JP2007058511A - Image processor and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the storage region of the storage part of an image processor. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor 200 for performing print processing by receiving print data to be transmitted from a host device is provided with: a print data dividing means 202 for generating divided print data by dividing received print data; a network connecting means 201 performing connection to a network; a divided print data transmitting means for transmitting divided print data through a network connecting means in order to request the rasterization processing of the divided print data; a rasterization processing end confirming means 205 for confirming that the whole rasterization processing of the transmitted divided print data has ended; a divided image data acquiring means 206 for acquiring the divided image data generated by the rasterization processing on the basis of a print order after the end of the rasterization processing is confirmed by the rasterization processing end confirming means; a divided image data storing means 214 for storing the divided image data; and a print means 208 for performing print processing on the basis of the divided image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing system that perform print processing based on print data from a host device, and more particularly to rasterize conversion processing of print data into image data and perform print processing in units of pages based on the image data. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing system.

Several techniques have been proposed for an image processing system in which a host device and an image processing device that performs print processing based on print data from the host device are connected via a network. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing system that is distributed to a plurality of processing devices in order to speed up rasterization processing for converting print data into image data. That is, according to the image processing system of Patent Document 1, the host device divides the print data, transmits each print data to each processing device connected to the network, and each processing device rasterizes the received divided print data. The divided image data is generated by processing. The divided image data generated by each processing device is transmitted from each processing device to the host device, and the host device generates image data obtained by integrating the divided image data, and transmits the image data to the image processing device. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit for receiving and holding image data from the host apparatus. The image data is stored in the storage unit, the image data in the storage unit is read, and print processing is executed. To do.
JP-A-9-204277

  However, in the conventional image processing system, when the image processing apparatus is a page printer such as an electrophotographic printer, a data size storage unit when one page of received print data is expanded into image data, that is, at least one page. It was necessary to provide a storage unit for the data capacity of the rasterized image data for a minute. The rasterized image data is data in which information about each pixel is gathered, and since the data size is relatively large, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity storage unit in the image processing apparatus, and improvement has been desired.

  In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing system that can reduce the storage capacity of a storage unit that holds image data in the image processing apparatus.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above points.
In an image processing apparatus that receives print data sent from a host device and performs print processing, a print data dividing unit that generates divided print data by dividing the received print data, and a network connection unit that connects to a network The divided print data transmitting means for transmitting the divided print data via the network connection means so as to request the rasterization processing of the generated divided print data, and the rasterizing process for confirming that the rasterization processing of the transmitted divided print data has been completed. After confirmation by the end confirmation means and the rasterization processing end confirmation means, divided image data acquisition means for acquiring the divided image data generated by the rasterization processing based on the printing order, and divided image data for holding the acquired divided image data Divided image held by holding means and divided image data holding means Characterized in that it comprises a printing means for performing printing processing based on the data.

The divided image data acquisition unit can acquire the divided image data in parallel with the printing process.
The print data is data in print page units.
The print data is data in units of print jobs, and the divided print data is data in units of pages.

  An unused capacity detection unit that detects an unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit; an unused capacity; and a comparison unit that compares the data capacity of the divided image data scheduled to be acquired by the divided image data acquisition unit; The divided image data acquisition means makes a request for acquiring divided image data based on the comparison result of the comparison unit.

