JP2001318769A - Image output controller, image output control method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the decline of printing throughput even in the case of complicated printing data which cannot be subjected to a banding processing. SOLUTION: In the case of judging that banding output processing is impossible after an intermediate page data generation module (A) ends the analysis processing (701) of a page 3, a per-rendering processing is executed by using a rendering processing part (B). At the time, an M renderer which is a free renderer is utilized and the rendering processing (703) of the K data of the page 3 is performed parallelly to the bit map image output processing (702) of the K data of the page 2. After the pre-rendering processing (703) of the page 3 is performed by utilizing the M renderer, the bit map image of only K images is stored in the band memory of a RAM ad it is read (704) by a bit map output processing module (C) and transferred to a printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output control device, an image output control method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an image output control device for generating and outputting image data based on job data, and the image output control. The present invention relates to an image output control method applied to an apparatus and a storage medium storing a program for executing the image output control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system in which a plurality of computers are interconnected by a LAN (local area network), and a variety of peripheral devices can be connected to such a LAN is often used. As the peripheral device group, a printer is generally used. In addition, there is a multi-function image processing device having a copy and fax function. In a LAN for connecting local devices arranged on a floor or the like, one user group can share and use the connected devices and transfer data.

As another network, a plurality of LANs at spatially separated places are connected to the Internet such as the World Wide Web (WWW), which is connected by a high-speed integrated digital network (ISDN) line or a public telephone line. There is also a representative WAN (Wide Area Network).

Normally, each LAN / WAN is composed of a computer group including a file server and a print server, and a network operating system mounted in each computer transfers and shares data and files, shares a printer, and the like. It has various protocols.

A print job transferred from an application running on each computer is generally transferred to a printer connected to a network via a print server.

Further, communication protocols for remotely managing various devices for constructing a network and various devices including computers connected to the network have been standardized. For example, a simple network management protocol (SNMP) ; Simple Network Management P
rotocol). In the case of network devices that implement these protocols, various devices can be managed from a remote location on the network by network management software. For example, in the case of a printer, acquisition of printer information and status monitoring , Notification of a state change, initialization control, and the like.

When a LAN is configured, a computer and a printer are generally connected by an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable. In recent years, a higher speed IEEE 1394-1995 (High Performance Server) has been used.
ial Bus) has also been realized for network connection of digital devices. Devices having an IEEE 1394 serial bus interface have their own unique IDs,
By recognizing each other, one network is configured. Each of the devices connected to the network may be configured to be capable of independently transmitting data to another device and not receiving data without using a computer.

[0008] There are various types of user applications running on each computer constituting the LAN, such as document creation software and spreadsheet software. Data created by using these applications is converted into a printer control language PDL (Printer) by printer driver software as a function of the operating system.
After being converted into Description Language (DL) data, it is temporarily stored as a print job in a print spooler and sent to a printer.

[0009] Here, the print job is provided by a printer driver software on a one-to-one basis for each printer.
It is generated from one or more application document files as L data. A print job is a unit constituting one print document, and is usually separated by a job start instruction and a job end instruction. Further, the type and version information of PDL data are added to the job start command and the like, and are used as discrimination information of the print job processing module when processing is performed by the printer.

The printer analyzes the print data sent from the host computer, converts the print data into intermediate page data, and stores the data in the memory using a CPU and software for controlling the same. In addition, a so-called banding process of rendering the intermediate page data and outputting the image data as image data is often performed by dedicated hardware. Hereinafter, this hardware is referred to as “renderer”.

[0011]

By the way, high-speed processing by a renderer is required in accordance with high-resolution, high-speed, and color printing apparatuses. However, it is not easy to realize such processing at low cost. No, especially in the case of complicated print data, the processing by the renderer is not enough to transport the paper.
Processing such as interrupting the banding processing and rendering using a renderer in advance is required.

[0012] Such processing makes it impossible to output paper at the processing speed (effective processing speed) of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the print throughput PPM (Page Processing) which indicates how many sheets can be printed in one minute. Per Minute)
There was a problem that the value was extremely reduced.

Note that MCYK, which is a color element for color printing, is used.
In a color printing apparatus that simultaneously prints each plane, a processing speed (PPM) that is four times faster than a monochrome machine having the same printing speed (PPM) is required for simplification.

Therefore, in recent years, instead of increasing the speed of the renderer by four times, a renderer is mounted for each plane so that the printing apparatus may be adapted to higher resolution, higher speed, and colorization.

However, even if such a plurality of renderers are mounted, the above-described problem of a decrease in print throughput for complicated print data that cannot be banded has not been solved.

