JP2007190838A - Printer, and data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can perform printing by a maximum throughput while preventing the printing of the printer from being interrupted as much as possible, and to provide a data processing device. <P>SOLUTION: Printing job information is received from an external device, and printing information included in the received printing job information is converted into printable data which can be printed by a printing means. Then, the printable data after the conversion is transmitted to the printing means, and a printed matter corresponding to the printing job information is recorded and output by this printer. In the printer, a printing starting timing is judged from the information volume of the printing information, a processing speed when the printing information is converted into the printable data, a printable data volume which has been converted, and a data volume per unit time required for operating the printing means at a maximum throughput. Then, a starting timing for the transmission of the printable data to the printing means is controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention receives print job information from an external device, converts print information included in the received print job information into printable data that can be printed by the printing means, and sends the converted printable data to the printing means. A printing apparatus that records and outputs a printed material corresponding to the print job information, and print job information generated by the print information generation program, and the printing apparatus can print the print information included in the received print job information. The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus having a printing function for converting printable data and sending the converted printable data to a printing apparatus.

  Conventionally, when printing from a computer terminal with a printer, depending on the contents of the printed document and the processing speed of the computer, the transmission speed of printable data sent from the computer may not reach the amount of data necessary for the maximum printing speed of the printer. is there.

  Normally, when the printer falls into the above state, the printer pauses printing until necessary data is transmitted, and continues printing while performing an intermittent operation of resuming printing when a necessary amount of print data is prepared. .

Alternatively, the above-mentioned problem is solved by performing printing after waiting until all the print data of a document to be printed is generated on the computer terminal side in advance (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-136420 A

  However, when printing a very large document, repeating pause and resume takes more time than the maximum speed that the printer originally has, and the printer is shared by multiple terminals. If this is the case, the printing of other terminals will be hindered.

  Further, if printing is performed after all the print data is prepared, the printing start time is unnecessarily delayed, and as a result, the time until the printed matter is obtained is delayed.

  Similarly, if all the print data is collected before printing, the amount of data that cannot be stored in the storage device such as the hard disk on the terminal side will fall into a situation where printing is impossible, and application Or the user may need to request work such as dividing print data.

  The present invention provides a system capable of printing at the maximum throughput while preventing the interruption of printing as much as possible by delaying the printing start time until data sufficient for the printer to print at the maximum speed is accumulated. For the purpose.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a data processing apparatus capable of printing at the maximum throughput while preventing the printing of the printer apparatus from being interrupted as much as possible.

  The present invention receives print job information from an external device, converts print information included in the received print job information into printable data that can be printed by the printing means, and sends the converted printable data to the printing means. In the printing apparatus that records and outputs the printed matter corresponding to the print job information, the information amount of the print information, the processing speed when converting to the printable data, the converted printable data amount, and the printing unit Is determined from the amount of data per unit time required to operate at the maximum throughput, and the start time of sending the printable data to the printing means is controlled.

  The external device is connected via a network.

  Also, it receives the print job information generated by the print information generation program, converts the print information included in the received print job information into printable data that can be printed by the printing apparatus, and sends the converted print data to the printing apparatus. In a data processing apparatus having a print function for sending, the information amount of the print information, the processing speed when converting to the printable data, the converted printable data amount, and the printing unit operate at the maximum throughput. The printing start time is determined from the amount of data per unit time required for this, and the start time for sending the print data to the printing apparatus is controlled.

  The printing apparatus is connected via a network.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the amount of print information, the processing speed when converting to print data, the converted printable data amount, and the unit time required for the printing means to operate at the maximum throughput. Since the print start time is determined from the data amount and the start time of sending printable data to the printing means is controlled, the printing apparatus can always operate at the maximum throughput.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1A shows an example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This printing system is configured by directly connecting a personal computer device PC for creating print information and a printer device PTR constituting the printing device.

  FIG. 2B shows an example of a printing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  This printing system is configured by connecting a plurality of personal computer apparatuses PC1 to PCn for creating print information and a network compatible printer apparatus NTP constituting the printing apparatus via a local area network LAN.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the personal computer apparatus PC.

  In the figure, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 controls the operation of the personal computer PC, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 is a program executed when the CPU 1 starts up, necessary data, etc. RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 is for configuring the work area of the CPU 1 and the like.

  The character generator 4 is for generating graphic character display data, and the clock circuit 5 is for outputting current date and time information.