  A host device that instructs print processing based on print data, a first image processing device that performs print processing based on the print data sent from the host device, and communication with the first image processing device. In the image processing system including the second image processing apparatus, the first image processing apparatus includes a print data dividing unit that divides the received print data to generate divided print data, and a network connected to the network. Confirm that all the rasterization processing of the transmitted divided print data has been completed, the connection means, the divided print data transmission means for transmitting the divided print data via the network connection means to request the rasterization processing of the generated divided print data Generated by the rasterization process after confirmation by the rasterization process completion confirmation means and the rasterization process completion confirmation means. Based on the divided image data acquisition means for acquiring the divided image data based on the printing order, the divided image data holding means for holding the acquired divided image data, and the divided image data held by the divided image data holding means, The second image processing apparatus receives the divided print data to be rasterized from the main image processing apparatus via the network connection means connected to the network and the network connection means. Receiving means, rasterizing means for rasterizing the received divided image data to generate divided image data, rasterizing end notifying means for notifying the end of the rasterizing process, and divided image data generated by the rasterizing means Divided image data transmission means for transmitting in response to an acquisition request of one image processing apparatus; Characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to the present invention, the rasterization processing of the divided print data obtained by dividing the print data is requested via the network, and after confirming that the rasterization processing is completed, the division generated by the rasterization processing is performed according to the print order. By acquiring the image data and performing the printing process, it is only necessary to store the divided image data with a smaller data capacity compared to the data capacity of the image data for one page, and the storage capacity of the divided image data holding means is compared. Can be made smaller.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1000 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates a print data and issues a print execution instruction, and a main apparatus 100 connected to the upper apparatus 100 via a network 400. An image forming apparatus 200 as an image processing apparatus and processing apparatuses 300 and 300-2 as slave image processing apparatuses connected via the network 400 and having a rasterizing function to be described later are provided.

  By the way, for simplicity of explanation, only one processing device 300 is shown in FIG. 1, but a processing device 300-2 having the same function as the processing device 300 is connected to the network 400.

  The host apparatus 100 includes a print data transmission unit 101 that transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 200 so that the image forming apparatus 200 performs print processing based on the generated print data.

  The image forming apparatus 200 divides print data from the host apparatus 100 by dividing the print data from the host apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus communication unit 201 for communicating with the host apparatus 100 and the processing apparatuses 300 and 300-2 connected via the network 400. And a print data dividing unit 202 that generates divided print data and identification information of the divided print data.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 200 rasterizes the divided print data distributed to the processing apparatuses 300 and 300-2 to generate divided image data, and then processes the divided image data according to the printing order. Print order information generating unit 203 that generates print order information for collection from the printer, and the divided print data to the processing apparatuses 300 and 300-2 via the own apparatus and the image forming apparatus communication unit 201 based on the print order information. A divided print data distribution unit (divided print data transmission unit) 218 for distribution and an image forming apparatus rasterization processing unit 204 that generates divided image data by rasterizing the divided print data are provided.

Further, after the divided print data distributed by the divided print data distribution unit 218 is rasterized by the processing devices 300 and 300-2 to generate divided image data, the image forming apparatus 200 generates the divided image data from the processing devices 300 and 300-2. The rasterization process completion information acquisition unit 205 as a rasterization process completion confirmation unit that receives the notification of the completion of the rasterization process to be transmitted, and after confirming the completion of the rasterization process for one page, the processing devices 300 and 300- A divided image data acquisition unit 206 that makes a request for acquiring divided image data to the image forming unit 2, and a printing unit 208 that forms an image on a printing medium so as to perform a printing process based on the divided image data held in the image forming apparatus storage unit 207 The divided image data used for the printing process is deleted from the image forming apparatus storage unit 207. And an erasing section 209. Note that the printing unit 208 includes a buffer memory for at least divided image data, and requests rasterized data according to the empty state of the buffer.
The image forming apparatus 200 having the above-described configuration is a page printer such as an electrophotographic printer, for example, and performs print processing in units of pages based on print data from a host device.

  The image forming apparatus storage unit 207 receives the rasterization process notification received from the print order information storage unit 212 that stores the print order information generated by the print order information generation unit 203 and the rasterization process end information acquisition unit 205. The rasterization processing end information holding unit 213 held as end information, the divided image data holding unit 214 holding the divided image data acquired by the divided image data acquisition unit 206, and the image forming apparatus 200 are given in advance. A distribution destination identification information holding unit 210 that holds the identification information of itself (image forming apparatus 200) and the identification information acquired from the processing devices 300 and 300-2 as distribution destination identification information.

The print data dividing unit 202 divides the print data acquired from the host apparatus 100 based on, for example, the print order, and generates a plurality of divided print data.
In the embodiment, the print data is divided according to the total number of distribution destinations including itself by the print data dividing unit 202 based on the distribution destination identification information held by the distribution destination identification information holding unit 210. Give an explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print order information generation unit 203 corresponds, for example, an IP address as distribution destination identification information held by the distribution destination identification information holding unit 210 to the print order for performing print processing for each divided image data. The attached printing order information is generated. The generated print order information is held in the print order information holding unit 212.