Conventionally, a large-capacity storage memory is prepared, input PDL data is developed into a raster image using a renderer and stored in the large-capacity storage memory. It may be configured to transmit image data to handle complex print data,
In this case, a large storage memory is essential,
This is a factor that increases the cost of the printing apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of an image output control apparatus which prevents a decrease in print throughput even in the case of complex print data that cannot be banded. It is an object to provide an image output control method and a storage medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image output control device, an image output control method, and a storage medium in which the capacity of a memory for storing raster image data is reduced to reduce the cost of the device.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intermediate page data generating means for generating intermediate page data based on job data input from a data supply source. Image data generating means for generating image data based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generating means and storing the generated image data in a storage device; and image data stored in the storage device by the image data generating means. Image data output means for reading the image data and outputting the read image data to an external device at a predetermined timing; image data generation time calculation means for calculating the time required for the image data generation means to generate image data; and image data generation time calculation The image data output means outputs image data based on the time calculated by the means. Determining means for determining whether or not the process of generating image data interferes with the stage; and adjusting the processing operation of the image data generating means when the determining means determines that the processing will cause an obstacle. An image output control device is provided, wherein the image data output unit has an adjustment unit that prevents the process of generating image data from hindering the process of outputting image data. You.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image data generating means includes a plurality of processing means, and the image data output means includes at least one of the plurality of processing means. The image data generation unit reads out the image data stored in the storage device and outputs the readout image data to the outside at a predetermined timing, and the adjustment unit monitors the use status of the plurality of processing units. Means, wherein the adjusting means searches for unused processing means by referring to the monitoring result by the monitoring means when it is determined that the obstruction is caused by the determining means, and obtains the unused processing means. And generating and storing image data based on the intermediate page data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the image data generating means performs the generation of the image data for each page, and the determining means performs the determination for each page. The adjusting means performs the processing operation of the image data generating means on a page determined to cause a problem by the determining means, and causes the image data generating means to perform processing of image data on another page different from the page. It is characterized in that it is performed during the free time after the generation and storage.

According to the present invention, the intermediate page data is generated by the intermediate page data generating step of generating intermediate page data based on the job data input from the data supply source. Generating image data based on the intermediate page data and storing the image data in a storage device; reading the image data stored in the storage device by the image data generation step and outputting the read image data to an external device at a predetermined timing An image data output step, an image data generation time calculation step of calculating a time required when image data is generated by the image data generation step, and the time calculated by the image data generation time calculation step, Output image data performed by the image data output step Determining whether or not the process of generating image data performed by the image data generating step interferes with the process of generating the image data. Adjusting the processing operation by the steps so that the processing of generating image data performed by the image data generating means does not hinder the processing of outputting image data performed by the image data output. An image output control method is provided.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing an image output control method as a program, wherein the image output control method comprises the steps of: An intermediate page data generating step of generating intermediate page data based on the image data generating step of generating image data based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generating step, and storing the image data in a storage device; An image data output step of reading out the image data stored in the storage device by the image data generation step and outputting it to an external device at a predetermined timing, and calculating a time required when the image data is generated by the image data generation step Calculating the image data generation time Based on the time calculated by the data generation time calculation step, whether or not the processing of generating image data performed by the image data generation step interferes with the processing of outputting image data performed by the image data output step A determining step of determining whether or not, if it is determined to cause a problem in the determining step, adjust the processing operation in the image data generating step, and output the image data performed by the image data output, An adjusting step for preventing a process of generating image data performed by the image data generating means from causing any trouble.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Before describing the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The printer to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 shows a laser beam printer (LBP).
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of FIG.

In the figure, 100 is an LBP main body,
An externally connected print server (20 in FIG. 2)
Character print command, various graphic drawing commands supplied from 1),
A corresponding character pattern, figure, image, or the like is created in accordance with an image drawing command, a color designation command, and the like, and an image is formed on a recording sheet as a recording medium. Reference numeral 151 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation input and an LED display or an LCD display for displaying the status of the printer are arranged. 101 denotes a control of the LBP main body 100 and a character printing command supplied from a print server. A printer control unit to be analyzed.

The laser beam printer converts RGB color information into M (magenta), C (cyan), Y (yellow), and K (black), and forms and develops these in parallel. Each of MCYK has an image forming and developing mechanism. The printer control unit 101 generates a print image for each of MCYK, converts it into a video signal, and
Output to each laser driver.

M (magenta) laser driver 110
Is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 111, and switches on / off the laser beam 112 emitted from the semiconductor laser 111 in accordance with an input video signal. The laser beam 112 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 113 to scan on an electrostatic drum 114. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character or graphic pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 114. This latent image is developed by a developing unit (toner cartridge) 115 around the electrostatic drum 114,
Transferred to recording paper.

C (cyan), Y (yellow), and K (black) have the same image forming and developing mechanism as M (magenta).
Developing mechanism, 130 to 135 are image forming and developing mechanisms for Y (yellow), and 140 to 145 are image forming and developing mechanisms for K (black).
It is a developing mechanism. The individual functions are the same as those of the M (magenta) image forming / developing mechanisms 110 to 115, and a description thereof will be omitted.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper feed cassette 102 mounted on the LBP main body 100, and is kept at a constant height by a spring 103. The cut sheet recording paper is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 104 and transport rollers 105 and 106, is put on a paper transport belt 107, and passes through each MCYK image forming / developing mechanism.

Each toner (powder ink) of MCYK transferred to the recording paper is fixed to the recording paper by heat and pressure by a fixing device 108, and the recording paper is output to the upper part of the LBP main body 100 by conveyance rollers 109 and 150.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a printer control unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Here, a printer control unit mounted on the laser beam printer shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

In FIG. 2, a print job is generated as a control language for a printer by an application program running on a personal computer (PC) 200 and stored in a print spooler in a print server 201. The personal computer 200 and the print server 201 implement the functions provided by the network operating system. Print server 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes a connection between the printer 100 and the LAN interface card 204 constituting the printer control unit 101
The communication control process is executed via the LAN 202, and the print job is transferred to the input unit 1-10.

Here, the print job has a form as a data unit separated by a job start command and a job end command, and is data composed of a drawing command for characters, images, figures, etc. and a color information command.