  The magnetic disk device 6 is for storing various data such as various application programs, work data, file data, image information data, and the CD-ROM device 7 is a CD-ROM which is an exchangeable recording medium. The CRT screen display device 9 is for reading data in the ROM 8, and the CRT screen display device 9 is for displaying a screen for operating the personal computer device PC. This is for controlling display contents.

  The keyboard device 11 is for performing various key operations on the personal computer device PC, and the screen instruction device 12 is for performing operation operations such as indicating an arbitrary point on the CRT screen display device 9. The input control unit 13 is for capturing input information of the keyboard device 11 and the screen instruction device 12.

  The printer interface circuit 14 is for connecting the printer device PTR and exchanging various data with the printer device PTR.

  The CPU 1, ROM 2, RAM 3, character generator 4, clock circuit 5, magnetic disk device 6, CD-ROM device 7, display control unit 10, input control unit 13, and printer interface circuit 14 are connected to the internal bus 15. The exchange of data between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 15.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the printer apparatus PTR. The printer apparatus PTR includes a multi-stage paper feeding unit including a plurality of trays that store paper.

  In the figure, a system control unit 21 controls the operation of each unit of the printer device PTR, paper feed control, print control, communication control with an external device via an external communication unit, and a user operates the printer device. The system memory 22 stores various control programs to be executed by the system control unit 21, and performs various data processing such as various user interface processing when operating the PTR. The parameter memory 23 stores various information unique to the printer apparatus PTR, and the clock circuit 24 outputs current time information and the like. The operation display unit 25 constitutes a user interface for the user to operate the printer device PTR. It is intended.

  The page buffer memory 26 constitutes a frame memory for storing print data for one page, and the print unit 27 reads the print data from the frame memory configured in the page buffer memory 26 and prints an image on a sheet. Is for printing. Further, the print unit 27 is provided with a multi-stage paper feed unit 28 having a plurality of trays for storing papers, whereby an appropriate one of a plurality of types of papers is selected and the recording paper used by the print unit 27 is used. Can be applied as Here, the sheets stored in the tray include A4 portrait, A4 landscape, B5 portrait, B5 landscape, A3 portrait, and the like.

  The host interface circuit 29 is composed of a general-purpose communication unit such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and is connected to the personal computer device PC to exchange various data with the personal computer device PC.

  The system control unit 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, operation display unit 25, page buffer memory 26, print unit 27, multi-stage paper feed unit 28, and host interface circuit 29 are connected to the internal bus 30. The data exchange between these units is mainly performed through the internal bus 30.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the personal computer apparatus PC # (PC1 to PCn). In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  In the figure, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 controls the operation of the personal computer PC #, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 is a program executed by the CPU 1 at startup and necessary data. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 is for configuring the work area of the CPU 1 and the like.

  The character generator 4 is for generating graphic character display data, and the clock circuit 5 is for outputting current date and time information.

  The local area network interface circuit 16 is for connecting the personal computer device PC # to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 17 is connected to another data terminal device via the local area network LAN. For executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with each other.

  The magnetic disk device 6 is for storing various data such as various application programs, work data, file data, image information data, and the CD-ROM device 7 is a CD-ROM which is an exchangeable recording medium. The CRT screen display device 9 is for reading data in the ROM 8, and the CRT screen display device 9 is for displaying a screen for operating the personal computer device PC #. This is for controlling the display content of.

  The keyboard device 11 is for performing various key operations on the personal computer device PC #, and the screen instruction device 12 is for performing an operation operation such as indicating an arbitrary point on the CRT screen display device 9. The input control unit 13 is for capturing input information of the keyboard device 11 and the screen instruction device 12.

  The CPU 1, ROM 2, RAM 3, character generator 4, clock circuit 5, local area network transmission control unit 17, magnetic disk device 6, CD-ROM device 7, display control unit 10, and input control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus. The data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 15.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the network compatible printer NTP. This network-compatible printer NTP includes a multi-stage sheet feeding unit including a plurality of trays that store sheets.

  In the figure, a system control unit 21 controls the operation of each unit of the network compatible printer NTP, paper feed control, print control, communication control with an external device performed via a local area network LAN, and The system memory 22 stores various control programs to be executed by the system control unit 21. The system memory 22 stores various control programs executed by the system control unit 21. At the same time, it constitutes a work area of the system control unit 21, and the parameter memory 23 is for storing various information unique to the network-compatible printer NTP. Etc., and the operation display unit 25 is displayed by the user. It constitutes a user interface for operating the Ttowaku corresponding printer NTP.