  The divided print data distribution unit 218 distributes the divided print data based on the distribution destination identification information (IP address) of the print order information in order to request rasterization processing of the divided print data.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the second, fifth and eighth divided print data are distributed to the processing device 300 whose IP address is “10.0.0.1”, and the print order is 3 The sixth and sixth divided print data are distributed to the processing device 300-2 with the IP address “10.0.0.2”, and the first, fourth, and seventh divided print data are assigned to the first and fourth divided print data. The divided print data is not distributed so that the machine 200 can perform the rasterization process.

  In this embodiment, the distribution destination and distribution order of the divided print data have been described as an example of distribution in the order of the own device 200, the processing device 300, and the processing device 300-2, but may be distributed at random. As shown in FIG. 7, it may be distributed only to the processing device 300.

  The image forming apparatus rasterization processing unit 204 performs rasterization processing of the divided print data for its own device, and holds the generated divided image data in the divided image data holding unit 214.

  The rasterization processing end information acquisition unit 205 indicates that the distributed divided print data has been rasterized by the processing device 300 or 300-2 to generate divided image data, and the rasterization processing has been completed from the processing device 300 or 300-2. When the notification is received, the notification is generated as rasterization processing end information, and the rasterization processing end information is held in the rasterization processing end information holding unit 213.

  By the way, the rasterization process end information acquisition unit 205 confirms the end of each rasterization process for each divided print data distributed as described above, and also confirms the end of the rasterization process in units of pages. When the rasterization processing end information acquisition unit 205 confirms the completion of generation of the divided image data for one page, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 receives the divided image data for one page in order to sequentially collect the divided image data for one page. Notify that the generation of is complete.

  Upon receiving the notification, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 refers to the print order information held by the print order information holding unit 212 and collects the divided image data generated by the processing devices 300 and 300-2 according to the print order. However, since the divided image data of the first, fourth, and seventh print orders are generated by rasterization processing in the image forming apparatus 200 and are directly held in the divided image data holding unit 214, the divided image data acquisition is performed. The unit 206 does not collect these divided image data.

By the way, the collected divided image data is once held in the divided image data holding unit 214 and then sent to the printing unit 208 in response to a request from the printing unit 208 to perform printing processing. When the collected divided image data is sent to the printing unit 208, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 performs a process of collecting the next divided image data. When printing processing based on the divided image data for the own device is performed, it is not necessary to collect the divided image data, and the divided image data held in the divided image data holding unit 214 is output to the printing unit 208. To do.
Then, while the printing unit 208 performs the printing process based on the divided image data, the next divided image data is collected.
The erasing unit 209 erases the print-processed divided image data from the divided image data holding unit 214.

On the other hand, the processing device 300 generates divided image data by rasterizing the processing device communication unit 301 for communicating with the image forming device 200 connected via the network 400 and the divided print data acquired from the image forming device 200. A processing device rasterizing processing unit 302, a rasterizing processing end information transmitting unit (rasterizing end notifying unit) 303 for transmitting rasterizing processing end information indicating that the rasterizing processing for the divided print data has been completed to the image forming device 200, and image formation A divided image data transmission unit 304 that transmits the divided image data requested to be acquired from the apparatus 200;
Note that the processing apparatus 300-2 also has the same configuration as the processing apparatus 300 described above.

Next, the operation of the image forming system 1000 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.
First, the operation from the acquisition of the print data of the image forming apparatus 200 to the printing process for one page will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the image forming apparatus 200 acquires print data from the host apparatus 100 (step S11), when the print data is acquired, the print data dividing unit 202 divides the print data for one page and generates a plurality of divided print data. To do. As the divided print data is generated, the print order information generation unit 203 generates print order information (step S12).

The image forming apparatus communication unit 201 distributes the generated divided print data to the image forming apparatus 200 and the processing apparatuses 300 and 300-2 based on the generated print order information (step S13).
The divided print data distributed to the image forming apparatus 200 itself is rasterized by the image forming apparatus rasterization processing unit 204 to generate divided image data. The generated divided image data is held in the divided image data holding unit 214 (step S14).