In the printer control unit 101, 1
-1 is a printer CPU. Printer CPU1-1
Controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 1-4 based on a control program stored in a program ROM of the ROM 1-2.
Further, the printer CPU 1-1 has an MCYK output unit I / F.
(Printing unit interface) Printing unit 1-9 via 1-8
Then, an image signal for each MCYK color element is output as output information. The printer CPU 1-1 has a printing unit 1--1.
Information such as the paper conveyance status detected in the printer 9 is input via the MCYK output unit I / F1-8.

The program ROM of the ROM 1-2 stores control programs of respective flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4, 6 to 8 and 11 to 13 described later, and these control programs are executed by the CPU 1-1. You.

An intermediate page data generation module is stored in the ROM 1-2 as one of the control programs, and the CPU 1-1 executes the module to read a print job input from the input unit 1-10. Then, data analysis is performed, intermediate page data for each color component of MCYK is generated, and stored in the page buffer of the RAM 1-6.

The M component renderer 1-11, C component renderer 1-12, Y component renderer 1-13, and K component renderer 1-14 corresponding to each color component are connected to the system bus 1-4. You. These renderers are functionally equivalent to each other, but these four independent renderers are utilized by the intermediate page data generation module to asynchronously generate bitmap images from intermediate page data,
Thus, a print image for each color is generated. The MC for each color component allocated in the RAM 1-6
Each print image is temporarily stored in the YK band memory.

The print image stored in the MCYK band memory in the RAM 1-6 is stored in the MCYK output section I / F 1-8.
Are converted into video signals for each color element and output to the printing unit 1-9.

The ROM 1-2 stores one of the control programs.
One of them stores a bitmap output processing module. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, in the laser beam printer according to the present embodiment, since MCYK image formation and development are performed in parallel, the MCYK output unit I / F
1-8 has four interface units of an M output interface unit, a C output interface unit, a Y output interface unit, and a K output interface unit;
When the CPU 1-1 executes the bitmap output processing module, the four interface units are independently assigned to the MCY assigned to the RAM 1-6.
The dot data (print image) is read from the K band memory, converted into a video signal, and output to the laser drivers 110, 120, 130, and 140 of each plane.

The ROM 1-2 stores font data (outline font data or dot font data) and the like used when generating the output image, and is read out by each of the renderers 1-11 to 1-14. Used for bitmap image generation. The ROM 1-2 also stores a color conversion table and the like from the RGB color space, which is the color component of the input image, to the MCYK color space, which is the recording color component of the printer.

The RAM 1-6 is an RA functioning as a main memory, a work area, a reception buffer and the like of the CPU 1-1.
M, which is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by connecting an optional RAM to an additional port (not shown). The RAM 1-6 includes a page buffer for storing intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generation module, an MCYK band memory for temporarily storing a bitmap image (print image) generated by the rendering processing unit, A cache memory for temporarily storing registration data such as external characters and form images stored in the hard disk (HD) 1-3 and bitmap characters generated by the font generation module from outline fonts in the ROM 1-2 is included. .

The hard disk 1-3 is a secondary storage device whose access is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1-7. The hard disk 1-3 is used as an image storage memory for storing intermediate page data or bitmap images created based on print data input from the personal computer 200. It is also used as a registration memory for storing registration data transferred from an external character file or form file on the personal computer 200.

The control program executed by the CPU 1-1 includes a real-time OS that performs time-division control in units of load modules called tasks in accordance with a system clock (not shown), and a plurality of load modules that operate in units of functions. (Task).

The schedule control section 1-15 monitors the use state of the plurality of renderers 1-11 to 1-14, and particularly manages idle renderers that are not currently in use.

In the printer control unit 101, which generates an image using a banding process of rendering intermediate page data and outputting it as image data (bitmap image data) in synchronization with paper transport of the printer 100, It is necessary to transfer the bitmap image to the printer 100 at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the conveyance. However, there are cases where the transfer of the bitmap image cannot be performed in time and the banding output cannot be performed, such as when the input data is complicated. In such a case, a process of generating a bitmap image in advance (hereinafter referred to as a “pre-rendering process”) is required prior to the sheet conveyance. First, the processing timing of each processing module (processing unit) in the related art Will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the interrelationship between processing modules (processing units) in the prior art.

In the figure, an intermediate page data generation module (A) for analyzing input data to generate intermediate page data and a rendering processing unit (B) for converting the intermediate page data into a bitmap are parallelized by multitask processing. The bitmap image generated by the rendering processing unit is transferred to the printer 100 in the bitmap output processing module (C) in synchronization with the sheet conveyance.

In FIG. 5, when it is determined that the banding output process of rendering the intermediate page data of page 3 and outputting it as image data in accordance with the paper conveyance of the printer 100 is impossible, the intermediate page data of page 3 is output. It is necessary to perform a pre-rendering process. In the pre-rendering process, since the renderer resources must be used exclusively, parallel processing by multitasking is interrupted. When it is determined that the banding output process on the intermediate page data of the page 3 is impossible, the rendering process (301) of the page 2 is performed by the rendering processing unit. Until the processing is completed, that is, only for the time t1, the execution of the pre-rendering process (302) for the intermediate page data of the page 3 is waited.

When the rendering process (301) for page 2 is completed, a pre-rendering process (302) for page 3 is executed using the renderer of the rendering processor.
The obtained bitmap image is stored in the RAM. And
The bitmap image of page 3 is read from the RAM by the bitmap output processing module and
(303). At this time, the bitmap output processing module transfers the bitmap image of page 3 to the printer 100 after waiting until the pre-rendering process (302) of page 3 is completed, so that a standby time t2 occurs in the image output transfer. .

