JP2002205428A - Print controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reproduce the operational situation faithfully upon occurrence of a print trouble, or the like. SOLUTION: When a print job is inputted to a job queuing section of the print controller 18, a job task control section 26 stores print data and print information, along with a time stamp, in a log data storing section 42. When the print data is processed, respectively, through a bit map data converting section 28 - a bit map data transmitting section 36, processing results are stored as log data along with the time stamp. At the time of reproducing operation based on the log data, a job task reproducing section 44 executes a processing, executed in parallel with a processing designated to start reproduction, at first and then starts execution of the relevant processing, thus reproducing the processing data for the print data faithfully. Consequently, the cause of a print trouble, or the like, can be investigated efficiently and accurately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for performing a print process based on input print data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a print control device connected to a network controls an output device based on print data transferred from a user terminal or the like to perform a printing process. Such a print control device stores an operation history (log data) so that when a failure such as missing prints or erroneous printing occurs in a print result, the cause of the failure can be pursued. There is something.

[0003] Print failures that occur in print output include failures due to print data transferred from a higher-level device such as a user terminal, as well as failures due to device hardware and control programs. It is necessary to specify the cause of the failure, but it is extremely difficult to find out the cause of the failure simply by storing the log data.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-338279, log data is stored in a removable storage medium, and when a printing failure occurs, the storage medium is removed and stored in the storage medium. Data analysis and reproduction tests for the corresponding print data are made possible.

[0005]

However, in the printing process based on print data, colorization, high image quality, high speed, and the like are realized, and complicated data processing is performed in parallel. . For this reason, there is a problem that even if a data analysis or a reproduction test is performed on the corresponding print data, the cause of the failure cannot be determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Even when complicated data processing is performed in parallel, when a printing failure occurs, it is possible to surely investigate the cause of the printing failure. It is an object to propose a print control device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a print control apparatus for sequentially converting input print data in a plurality of processing steps according to an output device and outputting the converted print data. Creating means for creating a log list in which the progress of processing for print data in each of the plurality of processing steps is recorded in chronological order, and processing results in the plurality of processing steps together with a log list created by the creating means. A storage unit for storing as log data, and when performing a reproduction process based on the log data stored in the storage unit, the process is performed together with a process for print data that is processed in parallel with the print data for which the process is reproduced. And reproducing means for performing the operation.

According to the present invention, when each of the input print data is subjected to, for example, bitmap data conversion processing, compression processing, decompression processing, and transmission processing to an output device, each processing is performed. A log list is created by recording the process start and end in the process in chronological order,
The input print data and the processing results in each processing step are
The data is stored in the storage unit as log data so that the printing process can be reproduced based on the log data.

[0009] When performing the reproduction process for the designated print data, the reproduction means executes the process performed in parallel with the process for the print data to be reproduced. That is, when performing processing for print data to be reproduced, prior to execution of this processing, processing that is being processed in another processing step is performed.

[0010] This makes it possible to faithfully reproduce an operation state when processing for designated print data is performed, and to faithfully reproduce an operation state when a print failure occurs even when a print failure or the like occurs. Since it can be reproduced, it is possible to efficiently determine the cause of the printing failure.

According to the present invention, it is preferable that the apparatus further includes a comparing means for comparing the processing result reproduced in each of the plurality of processing steps by the reproducing means with the corresponding processing result stored in the storage means. preferable.

[0012] Thus, for example, by comparing the processing result in each processing step at the time of occurrence of a failure with the processing result at the time of performing the reproduction processing, it is easy to find out the cause of the failure.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the reproducing means can start processing in each processing step for the print data from an arbitrary time on the log list stored in the storing means.

According to the present invention, when the processes recorded in the log list are executed in chronological order, any process on the log list can be executed. At this time, when executing or processing, the processing executed in another processing step is started retroactively.

This makes it possible to efficiently and thoroughly reproduce the processing for desired print data.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the storage means further includes a storage medium from which the log data can be extracted.

Accordingly, the corresponding processing can be faithfully reproduced by another print control device, and the cause of the occurrence of a print failure or the like can be more accurately investigated.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a print network 12 provided with a network printer 10 as a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the print network 12, a plurality of user terminals 14 and the network printer 10
6 and the like.

By transferring the print data created by each user terminal 14 to the network printer 10, the network printer 10 can perform a print process based on the print data.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the network printer 10. This network printer 10
Is composed of a print control device 18 and an IOT 20 as an output device.