  The rasterization processing end information acquisition unit 205 confirms whether or not the rasterization processing has been completed in units of pages (step S15). When it is confirmed that the rasterization processing for each divided print data has been completed in units of pages. The printing unit 208 is instructed to start the printing process.

  Thereafter, the divided image data generated by the rasterization process is collected according to the printing order, temporarily held by the divided image data holding unit 214, and then sent from the divided image data holding unit 214 to the printing unit 208, where the printing unit A print process 208 is performed based on the divided image data (step S16). Details of the process will be described later.

  In the case of performing printing processing for a plurality of pages, the above-described processing from step S12 is repeated until the printing processing for all pages is completed (step S17).

  Next, the operation from the acquisition of the divided print data in the processing apparatus 300 to the transmission of the rasterizing process end information to the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The processing apparatus communication unit 301 confirms whether or not the divided print data is acquired from the image forming apparatus 200 (step S21). When the divided print data is acquired, the processing apparatus rasterization processing unit 302 acquires the acquired divided print data. Is rasterized to generate divided image data and rasterization processing end information indicating the end of the rasterization processing of the divided print data (step S22). The rasterization processing end information transmission unit 303 transmits the generated rasterization processing end information to the image forming apparatus 200 (step S23). On the other hand, the generated divided image data is temporarily held in the processing apparatus 300 until an acquisition request is received from the image forming apparatus 200.
Note that the same processing is performed in the processing device 300-2.

Next, the operation of obtaining and printing divided image data (step S16 in FIG. 3) in the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
When the rasterizing process end information acquisition unit 205 confirms the end of the rasterizing process for one page, the printing unit 208 is instructed to start the printing process (step S31), and the divided image data acquisition unit 206 receives the divided image data. Is instructed.

  The divided image data acquisition unit 206 makes a request for acquiring divided image data to the processing devices 300 and 300-2 based on the print order information (step S32). At this time, since the divided image data generated by the rasterization processing by the own device is already held by the divided image data holding unit 214, the acquisition request of the divided image data generated by the own device is not performed.

Here, the operation of the processing apparatus 300 that has received the request for obtaining divided image data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Upon receiving the acquisition request, the processing device communication unit 301 of the processing device 300 confirms whether or not there is a request for acquiring divided image data from the image forming apparatus 200 (step S41). The divided image data transmission unit 304 transmits the temporarily held divided image data to the image forming apparatus 200 (step S42).
The processes from step S41 to step S42 described above are repeated until all the divided image data held by the processing apparatus 300 are returned to the image forming apparatus 200 (step S43).
Note that similar processing is performed in the processing device 300-2.

Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5 again, the divided image data acquired from the processing devices 300 and 300-2 is held in the divided image data holding unit 214 (step S33).
Meanwhile, the printing unit 208 requests the divided image data once held by the divided image data holding unit 214 in accordance with the printing order (step S34), and the divided image data holding unit 214 that has received the request requests the divided image data. Data is output to the printing unit 208 (step S35).

The printing unit 208 performs print processing based on the divided image data acquired from the divided image data holding unit 214. The divided image data output to the printing unit 208 is erased from the divided image data holding unit 214 by the erasing unit 209 (step S36).
Since the printing unit 208 includes a buffer memory for print processing, image formation by print processing and divided image data reception processing are performed in parallel.

By the way, the processing from step S32 to step S36 for acquiring the divided image data and performing the printing processing is repeated until the printing processing for one page is completed (step S35).
Note that the print processing for print data for a plurality of pages repeats the processing in units of pages shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as necessary.

  As described above, according to the image forming system of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 divides print data for one page, and rasterizes the divided print data to another processing apparatus 300 or 300-2. Since, after confirming the completion of the rasterization processing of all the divided print data for one page, the divided image data is acquired according to the printing order, and the print processing is performed in parallel with the acquisition of the divided image data. Even if the image forming apparatus 200 is a page printer such as an electrophotographic printer, it suffices to have a storage capacity sufficient to hold raster data corresponding to divided image data, so that only raster data for one page is held. The storage capacity in the image forming apparatus storage unit 207 can be reduced.

