JP2001322319A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus which can print at high speeds. SOLUTION: Language-related module information is prepared for each language in this printing apparatus, which is information for ordering a plurality of program modules to be used in the languages in a size order of effects to be obtained when the program modules are executed on an SDRAM and from which a size of each program module is known. Before starting to actually process printing data, a memory capacity of the SDRAM utilizable to store a program is determined (step S202) on the basis of printing job information of the printing data. Language-related modules of the memory capacity are copied in an order designated by the language-related module information corresponding to the language used in the printing data from a ROM to the SDRAM. The copied program modules are executed on the SDRAM (steps S204 and S205). The printing apparatus is constituted in this manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a control unit having two memories having different access speeds and having several program modules executable on any of the two memories.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The image resolution and gradation width of recent printing apparatuses have become extremely large, and as a result,
The RAM capacity required for processing print data is also increasing. However, the RAM capacity required for processing print data is
Since it depends on the content of print data, a general printing apparatus is configured so that a RAM can be added (or replaced), and a RAM having a capacity required for normal processing of print data is mounted. It is commercially available in the form described.

Further, in a conventional printing apparatus, a plurality of program modules stored in a ROM
The program is read by the AM and executed on the RAM. In recent years, when the capacity of the RAM is small, the program is executed on the ROM, and when the capacity of the RAM is large, the program is executed on the RAM. Printing devices that are copied on top and run on RAM have also been developed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, RA
By adopting a configuration in which a memory for executing a program is selected according to the capacity of M, the RAM can be more effectively utilized.

[0005] However, the conventional printing apparatus has a RAM.
The selection of a program module to be executed above is performed in a large unit (a unit such as all program modules or a unit such as all program modules related to a language).

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus having a control unit which has two memories having different access speeds and in which some program modules can execute any of the two memories. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus in which the control of which of the two memories each program module is executed on is performed in such a manner that printing is completed at higher speed.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a print engine and data corresponding to received print data are generated and supplied to the print engine. When configuring a printing apparatus including a control unit, a first memory that stores a program including a CPU and a plurality of program modules, which defines an operation procedure of the CPU, has a higher access speed than the first memory. Module information on a plurality of selected program modules, which are a plurality of program modules selected based on a certain criterion from a second memory and a plurality of program modules that can be executed. Priority information for ordering a plurality of selected program modules in order of size, and a plurality of selected programs Module information holding means for holding module information including size information indicating the size of each module, and a memory management mechanism for converting a logical address used in a program into a physical address, wherein the physical address of the logical address is A device having a memory management mechanism that can change the conversion rule to is used.

Further, as a program, the CPU generates data in accordance with the print data received by the control unit, and before starting a data generation and supply control process, which is a process of supplying the print data to the print engine, starts processing of the print data. A work area having a capacity corresponding to the print job information included at the head and a plurality of selected program modules are selected in the order ordered by the priority information in the module information with reference to the size information in the module information. A copy of some selected program modules exists in the second memory, and at the time of the data generation / supply control processing, the second selected program module having a copy in the second memory is in the second state. A copy of the selected program module on the memory is executed, and a copy is formed on the second memory. No For each selected program module is used as to execute a control process for forming a state that will select the program module on the first memory is performed.

That is, the printing apparatus of the present invention stores the priority order information in the module information in a storage area of a second memory (for example, RAM) having a size which does not cause a problem even when used for storing a program. In the order specified by
A predetermined program module in a first memory (for example, a ROM) is copied, and the copied program module is executed on the first memory. Then, the priority information in the module information is sequenced in the order of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing each of the plurality of program modules that may be copied to the second memory on the second memory. Therefore, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, the second memory that can be accessed at high speed is used very effectively. As a result, high-speed printing can be performed using the printing apparatus of the present invention.

In realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention,
When the program stored in the first memory is instructed by the CPU to execute the data generation and supply control processing, the data generation and supply control processing is interrupted and the data generation and supply control processing is resumed if the capacity of the second memory becomes insufficient. Working area of the capacity required to execute the program, and some selected program modules selected in the order ordered by the priority information in the module information with reference to the size information in the module information from among the plurality of selected program modules Copy of the second
With respect to each of the selected program modules that exist in the memory and have a copy in the second memory after the restart of the data generation / supply control process, the copy of the selected program module in the second memory is executed. In other words, for each selected program module whose copy is not formed on the second memory, the control process for forming a state in which the selected program module on the first memory is to be executed is executed. It is desirable to restart the data generation and supply processing later.

