JP2001175446A - Device and method for processing picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently execute a picture processing operation, when a hard disk with a large capacity provided in composite equipment is made full. SOLUTION: This image processor is provided with a hard disk 6 for storing image data, and when it is detected that the hard disk 6 is tuned into a state incapable of storing the image data, the input of the image data from an image input part is interrupted. Then, the image data stored in the hard disk 6 until the interrupt are outputted to an image outputting part, and the following input of the image data from the image inputting part is resumed in a first mode, and the image data stored in the hard disk 6 until the interrupt are outputted to the image outputting part, and the input of the image data from the picture inputting part is stopped in a second mode, and the image data stored in the hard disk 6 until the interrupt are invalidated, and the input of the image data from the image inputting part is stopped in third mode.

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 an image processing method for inputting and outputting various image data via a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the digitalization of copiers in recent years, facsimile transmission / reception using scanners and printers of copiers, and PDL (Pag
A multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions, such as developing and printing out eDescription Language data, has been put to practical use. Such a multifunction machine is configured to be operable not only with a single function such as a copier function, a facsimile function, and a PDL print function, but also with a plurality of functions such as facsimile transmission of a PDL expanded image. Furthermore, by connecting the multifunction peripheral to various devices such as a computer device via a LAN, the computer device or the like is configured to be able to use the functions of the multifunction peripheral.

In such a multifunction peripheral, a control program for a printer part is shared between the copier function, the PDL print function, the facsimile print function, and the like, and the copier function, the facsimile read function, the scanner function, and the like are used. By sharing the control program of the reader portion, the capacity of the control program for realizing various functions can be reduced, and desired functions can be realized economically and simply.

Further, such a multi-function device is provided with a large-capacity hard disk for storing image data, and an image read from a scanner, a PDL expanded image, a facsimile received document, and the like are input to the hard disk and stored in the hard disk. By repeatedly outputting the processed image / document to a printer or the like, efficient image processing can be performed.

[0005]

However, in a configuration in which image input and image output are performed via a hard disk, a large amount of image data is already stored in the hard disk, and during the input of new image data, A state in which image data cannot be stored on the hard disk, that is,
When a state called disk full or memory full occurs, at that point, input of image data must be stopped, and after waiting for a free space on the hard disk, image data must be input again.

Therefore, when a large amount of image data that does not need to be processed with high priority is stored in the hard disk, and the processing of the image data with high priority is requested, the hard disk becomes full. Thus, the processing of the image data with high priority is delayed due to the use of the memory of the image data with low priority.

[0007] When the hard disk is full, if image data is being output from the hard disk, the image data is uniformly output even though an empty state is gradually formed on the hard disk. I had to stop typing and re-enter.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide at least one image input unit having a storage means for storing image data. In the configuration in which the image data is input from the storage unit, the input image data is stored in the storage unit, and the image data stored in the storage unit is output to at least one image output unit, An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can execute efficient image processing even when the image processing becomes impossible.

That is, the present invention provides an input unit for inputting image data from at least one image input unit, a storage unit for storing the image data input by the input unit,
An output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storage unit to at least one image output unit; a detection unit that detects a storable capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage unit; and an image process to be executed. Control means for controlling the image input job and the image output job separately into an image input job for inputting image data by the input means and an image input job for outputting image data by the output means,
The control means interrupts the input of the image data by the input means when the detection means detects that the storage means has become incapable of storing the image data, and in the first mode, stops the input of the image data by the interruption. Outputting the image data stored in the storage means by the output means,
Thereafter, the input of the image data by the input means is restarted,
In the second mode, the image data stored in the storage means is output by the output means by the time of interruption, and the input of the image data by the input means is stopped. In the third mode, the image data is stored in the storage means by the time of interruption. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that invalidates stored image data and stops inputting image data by the input unit.

According to the present invention, there is provided an input unit for inputting image data from at least one image input unit, a storage unit for storing the image data input by the input unit,
An output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storage unit to at least one image output unit; a detection unit that detects a storable capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage unit; and an image process to be executed. Control means for controlling the image input job and the image output job separately into an image input job for inputting image data by the input means and an image input job for outputting image data by the output means,
The control means interrupts the input of the image data by the input means when the detection means detects that the storage means has become incapable of storing image data, and outputs the image data by the output means. If so, the storage means waits until the image data can be stored,
Thereafter, the input of the image data by the input means is restarted,
On the other hand, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus which stops the input of image data by the input unit unless the output unit is outputting image data.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing image data, wherein image data is inputted from at least one image input section, and the inputted image data is stored in the storage means, and is stored in the storage means. An image processing method for outputting the image data to at least one image output unit, wherein the storage means detects a storage capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage means, and the storage means cannot store the image data. When the state is detected, the input of the image data from the image input unit is interrupted, and in the first mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is output to the image output unit until the interruption, and After that, the input of the image data from the image input unit is restarted, and the image data stored in the storage unit is output to the image output unit before the interruption in the second mode. In addition, the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped, and in the third mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is invalidated by the time of the interruption, and the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped. To provide an image processing method.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing image data, image data is input from at least one image input section, and the input image data is stored in the storage means, and the input image data is stored in the storage means. An image processing method for outputting the image data to at least one image output unit, wherein the storage means detects a storage capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage means, and the storage means cannot store the image data. When the state is detected, the input of the image data from the image input unit is interrupted, and while the image data is being output to the image output unit, the storage unit is in a state capable of storing the image data. , And then restart the input of image data from the image input unit. If the image data is not being output to the image output unit, the input of image data from the image input unit is stopped. There is provided an image processing method.