As described above, when performing pre-rendering processing on a page for which banding processing cannot be performed, since the renderer resources must be exclusively used, the parallel processing operation by multitasking is interrupted.
An extra standby time of t2) occurs, and in the related art, the print throughput is greatly reduced. Note that exclusive use of renderer resources means that a plurality of renderers cannot be used simultaneously for processing different pages. For example, in FIG. 3, until the rendering process (301) of page 2 is completed, 3 means that the pre-rendering process (302) cannot be performed.

Therefore, in the present invention, the scheduler of the renderer is efficiently managed, whereby the waiting time due to exclusive use is reduced, and each processing module (processing unit) can operate as multitasking as possible. . This will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image processing executed by the printer control unit 101 according to the first embodiment.

When a user instructs printing using an application program on the personal computer 200, communication is performed between the print server 201 and the LAN interface card 203, and a print job is input to the input unit 1-10. The input print job is RA
It is temporarily stored in the reception buffer in M1-6 (S40
1).

The intermediate page data generation module reads out the stored print job (PDL data in which a control code and a character code indicating a print position, graphic information, and a color information instruction command are described) and reads out the control code and drawing data. Execute command analysis to generate intermediate page data (S4
02) The obtained intermediate page data is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 for each MCYK color information specified by the print job (S403).

The above-described steps S401 to S403 are repeatedly executed until one page of print data is completed (N in S404). For example, when a page break code in the print data is detected. When the end of the generation of the intermediate page data for one page is detected (S
Y at 404), the intermediate page data for one page stored in the RAM 1-6 is stored in the band memory at a predetermined height (vertical, vertical,
(A predetermined length in the vertical direction in the horizontal two-dimensional memory area). This is because the intermediate page data for one page stored in the RAM 1-6 is divided into a plurality of bands,
This is to enable rendering processing to be performed in band units. Then, a sort process of the intermediate page data divided into a plurality of bands is executed (S40).
5).

Using the intermediate page data divided and sorted so as to be independent for each band, the rendering time for one page required to generate a bitmap image is calculated (S406). That is, first, for each intermediate page data, for example, in the case of a bitmap character, the rendering time is calculated from the width and height of the bitmap image and color information (information on which plane of MCYK is drawn). Then, the calculated rendering time is totaled for each band to determine the rendering time for each band. Further, the rendering time for one page in total over all the bands is obtained.

The rendering (use) time and use plane information for one page obtained in this way are registered in the renderer use management table shown in FIG. 5 (S407).

Rendering (use) for one page
Based on the time, it is determined whether it is possible to transfer data to the printer 100 at a predetermined timing (S40).
8) If it is possible to transfer data at a predetermined timing (banding output is possible), the generation of intermediate page data for one page ends, and the process proceeds to step S413.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S408 that data transfer cannot be performed at a predetermined timing (banding output is impossible), the process proceeds to step S408.
Proceeding to step 409, a pre-rendering process is executed.

In executing the pre-rendering process, the renderers 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14
, A free renderer (rendering processing unit) not used by the bitmap output processing module is obtained (S409). At this time, the schedule control unit 1-15
Request to get an empty renderer,
It will be described later with reference to FIG.

When a free renderer (rendering processing unit) not used by the bitmap output processing module is acquired, the intermediate page data stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 is read out using the renderer. The rendering process is executed to generate a bitmap image (S410). RA generated bitmap image
The data is stored in the page buffer in M1-6 (S412).
At this time, the data may be stored using a compression module (not shown).

As described above, pre-rendering processing for generating a bitmap image is executed in advance even for print job data for which banding processing cannot be performed, and intermediate page data for one page is generated.

When the processing for generating the intermediate page data for one page is completed in this way, the processing for generating the intermediate page data for one page in steps S401 to S412 is repeatedly executed until the print job is completed (S41).
3).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a renderer use management table storing information on rendering obtained based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generation module.

In the rendering start time column in the drawing, a waiting time to wait for each page image to be transferred to the printing unit 1-9 by the bitmap output processing module stored in the ROM 1-2, that is, Based on the output start time of the bitmap image of the first page, the time from this reference time to the output start time of the bitmap image of each page (rendering start time) is stored.

The rendering start time is determined by the RAM 1
6 and the maximum printing speed (ppm) at which the printing unit 1-9 can output recording paper. Printing unit 1
The maximum print speed information that -9 can output recording paper is RO
It is stored in M1-2, and is exemplified here as 30 ppm.

30 ppm indicates that 30 pages can be printed in one minute, and the rendering start time column indicates the first page of the print job based on information such as an output time of 2 seconds / page. The relative time with respect to the output start time of the bitmap image related to is stored.

As described above, the rendering start time is calculated based on the total number of intermediate page data and the printing unit 1-9.
The rendering start time for the page is calculated from the following equation (1).

Rendering start time = (number of page rankings of the corresponding page−1) × output time per page (1) The rendering start time is used when determining whether there is an empty renderer.

Information such as the page paper size, whether double-sided printing is instructed, or the number of copies is instructed is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 as renderer use information for intermediate page data. In advance,
These information may be added to the above equation (1) to obtain a more accurate rendering start time.