  The page buffer memory 26 constitutes a frame memory for storing print data for one page, and the print unit 27 reads the print data from the frame memory configured in the page buffer memory 26 and prints an image on a sheet. Is for printing. In addition, the print unit 27 is provided with a multi-stage paper feed unit 28 having a plurality of trays for storing paper, whereby an appropriate one of a plurality of types of paper is selected and the recording paper used by the print unit 27 is used. Can be applied as Here, the sheets stored in the tray include A4 portrait, A4 landscape, B5 portrait, B5 landscape, A3 portrait, and the like.

  The local area network interface circuit 31 is for connecting the network compatible printer NTP to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 32 is connected to another data terminal device via the local area network LAN. For executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with each other.

  These system control unit 21, system memory 22, parameter memory 23, clock circuit 24, operation display unit 25, page buffer memory 26, print unit 27, multi-stage paper feed unit 28, and local area network transmission control unit 32 Data exchange between these units connected to the bus 30 is performed mainly via the internal bus 30.

  In the personal computer PC, as shown in FIG. 6A, the print application ALP that generates print information performs a print operation using the function of the printer driver DPR. When performing this printing operation, the print application APL issues a print request to the printer device PTR.

  The print request issued by the print application APL is accepted by the printer driver DPR, and is transmitted to the printer device PTR via the printer interface circuit 14 by the printer driver DPR.

  In this way, a print request output from the personal computer apparatus PC is received via the host interface circuit 29 of the printer apparatus PTR, and is recognized as a print job request reception by the system control unit 21 (see FIG. 7).

  The print job information includes information such as the data format of the print data (including a format (for example, compliant PDL)) in addition to the print data representing the print contents.

  The print data receiving unit 51 temporarily stores the print data received via the host interface circuit 29 in the system memory 22 and instructs the print data conversion unit 52 to perform data conversion. The print data conversion unit 52 converts the print data stored in the system memory 22 into printable data that can be printed by the print unit 27, and stores the converted printable data in the page buffer memory 26.

  Also, the print data conversion unit 52 notifies the print start timing determination unit 53 of the printable data conversion process.

  The print start timing determination unit 53 is necessary for the data amount of the print data received by the print data reception unit 51, the data generation amount per unit time of the print data conversion unit 52, and the print unit 27 to operate at the maximum throughput. An appropriate timing for starting printing is obtained from the data processing amount per unit time, and a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission unit 54 when it is determined as an appropriate timing.

  As a result, the print data transmission unit 54 starts an operation of transmitting printable data from the page buffer memory 26 to the print unit 27.

  As a result, the print unit 27 can perform a printing operation without a break and with a maximum throughput.

  In the personal computer apparatus PC #, as shown in FIG. 6B, the print application ALP that generates print information performs a print operation using the function of the network compatible printer driver NDP. When performing this printing operation, the print application APL issues a print request to the network compatible printer device NTR.

  The print request issued by the print application APL is received by the network compatible printer driver NDP, and the network compatible printer driver NDP receives the network compatible printer via the system network API (SKT) and the local area network interface circuit 16. Sent to device NTP.

  In this way, the print request output from the personal computer apparatus PC is received via the local area network face circuit 31 and the local area network transmission control unit 32 of the network printer apparatus NTR, and the system control unit 21 receives the print job request. It is recognized as reception (see FIG. 8).

  The print job information includes information such as the data format of the print data (including a format (for example, compliant PDL)) in addition to the print data representing the print contents.

  The print data receiving unit 61 once accumulates print data received via the local area network interface circuit 31 (and the local area network transmission control unit 32) in the system memory 22, and instructs the print data conversion unit 62 to perform data conversion. Do. The print data conversion unit 62 converts the print data stored in the system memory 22 into printable data that can be printed by the print unit 27, and stores the converted printable data in the page buffer memory 26.

  Further, the print data conversion unit 62 notifies the print start timing determination unit 63 of the printable data conversion process.

  The print start timing determination unit 63 is necessary for the data amount of the print data received by the print data reception unit 61, the data generation amount per unit time of the print data conversion unit 62, and the print unit 27 to operate at the maximum throughput. An appropriate timing for starting printing is obtained from the data processing amount per unit time, and a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission unit 64 when it is determined as an appropriate timing.