The above and other objects and effects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input / output control device to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, a reader unit 1 photoelectrically reads an image of a document by a CCD image sensor or the like, and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to an image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 is, for example, a laser beam printer, and records an image corresponding to image data from the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a storage unit 5, a computer interface unit 7, a RIP (Raster Image Process).
Ssor) unit 8, operation unit 9, core unit 10, and the like.

The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. Image data to be transmitted and received can be temporarily stored in a hard disk 6 connected to the storage unit 5.

A hard disk 6 is connected to the storage unit 5. The storage unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores the compressed image data together with an ID number for searching for the image data.
The storage unit 5 searches compressed image data stored in the hard disk 6 based on the code data transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the image data, and decompresses the decompressed image data. Core data 1
Transfer to 0. The hard disk 6 has a storage capacity of, for example, 2 gigabytes and depends on the content of the image.
Approximately 1000 pages of 4 size images can be stored.

Further, the storage unit 5 determines whether or not the hard disk 6 is connected and whether or not the hard disk 6 has failed, by writing a command / response via the hard disk interface, and writing / reading predetermined data.
It is detected by performing collation.

The computer interface unit 7 is provided with a personal computer or a workstation (PC / PC).
This is an interface between the WS / WS 11 and the core unit 10, and may be connected to the PC / WS 11 via a one-to-one local interface or via a network.

The RIP unit 8 develops code data (PDL) representing an image transferred from the PC / WS 11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2.

The operation unit 9 includes a touch panel display and hard keys, and performs operation instructions and operation settings to the image input / output control device through a user interface.

The details of the core 10 will be described later.
The core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, storage unit 5, computer interface unit 7, RIP unit 8, and operation unit 9.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The document feeder 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a plurality of documents set at a predetermined mounting position by the user onto the platen glass 102 one by one in order from the first page, and after the document reading operation is completed, Glass 102
The upper document is discharged to a predetermined discharge place. When the original is conveyed onto platen glass 102, lamp 10
3 is turned on, and the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the original is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108. Thus, the scanned image of the document is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 109 and read. The image data output from the CCD 109 is A / D
After performing predetermined processing such as conversion, shading correction, and desired editing processing, the image is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

The laser driver 221 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser emitting unit 201 and emits a laser beam to the laser emitting unit 201 in accordance with the image data output from the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. Let it. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203.

Further, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, a recording sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205 and conveyed to the transfer section 206 to record the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 202. Transfer to paper.
The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208.
The finisher 220 bundles a plurality of discharged recording papers to sort them, and performs stapling processing on the sorted recording papers. When double-sided printing is set, the recording sheet on which single-sided printing is performed is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. . The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 is supplied to the transfer unit 206 at the above-described timing, and an image is recorded on the other surface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the core unit 10.

The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 122. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and compresses and decompresses image data, and has a page memory 125 capable of storing image data equivalent to A4 / Letter size for four pages. Having.
The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is temporarily stored in the page memory 125,
The data is compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5 via the interface 120.

The computer interface unit 7
Data (PDL) representing an image input through
Is the data processing unit 12 via the interface 120
1 is transferred to the RIP unit 8 and expanded into image data. The image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121, temporarily stored in the page memory 125, and then compressed and stored in the storage unit. 5 is transferred.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and then transferred to the page memory 125.
After that, it is compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5.

The image data from the storage unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, decompressed and temporarily stored in the page memory 125, and then transferred to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, computer interface unit. 7 is transferred.

After inputting various image data to the data processing unit 121 and temporarily storing the image data in the page memory 125, before transferring the image data to the storage unit 5,
The transfer to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and computer interface unit 7 can also be executed by switching the internal selector.

The CPU 123 controls the above various operations in accordance with the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control commands transferred from the operation unit 9. Also,
The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

As described above, the reading of the original image, the printing of the image, the transmission and reception of the image, the storage of the image, and the input and output of data from the computer are performed through the data processing unit 121 and the storage unit 5 centering on the core unit 10. It is possible to perform processing combining functions such as the above.

Next, in the image input / output control apparatus according to the present embodiment, the job control executed by the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. It will be described using FIG. FIG. 4 logically shows a unit of job control.

The unit of job control is a series of input and output processing for a set of image data including a plurality of pages. Jobs controlled by this are roughly classified into image input jobs and image output jobs.

The image input job includes an image input job 411 for sequentially recording image data read by the reader unit 1 in the storage unit 5 and an image input job 412 for sequentially recording image data developed by the RIP unit 8 in the storage unit 5. , An image input job 413 for sequentially recording image data received by the facsimile unit 4-1 in the storage unit 5, and an image input job 41 for sequentially recording image data input from the computer interface unit 7-1 in the storage unit 5.
No.4.

The image output job is sent to the storage unit 5.
An image output job 401 for sequentially outputting the image data read from the printer unit 2 to the printer unit 2, an image output job 403 for sequentially outputting the image data read from the storage unit 5 to the facsimile unit 4-2, and an image data read from the storage unit 5 Sequential computer interface unit 7-2
The job is classified into an image output job 404 to be output to the printer.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a unit (hereinafter referred to as a session) obtained by combining a plurality of jobs.