In the rendering use time column of FIG. 5, the time required for the rendering process for one page by each renderer is described. For example, the intermediate page data of page 1 relates to a color page that uses all of the MCYK renderers 1-11 to 1-14, and each renderer operates simultaneously to execute the rendering process of page 1. 2 seconds. The intermediate page data of page 2 relates to a monochrome page using only the K renderer 1-14, and renderers 1-11 to 1-1-1 for the MCY plane.
13 is not used. The rendering processing time by the K renderer 1-14 is 2 seconds. The intermediate page data of page 3 relates to monochrome pages using only the K renderer 1-14, and renderers 1-11-1 for the MCY plane.
-13 is not used. The rendering processing time by the K renderer 1-14 is 2.5 seconds. Intermediate page data of pages 4 and 5 are MCYK renderers 1-11 to 1-14.
Are involved in a color page that uses all of them, and each renderer operates simultaneously to execute one page of rendering processing.
The time required for each is 2 seconds.

FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing the procedure of renderer schedule control performed when executing the pre-rendering process. FIG. 6 shows the ROM 1
-2 operation of the intermediate page data generation module, FIG.
8 shows the operation of the schedule control unit 1-15, and FIG.
2 shows the operation of the bitmap output processing module, and various notifications are transmitted and received between the modules and units.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate page data generation module shown in FIG. 6 terminates the data analysis processing of page 3 and, if the banding processing is determined to be impossible in step S408 shown in FIG. Sends a request to obtain an empty renderer to the schedule control unit 1-15 (S
601).

In this case, since the rendering use time of the page 3 illustrated in FIG. 5 is 2.5 seconds (only the K plane), it is impossible to render at a print speed of 2 seconds / page or less of the printer 100. That is, a case where banding output processing is determined to be impossible will be described as an example.

Schedule control section 1-15 shown in FIG.
Sends the output instruction of page 2 to the bitmap output processing module in the ROM 1-2 before receiving the empty renderer acquisition request (S610).
The renderer 1-14 is executing the rendering process of page 2.

When receiving the empty renderer acquisition request from the intermediate page data generation module, the schedule control unit 1-15 checks the renderer use management table shown in FIG. 5 and searches for a renderer that is not currently used (S6).
11). As a result, since the data of page 2 is only monochrome data, it is understood that only the K renderer 1-14 is used, and the MCY renderers 1-11 to 1-13 are not used.

In step S612, it is determined whether or not there is a free renderer that is not the renderer currently being output. If it is determined that there is a free renderer, the free time of the free renderer is calculated (S613). Here, M renderer 1
−11 is selected, and the free time of the M renderer 1-11 is
Since the use is started on page 4, it is calculated as 4 seconds.

The renderer free time (4 seconds) is compared with the rendering use time of page 3 (2.5 seconds).
When the M renderer 1-11 is used for rendering the page 3, it is determined whether the rendering of the page 3 ends before the output start time of the page 4 (S614).
Here, before page 4 output start time, page 3
Since the rendering of is completed, it is determined that the rendering is not affected, and the use permission notification of the M renderer 1-11 is notified to the intermediate page data generation module (S615).

The intermediate page data generation module shown in FIG. 6 receives the renderer use permission notification from the schedule control unit 1-15, and determines whether or not the renderer has been acquired (S602). If it is determined that the renderer cannot be obtained, the process returns to step S601. On the other hand, if it is determined that the renderer has been obtained, the K plane of page 3 is rendered using the obtained M renderer 1-11. As described above, the obtained bitmap image is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S603). After the rendering is completed, the acquired M renderer 1-1 is obtained.
1 is transmitted to the schedule control unit 1-15, and the generation of the bitmap image using the intermediate page data of the page 3 is completed (S604).

In the schedule control section 1-15 shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined in step S612 that there is no empty renderer because all renderers are in use, or in step S614, there is an empty renderer but there is an empty renderer. If the time is shorter than the rendering use time and it is determined that the renderer will be used until after the start time of the bitmap image output by the bitmap output processing module, the process returns to step S610 and the printer 10
An output transmission of the next page is instructed at a predetermined timing of 0, and an infinite loop is performed until an empty renderer is generated. In addition. Even if all of the renderers 1-11 to 1-14 are in use, the output of all the intermediate page data stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 before the page requiring the pre-rendering process is completed. Empty renderers always occur. In this case, the processing is the same as the conventional processing described with reference to FIG.

When receiving the page output instruction from the schedule control unit 1-15 (S620), the bitmap output processing module shown in FIG. 8 reads the MCYK data corresponding to the first band from the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S620). S621) For example, the M data is the M renderer 1-
11, the bitmap image is developed in the band memory for M images in the RAM 1-6 (S622). Similarly, the C data, the Y data, and the K data are the C renderers 1-1.
2. Using the Y renderer 1-13 and the K renderer 1-14, the bitmap image is developed in the band memory for the C image, the band memory for the Y image, and the band memory for the K image in the RAM 1-6.

The bitmap image developed in the band memory of each color in the RAM 1-6 is transferred to the MCYK output unit I / F1.
-8 transfers the image to the printing unit 1-9 via the M output interface, the C output interface, the Y output interface, and the K output interface at a predetermined timing specified in the printer 100 (S62).
3).

The above processing is repeated until the processing is completed for all the bands of the intermediate page data (S624).

The printing unit 1 prints one page of intermediate page data.
When the transfer is completed at -9, a notification of the end of image output is sent to the schedule control unit 1-15 (S625).

Thus, the schedule control unit 1-
Reference numeral 15 denotes a plurality of renderers 1-11, 1-12, 1-13,
By constantly managing the state of 1-14, it is possible to determine whether or not the intermediate page data generation module can be used.

When the intermediate page data generation module and the rendering processing units (renderers 1-11 to 1-14) in the ROM 1-2 and the bitmap output processing module in the ROM 1-2 described above operate in multitasking. The mutual relationship will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the interrelationship between the intermediate page data generation module (A), the rendering processing section (B), and the bitmap output processing module (c).

