JPH0971012A - Device and method for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate a printing processing by rapidly releasing a memory space for developing printing data. SOLUTION: When a receiving data region 111 receives printing data [e.g. PDL[page description language] form] from a host computer and when a frame memory 102, where the data is to be developed, is in use, the region 111 stores the data and a developing data region 112 saves bit-mapped data developed on the memory 102. When data for printing can not be supplied due to errors at a printer engine 131 or insufficiency of processing capacity, the bit-mapped data on the memory 102 are saved in the region 112 to rapidly release the memory 102 from the processing relating to one printing data so that processing relating to next printing data can be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and method for expanding and outputting print data sent from an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pixel processing device such as a printing device,
Generally, since the image output processing in the printer engine unit is slower than the speed at which print data is received from the external device, the image output is delayed depending on the processing speed of the printer engine unit.

Conventionally, for example, when print data is sent from a plurality of host computers, the received print data is temporarily stored in a hard disk device or the like having a function as a buffer, and the print processing for each print data ends. After that, a series of processes of sequentially expanding the stored print data on the frame memory and supplying the print data to the printer engine unit has been started.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, while supplying the bitmap data relating to one print data to the printer engine section, the frame memory holding the bitmap data relates to the print data. Do not release from processing. Therefore, even though the next print data is received, the print data cannot be expanded, which is one of the causes of impeding the speeding up of the printing process.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to quickly release a memory space for expanding print data and speed up a printing process.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus which expands and outputs print data sent from an external device. Expansion means for expanding the predetermined memory space to generate bitmap data, image forming means for forming an image based on the bitmap data, transfer means for transferring the generated bitmap data to the image forming means, And a saving means for saving the bitmap data in the memory space when the transfer means is not operating, and the expanding means generates the bitmap data when the memory space is available.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for example, it is desirable to further include storage means for storing print data sent from the external device while using the memory space.

Further, it is preferable that the saving means includes an auxiliary storage medium, and the bitmap data in the memory space is saved in the auxiliary storage medium.

Further, the image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for expanding and outputting print data sent from an external device, wherein the print data is expanded in a predetermined memory space and bitmap data is output. A transfer step of transferring the generated bitmap data to the image forming apparatus, and a saving step of saving the bitmap data of the memory space when the transfer by the transfer step is not performed, The expanding step is characterized in that bitmap data is generated when the memory space can be used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that a storage step of storing print data sent from the external device while the memory space is being used is further provided.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that operates based on a program on a memory medium and expands and outputs print data sent from an external device. The above program is a procedure code of a development step of developing print data in a predetermined memory space to generate bitmap data, a procedure code of a transfer step of transferring the generated bitmap data to the image forming apparatus, and the transfer. And a procedure code of a saving process for saving the bitmap data in the memory space when the transfer is not performed by the process, and the expanding process generates the bitmap data when the memory space is available. To do.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of an image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. Image processing device 100
Can connect a plurality of external devices (host computers 1 to 3 in the figure) via the I / F 140. The image processing apparatus 100 may be a printing apparatus, a copying machine or the like that can be connected to an external apparatus and perform printing according to the instruction, or another form, depending on the embodiment. Is also good.

The host computers 1 to 3 edit a document, a graphic, etc., for example, by starting an application program, and, for example, a page description language (PD
L) or the like to generate print data, and the image processing apparatus 100
Send to

In the image processing apparatus 100, the I / F 14
Reference numeral 0 is an interface that is connected to host computers 1 to 3 that are external devices and receives print data from them. The communication means with the external device may have any form.

The hard disk 110 has a received data area 111 for storing received print data (hereinafter also referred to as appropriate received data) and a developed data area 112 for storing expanded bitmap data (hereinafter also referred to as appropriately developed data). Have. The reception data area 111 is an area for receiving and storing print data even when bitmap data obtained by expanding other print data exists in the frame memory 120. Expanded data area 112
Is an area for saving the generated bitmap data, whereby the frame memory 120 for expanding the print data to generate the bitmap data is quickly released from the processing relating to one print data (see the following). Subject to processing).