Reference numeral 501 denotes a PDL print session, which controls the combination of the image input job 412 and the image output job 401 as a session. 50
Reference numeral 2 denotes a copy session, which controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 401 as a session. A facsimile transmission session 503 includes an image input job 411 and an image output job 4
03 is controlled as a session. A facsimile reception session 504 controls the combination of the image input job 413 and the image output job 401 as a session. Reference numeral 505 denotes a scan session, which controls the combination of the image input job 411 and the image output job 404 as a session.

A session is a control unit including one or more jobs. In addition to the one shown in FIG. 5, for example, an image input job 412 is treated as one session, and an image output job 401 is treated as one session. Alternatively, the three jobs of the image input job 412, the image output job 401, and the image output job 403 may be combined and treated as one session.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 of the image input / output control device in the present embodiment when the hard disk 6 does not have a disk full state in which the image data storage area is exhausted. A session control procedure includes an image input job for sequentially recording image data in the storage unit 5 and an image output job for sequentially printing out image data recorded in the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2 as a session control task and a job control task. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment. Note that (S601) to (S630) in the figure indicate each step, and the session control task (a), the image input job control task (b), and the image output job control task (c) each perform a multitask operation. It is. still,
The operation when the storage data amount reaches a predetermined maximum storable capacity (disk full state) while recording image data on the hard disk 6 will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 6, as a first example of session control and job control of the image input / output control device according to the present embodiment, the PDL print session 501 of FIG. The control procedure of the output job 401 will be described.

First, in the step (S601) of the session control tester (a), the user makes print settings on the PC / WS11. The print setting contents include the number of pages, the number of copies, the original size, the paper size, the enlargement / reduction ratio, one-sided / two-sided, layout, page output order, sort mode, and whether or not stapling is performed. Here, it is assumed that the following print settings are made as an example.

Number of pages: 20 pages (P1) Number of print copies: 10 (P2) Single-sided printing: Yes (P3) Original size: A4 (P4) Paper size: A4 (P5) Enlargement / reduction ratio: 100 % ... (P6) Layout: No ... (P7) Page output order: Ascending order ... (P8) Sort mode: Yes ... (P9) Staple stop: Yes ... (P10)

After the print setting described above, the user enters PC / W
A print instruction is given in S11. PC / WS1 with it
1 converts the document data to be printed into so-called PDL data by the driver software installed thereon, and sets the set print setting parameters (P1) to
Along with (P10), the image data is transferred to the computer interface unit 7 of the image input / output control device via the computer interface connected to the PC / WS11.

The PDL data representing the image input via the computer interface unit 7 is stored in the data processing unit 1.
After the transfer, the transferred PDL data is sequentially developed (rasterized) into image data in the RIP unit 8. When the RIP unit 8 starts receiving PDL data, a processing request is issued from the RIP unit 8 to the core unit 10. In the core unit 10, the issued processing request is
PU123 accepts. Here, the print setting parameters (P1) to (P10) set by the user are
3 is transferred.

In step (S602), the core unit 10 divides one unit of image processing function according to the processing request issued from the RIP unit 8 into at least one image input job or image output job, and internally A session constituted by the image input job or the image output job is generated and managed. FIG. 7 shows the session management table 7
00 is shown. In the session generation, a session management table 700 shown in FIG. 7 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the session ends.

The session ID field 701 is for generating and holding a unique session ID in the image input / output control device. The session type field 702 specifies the type of the generated session (PDL print session, copy session, facsimile transmission session, facsimile reception session, scan session, etc.).
The fact that this is an L print session is recorded. The session priority field 703 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the session. The session status field 704 holds the execution state (executable state, execution state, interruption state, end state, error state, etc.) of the session according to the execution state. The link job number field 705 holds the number of image input jobs and image output jobs constituting the session. In this operation example, as shown in FIG. Since the image output job 401 includes two jobs, “2” is set as the number of components. First
The job pointer field 706 is a pointer to the job management table 710 of the image input job 412. Also, the second job pointer field 707 is
This is a pointer to the job management table 730 of the image output job 401. This job pointer field is prepared for the number of jobs constituting the session. Job management tables are also created for the number of jobs constituting a session.

In step (S603), a job management table 710 for the image input job 412 shown in FIG. 7 is created in the memory 124, and various information is held until the job is completed.

The job ID field 711 generates and holds a unique job ID in the image input / output control device. The job type field 712 specifies the type of the generated job (the above-described image input job and image output job). In this operation example, the image data developed by the RIP unit 8 is sequentially recorded in the storage unit 5. The image input job 412 is recorded. The job priority field 713 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the job. The job status field 714 holds the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status, interrupt status, end status, error status, etc.) according to the execution status. The page number field 715 holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 716 is a pointer to a page management table 720 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The page management table 720 is recorded on the hard disk 6.

The job parameter field 717 holds various setting parameters of the job. In this operation example, the setting contents of the print setting parameters (P1) to (P10) set in step (S601) are held. You.

The session control task (a) activates the image input job control task (b) after creating the job management table 710 for the image input job described above.

In step (S604), a job management table 730 for the image output job 401 shown in FIG. 7 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the job is completed.