The print control device 18 is provided with a network interface (network I / F) 22.
This network I / F 22 is connected to the communication line 16. As a result, print data and print information transferred from the user terminal 14 (not shown in FIG. 2) can be received as a print job.

In the print control device 18, the network I /
When a print job (print data and print information) is received by F22, the print job is
Output to 4. In the job queuing unit 24, when a print job is input, the job task control unit 26
Outputs that the print job has been accepted to

The print control unit 18 includes a bitmap data conversion unit 28, a bitmap data compression unit 30, and a bitmap data decompression unit 3 as print data processing units.
2, a page buffer 34 and a bitmap data transmission unit 36 are provided.

The bitmap data converter 28 converts the print data into bitmap data for each page, and the bitmap data compressor 30 converts the bitmap data generated by the bitmap data converter 28 into bitmap data. The compression processing is performed, and the compressed bitmap data (compressed data) is stored in a storage medium (not shown).

The bitmap data decompression unit 32
The decompression process is performed on the compressed data stored in the storage medium (not shown), and the bitmap data generated by decompression is stored in the page buffer 34 for each page. The bitmap data transmitting section 36 reads out the bitmap data stored in the page buffer 34 at a predetermined timing, and outputs a video interface (video I / F) 38.
And outputs it to the IOT 20.

On the other hand, the job task control unit 26 controls the bitmap data conversion unit 28, the bitmap data compression unit 30, the bitmap data decompression unit 32, and the bitmap data transmission unit 34 based on the print information of the print job. I do. As a result, the IOT 20 executes a printing process based on the print data.

The job task control unit 26 includes a bitmap data conversion unit 28 and a bitmap data compression unit 3.
0, each of the bitmap data decompression unit 32 and the bitmap data transmission unit 36 controls so as to perform processing on different bitmap data in parallel, thereby making it possible to speed up the printing process.

The network printer 1 up to this point
For the configuration of 0, a conventionally known general configuration can be applied, and a detailed description is omitted in the present embodiment.

Incidentally, the print control device 18 is provided with a timer 40 and a log data storage section 42. The job task control unit 26 measures the processing time by the timer 40 while the job queuing unit 24, the bitmap data conversion unit 28, the bitmap data compression unit 3
0, the processing start timing and the processing result in the bitmap data decompression unit 32 and the bitmap data transmission unit 36 are read and stored in the log data storage unit 42 as an operation history.

As a result, the print control device 18 stores the operation history of each processing unit when performing a printing process based on a print job input from the user terminal 14 as log data.

On the other hand, the print control device 18 is provided with a job task reproducing section 44 and an operation panel 46. The print control device 18 includes a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R
A removable storage medium 48 such as (R / W) is provided.

A monitor 50 is provided on the operation panel 46, and a log list based on the log data stored in the log data storage unit 42 can be displayed on the monitor 50. In the print control device 18, log data stored in the log data storage unit 42 can be written to the storage medium 48 by operating a switch on the operation panel 46.

Thus, the log data stored in the log data storage section 42 can be extracted from the print control device 18.

The job task reproducing section 44 can reproduce the processing in the print control device 18 based on the log data stored in the log data storage section 42 based on a switch operation on the operation panel 46. Has become.

When the network printer 10 configured as described above receives a print job (print data and print information) transmitted from the user terminal 14, it performs print processing based on the print job. At this time, the print control device 18 stores the print data of the received print job in the log data storage unit 42, and at least stores the processing start time and the processing result of each processing unit for the print data in the log data storage unit 42. The log data is sequentially stored, and log data including a log list and print data is created.

Here, as an operation of the present embodiment, first, creation of log data based on processing for a print job in the print control device 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the following description, jobs A, B, C
Is used as identification information for data management, and is created based on print information input from the user terminal 14. In the following,
The input print jobs will be described as jobs A, B, and C. As an example, each of the jobs A, B, and C will be described as PDL-format print data for three print pages, a document name, and an output size. , And the number of copies. Further, in the network printer 10, the bitmap data converters 28 for the jobs A, B, and C are sequentially arranged from the first page.
, A bitmap data conversion process in the bitmap data compression unit 30, a bitmap data decompression process in the bitmap data decompression unit 32, and a bitmap data in the bitmap data transmission unit 36 By executing the transmission process, a print result corresponding to the print job is obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of processing for print data in the print control device 18, and FIG. 4 shows an example of a log list 52 created in accordance with this processing flow. The control unit 26 creates a log list 52 by recording the process for each job and the time stamp of the process start time and the process end time.