As the frame memory 120, it is desirable to use a high-speed memory in order to expand the print data into bitmap data at high speed and to transfer the expanded print data into the hard disk 110 at high speed.

The printer controller 130 is a controller that supplies the generated bitmap data to the printer engine 131 and exchanges control information with the printer engine 131 to control the printer engine 131. In addition, transfer of the bitmap data via the CPU bus (between 110 and 120, 110 or 120-130
It is desirable to provide a DMA (not shown) in order to perform the (interval) at high speed.

The printer engine 131 is a printer engine that forms and outputs a visible image by an image forming method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink ejection method.

The CPU 150 is a CPU that controls the operation of the entire image processing apparatus, and operates based on a control program (described later; see FIGS. 2 and 3) stored in the ROM 170. The RAM 160 is a memory that functions as a work memory of the CPU 150, and may also be used as a frame memory. When the control program is supplied by, for example, a floppy disk (not shown), RA
It is desirable to read the program into M160 and operate it.

According to the embodiment, for example, when the image processing apparatus 100 is applied to an apparatus having the function of a copying machine, for example, a scanner for reading a document, an operation panel for designating the number of copies and sheets, etc. ( (Not shown) may be provided.

An operation example of the image processing apparatus 100 will be described below. When print data is received from any of the host computers 1 to 3, the I / F 140 issues an interrupt request to the CPU 150 (reception interrupt). CPU
The 150 executes the reception routine based on this interrupt request. Note that this reception routine is executed only when the CPU 150 permits interrupts (controlled by the main routine).

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the reception routine. This control program is
It is stored in the ROM 170.

First, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the frame memory 120 is being used, that is, whether or not unprocessed bitmap data exists in the frame memory 120. As a result, the frame memory 12
If 0 is used, it is checked in step S202 whether or not there is a free area in the received data area 111 of the hard disk 110.

If it is determined in step S202 that the received data area 111 has a free area, in step S203 the received data area 111 is available.
Store the received data in and return to the main routine. on the other hand,
If there is no free area in the received data area, print data cannot be stored, so step S20.
In 4, a request (wait request) to interrupt the transmission of the print data is transmitted to the host computer that has transmitted the print data, and the process returns to the main routine.

If it is determined in step S201 that the frame memory 120 is unused, the print data is not stored in the received data area 111,
In step S205, the received print data is directly expanded on the frame memory 120, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the main routine. The control program is also stored in the ROM 170.

First, in step S301, the I / F
140, the printer controller 130, etc. are initialized, and the reception interrupt from the I / F 140 is permitted in step S302. After that, except for steps S305 to S307, interrupts are permitted and print data can be received from the host computer.

In step S303, the expanded data area 1
12 or the frame memory 120 determines whether or not bitmap data (expanded data) exists. In this embodiment, the frame memory 120 is quickly released, the area for expanding the print data to be received subsequently is secured, and the time required for the print processing is shortened as a whole.
After the expansion processing is performed on one print data to generate bitmap data, the bitmap data is transferred (saved) to the expanded data area 112 of the hard disk 110. Therefore, the expanded data can exist in both the expanded data area 112 or the frame memory 120.

If bitmap data exists,
In step S304, it is determined whether the bitmap data can be transferred to the printer engine 130.
Here, “transferable” in the present embodiment means a state in which printing can be performed in the printer engine 131 (that is, there is no error such as paper out, paper jam, toner exhaustion, etc.). Then, the case where the printer engine 131 requests (or can fetch) data for printing.

If the bitmap data can be transferred, in steps S305 to S307, the interrupt (the above-mentioned reception interrupt) is prohibited and printing is performed (the bitmap data is transferred to the printer engine 131), and then the interrupt is interrupted again. To give permission. The print processing in step S306 is performed by converting the bitmap data into the printer engine 1
It is sufficient to transfer as much as possible to 30, and if the transfer becomes impossible in the middle (for example, because the processing in the printer engine unit 131 is slow), the processing is once terminated and the interrupt is permitted in step S307, S30
Go back to 3. The order of printing is usually preferably the order of the print data received first, but other rules may be provided to determine the priority order.