The job ID field 731 is for generating and holding a unique job ID in the image input / output control device. The job type field 732 specifies the type of the generated job (the image input job and the image output job described above). In this operation example, the image data recorded in the storage unit 5 is sequentially printed on the printer unit 2. It is recorded that the image output job 401 is out. Job priority field 7
Reference numeral 33 holds a priority order regarding the processing order of the job. Job status field 734
Indicates the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status,
Interrupted state, end state, error state, etc.) according to the execution state. The number of pages field 735 is
This holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 736 is a pointer to a page management table 740 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The substance of the page management table 740 is the same as the page management table 720 recorded on the hard disk 6 for the image input job 412.

The job parameter field 737 holds various setting parameters of the job. In this operation example, the number of pages, the number of copies, the paper size, the enlargement / reduction ratio, the one-sided / two-sided, The parameters (P1) to (P10) relating to the page output order, sort output, and the presence / absence of stapling are stored.

The session control task (a) activates the image output job control task (c) after creating the job management table 730 for the above image output job.

In step (S605), processing of the generated image input job 412 is started. That is, from the session control task (a) to the image input job control task (b)
To start the job.

In step (S606), processing of the generated image output job 401 is started. That is, from the session control task (a) to the image output job control task (c)
To start the job.

In step (S607), a job end notification is received from the image input job control task (b), and the image input job end processing is performed. That is, the job status 714 of the job management table 710 of the image input job is set to the end state.

In step (S608), a job end notification is received from the image output job control task (c), and the image output job end processing is performed. That is, the job status 734 of the job management table 730 of the image output job is set to the end state.

In step (S609), session termination processing is performed. That is, the job management tables 710 and 730 of the image input job and the image output job and the image data for each page of the page management tables 720 and 740 are discarded to release the resources, and the session management table 700 is also discarded to release the resources. Release and end a series of processing.

Next, the image input job control task (b) in the PDL print session 501 will be described.

In step (S611), the image input job control task (b) receives a job start instruction from the session control task (a), and no other image input job is being executed. If the input job can be accepted, the designated job is started.

In step (S612), one page of the image data expanded by the RIP unit 8 is received. That is,
Image transfer from the RIP unit 8 to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 is performed.

In step (S 613), the image data transferred to the data processing section 121 is temporarily stored in the page memory 125.

In step (S614), a page output request is transmitted to the image output job control task (c). When reading of the image data of the page from the page memory 125 is completed in the image output job management task (c) described later, the process proceeds to step (S615).

In step (S615), the image data temporarily stored in the page memory 125 is recorded on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5. At this time, various image attribute information (resolution, number of pixels, etc.) is recorded in the page 1 field 721 of the page management table 720.

In step (S616), it is determined whether or not all the pages to be processed developed by the RIP unit 8 have been recorded on the hard disk 6 as image data.
If the result of this determination is that there are pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step (S612), and if all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step (S617).

In step (S617), an end notification of the image input job is transmitted to the session control task (a).
The image input job control task (b) ends. As a result, the job status 714 of the job management table 710 of the image input job becomes an end state.

Next, the image output job control task (c) in the PDL print session will be described.

In step (S621), the image output job control task (c) receives an instruction to start this job from the session control task (a), and the printer unit 2 is not being used by another job. If the print operation is possible, the designated job is started.

In step (S622), a request to output image data temporarily stored in page memory 125 is received from image input job control task (b).

In step (S623), reading of image data from page memory 125 is started.

In step (S624), the printer unit 2
After acquiring the right to use the image data of the read page,
The image is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the interface 122, and the printer unit 2 forms an image as described above and prints out.

In step (S625), it is determined whether the page output request from the image input job control task (b) is the last page. As a result of the individual determination, if there is a page that has not been processed, the process returns to step (S622). If all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step (S626). By the processing so far, the first one copy out of the ten copies set in (P1) is completed. At this stage, a stapling process may be performed on the print output as needed.

In step (S626), the image data for each page recorded in the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 in step (S615) of the image input job control task (b) is sequentially read out, and the data is processed through the interface 120. The image is transferred to the unit 121. The data processing unit 121 stores the transferred image data for one page in the page memory 125.

In step (S627), the printer unit 2
, The image data transferred to the data processing unit 121 and held in the page memory 125 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the interface 122, and the printer unit 2 forms an image and prints out.

In step (S628), it is determined whether all the image data for each page recorded on the hard disk 6 has been printed out. If the result of this determination is that there are pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step (S626). If all pages have been processed, a stapling instruction has been given, and The set 2 staples one sheet of paper, and the process proceeds to step (S629).

In step (S629), step (S
It is determined whether all of the print copies set in 601) have been printed out. If the result of this determination is that there are unprocessed copies remaining, the process returns to step (S626), image data is read from the hard disk 6, stored in the page memory 125, and printed out by the printer unit 2. Execute If all copies have been processed, the process proceeds to step (S63).
Proceed to 0).

In step (S630), an end notification of the image output job is transmitted to the session control task (a).
The image output job control task (c) ends. As a result, the job status 734 of the job management table 730 of the image output job becomes an end state.

In the above example, image information is transferred from the PC / WS 11 as PDL data in accordance with the print settings set on the PC / WS 11, and the PDL data is converted into image data and printed out by the image input / output control device. Although the PDL print session 501 shown in FIG. 5 has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to a copy session 502 shown in FIG. 5 in which image information read by the reader unit 1 is printed out.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the session control and the job control of the image input / output control device in the case where the disk full state in which the hard disk 6 has no storage area for image data does not occur. As a second example, the copy session 502 in FIG.
And an image input job 41 for sequentially recording image data read by the reader unit 1 constituting the storage unit 5 in the storage unit 5
1, and an image output job 4 for sequentially printing out image data recorded in the storage unit 5 to the printer unit 2
01 will be described.