As a result, the log data storage unit 24
The log list 52 created in this way, the received print data and the processing result of the print data in each processing unit are stored as log data. Hereinafter, the description will be given along the flow of the process shown in FIG.

The job queuing unit 24 provided in the print control unit 18 prints jobs (jobs A, B,
When C) is received, the job task control unit 26 is notified. Accordingly, the job task control unit 26 records the reception of the jobs A, B, and C together with the time stamp in the log list 52 stored in the log data storage unit 42 (Step 100 shown in FIG. 4).

When the job task control unit 26 receives the reception notification of the job A, the job task control unit 26 stores the print data and the print information of the job A in the log data storage unit 24. At the same time, the job information is recorded in the job management file 54 (see FIG. 5A) from the print information sent from the user terminal 14 (steps 102 and 104).

When the saving of the first job A is completed, the bitmap data conversion task is started, and the conversion of the first page (page-1) of job A into bitmap data is started (step 106). At the same time, Job B
Is started (step 108), and when the saving of the job B is finished (step 110), the saving of the job C is started (step 112). At the same time, the user terminal 14
Job management file 54 from the print information sent from
Job information is added to (see FIG. 5A).

On the other hand, when the bitmap data conversion processing for the first page of job A is completed (step 11)
4), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24.
And starts the bitmap data compression task, and starts the bitmap data compression process for the first page of this job A (step 116). Also,
The bitmap data conversion process for the second page of job A is started (step 118).

When the storage of the job C is completed (step 120), the completion of the storage is recorded in the log list 52 together with the time stamp.

Here, the bitmap data compression for the first page of job A is completed (step 12).
2), while saving the compressed data in the log data storage unit 24, and activating the bitmap data decompression task,
The decompression process for the compressed bitmap data is started (step 124), and is expanded in the page buffer 34.

When the bitmap data conversion for the second page of job A is completed (step 126),
This bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24, and the bitmap data compression processing is started (step 128). At the same time, the bitmap data conversion process for the third page of job A is started (step 13).
0) When the bitmap data conversion processing for the third page of job A is completed (step 132), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24. Further, a bitmap data conversion process for the first page of job B is started (step 134).

On the other hand, when the bitmap data decompression process for the first page of job A is completed (step 13)
6), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24.
And activates the bitmap data transmission task, and stores one of the jobs A in the page buffer 34.
The bitmap data of the page is transmitted to the IOT 20 via the video I / F 38 (step 138). Thus, the printing process for the first page of job A is started.

When the bitmap data compression processing for the second page of job A is completed (step 14)
0), the compressed bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24, and decompression processing for the bitmap data is started (step 142). With this,
The bitmap data compression processing for the third page of job A is started (step 144).

Thereafter, when the bitmap data transmission processing for the first page of the job A is completed, the fact is recorded in the log list 52 together with the time stamp (step 146). Also, the bitmap data conversion processing for the first page of job B ends (step 148),
The bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24, and the bitmap data conversion process for the second page of the job B is started (step 150).

Further, when the bitmap data compression processing for the third page of job A is completed (step 15)
2) The compressed bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24, and the bitmap data compression process for the first page of job B is started (step 154).

Next, when the bitmap data decompression process for the second page of job A is completed (step 15)
6), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24.
And the job A stored in the page buffer 34
The bitmap data transmission process for the second page is started (step 158). At the same time, Job A 3
The bitmap data decompression process for the page is started (step 160).

On the other hand, when the bitmap data conversion processing for the second page of job B is completed (step 16)
2), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 42
, And the bitmap data conversion process for the third page of job B is started (step 164).

The bitmap data transmission process for the second page of job A is completed (step 166).
Further, when the bitmap data decompression processing for the third page of job A is completed (step 168), the bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 24, and the bitmap data for the third page of job A developed in the page buffer 34 is stored. The map data transmission process starts (step 170).

Thereafter, the bitmap data compression processing for the first page of job B is completed (step 17).
2) The compressed bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 42, and the bitmap data expansion process for the first page of job B is started (step 17).
4). At the same time, the bitmap data compression processing for the second page of job B is started (step 17).
6).

When the bitmap data conversion processing for the third page of job B is completed (step 17)
8) The bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 42.
And starts the bitmap data conversion process for job C (omitted in FIG. 4, see FIG. 3).