If it is determined in step S304 that the bitmap data cannot be transferred, step S30
8, it is determined whether or not there is bitmap data in the frame memory 120, and if it exists, it is saved in the expanded data area 112 of the hard disk 110 (to release the frame memory 120).
In step S309, it is investigated whether or not there is a space in the expanded data area 112. Then, the expanded data area 11
If there is a vacancy in 2, the frame memory 120 is released by saving the bitmap data on the frame memory 120 in the expanded data area 112.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S308 that the bitmap data does not exist in the frame memory 120, that is, if it is already saved in the expanded data area 112, the process returns to step S303. Also,
Even if there is no free space in the expanded data area 112 in step S309, the saving (step S310) described above cannot be performed, and thus the process returns to step S303.

If it is determined in step S303 that there is no bitmap data in both the frame memory 120 and the expanded data area 112, the process proceeds to step S311. In step S311, it is checked whether or not the received data exists in the received data area 111 of the hard disk 110, and if the received data exists (as described above, when the print data is received, the frame memory 12
If 0 is in use, the print data is stored in the received data area 111 as it is) in step S3.
At 12, the bit map data is generated by expanding it on the frame memory 120.

As described above, when the data for printing cannot be transferred to the printer engine 131 due to the error in the printer engine 131, the processing capacity, etc., the bitmap data in the frame memory 120 is expanded. Save to the data area 112, and use the frame memory 1
By releasing 20 quickly, when the print data is received subsequently, the print data can be rapidly expanded. As a result, the processing time related to printing can be shortened as a whole.

For example, when the present embodiment is applied to a device having the function of a copying machine, when the printer engine 131 is in use for copying, the print data sent from the host computer is converted into a frame. After the data is expanded using the memory 120, it is saved in the expanded data area 112, so that even when print data is subsequently sent, it can be efficiently processed.

In the above description, the received data area 111 and the expanded data area 112 are provided on the same hard disk, but they may be provided on separate hard disks, or in another form. (For example, CD-R
Obviously, it may be a memory medium (such as OM).

Further, although the example of the above-mentioned image processing apparatus is shown as being integrally formed with the printer engine, it may of course be separately formed from the printer engine, and the above-mentioned processing is not necessary. The processing procedure code (processing procedure according to the above flow chart) may be stored in the floppy disk or the like shown in the drawing and supplied.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface and a printer, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device such as a copying machine. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By rapidly releasing the memory space for expanding the print data, the printing process as a whole can be sped up.

[0041]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a reception routine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a main routine.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for expanding and outputting print data sent from an external device, the expanding means for expanding print data in a predetermined memory space to generate bitmap data, and a bitmap. Image forming means for forming an image based on the data, transfer means for transferring the generated bitmap data to the image forming means, and saving means for saving the bitmap data in the memory space when the transfer means is inactive And an image processing apparatus, wherein the expansion means generates bitmap data when the memory space can be used. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing print data sent from the external device while the memory space is being used. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the saving means includes an auxiliary storage medium, and saves the bitmap data of the memory space in the auxiliary storage medium. 4. An image processing method for expanding and outputting print data sent from an external device, comprising: a expanding step of expanding print data into a predetermined memory space to generate bitmap data. A transfer step of transferring the bitmap data to the image forming apparatus; and a saving step of saving the bitmap data in the memory space when the transfer in the transfer step is not performed, and the expanding step includes saving the memory space. An image processing method characterized in that bitmap data is generated when it is usable. 5. The image processing method according to claim 4, further comprising a storage step of storing print data sent from the external device while the memory space is being used. 6. An image processing apparatus which operates based on a program on a memory medium and expands and outputs print data sent from an external device, wherein the program on the memory medium defines the print data in a predetermined manner. Of the expansion process of expanding the memory space to generate the bitmap data, the transfer process of transferring the generated bitmap data to the image forming apparatus, and the transfer process when the transfer is not performed. An image processing apparatus comprising: a save process procedure code for saving bitmap data in the memory space; and the expanding process generating bitmap data when the memory space is available.