First, in step (S601), the user performs various settings for a copy operation on the operation unit 9 of the image input / output control unit 3.

FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the operation unit 9. Where 80
1 is a power key, 802 is a preheating key, 803 is a copy function selection key, 804 is a facsimile function selection key, 805
Is a personal box function selection key, 806 is a start key, 807 is a stop key, 808 is a reset key,
809 is an operation guide key, 810 is a user mode setting key, 811 is an interrupt copy key, 812 is a ten key, 8
13 is a clear key, 814 is a facsimile one-touch key, 815 is a one-touch key switching lid, and 816 is a touch panel. The various setting contents for the copy operation include the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, one-sided / two-sided, sort output, and whether or not stapling is performed.
2 and the user inputs according to the setting items displayed on the touch panel 816. Here, it is assumed that the following copy settings are made as an example.

Number of copies: 10 (C1) One-sided copy: Yes (C2) Paper size: A4 (C3) Enlargement / reduction ratio: 100% (C4) Layout: No (C5) Sort mode: Yes ... (C6) Staple stop: Yes ... (C7)

After the above copy setting, the user places the original on the reader unit 1 and presses the start key 806 to give a copy instruction. The operation unit 9 transfers the set copy setting parameters (C1) to (C7) to the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 and issues a processing request.

In step (S602), the core unit 10 divides one unit of image processing function according to the processing request issued from the operation unit 9 into at least one image input job or image output job, and internally A session constituted by an image input job or an image output job is generated, managed by the above-described session management table 700 in FIG. 7, and various information is held until the session ends.

The session ID field 701 generates and holds a unique session ID in the image input / output control device. The session type field 702 specifies the type of the generated session (PDL print session, copy session, facsimile transmission session, facsimile reception session, scan session, etc.), and records that this is a copy session in this operation example. Keep it. The session priority field 703 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the session. The session status field 704 holds the execution state (executable state, execution state, interruption state, end state, error state, etc.) of the session according to the execution state. The link job number field 705 holds the number of image input jobs and image output jobs constituting the session. In the present operation example, the image input job 411 and the image output job 401 are used as the copy session 502 shown in FIG. Therefore, “2” is set as the number of components.
The first job pointer field 706 is a pointer to the job management table 710 of the image input job 411. Also, a second job pointer field 707
Is the job management table 730 of the image output job 401
Is a pointer to

In step (S603), a job management table 710 for the image input job 411 is created on the memory 124, and various information is retained until the job is completed.

The job ID field 711 is for generating and holding a unique job ID in the image input / output control device. The job type field 712 specifies the type of the generated job (the above-described image input job and image output job). In this operation example, the image data read by the reader unit 1 is sequentially recorded in the storage unit 5. The image input job 411 is recorded. The job priority field 713 holds the priority regarding the processing order of the job. The job status field 714 holds the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status, interrupt status, end status, error status, etc.) according to the execution status. The page number field 715 holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 716 is a pointer to a page management table 720 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The page management table 720 is recorded on the hard disk 6.

The job parameter field 717 holds various setting parameters of the job. In this operation example, the setting contents of the copy setting parameters (C1) to (C7) set in step (S601) are held. You.

The session control task (a) starts the image input job control task (b) after creating the job management table 710 for the image input job.

In step (S604), a job management table 730 for the image output job 401 is created on the memory 124, and various information is held until the job is completed.

The job ID field 731 generates and holds a unique job ID in the image input / output control device. The job type field 732 specifies the type of the generated job (the image input job and the image output job described above). In this operation example, the image data recorded in the storage unit 5 is sequentially printed on the printer unit 2. It is recorded that the image output job 401 is out. Job priority field 7
Reference numeral 33 holds a priority order regarding the processing order of the job. Job status field 734
Indicates the execution status of the job (executable status, execution status,
Interrupted state, end state, error state, etc.) according to the execution state. The number of pages field 735 is
This holds the number of pages of the job. The page pointer field 736 is a pointer to a page management table 740 that describes detailed information of each page managed by the job. The actual state of the page management table 740 is the same as the page management table 720 recorded on the hard disk 6 for the image input job 411.

The job parameter field 737 holds various setting parameters of the job. In this embodiment, the number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, single side / double side, and sort output set in step (S601). , Parameters related to the presence or absence of stapling (C
1) to (C7) are held.

The session control task (a) activates the image output job control task (c) after creating the job management table 730 for the image output job.

In step (S605), processing of the generated image input job 411 is started. That is, from the session control task (a) to the image input job control task (b)
To start the job.

In step (S606), processing of the generated image output job 401 is started. That is, from the session control task (a) to the image output job control task (c)
To start the job.

In step (S607), a job end notification is received from the image input job control task (b), and the image input job end processing is performed. That is, the job status 714 of the job management table 710 of the image input job is set to the end state.

In step (S608), a job end notification is received from the image output job control task (c), and the image output job end processing is performed. That is, the job status 734 of the job management table 730 of the image output job is set to the end state.