When the bitmap data transmission processing for the third page of job A is completed (step 18)
0), it is recorded in the log list 52, and when the bitmap data compression processing for the second page of job B is completed (step 182), the compressed bitmap data is stored in the log data storage unit 42 and the job B The bitmap data compression processing for the page is started (step 184).

On the other hand, when the bitmap data decompression process for the first page of job B is completed (step 18)
6) The bitmap data transmission processing for the first page of the job B stored in the log data storage unit 42 and developed in the page buffer 34 is started (step 188).
At the same time, the bitmap data decompression process for the second page of job B is started (step 190).

When the bitmap data compression processing for the third page of job B is completed (step 19)
2) The data is stored in the log data storage unit 42, and is recorded in the log list 52 when the bitmap data transmission processing for the first page of the job B is completed (step 194).

Thereafter, when the bitmap data decompression process for the second page of job B is completed (step 19)
6) Save the log data in the log data storage unit 42 and start bitmap data transmission processing for the second page of job B (step 198). At the same time, the bitmap data expansion process for the third page of job B is started (step 200).

When the bitmap data transmission processing for the second page of job B is completed, the log list 52
(Step 202). When the bitmap data decompression process for the third page of job B is completed (step 204), the log data is stored in the log data storage unit 42 and the bitmap data for the third page of job B is transmitted. The process is started (step 206), and when the bitmap data transmission process ends, it is recorded in the log list 52 (step 208).

As described above, when the print control device 18 receives the print job transmitted from the user terminal 14, the print data and print information of the print job are stored in the log data storage section 42 together with the time stamp. While performing bitmap data conversion processing, bitmap data compression processing, bitmap data decompression processing, and bitmap data transmission processing on print data, the processing results are logged together with time stamps indicating the start and end of the processing. It is stored in the storage unit 42.

As a result, log data that clarifies the operation state and operation result of the print control device 18 is created. Therefore, for example, a job management file 54 as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the monitor 50 based on the print information of the jobs A, B, C,. be able to.

By the way, the printing result processed by the printing control device 18 may cause printing troubles such as missing prints and erroneous printing. At this time, the print control device 18 determines, based on the log data stored in the log data
The operation state of the print control device 18 can be reproduced.

Here, the reproduction of the print processing in the print control device 18 will be described. The reproduction of this printing process is performed using the operation panel 4
6 is executed by selecting the reproduction process by operating the switch of FIG.
A job selection screen as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the monitor 50 based on the information of (A).

At this time, it is assumed that a print failure has occurred in the job B whose job number is 2, and the job B
Select job number 2 (FIG. 5B shows job number 2
Is shown).

As a result, a screen for selecting a page number to be reproduced is displayed on the monitor 50 (not shown). Further, for example, by selecting the reproduction process from the first page of job B, as shown in FIG.
The monitor 50 displays a selection screen of a process number corresponding to the process of starting reproduction from the first page of the job B. At this time, for example, by selecting the “bitmap data conversion process” having the process number No. 1 (see FIG. 7A), the reproduction process is started based on the log list 52 and the stored processing result. .

On the other hand, the bitmap data conversion processing for the first page of job B corresponds to step 134 and subsequent steps shown in FIGS. Here, in the job task reproducing section 44, the bitmap data converting section 28 executes step 1
34 starts, the bitmap data compression unit 3
0, the presence or absence of a job that has been subjected to parallel processing is checked from the processing states of the bitmap data decompression unit 32 and the bitmap data transmission unit 36. If there is a print job that has been subjected to parallel processing, execution of step 134 is performed. Before executing the corresponding print job.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the bitmap data conversion processing for the first page of job B is started, the bitmap data compression processing for the second page of job A is performed. Job A
The bitmap data decompression process for the first page is performed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the job task reproducing section 44 first records the log list 52 and the log list 52 as a pre-process of the bitmap data conversion process for the first page of the job B. Based on the present time stamp, a bitmap data conversion process for the first page of job A is executed (step 124),
Subsequently, the bitmap data compression processing for the second page of job A is started (step 128).

Thereafter, the time measured by the timer 40 is:
When the execution timing of step 134 based on the time stamp comes, the bitmap data conversion process for the first page of job B is started. In other words, when the reproduction process for job B is instructed, not only the process for job B but also the print control device 18 executes the process performed in parallel with the process for job B, thereby The operation state of the print control device 18 when processing B is faithfully reproduced.