As described above, when it is determined that the banding output processing is impossible after the intermediate page data generation module completes the analysis processing (701) of page 3, the rendering processing units (renderers 1-11-1) -1
The pre-rendering process is executed using 4). At this time, in the bitmap output processing module which is currently outputting the page 2 (702), the K renderer 1-14 is used.
Only use. Therefore, using the empty renderer, for example, the M renderer 1-11, the rendering process (703) of the K data of page 3 is executed in parallel with the bitmap image output process (702) of the K data of page 2. .

After executing the pre-rendering process (703) for page 3 using the M renderer 1-11, the bitmap image of only the K image is stored in the band memory in the RAM 1-6, and this is stored in the bitmap. The data is read out by the output processing module (704) and transferred to the printer 100.

Conventionally, when performing pre-rendering processing on a page for which banding processing cannot be performed, it is necessary to exclusively use renderer resources. Therefore, parallel processing operation by multitasking is interrupted, and a predetermined waiting time occurs. However, as described above, in the present invention, the rendering process of page 2 (705) and the pre-rendering process of page 3 (70
3) can be performed in parallel, and the printing throughput can be greatly improved.

In the first embodiment, in step S603 shown in FIG. 6, the K image of the intermediate page data stored in the RAM 1-6 is replaced with the M renderer 1-11.
However, the present invention is not limited to this method. For example, with respect to data having only M images as intermediate page data, rendering may be performed using the K renderer 1-14, or any combination of the MCYK intermediate page data and the renderers 1-11 to 1-14 may be used. .

In step S611 shown in FIG.
Although the search for an empty renderer is executed in page units, an arrangement may be made such that an empty renderer can be searched for each band. In this case, the transmission of the image output instruction in step S610 and the image output end notification in step S625 shown in FIG. 8 are transmitted and received for each band.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the second embodiment is basically similar to that of the first embodiment.
Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment will be used in the description of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a renderer use management table according to the second embodiment.

The intermediate page data of page 1 to page 5 shown in FIG. 10 are respectively MCYK renderers 1-1 to 1-1.
Regarding the color pages that utilize all four, each renderer operates simultaneously to execute the rendering process for one page.

[0098] As described in the rendering use time column, the time required for rendering is page 1 to page 3
Are 1 second each, page 4 is 3 seconds, and page 5 is 2 seconds. Since the printing speed of the printer 100 is 2 seconds / page, page 4 is a page for which banding processing cannot be performed.

FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the renderer schedule control performed when the pre-rendering process is executed in the second embodiment. 11 shows the operation of the intermediate page data generation module in the ROM 1-2, FIG. 12 shows the operation of the schedule control unit 1-15, and FIG. 13 shows the operation of the bitmap output processing module in the ROM 1-2. The transmission and reception of various notifications are performed between each other. In addition,
Also in the second embodiment, the same processing as the image processing executed by the printer control unit 101 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

The intermediate page data generation module shown in FIG. 11 terminates the data analysis processing of page 4 in the example shown in FIG. 10 and, when it is determined in step S408 shown in FIG. A renderer acquisition request is made to the schedule controller 1-15 (S901).

As described above, here, the rendering use time of the page 4 illustrated in FIG. 10 is 3.0 seconds (MCYK
(The total time of each plane), it is impossible to render at a printing speed of 2 seconds / page or less, that is, the banding output processing is not possible.

Schedule control section 1-15 shown in FIG.
Transmits the output instruction of page 3 to the bitmap output processing module in the ROM 1-2 before receiving the empty renderer acquisition request (S910).
The CYK renderers 1-11 to 1-14 are executing the rendering process of page 3.

Upon receiving the empty renderer acquisition request, the schedule control section 1-15 checks the renderer use management table shown in FIG. 10 and calculates renderer idle time based on the following equation (2) (S911).

Free time = renderable time−rendering time (2) In step S 912, renderer free time, which is the time from the end of the output processing of the renderer currently performing the output processing to the rendering start time of the next page. The time is compared with the rendering use time of page 4, and it is determined whether the rendering of page 4 is completed before the output start time of page 4 (6.0 seconds) (S912).

In step S912, it is determined that the pre-rendering process is not completed by the output start time of the bitmap output processing module because the time required for the pre-rendering using the four renderers is long, although the four renderers have free time. In such a case, the free time of the next page after the page requiring the pre-rendering process is added (S913). Returning to step S912, if the idle time of the renderer exceeds the pre-rendering processing time, a use permission notification of the MCYK renderers 1-1-1 to 1-14 is sent to the intermediate page data generation module (S914).

Upon receiving the renderer use permission notification, the intermediate page data generation module of FIG. 11 determines whether or not a renderer has been acquired (S902). As a result, if the renderer can be acquired, the rendering of the page 4 is executed by using the acquired MCYK renderers 1-11 to 1-14, and the bitmap image is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 (S903). ).

The schedule control unit 1-1 shown in FIG.
When the bitmap output processing module needs to use a renderer to output the next page (here, page 2), the bitmap output processing module notifies the intermediate page data generation module of a renderer temporary release request ( S91
5). Upon receiving the temporary release request, the intermediate page data generation module in FIG.
After the reading into the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 is interrupted at the break of the band, and the interruption information (information on which band is to be rendered, etc.) is stored in the RAM 1-6, the acquired MCYK renderers 1-1 to 1-14 are acquired. Is transmitted to the schedule control unit 1-15 (S904).