In step (S609), session termination processing is performed. That is, the job management tables 710 and 730 for the image input job and the image output job and the image data for each page in the page management tables 720 and 740 are discarded to release the resources, and the session management table 700 is also discarded to release the resources. Release and end a series of processing.

The image input job control task (b) in the copy session 502 will be described.

In step (S611), the image input job control task (b) receives a job start instruction from the session control task (a), and the reader unit 1 is not used by another image input job. If the new image input job can be accepted, the designated job is started.

In step (S612), one page of image data read by reader unit 1 is received. That is, image transfer from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120 is performed.

In step (S613), the image data transferred to the data processing section 121 is temporarily stored in the page memory 125.

In the step (S614), a page output request is transmitted to the image output job control task (c). When reading of the image data of the page from the page memory 125 is completed in the image output job control task (c), the process proceeds to step (S615).

In step (S615), the image data temporarily stored in the page memory 125 is recorded on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5. At this time, various image attribute information (resolution, number of pixels, etc.) is recorded in the page 1 field 721 of the page management table 720.

In step (S616), it is determined whether all pages to be processed and read by the reader unit 1 have been recorded on the hard disk 6 as image data.
If the result of this determination is that there are pages that have not been processed, the process returns to step (S612), and if all pages have been processed, the process proceeds to step (S617).

In step (S617), an end notification of the image input job is transmitted to the session control task (a).
The image input job control task (b) ends. As a result, the job status 714 of the job management table 710 of the image input job becomes an end state.

The processing after the step (S 621) of the image output job control task (c) in the copy session 502 is completely the same as that in the case of the PDL print session 501 described above, and will not be described.

In the above example, the embodiment relating to the PDL print session 501 and the copy session 502 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 5, an extended example of the session is shown by combining an arbitrary image input job and an arbitrary image output job. Even if arbitrary sessions are configured, the control procedure shown in the present embodiment can be similarly applied to those sessions.

Next, using FIGS. 9A and 9B, confirmation of the disk capacity and securing of the used area when recording image data on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 in the step (S615) of FIG. The method will be described.

Generally, the Disk Allocation and File Area Management are performed in the File Allocation Table (F
AT) is used. 9A, reference numeral 900 denotes a FAT prepared in the storage unit 5 or the core unit 10, and reference numeral 901 denotes a plurality of FAT entries provided in the FAT 900. Each of the FAT entries 901 corresponds to a predetermined logical block. For example, when the logical block per FAT is 512 bytes, the total disk capacity is (number of FAT entries) × (512) bytes.

[0114] In the FAT entry 901, the use state and link relation of the FAT entry are written. 0 indicates an unused FAT entry, and a value other than 0 is written in the FAT entry in use, and when a continuous FAT entry is used, the number of the next FAT entry is written. 0xF in last FAT entry of link
Write F.

FIG. 9B conceptually shows the use state of the hard disk 6 indicated by FAT900. Reference numeral 902 denotes the entire hard disk 6. 903
Is a logical block, and indicates a storage area which is the actual state of the FAT900. The shaded area in the figure indicates the area currently in use. Thus, each FAT entry 90 of FAT 900
The CPU 123 of the core unit 10 can see the usage status of the storage area of the hard disk 6 by observing the written contents of 1 and accordingly, the step (S615) in FIG.
Thus, when image data is recorded on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5, it is possible to detect a usable storage area and secure the area.

FIG. 10 shows a case where no storage area could be secured when recording image data on the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 in the step (S615) of FIG. And C of the core part 10
4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure executed by a PU 123. The control procedure when the disk becomes full will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the image input job being executed is a job for inputting image data for a plurality of pages, and the disk becomes full after at least one page of image data has been recorded on the hard disk 6. The case is assumed.

When the disk becomes full during the recording of image data, the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 proceeds to step (S1).
In step 301), processing for interrupting the input of image data is performed for the currently input job. And
In step (S1302), it is checked whether there is enough space in the storage area at the time when the input of the image data is interrupted.
If there is room, the job whose input has been interrupted is restarted in step (S1307). On the other hand, step (S13)
02), if it is confirmed that there is no room, the process proceeds to step (S1303), and it is determined whether there is a job currently being output, and if not, step (S1306).
Branch to

If it is determined in step (S1303) that there is a job being output, the process proceeds to step (S1304).
It is determined whether there is a job whose input is completed among the jobs being output, and if there is, the process proceeds to step (S1).
The process returns to step 302), and waits for a free area on the hard disk 6 due to the output operation of the image data. On the other hand, if there is no job whose input has been completed, step (S130)
Proceeding to 5), it is determined whether or not there is any output job that is in an output suspended state for some reason.

A job in the output suspended state is, for example,
A job whose output is interrupted due to running out of paper for recording an image during output or a job whose output is interrupted in a state where image formation cannot be continued due to paper jam or running out of toner. If there is such a job, the output of the image data is restarted by canceling the interruption factor, and the free space of the hard disk 6 may increase. Therefore, if there is a job that is in an output suspended state for some reason that can be canceled, a loop is formed in step (S1305), step (S1302), step (S1303), and step (S1304). It waits for the restart of the interrupted output, and waits for a free area to be created on the hard disk 6 by the execution.

On the other hand, in step (S1305),
If it is determined that there is no job whose output has been suspended, the flow branches to step (S1306) to execute the control operation shown in FIG.