By configuring the printing apparatus in this way, it is possible to prevent the processing of the print data from being interrupted due to lack of memory.

In implementing the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the selection program module includes
Any one of a plurality of program modules stored in the first memory may be selected based on any criteria. For example, all the program modules except for the program module that should always be executed on the second memory and the program module that should always be executed on the first memory,
You may make it handle as a selection program module.

However, if the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention realizes a printing apparatus capable of processing a plurality of types of languages, unused program modules are copied to the second memory. The following configuration should be adopted when realizing a printing device that can process various kinds of languages.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when configuring a printing apparatus including a print engine and a control unit for generating data corresponding to the received print data and supplying the data to the print engine, A language is selected from a first memory storing a program including a plurality of program modules, a second memory capable of accessing at a higher speed than the first memory, and a plurality of program modules. Module information on a plurality of selected program modules, which are a plurality of program modules selected on the basis that they may be used when processing used print data, and an effect obtained by executing the second program on the second memory Priority information that orders multiple selected program modules in order of size Module information holding means for holding module information including size information indicating the size of each of the plurality of selected program modules for each of a plurality of languages, and a logical address used in the program as a physical address A memory management mechanism that converts a rule for converting a logical address into a physical address can be used.

Further, as a program, data corresponding to the print data received by the control unit is generated in the CPU,
Before starting the data generation and supply control process, which is a process supplied to the print engine, use a work area with a capacity corresponding to the print job information included at the beginning of the print data and a language used in the print data. Out of a plurality of selected program modules to be copied, referring to the size information and priority information in the module information relating to the language, and copying some selected program modules selected in the order ordered by the priority information; But the second
For each selected program module that exists in the memory and has a copy in the second memory during the data generation / supply control processing, the copy of the selected program module in the second memory is executed. For each selected program module that has not been copied on the second memory, the one that executes a control process for forming a state in which the selected program module on the first memory is to be executed is used. Can be

That is, the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention has a configuration in which the same processing as that of the printing apparatus according to the first aspect is performed for each type of language used in print data. Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, print data using a plurality of types of languages can be printed at high speed.

When the printing apparatus according to the second aspect is realized, the control unit includes a plurality of program modules selected from a plurality of program modules on the basis of being used regardless of language. Module information about the common program module of
Holds common module information including priority information for ordering a plurality of common program modules in the order of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing on the memory, and size information indicating the size of each of the plurality of common program modules. A common module information holding unit is added, and a program module included in the program, which is executed at the time of startup, is provided to the CPU by a work area having a capacity according to the specifications of the print engine and the specifications of the control unit, Out of the plurality of common program modules ordered in the above, with reference to the size information and the priority information in the common module information, and copies of some of the common program modules selected in the order indicated by the priority information. , On the second memory, after completion thereof, For each common program module having a copy on the second memory, the copy of the common program module on the second memory is executed, and each common program module having no copy formed on the second memory is executed. With regard to the above, it is possible to execute a startup control process for forming a state in which the common program module on the first memory is to be executed.

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, the execution of each selected program module is performed as priority information in the module information and as an index of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing on the second memory. Using the size of each selected program module as information using the magnitude of the product of the time required and the appearance probability, and as an index of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing on the second memory can do.

Further, the module information holding means may be different from the first memory and the second memory, but the program may be caused to function as the module information holding means. That is, module information is included in any of the program modules constituting the program, and the program module in the first memory (or the program module copied to the second memory) functions as module information holding means. Is also good.

[0020]

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

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the printing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment includes a print engine 11 and a control unit 12.

The print engine 11 is a mechanism for actually performing printing (image formation on paper). The control unit 12 is an electronic device that controls the print engine 11. Control unit 11
Are the CPUs 21 and S connected to each other by the CPU bus 31
A DRAM 22 and a memory controller 23 are provided. The control unit 12 includes a ROM 24, a ROM 25, a video I / F circuit 26, and an input I / F circuit 27, which are interconnected by a memory bus 32. As shown, the memory bus 32 is also connected to the memory controller 23. In the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the ROM 2
4. The SDRAM 22 functions as a first memory and a second memory, respectively, and the memory controller 23 functions as a memory management mechanism.

