JP2010117909A - Document printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems: when a document laid out by a host computer for binding and printing is stored in an MFP (Multifunction Printer), and is transferred to another MFP for printing, the document cannot be bound due to a restriction of a finisher unless a similar layout is obtained; and when the host computer transmits the document to be laid out in the MFP as usual, printing is started only by accumulating all the pages when transferring the document to be bound and printed, so that it takes a lot of time for printing. <P>SOLUTION: When the MFP receives a document laid out by the host computer for binding and printing, a FillMap is used for printing without changing the size, and vector data are created for each original page and stored, so that high-speed printing is attained. In transfer, the FillMap and the vector data are switched in accordance with binding performance of the transfer destination, so that the binding and printing is flexibly performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document printing system using a printer capable of bookbinding printing.

  A system that performs bookbinding printing is generally known in which a document created by an application on a host computer is converted into PDL data by a driver and transmitted to a printer connected via a network.

  In recent years, multi-function printers called multifunction printers (MFPs) not only print PDL data sent but also store it internally, transfer it to other devices on the network, and print it there. It is getting done.

  Bookbinding printing is a print that creates a book by laying out and printing an image of 2 pages per side and 4 pages on both sides of a sheet of paper, folding it at the center of the paper, binding multiple sheets with a stapler, etc. It is. The following two methods are mainly known for processing.

  One is an application or driver on the host computer, which acquires information on the bookbinding function of the printer. Assuming a complete book image, the image for two pages drawn on a piece of paper is laid out as an image of twice the size without changing the resolution, and sent in consideration of the order of printing. In this method, the printer normally performs double-sided printing in the order received and binds the output sheets together. (FIG. 3) (refer patent document 1). Since this method uses relatively abundant processing resources of the host computer, processing is performed at high speed. Also, since the printer can start printing if it can receive data for one sheet of paper, the total processing time can be shortened.

The other is a method in which the application or driver on the host computer converts each page of the original document into PDL one page at a time and sends it to the printer, and performs bookbinding layout processing on the printer side. (FIG. 4, FIG. 5) (refer patent document 2). This method is characterized in that it can be used even when the host computer has few resources or device information cannot be acquired from the host computer because the host computer side generates and transmits ordinary PDL data.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-309850 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-276734

  As with other general documents, there are increasing opportunities for bookbinding printing to be stored in the printer at the same time as being printed by the printer, and transferred to another printer for printing.

  However, the document printed and saved by the first method described above is laid out based on the information about the finisher function for folding and binding that is built in or connected to the printer. Therefore, there is a problem that when the data is directly transferred to another printer, it is not always correctly laid out and printed. The other method eliminates the layout problem, but when printing is sent for the first time and when it is transferred, printing is performed after all pages have been received, resulting in a very poor performance. Problem occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding printing system that has both a high-speed printing function and a flexible function of transfer printing to another printer.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the document printing system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A system comprising a host computer and one or more printers capable of binding,
The host computer
An application that creates a bookbinding layout for the document;
Means for transmitting an image that will be printed on one side at the time of bookbinding to a printer as one page according to the printing order;
A series of jobs is a bookbinding print that has been laid out, and a means for transmitting the number of sheets and the binding direction to the printer,
The printer
For a booklet print job that has been laid out,
Means to divide the drawing object into two at the folding position at the time of bookbinding, convert the received image into vector information, and save;
Means for storing paper and page related information;
And a means for printing the paper when the required pages are available,
For a booklet print job that has not been laid out,
Means to save the received page;
A means of laying out pages according to the bookbinding capabilities of the printer;
Means for printing on paper according to the layout;
Means for inquiring about the capabilities of the bookbinding function of other printers,
Data transfer means to other printers;
According to the bookbinding ability of other printers, a means for switching and transmitting laid out image data or non-laid out page unit data,
It is characterized by providing.

  Bookbinding printing can be processed at high speed. Further, even when the stored bookbinding document data is transferred to another printer, bookbinding printing according to the capability of the printer can be performed, and user convenience can be improved.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  The preferred embodiments of the first invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the first invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a network, 10 is a host computer, 11 is a job of a document sent from the host computer, and 100 and 200 are MFPs connected to the network 1.

  A storage 150 stores an electronic document in the MFP 100, a storage 250 stores an electronic document in the MFP 200, and an electronic document 1000 stored on the storage 150.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of a controller built in MFP 100.
For convenience of explanation, the internal configuration of the MFP 200 is the same.

In FIG. 2, 101 is a user interface panel, and 102 is a controller.
A scanner control unit 103 is connected to the scanner.

  A UI control unit 104 controls input and output from the user interface panel 101.

  An image processing unit 105 is requested by the job control unit 107 for processing.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a network control unit that controls connection to the network, and is connected to the network 1.

  A job control unit 107 is connected to the scanner control unit 103, UI control unit 104, image processing unit 105, printer control unit 108, network control unit 106, and the like, and controls jobs.

  A printer control unit 108 and a document management unit 109 manage the storage 150.