That is, FIG. 11 shows an operation procedure executed by the CPU 123 of the core unit 10 when it is determined in the control procedure of FIG. 10 that there is no possibility of securing a storage area in the hard disk 6. Hereinafter, the control procedure of FIG. 11 will be described.

In FIG. 11, step (S1001)
Then, by examining the session management table 700, the image input / output session including the active image input job is specified, the session is interrupted, and the session status field of the image input / output session including the active image input job is determined. 704 and the job status field 71 of the image input job management table 710
4 is written to indicate that it is in a suspended state.

In step (S1002), it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of image input / output sessions including the image input job at the same time. When there are a plurality of image input / output sessions, the process proceeds to step (S1003), and when there is one image input / output session, the process proceeds to step (S1004).

In step (S1003), the user is prompted to select which of the plurality of image input / output sessions interrupted in step (S1001) to cancel (cancel). In order to make this selection, a screen as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the touch panel 816 of the operation unit. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1100 denotes a selection screen. 1102 indicates the remaining memory capacity of the hard disk 6;
In this example, 0% is shown. 1103,
Reference numerals 1104, 1105, and 1106 denote image input / output sessions, and in this display example, 1103 and 1104.
Is a PDL print session 501 and 1105
And 1106 are copy sessions 502. 11
07 is a stop key for instructing to stop the session, 1
A selection key 108 is used to select one of a plurality of displayed sessions. After operating the select key 1108 to specify a desired session, the cancel key 11
By operating 07, a session to be canceled can be selected and instructed.

In step (S1004), with respect to the image input / output session to be canceled selected in step (S1003), it is determined whether or not to output the image data partially recorded on the hard disk 6 until the disk full state occurs. Is selected by the user.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a selection screen displayed on the touch panel 816. 1200 is a selection screen, 120
Reference numeral 1 denotes a "Yes" key for selecting output, and reference numeral 1202 denotes a "No" key for selecting not output. If the “yes” key 1201 is pressed, the step (S
If the “No” key 1202 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step (S1006).

If the "yes" key 1201 for selecting to output the image data partially recorded on the hard disk 6 until the disk full state occurs is pressed, the selected (YES in step S1005) The image input job for the image input / output session is terminated, and the image output job is restarted for the image data that has been recorded halfway on the hard disk 6 before the hard disk full condition occurs, and the process proceeds to step (S1007). In step (S1007), step (S10
In step 06), the process waits for the end of the restarted image output job.
If the process has been completed, a process for ending the image input / output session is performed, and the process proceeds to step (S1008). By this image output job, a free area in which image data can be newly stored is formed on the hard disk 6.

On the other hand, if the "NO" key 1202 for selecting not to output the image data partially recorded on the hard disk 6 before the disk full state occurs is pressed, the selection is made in step (S1006). After ending the image input job and the image output job for the selected image input / output session, the process proceeds to step S100.
Proceed to 8). Here, the image data recorded halfway on the hard disk 6 becomes invalid (discarded), and that area becomes a storage area of new image data.

In step (S1008), the session management table 70 determines whether or not there is another image input / output session interrupted by the occurrence of the hard disk full.
Check 0 to make a decision. If there is an interrupted image input / output session, the process proceeds to step (S1009); otherwise, the process ends.

In step (S1009), the image input / output session including the other image input job interrupted in step (S1001) is restarted, and step (S101)
Go to 0). Here, the aforementioned steps (S10
By the output of the image data in step 05) or the invalidation of the image data in step (S1006), a storage area for new image data is formed in the hard disk 6, and the restarted image is formed using this area. Image data output by an image input job in an input / output session is stored. Step (S1010)
Then, the process waits for the end of the image output job in the image input / output session restarted in step (S1009).
If the processing has been completed, the processing for ending the image input / output session is performed, and the process returns to step (S1008). Perform further continuation operations.

In the above example, description has been made assuming that at least one page of image data is recorded on the hard disk 6 when the hard disk full state occurs. However, when a hard disk full state occurs without image data for one page being recorded,
If the print setting specified in step (S601) is such that, for example, the print output cannot be started until all pages are once recorded on the hard disk 6, such as in a bookbinding mode in which a plurality of images are recorded on one recording sheet, If it is meaningless to output an image based on the image data recorded halfway, the process proceeds to step (S1004) and step (S100).
5), the operation of selecting an output by the user shown in step (S1007) is omitted, and instead, step (S1006)
To execute the end processing of the image input job and the image output job without user selection.

The determination of the hard disk full state may be made not only when the hard disk 6 has no storage area at all, but also when the disk is full with some margin. The image input / output session can be efficiently executed prior to the image input / output session using large-capacity image data, and the downtime of the apparatus can be reduced.

In the above example, the case where the input / output operation of the image data is performed via the hard disk 6 of the storage unit 5 has been described. In the processing using the page memory 125,
It is also possible to apply a configuration similar to that described above to the processing when the memory full state occurs in FIG.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various modifications and changes are possible.

[0135]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Storage means for storing image data, inputting image data from at least one image input unit, storing the input image data in the storage means, and outputting the image data stored in the storage means to at least one image output An image processing method of an image processing apparatus that outputs to a unit, wherein a storage capacity or a used capacity of the image data of the storage unit is detected, and it is detected that the storage unit is in a state where image data cannot be stored. In this case, the input of the image data from the image input unit is interrupted, and in the first mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is output to the image output unit by the time of the interruption, and then the image data from the image input unit is output. The input is restarted, and in the second mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is output to the image output unit before the interruption, and
Since the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped, and in the third mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is invalidated and the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped by the time of the interruption. When the storage unit becomes incapable of storing image data, it is possible to efficiently deal with the importance and priority of the image data or the state of processing.

The image processing apparatus further comprises storage means for storing image data, receives image data from at least one image input unit, stores the input image data in the storage means, and stores the image data stored in the storage means. An image processing method of an image processing device for outputting to at least one image output unit, wherein a storage capacity or a used capacity of image data in the storage unit is detected, and the storage unit is in a state where image data cannot be stored. If it is detected, the input of the image data from the image input unit is interrupted, and while the image data is being output to the image output unit, the storage unit waits until the image data can be stored, After that, the input of the image data from the image input unit is restarted, and if the image data is not being output to the image output unit, the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped. If the storage unit becomes the storage disabled state of the image data, efficient it allows coping with in accordance with the state of the process being executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image input / output control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reader unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a core unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image input job and an image output job.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a session.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image input / output control.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of a session management, job management, and page management table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of disk capacity management.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control in a disk full state.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control in a disk full state.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a touch panel.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a touch panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Facsimile part 5 Storage part 6 Hard disk 7 Computer interface part 8 RIP part 9 Operation part 10 Core part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (12)

[Claims] An input unit configured to input image data from at least one image input unit; a storage unit configured to store the image data input by the input unit; and at least one image data stored in the storage unit. An output unit for outputting to an image output unit, a detection unit for detecting a storage capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage unit, and an image input job for inputting image data to be executed by the input unit and an image processing to be executed; Control means for controlling the image input job and the image output job, respectively, wherein the control means controls the image input job and the image output job respectively. When the state is detected, the input of the image data by the input unit is interrupted, and in the first mode, the above-described writing is interrupted by the interruption. The image data stored in the storage unit is output by the output unit, and thereafter, the input of the image data by the input unit is restarted. In the second mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is output until the interruption. Means for outputting the image data by the input means, suspending the input of the image data by the input means, invalidating the image data stored in the storage means by the interruption in the third mode, and stopping the input of the image data by the input means. An image processing apparatus for canceling. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects one of the first, second, and third modes. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data relating to a plurality of image processes is stored in the storage unit.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit that designates image data to be output by the output unit in the mode or image data to be invalidated in the third mode. 3. 4. An input unit for inputting image data from at least one image input unit, a storage unit for storing the image data input by the input unit, and at least one image data stored in the storage unit. An output unit for outputting to an image output unit, a detection unit for detecting a storage capacity or a used capacity of the image data in the storage unit, and an image input job for inputting image data to be executed by the input unit and an image processing to be executed; Control means for controlling the image input job and the image output job, respectively, wherein the control means controls the image input job and the image output job respectively. When the state is detected, the input of the image data by the input unit is interrupted, and the image data is being output by the output unit. If, the storage means waits for the image data to be in a state capable of storing the image data, and thereafter, the input of the image data by the input means is restarted, while the image data is not being output by the output means, An image processing apparatus for stopping input of image data by an input unit. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a selection unit that selects whether or not to output the image data partially stored in the storage unit by the output unit. 6. The control means, when the detection means detects that the storage means has become incapable of storing image data, causes the output operation of the image data by the output means to be performed according to a releasable factor. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, if interrupted, the storage unit waits until the storage unit is ready to store image data, and then restarts the input of the image data by the input unit. apparatus. 7. A storage device for storing image data,
Inputting image data from at least one image input unit;
An image processing method of an image processing apparatus that stores input image data in the storage unit and outputs the image data stored in the storage unit to at least one image output unit,
Detecting the storable capacity or used capacity of the image data of the storage means, and when it is detected that the storage means has become incapable of storing the image data, interrupts the input of the image data from the image input unit, In the first mode, the image data stored in the storage unit is output to the image output unit until the interruption, and then the input of the image data from the image input unit is restarted. Outputting the image data stored in the means to the image output unit, stopping the input of the image data from the image input unit, and invalidating the image data stored in the storage means by the interruption in the third mode. An image processing method for stopping input of image data from an image input unit. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein one of the first, second, and third modes is selected. 9. When the image data relating to a plurality of image processes is stored in the storage unit, the first or second image data is stored.
Image data to be output to the image output unit in the mode of
8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the image data to be invalidated in the third mode is specified. 10. An image processing apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing image data, inputting image data from at least one image input unit, storing the input image data in the storage means, and storing the image data stored in the storage means. An image processing method of an image processing device for outputting to at least one image output unit, wherein a storage capacity or a used capacity of image data in the storage unit is detected, and the storage unit is in a state where image data cannot be stored. If it is detected, the input of the image data from the image input unit is interrupted, and while the image data is being output to the image output unit, the storage unit waits until the image data can be stored, Thereafter, the input of the image data from the image input unit is restarted, and if the image data is not being output to the image output unit, the input of the image data from the image input unit is stopped. Image processing method. 11. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein whether or not the image data stored halfway in the storage unit is output to an image output unit is selected. 12. When it is detected that the storage unit has become incapable of storing image data, if the operation of outputting image data to the image output unit is interrupted by a releasable factor, 11. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the storage unit waits until the image data can be stored, and then restarts the input of the image data from the image input unit.