The CPU 21 is a control circuit that operates in accordance with a program to integrally control each unit in the printing apparatus 10. The ROMs 24 and 25 are non-volatile memories.
The IPL executed by U21 and various program modules executed thereafter are stored. The ROM 25 stores font data for converting characters into image data. Input I / F circuit 2
A circuit 7 receives print data sent from the host and sends the print data to the memory bus 32. The video I / F circuit 26 is a circuit that transfers data supplied via the memory bus 32 to the print engine 11.

The SDRAM 22 is a DRAM that operates in synchronization with the CPU 21. The SDRAM 22 has an input I /
It is used to temporarily store the print data received by the F circuit 27, and intermediate codes and image data (band images) generated based on the print data. The SDRAM 22 is also used for storing some program modules.

The memory controller 23 is a circuit for converting a logical address into a physical address. The memory controller 23 has a function of changing the correspondence between the logical address and the physical address to the one instructed by the CPU 21.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 will be described. First, common module information and language-related module information, which are information whose contents are referred to when the printing apparatus 10 operates, will be described.

Since the printing apparatus 10 is configured as an apparatus capable of processing a plurality of types of languages, the programs stored in the ROM 24 include the languages (ESC / P language, PCL, etc.) used in the print data. A plurality of program modules (hereinafter, referred to as common modules) that are used irrespective of language) and a plurality of program modules (hereinafter, language-related modules) that can be associated with the language are included.

The Nmax common modules that may be loaded (copied) to the SDRAM 22 are ranked according to the effect obtained by executing each common module on the SDRAM 22 (the ranking procedure will be described later). To). Hereinafter, the order given to each common module in the order of the magnitude of this effect is referred to as a priority order. A predetermined common module (a program module executed next to the IPL; hereinafter, referred to as a main module) includes information indicating the priority order of Nmax common modules, the size of each common module, and the priority. The common module information includes Nmax total sizes each indicating the total size of one to Nmax common modules extracted in order of priority from the highest priority.

More specifically, the common module information included in the main module includes, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, a record including the common module name, the size, and the total size, and the priority of the corresponding common module. The information is arranged in order of rank.

Priorities are also assigned to language-related modules for each relevant language. Then, language-related module information including the same information as the common module information is created for each language, and the language-related module information is included in a predetermined program module (Module C in FIG. 2). I have. That is, the Module C includes language-related module information having contents as schematically shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

In the printing apparatus 10, printing is performed using the common module information and the language-related module information as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the power of the printing apparatus 10 is turned on, the CPU 21 firstly follows the IPL.
The hardware is initialized (step S101). Next, the CPU 21 starts the operation according to the main module, recognizes the amount of mounted memory which is the capacity of the SDRAM 22, and compares the amount of mounted memory with a predetermined amount (step S102).

If the amount of installed memory is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount (step S102; YES), the CPU 21 ends the processing shown in FIG. 4 and changes to a print waiting state (a state of waiting for reception of print data). Take. On the other hand, if the amount of mounted memory exceeds the predetermined amount (step S102; NO), C
The PU 21 acquires the printer configuration information and, based on the printer configuration information, executes the SDRAM
The memory size to be secured in the storage 22 is calculated (step S103). Here, the printer configuration information is information including the number of interfaces that can be used, the resolution of the print engine 11, and whether the print engine 11 is for monochrome printing or color printing.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 obtains a free memory size which is a value obtained by subtracting the memory size calculated in step S103 from the amount of mounted memory (step S10).
4). Next, the CPU 21 refers to the shared module information and specifies some shared modules to be loaded into the SDRAM 22 whose total size is equal to or smaller than the free memory size (step S105). In this step S105, the “total size” in the shared module information (see FIG. 2) has the largest value equal to or smaller than the free memory size, and all the common modules having a higher priority than the common module. Module is SDRAM 22
Is specified as a common module to be loaded into That is, if the free memory size is, for example, 555 kbytes, Module A, Module B, and Module C
Is specified as a common module to be loaded into

The CPU 21 loads the specified one or more common modules into the SDRAM 22 and executes the SDRA instead of the common modules on the ROM 24 when the specified common modules are subsequently executed.
The process of changing the correspondence between the logical address and the physical address (the process of controlling the memory controller) is executed so that the common module on the M22 is executed (step S1).
06), and waits for printing. Step S10
If no common module to be executed on the SDRAM 22 is specified in step 5, no operation is performed in step S106.