  Next, an image forming system for collecting the divided image data by checking the unused capacity in the divided image data holding unit 214 when the divided image data acquisition unit 206 collects the divided image data will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming system 2000 according to the second embodiment has the unused configuration in which the image forming apparatus 200 indicates the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 in the configuration of the image forming system 1000 according to the first embodiment. An unused capacity information generation unit 215 that generates capacity information is provided.

  The unused capacity information generation unit 215 generates unused capacity information indicating the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 when the image forming apparatus 200 is activated. The generated unused capacity information corresponds to an increase or decrease in the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214, that is, an increase in unused capacity due to the erasing process of the divided image data by the erasing unit 209 after the printing process, This is information corresponding to a change such as reduction of unused capacity due to the collection processing of the divided image data by the image data acquisition unit 206.

  After the rasterizing process for one page is completed, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 refers to the unused capacity information when collecting the divided image data, and the divided image data holding unit 214 has an unused capacity. If it is confirmed, a request for acquiring divided image data is sent to the processing apparatus 300 to start acquiring divided image data. The acquired divided image data is stored in the divided image data holding unit 214. When the divided image data holding unit 214 runs out of free space, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 ends the acquisition and the divided image data holding unit 214. The divided image data being received that cannot be held because there is no free space is discarded, and the processing device is notified that acquisition of the divided image data has failed.

  The divided image data held in the divided image data holding unit 214 is printed by the printing unit 208 in accordance with the printing order. When the printing process based on the divided image data is finished, the divided image data is divided by the erasing unit 209. It is deleted from the holding unit 214. If there is a sufficient unused capacity in the divided image data holding unit 214 by this deletion processing, the divided image data acquired by the divided image data acquiring unit 206 is held in the divided image data holding unit 214 without being discarded. .

  As described above, the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 changes according to the processing operations of the printing unit 208, the divided image data acquisition unit 206, and the erasing unit 209, and the unused capacity information generation unit 215 The unused capacity information is generated according to the change of the unused capacity.

  Meanwhile, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 confirms whether or not the acquired divided image data is held by the divided image data holding unit 214, and the divided image data is held by the divided image data holding unit 214. Is confirmed, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 makes a request for acquisition of divided image data in the next printing order to the processing apparatus 300. If acquisition of the divided image data fails, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 makes a request for acquiring the same divided image data to the processing device 300 again.

Next, the operation of the image forming system 2000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.
Since the operation until the distributed distribution of the print data and the rasterization process of the distributed print data is the same as in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and the acquisition of the divided image data in the image forming apparatus 200 is performed. The operation of the printing process will be mainly described along the flowchart of FIG.

  When the rasterization process end information acquisition unit 205 confirms the end of the rasterization process for one page, the print unit 208 is instructed to start the print process (step S51), and the divided image data acquisition unit 206 receives the divided image data. Is instructed.

  The divided image data acquisition unit 206 determines whether or not all the divided image data has been acquired in accordance with the printing order (step S52). With reference to the unused capacity information indicating the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 generated by the used capacity information generating unit 215, it is confirmed whether or not there is an unused capacity in the divided image data holding unit 214, When it is confirmed that there is an unused capacity, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 requests the processing device 300 to acquire divided image data and starts acquisition (step S53).

Here, the operation of the processing apparatus 300 that has received the divided image data acquisition request will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Upon receiving the acquisition request, the processing device communication unit 301 of the processing device 300 confirms whether or not there is a request for acquiring divided image data from the image forming apparatus 200 (step S61). The divided image data transmission unit 304 transmits the temporarily held divided image data to the image forming apparatus 200 (step S62).
Note that similar processing is performed in the processing device 300-2.

  Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 9 again, the divided image data acquired from the processing device 300 or 300-2 is held in the divided image data holding unit 214. By the way, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 acquires the divided image data until the free space of the divided image data holding unit 214 becomes 0, and when the free space of the divided image data holding unit 214 runs out, The incompletely received divided image data that cannot be held in the data holding unit 214 is discarded, and the processor 300 or 300-2 is notified of the reception failure (steps S54 to S56).

  Note that printing processing is performed in parallel with the above-described processing for acquiring divided image data. Specifically, the printing unit 208 applies the divided image data temporarily held by the divided image data holding unit 214 in accordance with the printing order. The requested divided image data holding unit 214 outputs the requested divided image data to the printing unit 208 (step S58).