On the other hand, when the reproduction process of the designated print job is started, the job task reproducing section 44 displays the progress of the reproduction process on the monitor 50 as shown in FIG. That is, during the execution of the pre-processing, “Pre-processing is being executed” is displayed on the monitor 50, and “End” is displayed when the pre-processing is completed. Further, each processing for the first page of the job B is started. Each time the "bitmap data conversion", "compression", "decompression", and "I
“OT transmission processing in progress” is displayed in order, and every time the processing of the last page (the third page in the present embodiment) is completed, a display indicating “terminated” for the corresponding processing is performed.

The job task reproducing unit 44 executes the processing for each page of the job B, saves each processing result, and when the reproduction processing for each page of the job B is completed, the log data storage unit 42 Is compared with the processing result obtained in the reproduction processing.

FIG. 7B shows a display example of the monitor 50 when the processing results are compared in the job task reproducing section 44. And the comparison result is displayed for each processing step. At this time, for example, when there is a difference in the result of bitmap data compression for the third page of job B, a display indicating the difference is performed.

In such a case, it is possible to clearly determine that a failure has occurred due to the bitmap data compression processing of the third page of job B. If there is no difference between the result of the reproduction processing and the processing result stored in the log data storage unit 24, it is assumed that the print data of the original job B transmitted from the user terminal 14 includes a failure or the like. Is done.

Here, the storage medium 48 is provided in the print control device 18, and the log data stored in the log data storage section 42 can be written in the storage medium 48 by operating a switch on the operation panel 46. . This storage medium 48 is detachable from the print control device 18.
As a result, the log data is extracted from the print control device 18, and the reproduction process can be performed by, for example, the same print control device as the print control device 18.

Therefore, by executing the reproduction process by another print control device or the like, the cause of the printing failure is in the hardware or software of the print control device 18 or in the original print data or the like. Can be clearly determined.

The above-described embodiment shows an example of the present invention, and does not limit the configuration of the present invention. According to the present invention, the print data of a print job transmitted from the user terminal 14 or the like is converted into bitmap data, bitmap data compression processing, It has been described that the print job is output to an output device such as the IOT 20 by performing the process and the bitmap data transmission process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The print data of the transmitted print job is converted into bitmap data and printed. The present invention can be applied to a print control device having an arbitrary configuration for performing processing.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, the progress of processing in each processing step is recorded in chronological order,
By storing the print data and the processing result together, the operation state is enabled, and if there is a process being executed in parallel with the process to be reproduced, the process is executed from that process. As a result, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the operation state based on the log data, and it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that, for example, the cause of a printing failure or the like can be accurately and efficiently investigated.

Further, according to the present invention, by starting the reproduction processing at an arbitrary timing, it is possible to efficiently reproduce the operation state, and by comparing the stored processing result with the reproduced processing result. It is possible to accurately determine the cause of a printing failure or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a print network according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print control device applied to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of processing for print data in each processing step in a time-series manner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a log list based on FIG.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a job management file displayed based on a log list, and FIGS.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed when executing a reproduction process.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a reproduction process for a designated print job in chronological order.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display during execution of a reproduction process, and FIG. 7B is an example of a display when a processing result obtained by the reproduction process is compared with a stored processing result; It is a schematic diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network printer 14 user terminal 18 print control device 20 IOT (output device) 24 job queuing unit (processing step) 26 job task control unit (creating unit) 28 bitmap data conversion unit (processing step) 30 bitmap data compression unit (Processing step) 32 Bitmap data decompressing section (Processing step) 36 Bitmap data transmitting section (Processing step) 40 Timer 42 Log data storage section (Saving means) 44 Job task reproducing section (Reproducing means) 46 Operation panel 48 Storage medium (Saving means) 50 Monitor 52 Log list

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print control apparatus for sequentially converting input print data in a plurality of processing steps in accordance with an output device and outputting the converted data, wherein the print control apparatus performs processing on the print data in each of the plurality of processing steps. Creating means for creating a log list in which progress is recorded in chronological order; saving means for saving the processing results of the plurality of processing steps together with the log list created by the creating means as log data; saving to the saving means A reproduction control unit that performs a reproduction process based on the log data that is executed, in conjunction with a process on print data that is processed in parallel with the print data that reproduces the process. . 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a comparing unit configured to compare a processing result reproduced in each of the plurality of processing steps by the reproducing unit with a corresponding processing result stored in the storage unit. 2. The print control device according to 1. 3. The processing in each processing step for the print data from the arbitrary time on the log list stored in the storage unit by the reproduction unit can be started. The print control device according to claim 2. 4. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a storage medium from which the log data can be extracted.