The CPU 21 having completed the processing of FIG.
As shown in (1), the process of monitoring the reception of print data (step S201) is started. Then, when the print data starts to be received (step S201; YES),
Based on the print job information included at the beginning of the print data,
The printing environment (resolution, interface, receiving buffer size) is determined, and the memory capacity available for storing the language-related modules is determined (step S20).
2). Further, the CPU 21 specifies a language (such as an ESC / P language) used in the print data (step S203).
Then, referring to the language-related module information related to the specified language, the total size of the language-related modules used for processing the received print data is determined in step S20.
Some language-related modules whose memory capacity is equal to or less than the memory capacity determined in step 2 are specified (step S204). The specification of the language-related module in step S204 is performed in the same procedure as the specification of the common module in step S105.

The CPU 21 loads the specified language-related module into the SDRAM 22 and changes the correspondence between the logical address and the physical address so that the loaded language-related module is executed on the SDRAM 22 (memory). The processing for controlling the controller 23 is executed (step S205). Then the CPU
The data generation / supply control process 21 is a process for generating a band image based on the received print data and supplying the band image to the print engine 11 by operating according to a plurality of program modules stored in the ROM 24 and the SDRAM 22. Start.

During the data generation and supply control process, the CPU 2
1 periodically checks the remaining amount of memory (the amount of memory that can be used for storing data), and when the remaining amount of memory is equal to or less than a specified amount (when memory shortage occurs), data generation and supply control is performed. The processing is interrupted and the processing shown in FIG. 6 is executed.

That is, when a memory shortage occurs, the CPU 21 determines the amount of memory shortage (a new SDRAM for temporary storage of data) according to the operating condition at that time.
The amount of memory that must be prepared in 222 is determined (step S301). Next, by referring to the language-related table referred to in step S204, a language-related module to be returned to the ROM 24 (erased from the SDRAM 22) is specified (step S302).

In step S302, the language-related modules are specified by selecting k (1 ≦ k ≦ j) out of j language-related modules copied on the SDRAM 22 whose total size exceeds the memory shortage. This is performed by specifying the language-related modules so that the k value becomes the smallest from the lower priority. If no k language-related modules whose total size exceeds the memory shortage are found, all (j) language-related modules are specified as language-related modules to be returned to the ROM 24 in step S302.

In other words, in step S302, the language-related modules are sequentially stored in the ROM 2 in ascending order of priority.
The language-related module to be returned to 4 is specified. When the sum of the sizes of the specified language-related modules exceeds the insufficient memory amount, the language-related module having the highest priority is specified as the language-related module to be returned to the ROM 24. A process that ends sometimes is performed.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 performs a process for returning the specified language-related module to the ROM 24 (step S303). That is, the storage area used for storing the specified language-related module is thereafter used (after step S304) as a work area,
When each specified language-related module is executed, R
A process is performed to control each unit so that the common module on the OM 24 is executed.

If the memory shortage has been resolved (step S304; YES), the illustrated processing is terminated, and the data generation / supply control processing is restarted. On the other hand, if the memory shortage has not been resolved (step S30)
4; NO), referring to the common module information,
A common module to be returned to M24 (erasing from the SDRAM 22) is specified (step S305). In step S305, except that the information to be referred to and the type of module to be processed are different, step S30
The processing of the same procedure as the processing in 2 is performed.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 performs processing for returning the specified common module to the ROM 24, that is, the storage area used for storing the specified common module is used as a work area, and each specified common module is executed. In this case, a process for controlling each unit is performed so that the common module on the ROM 24 is executed (step S3).
06). Then, if the memory shortage has been resolved (step S307; YES), the illustrated processing is terminated, and the data generation / supply control processing is restarted. On the other hand, if the memory shortage has not been resolved (step S307;
In the case of NO), the processing of the print data cannot be continued, so that the error processing is started.

The procedure for ranking the program modules in this embodiment will be described below.

In this embodiment, the average appearance probability of each program module is measured by actually measuring the time Ta required for processing of each program module and measuring the number of appearances of each program module for various print data. The program module for which p has been obtained and a higher Ta × p value has been obtained has a higher priority.

That is, the time required to execute a certain program module on the ROM 24 and the SDRAM
The difference in the time required to execute the same program module on 22 is obtained by multiplying Ta by a certain ratio. Therefore, if a program module with a large Ta (time is required for processing) and a high appearance probability p (a program module with a large Ta × p value) is loaded into the SDRAM 22 first, it is more comprehensive. Processing time can be reduced. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a program module having a higher Ta × p value is given a higher priority.

As described above, in the printing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment, the common module information and the language-related modules are stored in the storage area of the SDRAM 22 having a size that does not cause a problem even when used for storing a program. Some program modules in the ROM 24 are copied (loaded) in the order specified by the priority information (arrangement of module names) in the information, and the copied program modules are executed on the SDRAM 22. And
The priority information in each module information is stored in the SDRAM 22
This is information for ordering a plurality of program modules that may be copied in the order of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing each program module on the SDRAM 22. Therefore, the printing apparatus 10
The SDRAM 22 that can be accessed at a high speed functions in a state of being used extremely effectively, and as a result, printing can be performed at a high speed.

<Modification> Printing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment
Can be variously modified. For example, in general,
Since a larger program module has a larger Ta, common module information and language-related module information may be created as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. That is, each module information is
A program module having a larger size may be created so as to be treated as a program module having a higher priority.

The appearance probability of the language-related module is
Because it depends on the content of the print data, language-related module information for print data that mainly uses characters, language-related module information for print data that mainly uses images, and graphics are mainly used Language-related module information and the like for print data are prepared in the printing apparatus 10, and the user operates the operation panel of the printing apparatus 10 or operates the host (to the printer driver in the host). The printing apparatus 10 may be configured so that language-related module information to be used by the CPU 21 can be specified (by sending a predetermined command).

When configuring the printing apparatus 10 that processes only one type of language, the printing on the ROM 24 or the SDRA
The printing apparatus 10 may be configured (create a program) such that the program module loaded on the SDRAM 22 is determined according to one module information on all the program modules except the program module that is always executed on the M22. it can.

The number of appearances of each language-related module is actually counted for each language, and the language-related module information is rewritten based on the count result (suitable for print data of a type that is frequently printed). Alternatively, the printing apparatus 10 may be configured so that the load order of the language-related modules is changed). The printing apparatus 10 that operates as described above can be configured, for example, as follows.

Instead of including the language-related module information in the program, storage means for storing language-related module information such as an EEPROM is prepared, and the language-related module information stored in the storage means is prepared. Change the program so that the information is referenced. Also,
As shown in FIG. 8, the language-related module information includes the module name, size, and T for each program module.
a, the number of appearances, Ta × the number of appearances, but not the total size. Each time each program module is used, the corresponding number of appearances is incremented, and Ta × the number of appearances is recalculated at an appropriate cycle. When a language-related module to be loaded into the SDRAM 22 is specified, the priority order of each program module is determined by the number of appearances at that time × Ta, and based on the determination result and the size of each program module, Some program modules whose total size is equal to or smaller than the desired value are specified in the order of priority (in the order of the number of appearances × Ta).

[0054]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a printing apparatus capable of performing high-speed printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of common module information held by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of language-related module information held by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a startup process executed by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing executed after completion of startup processing in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing executed when a memory shortage occurs during data generation / supply control processing.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of language-related module information in the case where priorities are assigned according to rules different from those of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of language-related module information that can be used when the priority is dynamically changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 printing device 11 print engine 12 control unit 21 CPU 22 SDRAM 23 memory controller 24, 25 ROM 26 video I / F circuit 27 input I / F circuit 31 CPU bus 32 memory bus

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus, comprising: a print engine; and a control unit that receives print data, generates data corresponding to the print data, and supplies the data to the print engine. A first memory that stores a program including a plurality of program modules that defines an operation procedure of the CPU, a second memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than the first memory, and the plurality of program modules.
Module information relating to a plurality of selected program modules, which are a plurality of selected program modules selected according to a certain criterion, wherein the plurality of selected program modules are ordered in the order of magnitude of an effect obtained by executing the second program on the second memory; Module information holding means holding module information including priority information and size information indicating the size of each of the plurality of selected program modules, and converts a logical address used in the program into a physical address. A memory management mechanism that is capable of changing a rule for converting a logical address to a physical address, wherein the program causes the CPU to store data corresponding to the print data received by the control unit. Generating and supplying the print engine with the print engine. Before starting the data generation and supply control process, refer to the work area having a capacity corresponding to the print job information included at the head of the print data and the size information in the module information from among the plurality of selected program modules. The copy of the selected program modules selected in the order ordered by the priority information in the module information is present in the second memory, and the data generation and supply control process is performed. Sometimes
For each selected program module having a copy on the second memory, a copy of the selected program module on the second memory will be executed,
For each selected program module whose copy is not formed on the second memory, a control process for forming a state in which the selected program module on the first memory is to be executed is executed. Printing device. 2. The program causes the CPU to interrupt the data generation and supply control process if the capacity of the second memory is insufficient during the execution of the data generation and supply control process. A work area having a capacity required for restarting the control process, and a plurality of selected program modules are selected in the order ordered by the priority information in the module information with reference to the size information in the module information. And some copies of the selected program module exist in the second memory, and after the data generation / supply control process is restarted, the second
For each selected program module having a copy on the memory, the copy of the selected program module on the second memory is executed, and the second
For each selected program module for which a copy has not been formed on the memory, after executing a control process for forming a state in which the selected program module on the first memory is to be executed, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is restarted. 3. A printing apparatus comprising: a print engine; and a control unit that receives print data, generates data corresponding to the print data, and supplies the print data to the print engine. A first memory that stores a program including a plurality of program modules that defines an operation procedure of the CPU, a second memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than the first memory, and the plurality of program modules.
Module information relating to a plurality of selected program modules, which are a plurality of program modules selected on the basis that they may be used in processing print data in which a certain language is used, to be executed on the second memory Module information including priority information for ordering the plurality of selected program modules in the order of the effect obtained by the module and size information indicating the size of each of the plurality of selected program modules. And a memory management mechanism for converting a logical address used in the program into a physical address, the memory being capable of changing a rule for converting a logical address into a physical address. A management mechanism, wherein the program is Before the PU generates data corresponding to the print data received by the control unit and starts a data generation / supply control process, which is a process to be supplied to the print engine, the print data included in the head of the print data is From the work area having a capacity corresponding to job information and the plurality of selected program modules used in the language used in the print data, the size information and the priority information in the module information relating to the language And a copy of some selected program modules selected in the order ordered by the priority information,
For each of the selected program modules that exist in the memory and have a copy in the second memory during the data generation / supply control process, the copy of the selected program module in the second memory is executed. For each selected program module for which a copy is not formed on the second memory, a control process for forming a state in which the selected program module on the first memory is to be executed is performed. A printing apparatus characterized by being executed. 4. The module information on a plurality of common program modules, which are a plurality of program modules selected on the basis of being used irrespective of a language, from the plurality of program modules, A common information including priority information for ordering the plurality of common program modules in the order of the magnitude of the effect obtained by executing the second memory, and size information indicating a size of each of the plurality of common program modules; The program module further includes a common module information holding unit that holds module information. The program module included in the program and executed at the time of start-up includes a CPU having a capacity corresponding to the specification of the print engine and the specification of the control unit. Work area and the common module information A plurality of common program modules selected from the plurality of common program modules in the order indicated by the priority information with reference to the size information and the priority information in the common module information. , For each common program module that is in the second memory and whose copy is present in the second memory after the completion, the copy of the common program module in the second memory is executed. For each common program module whose copy is not formed on the second memory, the first program
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a startup control process for forming a state in which the common program module on the memory is to be executed is executed. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the priority information in the module information is used as an index of a magnitude of an effect obtained by executing the program on the second memory. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is information using a size. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the priority information in the module information is information using a size of each selected program module as an index of a magnitude of an effect obtained by executing the module on the second memory. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first memory is a ROM, and the second memory is a RAM. 8. The program according to claim 1, wherein the program functions as the module information holding unit.
A printing device according to claim 7.