  The printing unit 208 performs print processing based on the divided image data acquired from the divided image data holding unit 214. Note that the divided image data output to the printing unit 208 is erased from the divided image data holding unit 214 by the erasing unit 209 (step S59). Note that the processing from step S52 described above is repeated until the printing processing based on all the divided image data is completed (step S60).

The divided image data collection process by the divided image data acquisition unit 206 is performed in parallel with the printing process in the printing unit 208 and the erasing process in the erasing unit 209, and the divided image data is retained by the erasing process. The unused capacity in the unit 214 increases, and the unused capacity in the divided image data holding unit decreases due to the collection processing of the divided image data. When there is no more free space in the divided image data holding unit 214, the divided image data being received is discarded, and the same divided image data is received again as the printing process proceeds.
Note that the print processing for print data for a plurality of pages repeats the processing in units of pages shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as necessary.

<Effect of Example 2>
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 200 of the second embodiment, when the divided image data acquisition unit 206 collects divided image data, the divided image data is buffered by the capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214. Therefore, even when the network is temporarily congested and reception of the divided image data is delayed, the printing process is not delayed.

  Next, when the divided image data acquisition unit 206 collects the divided image data, the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 is compared with the capacity of the divided image data, and the unused image of the divided image data holding unit 214 is used. An image forming system that collects divided image data after confirming that the capacity is equal to or larger than the capacity of the divided image data will be described.

<Configuration of Example 3>
As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming system 3000 according to the third embodiment is configured to send a request for acquiring the capacity of divided image data to the image forming apparatus 200 in the configuration of the image forming system 2000 according to the second embodiment. A divided image data capacity information acquisition unit 216 for 300-2 is added to a comparison unit 217 that compares unused capacity information and divided image data capacity information, which will be described later, and generates comparison result information. A divided image data capacity information generation unit 305 that generates divided image data capacity information indicating the capacity of the divided image data in response to an acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 200, and the generated divided image data capacity information as the image forming apparatus A divided image data capacity information transmission unit 306 to be transmitted to 200 is added.

  The divided image data capacity information acquisition unit 216 refers to the printing order information, searches the divided image data for which the divided image data acquisition unit 206 next requests acquisition, and the divided image data is generated by rasterization processing by the processing device 300. If so, the processing apparatus 300 is requested to obtain the data size of the divided image data.

  The divided image data capacity information generation unit 305 generates divided image data capacity information indicating the data size of the divided image data in response to the transmission request for the divided image data capacity information from the image forming apparatus 200. The divided image data capacity information transmission unit 306 transmits the generated divided image data capacity information to the image forming apparatus 200.

The comparison unit 217 compares the generated unused capacity information with the acquired divided image data capacity information, and generates comparison result information indicating a comparison result.
By the way, in the generated comparison result information, when the data size of the divided image data to be acquired is smaller than the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214, an acquisition request for the divided image data is made, while the divided image data is held. When the data size of the divided image data to be acquired is larger than the unused capacity of the unit 214, the acquired divided image data cannot be held in the divided image data holding unit 214 even if the divided image data is acquired. I will not.

  When the divided image data acquisition unit 206 refers to the comparison result information and confirms that the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 is equal to or larger than the capacity of the divided image data, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 issues a request for acquiring the divided image data to the processing device 300 or Perform for 300-2. When it is confirmed that the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 is smaller than the capacity of the divided image data, the divided image data acquiring unit 206 determines that the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 is equal to or larger than the capacity of the divided image data. After waiting until, the acquisition request is made.

<Operation of Example 3>
Next, the operation of the image forming system 3000 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the rasterizing process end information acquisition unit 205 confirms the end of the rasterizing process for one page, the printing unit 208 is instructed to start the printing process (step S70), and the divided image data acquisition unit 206 receives the divided image data. Is instructed.

  The divided image data acquisition unit 206 determines whether or not all the divided image data has been acquired in accordance with the printing order (step S71). When all the divided image data has not been acquired, the divided image data acquisition unit 206 is determined. Refers to the unused capacity information indicating the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 generated by the unused capacity information generating unit 215 of the image forming apparatus 200, and there is an unused capacity in the divided image data holding unit 214. If it is confirmed that the divided image data to be collected is specified based on the print order information, the divided image data indicating the capacity of the divided image data is indicated to the processing device 300 or 300-2 that holds the divided image data. Request acquisition of data capacity information.