In the next step S905, it is determined whether or not the rendering has been completed. If the rendering has not been completed, the flow returns to step S901 to again execute a request for acquiring an empty renderer and perform a pre-rendering process. .

The rendering execution processing step S9
At 03, if the rendering was previously interrupted, the interrupted process is resumed.

The processing in the bitmap output processing module shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

The intermediate page data generation module and the renderer processing unit (renderer 1-11-1) described above
4) and the mutual relationship when the bitmap output processing module operates in multitask will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an example of the interrelationship between the intermediate page data generation module (A), the rendering processing section (B), and the bitmap output processing module (C).

When the intermediate page data generation module determines that the banding output process is not possible after completing the page analysis process, a pre-rendering process is executed by using the rendering processing unit. At this time, the pre-rendering process of page 4 is executed using the free time (r1, r2, r3) after the rendering of page 1, page 2, and page 3 is completed.

As described above, even if there is no empty renderer, the time r between the outputs of the bitmap output processing module is obtained.
By using 1, r2, and r3, the rendering processing of page 4 is executed as the bitmap image output processing of pages 1, 2, and 3 as pseudo parallel processing.

After the pre-rendering process of page 4 is executed using the idle time of the renderers 1-1-1 to 1-14, the bitmap image of the MCYK component is stored in the band memory in the RAM 1-6, and The output processing module reads this and transfers it to the printer 100.

In the second embodiment, it has been described that the processing is executed in units of pages in steps S912 to S913 shown in FIG. 12, but the configuration may be such that the free time is added for each band. In this case, the transmission of the image output instruction in step S910 and the image output end notification in step S625 of FIG. 13 are transmitted and received for each band. By managing the idle time for each band and making it available even for intermediate page data, the renderer can be used more effectively.

Conventionally, when performing pre-rendering processing on a page for which banding processing cannot be performed, it is necessary to exclusively use renderer resources. Therefore, parallel processing operation by multitasking is interrupted, and a predetermined waiting time occurs. However, according to the present invention, as described above, parallel processing can be performed by monitoring the empty state of the renderer, and the printing throughput is greatly improved.

If the functions of the present invention are executed, the system may be a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. Even if there is, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. Performs some or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
Needless to say, this is included in the present invention.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. No.

[0123]

As described in detail above, claims 1 and 6 have been described.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, intermediate page data generating means for generating intermediate page data based on job data input from a data supply source, and intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generating means Image data generating means for generating image data based on the image data and storing the image data in a storage device; and image data output means for reading out the image data stored in the storage device by the image data generating means and outputting the read image data to an external device at a predetermined timing Image data generation time calculation means for calculating a time required for the image data generation means to generate image data, and the image data output means based on the time calculated by the image data generation time calculation means, In the process of outputting data,
A determining means for determining whether or not the processing for generating image data is hindered by the image data generating means; and adjusting a processing operation of the image data generating means when the determining means determines that the processing is hindered. The image data output unit further includes an adjustment unit that prevents the image data generation unit from generating image data in the image data output unit.

In particular, claim 2, claim 7, or claim 1
According to the invention described in Item 0, the image data generating means includes a plurality of processing means, and the image data output means uses at least one of the plurality of processing means, and the image data generating means The image data stored in the storage device is read out and output to the outside at a predetermined timing, the adjusting unit includes a monitoring unit that monitors a usage state of the plurality of processing units, and the adjusting unit is configured by the determining unit If it is determined that there is a problem, an unused processing unit is searched for by referring to the monitoring result of the monitoring unit, and the obtained unused processing unit generates and stores image data based on the intermediate page data. Is performed.

As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in print throughput even in the case of complex print data that cannot be subjected to banding processing.

Further, claim 4, claim 8, or claim 1
According to the first aspect of the invention, the image data generation unit performs the generation of the image data for each page, the determination unit performs the determination for each page, and the adjustment unit performs an operation by the determination unit. The image data generating means causes the image data generating means to perform a processing operation on the page determined to be given in a free time after the image data generating means generates and stores image data on another page different from the page. .

As a result, the capacity of the memory for storing image data can be reduced, and the cost of the printing apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a laser beam printer (LBP).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of a printer control unit provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows each processing module (processing unit) in the related art.
6 is a timing chart showing the interrelationship between the two.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image processing executed by the printer control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a renderer use management table that stores information related to rendering obtained based on intermediate page data generated by an intermediate page data generation module.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed. Particularly, the operation of the intermediate page data generation module will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed. In particular, the operation of the schedule control unit will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed. In particular, the operation of the bitmap output processing module will be described.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the interrelationship between the intermediate page data generation module (A), the rendering processing unit (B), and the bitmap output processing module (c).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a renderer use management table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed in the second embodiment. Particularly, the operation of the intermediate page data generation module will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed in the second embodiment. In particular, the operation of the schedule control unit will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of renderer schedule control performed when a pre-rendering process is executed in the second embodiment. In particular, the operation of the bitmap output processing module will be described.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an example of the interrelationship between an intermediate page data generation module (A), a rendering processing unit (B), and a bitmap output processing module (C).

