone compressed image 5004 in the HDD.

  When the data flow in FIG. 17 is instructed, first, the store manager 4100 and the PDL manager 4070 read the HDD in the process 5106, perform the PDL interpretation in the process 5107, and perform the RIP in the process 5108 as in the data flow in FIG. A continuous tone image 5103 is generated from the PDL data 5101 via the intermediate data 5102. Subsequently, the PDL manager 4070 executes the print image processing of processing 5109 to generate a halftone image 5104, executes processing 5110 to perform compression, generates a halftone compressed image 5105, and notifies the store manager 4100 of it. . The store manager 4100 stores the HDD in the process 5111.

  16 and 17, the store manager 4100 stores the color / monochrome information in the SRAM (not shown) as the accompanying information of the image and the PDL as the image input source after the image storage in the HDD is finished. Images, color space CMYK or RGB are also stored. When the PDL image has been stored in the HDD 2004, the store manager 4100 notifies the job manager 4040 of a storage completion notification through the sync manager 4080, and notifies the PDL application 4023 through the common interface 4030.

  After this notification, the PDL application 4023 notifies the network application 4420 of completion of storage in the HDD, and this information is transmitted to the host PC that has entered the PDL print. In the case of a PDL print job, the image developed on the memory is printed by the PDL manager 4070 and the print manager.

  For remote print PDL data expansion jobs, the job manager 4040 first sends a network to the remote printer controller to determine whether to send a continuous tone image to the remote printer or a halftone image to the remote printer. Through the print image processing speed of the controller and the print speed of the printer engine. The controller of the remote printer acquires the print image processing speed and the print speed of the printer engine from the SRAM (not shown) in response to the request, and responds to the request. When the print image processing speed of the remote printer is faster than the print speed of the printer engine, the job manager 4040 instructs the PDL manager 4070 to perform the processing in the image data flow shown in FIG. 16 in order to transmit a continuous tone image. The PDL manager 4070 performs the same processing as the PDL development storage job described above and accumulates continuous tone images in the HDD. In addition, when the print image processing speed of the remote printer is slower than the print speed of the printer engine, the job manager 4040 performs PDL processing in the image data flow shown in FIG. 17 in order to send halftone image data to the remote printer. The manager 4070 is instructed, and the PDL manager 4070 performs the same processing as the PDL development storage job described above and accumulates continuous tone images in the HDD.

  When the continuous tone or halftone PDL development image is stored in the HDD, the storage manager 4080 receives a storage completion notification and notifies the print application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. Upon receiving this notification, the print application unit 4020 performs transmission to the remote printer in the same manner as the copy application unit for remote copying described above.

  To print an image that has been PDL expanded and stored, the stored document instructed to be printed by the UI is issued as a print job to the BOX application. The BOX application unit 4022 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding an image instructed to be printed from the HDD to the memory is made to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 reads out and stores the stored image from the HDD, and switches processing depending on whether the expanded image is a continuous tone image or a halftone image. In the case of a continuous tone image, the image is output from the print image processing 2031 to the printer through the inter-drum delay memory 2032. In the case of a halftone image, it is directly output to the inter-drum delay memory 2032 and output to the printer. The subsequent operation is the same as that described in the remote copy print job, and is therefore omitted.

  To send an image that has been PDL expanded and stored, the stored document specified by the UI is issued as a transmission job to the BOX application. The BOX application unit 4022 first inputs an image conversion job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. A data flow of image conversion at this time is shown in FIG. When the job manager 4040 requests the file read manager 4060 to read an image, the file read manager 4060 selects the intermediate data from the halftone compressed image and the intermediate data stored in the PDL decompression, and executes the HDD reading of processing 5104 to execute the memory reading. The intermediate data 5101 is read from the HDD above and notified to the image manager 4110. The image manager 4110 performs rasterization of the process 5105 to generate an RGB image 5102. Subsequently, the image manager 4110 executes the compression of processing 5106 to convert the RGB image 5102 into the JPEG image 5103. When the image conversion process ends, the BOX application unit 4022 requests the generated application from the transmission application unit. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the processing described in the transmission job, a description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. The figure which shows the 2nd controller structure. The relationship figure of a packet image and the whole image. The figure which shows the structure of a packet image. The block diagram of the scanner image processing of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of printer image processing according to the present invention. 1 is an external view of an input / output device of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the transmission screen of the operation part of this invention. FIG. 4 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a transmission screen of the operation unit of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the copy screen of the operation part of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the box screen of the operation part of this invention. The detailed explanatory view of the box screen of the operation unit of the present invention. The software block diagram which shows the software structure of this invention. The continuous tone image accumulation data flow figure at the time of PDL expansion | deployment storage of this invention. The halftone image accumulation data flow diagram at the time of PDL expansion storage of the present invention.

Claims (2)

Data storage means,
Data storage means for storing data in the data storage means;
Data reading means for reading data from the data storage means;
PDL data receiving means,
PDL interpretation means to interpret PDL data and convert it to intermediate data,
Rasterizing means for converting intermediate data into a multi-value continuous tone image;
Halftone processing means for generating a halftone image by halftoning a multilevel continuous tone image;
Image compression means for compressing image data;
Image transmission means for transmitting image data;
Decompression means for decompressing the compressed image data;
Image printing means for printing image data;
In an image processing apparatus comprising:
Halftone processing speed determining means for determining the processing speed of the halftone processing means;
A printing speed judging means for judging the printing speed of the image printing means;
A means for comparing the processing speed obtained from each of the halftone processing speed judgment means and the printing speed judgment means;
When the comparison means determines that the processing speed of the halftone processing means is faster than the printing speed means, a continuous tone image is stored in the data storage means,
When the comparison means determines that the printing speed means is faster than the halftone processing means, the halftone image is stored in the data storage means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
From the image processing apparatus of the first claim connected to the network,
When transmitting an image to the image processing apparatus of the second claim connected to a network connectable to the first image processing apparatus,
The first and second image processing apparatuses have means for acquiring and comparing the respective halftone processing speed and printing speed,
The first image processing device transmits a halftone image to the second image processing device when the halftone processing speed of the first image processing device is faster than the halftone processing speed of the second image processing device,
The first image processing apparatus transmits a continuous tone image to the second image processing apparatus when the halftone processing speed of the first image processing apparatus is slower than the halftone processing speed of the second image processing apparatus. It is characterized by that.

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