Here, the operation of the processing apparatus 300 that has received the acquisition request for the divided image data capacity information from the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Receiving the acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 200, the processing apparatus 300 generates divided image data capacity information indicating the data size of the divided image data in the divided image data capacity information generation unit 305 (step S81). The divided image data capacity information transmission unit 306 transmits the generated divided image data capacity information to the image forming apparatus 200 (step S82).
Note that similar processing is performed in the processing device 300-2.

  Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 12 again, the image forming apparatus 200 that has acquired the divided image data capacity information from the processing device 300 or 300-2 (step S72) stores the acquired divided image data capacity information in the image forming apparatus storage. The unit 207 temporarily holds it. The comparison unit 217 compares the divided image data capacity information to be received next held in the image forming apparatus storage unit 207 with the unused capacity information in the divided image data holding unit 214 and generates comparison result information. The divided image data acquisition unit 206 refers to the generated comparison result information, and when the unused capacity information in the divided image data holding unit 214 is greater than or equal to the divided image data capacity (step S73), the divided image data acquisition unit 206 sends the processing apparatus 300 or 300-2 to the processing apparatus 300 or 300-2. Then, a request for obtaining divided image data is made (step S74).

  The image forming apparatus 200 that has acquired the divided image data holds the divided image data in the divided image data holding unit 214 (step S75).

  Note that printing processing is performed in parallel with the above-described processing for acquiring divided image data. Specifically, the printing unit 208 applies the divided image data temporarily held by the divided image data holding unit 214 in accordance with the printing order. The requested divided image data holding unit 214 outputs the requested divided image data to the printing unit 208 (step S77).

The printing unit 208 performs print processing based on the divided image data acquired from the divided image data holding unit 214. Note that the divided image data output to the printing unit 208 is erased from the divided image data holding unit 214 by the erasing unit 209 (step S78). Note that the processing from step S71 to step S78 for acquiring the divided image data and performing the printing process is repeated until the printing process for one page is completed (step S79).
Note that the print processing for print data for a plurality of pages repeats the processing in units of pages shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as necessary.

<Effect of Example 3>
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 200 of the third embodiment, when the divided image data acquisition unit 206 collects divided image data as compared with the second embodiment, the divided image data holding unit 214 is used by the comparison unit 217. When the comparison result information generated by comparing the unused capacity of the divided image data and the capacity of the divided image data is referred to and the unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214 is confirmed to be equal to or larger than the capacity of the divided image data, By performing the processing, the collected divided image data cannot be held due to insufficient unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit 214, and it is not necessary to discard the collected divided image data. There is no need to re-acquire from the device. As a result, no wasteful communication is performed between the image forming apparatus 200 and the processing apparatus 300 or 300-2, so that the printing process can be quickly performed based on the collected divided image data without placing an extra load on the network. It can be carried out.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 performs the print data dividing process. However, the upper apparatus 100 may perform the dividing process. In other words, a configuration may be adopted in which the upper level apparatus 100 includes a higher level apparatus print data division unit that divides print data and generates divided print data, and an upper level apparatus print order information generation unit that generates print order information. Good. At this time, the image forming apparatus 200 acquires the print order information acquisition unit for acquiring the print order information transmitted from the upper apparatus 100 via the network 400 and the divided print data transmitted from the upper apparatus 100. The processing apparatus 300 includes a processing apparatus divided print data acquisition unit for acquiring divided print data transmitted from the host apparatus 100 via the network 400.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing for print data for one page has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one page of print data for a plurality of pages may be processed as divided image data.
In the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus is a facsimile apparatus that can be connected to a network, a printer apparatus, and a composite apparatus that can form an image on a print medium. (MFP) may be used. The processing apparatus may also be a computer having a rasterizing function that can be connected to a network, a facsimile apparatus, a printer apparatus, a composite apparatus (MFP), or the like.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows printing order information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations from acquisition of print data to print processing of divided image data having the first print order in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations from acquisition of divided print data to transmission of rasterization processing end information to the image forming apparatus of the processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printing processing of divided image data after the second printing order of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a processing apparatus in response to a divided image data acquisition request from the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating division of print data and distribution of divided print data only to a processing apparatus. 6 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printing processing of divided image data after the second printing order of the image forming apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a processing device when a divided image data acquisition request is received from an image forming apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of printing processing of divided image data after the second printing order of the image forming apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a processing apparatus when a divided image data acquisition request is issued from an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Host apparatus 200 Image forming apparatus 300 Processing apparatus 400 Network 101 Print data transmission part 201 Image forming apparatus communication part 202 Print data division | segmentation part 203 Print order information generation part 204 Image formation apparatus Rasterization process part 205 Rasterization process completion information acquisition part 206 Division | segmentation Image data acquisition unit 207 Image forming apparatus storage unit 208 Printing unit 209 Erasing unit 211 Division print data identification information holding unit 212 Printing order information holding unit 213 Rasterization processing end information holding unit 214 Division image data holding unit 215 Unused capacity information generation unit 216 Division image data capacity information acquisition unit 217 Comparison unit 218 Division print data distribution unit 301 Processing device communication unit 302 Processing device rasterization processing unit 303 Rasterization processing end information transmission unit 304 Division image data transmission 305 divided image data capacity information generation unit 306 divides the image data capacity information transmission unit