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 CPU (intermediate page data generation means, image data generation means, image data output means, image data generation time calculation means, determination means, adjustment means) 1-2 ROM (intermediate page data generation means, image data generation means, Image data output unit, image data generation time calculation unit, determination unit, adjustment unit) 1-3 Hard disk (HD) 1-4 System bus 1-5 NVRAM 1-6 RAM (storage device) 1-7 Memory controller (MC) 1-8 MCYK Output Unit I / F (Printing Unit I / F, Image Data Output Means) 1-9 Printing Unit (External Device) 1-10 Input Unit 1-11 M Renderer (Image Data Generating Means) 1-12 C Renderer (image data generating means) 1-13 Y renderer (image data generating means) 1-14 K renderer (image data generating means) 1-15 Scale Yuru control unit (image data generation time calculating means, determining means, adjusting means) 100 printer 101 printer control unit 151 operation unit 200 a personal computer (data source) 201 print server 202 LAN 204 LAN Interface Card

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate page data generating unit for generating intermediate page data based on job data input from a data supply source, and generating image data based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generating unit. An image data generating unit that stores the image data in the storage device; an image data output unit that reads out the image data stored in the storage device by the image data generating unit and outputs the image data to an external device at a predetermined timing; Means for calculating the time required for the means to generate the image data; and processing for the image data output means to output the image data based on the time calculated by the image data generation time calculation means. A determining means for determining whether or not the processing of generating image data by the image data generating means causes a problem. If, when it is determined that gives trouble by said determination means, by adjusting the processing operation of the image data generating unit, the processing by the image data output means outputs the image data,
An image output control device comprising: an adjustment unit configured to prevent a process of generating image data by the image data generation unit from hindering. 2. The image data generation unit includes a plurality of processing units, and the image data output unit uses at least one of the plurality of processing units to store the image data in the storage device by the image data generation unit. The stored image data is read out and output to the outside at a predetermined timing, wherein the adjusting unit includes a monitoring unit that monitors a use state of the plurality of processing units, and the adjusting unit causes a problem by the determining unit. When it is determined that the unused processing means is searched for by referring to the monitoring result by the monitoring means, the obtained unused processing means generates and stores image data based on the intermediate page data. 2. The image output control device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image output control device according to claim 2, wherein said processing means is a renderer. 4. The image data generation unit performs the generation of the image data for each page, the determination unit performs the determination for each page, and the adjustment unit determines that the determination unit causes a problem. And causing the image data generating means to perform a processing operation on the selected page in a free time after the image data generating means generates and stores image data for another page different from the page. The image output control device according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job data is print job data, the image data is bitmap image data, and the external device is a printing device. The image output control device as described in the above. 6. An intermediate page data generating step of generating intermediate page data based on job data input from a data source, and generating image data based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generating step. An image data generating step of storing the image data in the storage device, reading the image data stored in the storage device by the image data generating step, and outputting the read image data to an external device at a predetermined timing; An image data generation time calculation step of calculating a time required when image data is generated by the step; and, based on the time calculated by the image data generation time calculation step, the image data performed by the image data output step. In the output process, the image data generation A determining step of determining whether or not the process of generating image data performed by the step causes a problem; and adjusting the processing operation of the image data generating step when the determining step determines that the process is troublesome. Adjusting the image data to be output by the image data output means so that the image data generation processing performed by the image data generation means does not hinder the image data output processing. Control method. 7. The image data generating step is performed using a plurality of processing means, and the image data outputting step is performed by using the image data generating step using at least one of the plurality of processing means. Reading the image data stored in the storage device and outputting the read image data to the outside at a predetermined timing; the adjusting step includes a monitoring step of monitoring a use state of the plurality of processing units; and the adjusting step includes the determining step When it is determined that there is a problem, the unused processing unit is searched for by referring to the monitoring result of the monitoring step, and the obtained unused processing unit generates image data based on the intermediate page data, 7. The image output control method according to claim 6, wherein storage is performed. 8. The image data generating step performs the generation of the image data for each page, the determining step performs the determining for each page, and the adjusting step determines that the determining step causes a problem. Causing the processing operation of the image data generating step for the selected page to be performed in a free time after image data generation and storage are performed for another page different from the page by the image data generating step. 7. The image output control method according to claim 6, wherein: 9. A computer-readable storage medium storing an image output control method as a program, wherein the image output control method generates intermediate page data based on job data input from a data supply source. A page data generation step; an image data generation step of generating image data based on the intermediate page data generated by the intermediate page data generation step; and storing the image data in a storage device; and storing the image data in the storage device by the image data generation step. An image data output step of reading out the obtained image data and outputting it to an external device at a predetermined timing; an image data generation time calculation step of calculating a time required when image data is generated by the image data generation step; By the image data generation time calculation step It is determined whether or not the process of generating image data performed by the image data generating step interferes with the process of outputting image data performed by the image data outputting step, based on the time calculated in the above. A determination step; and adjusting the processing operation in the image data generation step when it is determined that the image data generation step causes a problem, and outputting the image data in the image data output performed by the image data output step. An adjusting step for preventing a process of generating image data performed by the means from hindering the image data. 10. The image data generating step is performed using a plurality of processing means, and the image data outputting step is performed by the image data generating step using at least one of the plurality of processing means. Reading the image data stored in the storage device and outputting the read image data to the outside at a predetermined timing; the adjusting step includes a monitoring step of monitoring a use state of the plurality of processing units; and the adjusting step includes the determining step When it is determined that there is a problem, the unused processing unit is searched for by referring to the monitoring result of the monitoring step, and the obtained unused processing unit generates image data based on the intermediate page data, The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the storage medium is stored. 11. The image data generating step performs the generation of the image data for each page, the determining step performs the determining for each page, and the adjusting step determines that the determining step causes a problem. Causing the processing operation of the image data generating step for the selected page to be performed in a free time after image data generation and storage are performed for another page different from the page by the image data generating step. 10. The storage medium according to claim 9, wherein: