JP2002103699A - Method for transferring data and electrophotographic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time elapsing before a writing object is generated by receiving print data efficiently. SOLUTION: The electrophotographic system 200 comprises a central processor (CPU) 201 for controlling the entire system generally, an ROM 202 storing a control program, and an RAM 203 for use as the working area of the control program and the buffer area of print data interconnected through a bus 204. An extension interface 205, i.e., an interface unit with a host computer, an ASIC 206 for image processing print data, and a hard disc drive 208 for use as the buffer area of print data and image data connected with a hard disc drive 207 are also connected with the bus 204.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data transfer method and an electrophotographic apparatus, and more particularly, to a data transfer method and an electrophotographic apparatus for temporarily storing print data from a host computer in storage means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional electrophotographic apparatus having storage means, there is an electrophotographic apparatus having a buffering mechanism for temporarily storing print data from a host computer. Typical examples of the storage means include a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a memory element and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) as a magnetic storage device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an RA in a conventional electrophotographic apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method using M. The electrophotographic apparatus 400 is used as a central processing unit (CPU) 401 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 402 storing a control program, and a work area for the control program and a buffer area for print data. And a RAM 403, which are connected via a bus 404. An extension interface 405 which is an interface device with the host computer.
And an ASIC (Applicatio) that performs image processing of print data
n Specific Integrated Circuit) 406 and a hard disk drive 408 connected to a hard disk device 407 used as a buffer area for print data and image data are connected to the bus 404.

With such a configuration, print data from the host computer is temporarily stored in the buffer area of the RAM 403 via the extension interface 405.
The ASIC 406 scans the print data stored in the buffer area of the RAM 403 and converts the print data into an image signal that can be recognized by the printing apparatus. A drawing object is created from the converted image signal and printing is performed.

[0005] FIG. 5 shows an HD in a conventional electrophotographic apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method using D. The electrophotographic apparatus 400 is the same as in FIG. The print data from the host computer is received via the extension interface 405 and the hard disk drive 408
Is stored in the hard disk device 407 via the. AS
The IC 406 scans the print data stored in the hard disk device 407 and converts it into an image signal that can be recognized by the printing device. A drawing object is created from the converted image signal and printing is performed.

[0006]

However, the buffer area of the RAM 403 for print data is generally small. Therefore, when the print data is received from the host computer and the buffer area becomes full, the next print data cannot be received until the conversion processing to the image signal is completed, and the communication between the host computer and the electrophotographic apparatus is not performed. However, there is a problem that the throughput is deteriorated.

[0007] The hard disk device 407 has a RAM 40
3 has a buffer area larger than that of No. 3 so that print data reception and conversion to an image signal can be processed in parallel, and the throughput does not deteriorate. But,
Unless all the print data has been received, the image data cannot be converted into an image signal, so that there is a problem that the processing time until the drawing object is created becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the processing time required for creating a drawing object by efficiently receiving print data. An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer method and an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a data transfer method for temporarily storing print data from a host computer in a storage means. A first storage step of storing the print data from the host computer in any one of a plurality of storage units;
A measuring step of measuring a capacity of the print data from the host computer; and if the capacity of the print data measured in the measuring step exceeds a predetermined threshold, any one of the storage means And a second storage step of storing the print data from the host computer in another storage unit switched in the control step.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the capacity is the number of print jobs of the host computer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the one of the storage means is a RAM, the capacity is the number of bits of the print data, and the predetermined threshold is the RAM. The number of bits of a buffer area for storing the print data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect, the other storage means is an HDD.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electrophotographic apparatus provided with a storage unit for temporarily storing print data from a host computer, a measuring unit for measuring a capacity of the print data from the host computer; When the capacity of the print data measured by the measurement means exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the print data from the host computer is read from any one of the plurality of storage means. Control means for switching to another storage means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the capacity is the number of print jobs of the host computer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the one of the storage means is a RAM, the capacity is the number of bits of the print data, and the predetermined threshold is the RAM. The number of bits of a buffer area for storing the print data.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, the other storage means is an HDD.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, in parallel with the processing of the print data stored in the one of the storage units, the other storage unit And print data from the host computer.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium for recording a program for controlling an electrophotographic apparatus provided with storage means for temporarily storing print data from a host computer, wherein A first storage step of storing the print data in any one of the plurality of storage units, a measurement step of measuring a volume of the print data from the host computer, and a measurement step of the measurement step. When the capacity of the print data exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a control step of switching from any one of the storage units to another storage unit; and a step of controlling the print data from the host computer in the control step. And causing the computer to execute the second storage step of storing in the switched storage means. Characterized in that it is a computer-readable recording medium recording a beam.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a data transfer method according to the present invention. When the power of the electrophotographic apparatus is turned on, an address value or the number of jobs is set in a register for setting a point at which an interrupt is generated (S101). When there is a reception request from the extension interface, print data is received from the host computer (S102), and the address value is incremented or the number of jobs is counted (S103). It is determined whether the address value or the number of jobs has reached the value set in S101 (S104), and if it has reached, an interrupt is generated (S105). Here, the storage location of the print data is changed from the RAM to the hard disk device (S106), and the print data is stored in the hard disk device (S107). At the same time, the print data stored in the RAM is converted into an image signal recognizable by the printing device (S110), and when the conversion is completed (S111, S1).
08), the print data stored in the hard disk device is transferred to the RAM (S109). The process is repeated until all of the print data stored in the hard disk device is transferred (S114). On the other hand, a drawing object is created from the converted image signal (S112), and printing is performed (S113).