Claims (10)

In an image processing apparatus that receives print data sent from a host device and performs print processing,
Print data dividing means for dividing the received print data and generating divided print data;
Network connection means for connecting to the network;
Divided print data transmission means for transmitting the divided print data via the network connection means in order to request rasterization processing of the generated divided print data;
Rasterization processing end confirmation means for confirming that the rasterization processing of the transmitted divided print data has been completed;
Divided image data acquisition means for acquiring the divided image data generated by the rasterization processing based on the print order after confirmation by the rasterization processing end confirmation means;
Divided image data holding means for holding the acquired divided image data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs a printing process based on the divided image data held by the divided image data holding unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided image data acquisition unit acquires the divided image data in parallel with the printing process.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data is data in print page units.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data is data in units of print jobs, and the divided print data is data in units of pages. Unused capacity detecting means for detecting an unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit;
A comparison unit that compares the unused capacity with the data capacity of the divided image data scheduled to be acquired by the divided image data acquisition unit;
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided image data acquisition unit requests acquisition of divided image data based on a comparison result of the comparison unit. A host device for instructing print processing based on print data;
An image processing system comprising: a first image processing device that performs printing processing based on the print data sent from the host device; and a second image processing device that communicates with the first image processing device In
The first image processing apparatus includes:
Print data dividing means for dividing the received print data and generating divided print data;
Network connection means for connecting to the network;
Divided print data transmission means for transmitting the divided print data via the network connection means in order to request rasterization processing of the generated divided print data;
Rasterization processing end confirmation means for confirming that the rasterization processing of the transmitted divided print data has been completed;
Divided image data acquisition means for acquiring the divided image data generated by the rasterization processing based on the print order after confirmation by the rasterization processing end confirmation means;
Divided image data holding means for holding the acquired divided image data;
Printing means for performing a printing process based on the divided image data held by the divided image data holding means,
The second image processing apparatus includes:
Network connection means for connecting to the network;
Receiving means for receiving divided print data to be rasterized from the main image processing device via the network connection means;
Rasterizing means for generating divided image data by rasterizing the received divided image data;
Rasterization end notification means for notifying the end of rasterization processing;
An image processing system comprising: divided image data transmission means for transmitting the divided image data generated by the rasterizing means in response to an acquisition request from the first image processing apparatus.   The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the divided image data acquisition unit acquires the divided image data in parallel with the printing process.   8. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the print data is data in print page units.   8. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the print data is data in units of print jobs, and the divided print data is data in units of pages. The first image processing apparatus includes:
Unused capacity detecting means for detecting an unused capacity of the divided image data holding unit;
A comparison unit that compares the unused capacity with the data capacity of the divided image data scheduled to be acquired by the divided image data acquisition unit;
8. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the divided image data acquisition unit requests acquisition of divided image data based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.

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