  As a result, the print data transmission unit 64 starts an operation of transmitting printable data from the page buffer memory 26 to the print unit 27.

  As a result, the print unit 27 can perform a printing operation without a break and with a maximum throughput.

  Also, the printer device PTR and the network-compatible printer device NTP may receive a plurality of print requests continuously. Further, the time required to complete the reception of the print data relating to each print request differs depending on the generation status (data amount and data generation frequency) of each print data. Therefore, at a certain point in time, a situation occurs in which print data relating to a plurality of print requests is received in parallel.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the printing operation (print job) related to the print request is started from the point when the reception of the print data related to the print request is completed. In this way, for example, when the print job is started in a state where the print data of the first print request is not prepared, the second print request arrives because the second print request has arrived. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the printed matter according to the first print request and the printed matter according to the second print request are discharged without being sorted and overlapped with the tray of the printed matter.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of processing performed by the printer apparatus PTR and the network-compatible printer apparatus NTP when a print job is received.

  When a print job is received (process 101), the print data relating to the print job is received and stored in the system memory 22 (process 102, NO loop of decision 103). When the reception of the print data is completed and the result of determination 103 is YES, it is determined that the reception of the print job is completed, and the printing operation is started (process 104).

  As a result, the print data conversion units 52 and 62 convert the print data, and the converted printable data is stored in the page buffer memory 26 (process 105).

  The print start timing determination units 53 and 63 determine the print start timing according to the following equation (I) (processing 106).

a> = b-b * c / d (I)
Where: a: amount of data converted by the print data converters 52 and 62
b: Data amount received by the print data receiving units 51 and 61
c: Data amount converted per unit time by the print data converters 52 and 62
d: amount of data that can be processed per unit time by the print unit 27

  Next, according to the print start timing, the print data transmission units 54 and 64 start to transmit the printable data stored in the page buffer memory 26 to the print unit 27 (process 107).

  FIG. 10 illustrates an example of processing of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54.

  The print start timing determination units 53 and 54 acquire the data amount received by the print data reception units 51 and 61 (process 201), acquire the data amount converted by the print data conversion units 52 and 62 (process 202), and The print data conversion units 52 and 62 acquire the data amount converted per unit time (process 203), and check whether or not the command issuance condition shown in the equation (I) is satisfied (determination 204). If NO, the process returns to process 201.

  If the result of determination 204 is YES, a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission units 54 and 64 (process 205).

  In this way, in this case, the data amount of the print data, the processing speed when converting to the print data, the converted printable data amount, and the unit necessary for the print unit 27 to operate at the maximum throughput. Since the print start time is determined from the data amount per time and the start time of sending printable data to the print unit 27 is controlled, the print unit 27 can always operate at the maximum throughput, and the printing efficiency can be improved. improves.

  FIG. 11 shows another example of processing of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54.

  The print start timing determination units 53 and 54 acquire the data amount received by the print data reception units 51 and 61 (process 301), acquire the data amount converted by the print data conversion units 52 and 62 (process 302), and The print data conversion units 52 and 62 acquire the data amount converted per unit time (process 303), and check whether the command issue condition shown in the equation (I) is satisfied (determination 304). If NO, it is checked whether or not the conversion data amount exceeds a predetermined threshold (determination 305). When the result of determination 305 is NO, the process returns to process 301.

  Also, when the result of determination 305 is YES and when the result of determination 304 is, a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission units 54 and 64 (process 306).

  Thus, in this case, when printable data is created up to a predetermined amount of data, sending of the printable data to the print unit 27 is started, so that an efficient printing operation is possible. Become.

  FIG. 12 shows still another example of the processing of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54.

  The print start timing determination units 53 and 54 acquire the data amount received by the print data reception units 51 and 61 (process 401), acquire the data amount converted by the print data conversion units 52 and 62 (process 402), and The print data conversion units 52 and 62 acquire the data amount Ka converted per unit time (process 403), and correct the data amount Ka based on the converted data amount per unit stored last time (process 404).

  Then, using the corrected data amount (value of the parameter c in the formula (I)), it is checked whether or not the command issue condition shown in the formula (I) is satisfied (decision 405), and the result of the judgment 405 is NO. If so, it is checked whether or not the conversion data amount exceeds a predetermined threshold (decision 406). When the result of determination 406 is NO, the process returns to process 401.