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention. The electrophotographic apparatus 200 includes a central processing unit (CP) for controlling the entire apparatus.
U) 201 and ROM 20 storing a control program
2 and a RAM 203 used as a work area for a control program and a buffer area for print data. These are connected via a bus 204. Also, an extension interface 205 which is an interface device with a host computer, and an ASI
A C 204 and a hard disk drive 208 connected to a hard disk device 207 used as a buffer area for print data and image data are connected to the bus 204.

With such a configuration, print data from the host computer is temporarily stored in the buffer area of the RAM 203 via the extension interface 205.
The ASIC 206 scans the print data stored in the buffer area of the RAM 203 and converts the scan data into an image signal that can be recognized by the printing apparatus. Subsequently, when print data is received from the host computer and the address value or the number of jobs reaches the set value, the print data storage destination is R
It is changed from the AM 203 to the hard disk device 207. The print data is stored in the hard disk device 207 via the hard disk drive 208.

That is, the print data stored in the buffer area of the RAM 203 is converted into an image signal,
The print data from the host computer can be stored in the hard disk device 207. When the conversion of the print data stored in the buffer area of the RAM 203 is completed, the print data stored in the hard disk device 207 is transferred to the buffer area of the RAM 203 and converted into an image signal that can be recognized by the printing apparatus. A drawing object is created from the converted image signal and printing is performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the R of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.
It is a figure showing the content of AM. A RAM 203 includes a control block 301 used by firmware for controlling the controller, a buffer area 302 for storing print data from a host computer, and a RAM for converting print data into an image signal recognizable by a printing apparatus. A conversion block 303 serving as a work area; and a drawing area 304 for storing a drawing object created from an image signal.
It is composed of

According to this embodiment, even if the print data from the host computer is larger than the buffer area of the RAM, conversion and drawing can be performed simultaneously while storing the print data in the hard disk device. Processing and reception of print data can be efficiently performed.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A first storage step of storing print data from a host computer in any one of a plurality of storage units, a measurement step of measuring the amount of print data from the host computer, and a print measurement in the measurement step A control step of switching from one of the storage units to another storage unit when the data capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and another storage unit of which the print data from the host computer is switched in the control step. And a second storage step for storing the print data, so that the processing time until the creation of the drawing object can be reduced by efficiently receiving the print data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a data transfer method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of a RAM of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method using a RAM in a conventional electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a data transfer method using an HDD in a conventional electrophotographic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200, 400 Electrophotographic apparatus 201, 401 Central processing unit (CPU) 202, 402 ROM 203, 403 RAM 204, 404 Bus 205, 405 Extended interface 206, 406 ASIC 207, 407 Hard disk drive 208, 408 Hard disk drive 301 Control block 302 Buffer area 303 Conversion block 304 Drawing area

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C087 AB05 AC08 BA03 BA05 BC02 BC05 BC07 BC14 BD46 2C187 AC07 5B021 AA01 BB02 5C062 AA05 AA13 AB11 AB22 AC04 5C073 AA03 AA06 AB07 AB17 BA06 BB02 BC01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A data transfer method for temporarily storing print data from a host computer in a storage means,
A first storage step of storing the print data from the host computer in any one of a plurality of storage units, a measurement step of measuring a capacity of the print data from the host computer, and the measurement When the capacity of the print data measured in the step exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a control step of switching from one of the storage means to another storage means, and the print data from the host computer. And a second storage step of storing in the other storage means switched in the control step. 2. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the capacity is the number of print jobs of the host computer. 3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit is a RAM, the capacity is a number of bits of the print data, and the predetermined threshold is a buffer area of the RAM for storing the print data. 2. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the number of bits is a number. 4. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein said another storage means is an HDD. 5. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising storage means for temporarily storing print data from a host computer, a measuring means for measuring a capacity of the print data from the host computer, and a measuring means for measuring a capacity of the print data from the host computer. When the capacity of the print data exceeds a predetermined threshold value, switching the print data from the host computer from one of the plurality of storage units to another storage unit. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: 6. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the capacity is the number of print jobs of the host computer. 7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a RAM, the capacity is a number of bits of the print data, and the predetermined threshold is a buffer area of the RAM for storing the print data. 6. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number is a bit number. 8. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said another storage means is an HDD. 9. The print data from the host computer is stored in the other storage means in parallel with the processing of the print data stored in the one storage means. 9. The electrophotographic apparatus according to any one of items 8 to 8. 10. A recording medium recording a program for controlling an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a storage unit for temporarily storing print data from a host computer, wherein said print data from said host computer is stored in a plurality of said plurality of said print data. A first storage step of storing in any one of the storage units, a measurement step of measuring a volume of the print data from the host computer, and a capacity of the print data measured in the measurement step. A control step of switching from one of the storage units to another storage unit when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, and another storage unit switched from the host computer to the print data in the control step. And a second storage step of storing the program in a computer. Data readable recording medium.