  A printer engine 110 and a finisher 120 are controlled by the printer control unit 108.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in the data structure when a bookbinding layout is created by the host computer 10.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the data structure when a bookbinding layout is created by the MFP. The concept on the host computer 10, the data sent to the MFP, and the structure of the image data are shown.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the data structure inside the MFP and the print result when a bookbinding layout is created by the MFP.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an input data structure in the present invention. It can be seen that this is the same as the input data when the layout is performed by the host computer 10 of FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes in the data structure due to internal processing in the present invention. This indicates that resolution-dependent data (referred to as FillMap in this embodiment) from PDL data laid out on paper and two vector data are generated for each area estimated to be the original page. Note that in this embodiment, Fillmap refers to data suitable for printing on the MFP model. That is, Fillmap is not vector data but print data suitable for the resolution when printing by the MFP (for example, raster format image data used at the time of printing).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a tree structure of data stored in the MFP for a bookbinding document according to the present invention.

  When a bookbinding job that has been laid out is received, the job control unit 107 creates this structure. As the process proceeds, the actual data is mapped in the tree and finally stored in the storage 150.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the MFP internal data of the bookbinding document and the print result in the present invention.

  Each FillMap is unfolded as an image, printed on both sides of the paper, and you can see how the book can finally be made.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a tree structure of data stored in the MFP for a bookbinding document according to the present invention. The tree structure of FIG. 8 is completed.

  FIG. 11 shows a tree structure of documents in the transfer destination MFP in the present invention. It can be seen that the page laid out on the paper is different from FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the data structure of bookbinding printing processing inside the transfer destination MFP and the printing result in the present invention. It can be seen that the book can be made with a layout different from that of FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of input processing of the job control unit 107 of the MFP 100.

  With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8, the input processing of the job control unit 107 when the input data is stored and printed as an electronic document will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. . In this description, job reading and printing processing are assumed to operate independently.

  When the job control unit 107 receives a job 11 made of PDL data from the network 1 via the network control unit 106, the job control unit 107 analyzes the job and acquires job information (S11).

  If this job is not bound (S12), the data is read as it is (S13), and a FillMap is created for each page (S15). This process is repeated until the page ends (S14).

  If the job is bookbinding printing in S12 and is not laid out on the host computer (S16), data is read (S17), a FillMap is created for each page (S19), and saved (S20). This process is repeated until the page ends (S18). At this time, the state is in the middle of FIG.

  If the job has already been laid out on the host computer 10 in S16, the tree structure shown in FIG. 8 is created (S21). Data is read (S22), a FillMap is created for each page (S24), and saved (S25). At this time, the data is input in units as shown in FIG.

  Further, based on the information on how the bookbinding layout was performed on the host computer, the area is divided into two (S26), and the drawing object is vectorized for each area (S27). The vector data is stored in the original page unit (S28). Data shown in FIG. 7 is created by the processing from S24 to S28 and linked to the tree structure.

  For example, at the stage when one page of a layout-completed job sent from 4 pages consisting of 8 pages has been processed, there is one FillMap for one side of the paper and two vector data, Page8 and Page1, as shown in Figure 8. It becomes a form.

  Further, data is read in S22, and this process is repeated until the page ends (S23).

  In this description, the input data is PDL data from the host computer, but FillMap and vector data can be processed in the same flowchart.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the printing process of the job control unit 107 of the MFP 100.

  With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, the processing of the job control unit 107 when performing bookbinding printing will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the job is started, the job control unit 107 first acquires job information (S41).

  If this job is not bookbinding (S42), the FillMap created in S15 of FIG. 13 is read (S43), and single-sided or double-sided printing processing is performed for each page (S45). This process is repeated until the page ends (S44), and the job process is terminated.

  If the job is bookbinding printing in S42 and is not laid out on the host computer (S46), a bookbinding process is performed for layout on the normal MFP side. Wait until all the processes of S18 in FIG. 13 are completed, determine the layout method from the total number of pages stored, and create the read page order (S47). The FillMap is read according to the page order (S48), and expanded to the right or left half of the double size memory as shown in FIG. 4 (S50). The process returns to S48 until the composition page of one sheet is completed, and the process is repeated (S51). When the data for the composition page is completed as shown in FIG. 5, double-sided printing is performed (S52). When all the pages have been processed (S49), the printed paper is folded and bound (S53), and the process ends.

  If the bookbinding process is laid out on the host computer in S46, the FillMap created in S24 of FIG. 13 is read (S54), and the duplex printing process is performed (S56). When all the pages are finished (S55), the process goes to S53, where the printed and folded paper is folded and bound, and the process ends.

  In the above description, comparing the layout with the MFP and the bookbinding layout with the host computer, the former cannot start printing even the first paper unless all pages are collected. However, the latter can be printed if a FillMap is created for each paper, and the latter can be printed at a higher speed because the printing process can be performed while reading the data.

  Depending on the ability of the controller, the processing from S26 to S27 in FIG. 13 may take time, but the next data processing is possible even if this processing is not completed. Therefore, the influence on the printing process itself can be avoided by processing S26 to S28 with another processor or when the MFP has sufficient resources after printing is completed.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the transfer process of the job control unit 107 of the MFP 100.

  Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12, according to the flowchart of FIG. 15, processing of job control unit 107 when transferring a stored bookbinding document to another model MFP 200 Will be explained. Since the printing process of the MFP 200 is almost the same as that of the MFP 100, a detailed description is omitted.

  When the job control unit 107 receives an instruction from the user interface 101 to transfer the bookbinding document to another MFP for printing, the job control unit 107 acquires the bookbinding capability of the MFP 200 as the transfer destination (S71). If the MFP 200 has the same function as the MFP 100 and the FillMap stored in the MFP 100 can be bound and printed as it is (S72), only folding / binding is set as a job attribute (S73), and the FillMap is transferred to the MFP 200 ( S74). Specifically, FillMap1, FillMap2, FillMap3, and FillMap4 in FIG. 10 are transferred. Then, the MFP 200 can bind these FillMaps by duplex printing and folding / binding processing as shown in FIG.

  If the MFP 200 cannot print the FillMap as it is and no vector data remains in the document stored in the MFP 100 (S75), cancel is displayed on the user interface 101 (S76), and the process is terminated.

  If the vector data is present and the MFP 200 cannot perform bookbinding printing as it is, it can be printed in a different layout (S77). For example, if the maximum number of sheets that can be folded is less than the number required for the stored document, the job attribute is set. Bookbinding is designated (S78). Further, the vector data is transferred to the MFP 200 in page order (S79).

  Specifically, the vector data Page1, 2,... Page8 for each page in FIG. If the MFP 200 has the ability to fold only a maximum of one sheet but can back up, the received vector data should be laid out in a tree structure as shown in FIG. 11 and bound as shown in FIG. Can do.

  If the MFP 200 cannot perform bookbinding printing by itself, a message to that effect is displayed on the user interface of the MFP 100 (S80). If there is an input that the user wants to transfer and print without binding (S81), normal printing is set as the job attribute (S82), and the vector data is transferred in page order (S83). In this case, the MFP 200 performs normal printing processing. If bookbinding is not possible in S81 and the user inputs that printing is not necessary, the transfer is stopped, the cancellation is displayed on the user interface 101 in S76, and the process is terminated.

  From the above description, in such a system, bookbinding print processing can be performed at high speed by inputting a bookbinding print job that has been laid out from the host computer to the MFP. In addition, it is understood that when it is desired to transfer and print a document stored in the MFP to another MFP at the same time, if other MFP functions are equivalent, bookbinding printing can be performed flexibly with different layouts even if they are not equivalent.

It is the schematic which shows the system of the 1st Example which concerns on this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a controller of an MFP according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the change of the data structure at the time of bookbinding layout with a host computer. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a change in data structure when a bookbinding layout is performed by an MFP. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between an internal data structure and a print result when a bookbinding layout is performed by an MFP. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the input data at the time of carrying out bookbinding layout by the host computer in the system of 1st Example based on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the change of the structure of internal data at the time of carrying out bookbinding layout by the host computer in the system of the 1st Example based on this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a tree structure of data of a bookbinding document stored in an MFP when a bookbinding layout is performed by a host computer in the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between MFP internal data and output results when a bookbinding layout is performed by a host computer in the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data tree structure of a bookbinding document stored in an MFP when a bookbinding layout is performed by a host computer in the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a data tree structure of a bookbinding document stored in an MFP at a transfer destination when a bookbinding layout is performed by a host computer in the system of the first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between transfer destination MFP internal data and a print result when a bookbinding layout is performed by a host computer in the system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing input processing contents of a job control unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print processing contents of a job control unit of the MFP according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating transfer processing contents of a job control unit of the MFP according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network 10 Host Computer 11 Job 100, 200 MFP (Multifunction Printer)
150, 250 Storage 101 User interface 102 Controller 103 Scanner control unit 104 UI control unit 105 Image processing unit 106 Network control unit 107 Job control unit 108 Printer control unit 109 Document management unit 110 Printer engine 1000 Electronic document

Claims (1)

A document printing system comprising a host computer and one or more printers capable of binding,
The host computer
An application that creates a bookbinding layout for the document;
Means for transmitting an image that will be printed on one side at the time of bookbinding to a printer as one page according to the printing order;
A series of jobs is a bookbinding print that has been laid out, and a means for transmitting the number of sheets and the binding direction to the printer,
The printer
For a booklet print job that has been laid out,
Means to divide the drawing object into two at the folding position at the time of bookbinding, convert the received image into vector information, and save;
Means for storing paper and page related information;
And a means for printing the paper when the required pages are available,
For a booklet print job that has not been laid out,
Means to save the received page;
A means of laying out pages according to the bookbinding capabilities of the printer;
Means for printing on paper according to the layout;
Means for inquiring about the capabilities of the bookbinding function of other printers,
Data transfer means to other printers;
Depending on the bookbinding ability of other printers, a means for switching and transmitting laid out image data or non-laid out page unit data,
A document printing system comprising:

Images