  When the result of determination 406 is YES and when the result of determination 405 is, a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission units 54 and 64 (process 407). Further, the conversion data amount per unit time is stored for reference next time (process 408).

  In this way, in this case, since the conversion data amount per unit time is corrected, a more appropriate printing start timing can be determined.

  In addition, as one of the start conditions of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54, conditions such as a warm-up process time when the print unit 27 starts printing and a calibration process time necessary for each operation to stabilize the print quality are added. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is incorporated in the printer device PTR and the network compatible printer device NTP has been described. However, the printer driver DPR of the personal computer device PC and the network support of the personal computer device PC # are described. The configuration of the present invention can also be incorporated in the printer driver NDP.

  An example in that case is shown in FIG.

  In the figure, a print data receiving unit 71 once accumulates print data received from the print application APL in the RAM 2 and instructs the print data conversion unit 72 to perform data conversion. The print data conversion unit 72 converts the print data stored in the RAM 2 into printable data that can be printed by the printer device PTR or the network-compatible printer device NTP, and stores the converted printable data in the RAM 2.

  In addition, the print data conversion unit 72 notifies the print start timing determination unit 73 of the printable data conversion process.

  The print start timing determination unit 73 determines the maximum data throughput of the print data received by the print data reception unit 71, the data generation amount per unit time of the print data conversion unit 72, and the maximum throughput of the printer device PTR or the network compatible printer device NTP. An appropriate timing for starting printing is obtained from the data processing amount per unit time necessary for the operation of the printer, and a transmission command is issued to the print data transmission unit 74 when it is determined that the timing is appropriate.

  As a result, the print data transmission unit 74 starts an operation for transmitting printable data from the RAM 2 to the printer device PTR or the network compatible printer device NTP.

  In this case as well, the printer driver DPR and the network-compatible printer driver NDP may receive a plurality of print requests in succession, and therefore, when the reception of the print data related to the print request is completed, Such a printing operation (print job) is started.

  Further, the network compatible printer driver NDP can monitor the operation of the network compatible printer device NTP to determine the start timing of the print job. For example, the network compatible printer device NTP can execute the print job during the print operation. Can be avoided.

  The present invention can be similarly applied to a printing system having a configuration other than the printing system according to the above-described embodiment.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an example and another example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The block diagram which showed the structural example of personal computer apparatus PC. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer device PTR. The block diagram which showed the structural example of personal computer apparatus PC # (PC1-PCn). FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a network compatible printer device NTP. The block diagram for demonstrating the structure concerning printing operation of personal computer apparatus PC and personal computer apparatus PC #. FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a printing operation of the printer apparatus PTR. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a printing operation of a network compatible printer device NTP. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the printer device PTR and the network-compatible printer device NTP when a print job is received. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of print start timing determination units 53 and 54. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of processing of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54. 14 is a flowchart showing still another example of processing of the print start timing determination units 53 and 54. The block diagram which showed an example at the time of incorporating the structure of this invention in the printer driver DPR of personal computer apparatus PC, and the network corresponding | compatible printer driver NDP of personal computer apparatus PC #.

Explanation of symbols

PTR printer device NTP network compatible printer device PC, PC # (PC1 to PCn) Personal computer device 51, 61, 71 Print data receiving unit 52, 62, 72 Print data converting unit 53, 63, 73 Print start timing determining unit 54, 64, 74 Print data transmitter

Claims (4)

The print job information is received from the external device, the print information included in the received print job information is converted into print data that can be printed by the printing means, and the converted printable data is sent to the printing means to send the print job information. In a printing device that records and outputs printed materials corresponding to
From the information amount of the print information, the processing speed when converting to the printable data, the converted printable data amount, and the data amount per unit time necessary for the printing means to operate at the maximum throughput A printing apparatus characterized by determining a printing start time and controlling a start time of sending the printable data to the printing means.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external apparatus is connected via a network. The print job information generated by the print information generation program is received, the print information included in the received print job information is converted into printable data that can be printed by the printing apparatus, and the converted printable data is sent to the printing apparatus. In a data processing apparatus having a printing function,
From the information amount of the print information, the processing speed when converting to the printable data, the converted printable data amount, and the data amount per unit time necessary for the printing means to operate at the maximum throughput A data processing apparatus characterized by determining a printing start time and controlling a start time of sending the printable data to the printing apparatus.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus is connected via a network.

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