JP2003072164A - Apparatus, system and method for processing data, storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus, a system and a method for processing data, a storage medium and a program whereby many documents can be retained and stored into a box by saving data storage regions when transmitted PDL data is retained in the form of the document to a storage means named the box. SOLUTION: A digital combined machine 1-4 is provided with a PDL interpreting part 620 for interpreting PDL data, a PDL plotting part 621 for developing intermediate data obtained by interpreting PDL data to image data and plotting the data, and a page processing part B612 for comparing sizes of the intermediate data and the image data and controlling to store the smaller data to the data storage region 625 on the basis of the comparison result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a data processing device,
The present invention relates to a data processing system, a data processing method, a storage medium, and a program, and particularly in a system in which peripheral devices such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a digital multi-function peripheral are connected to a computer by a network.
The present invention relates to a data processing device, a data processing system, a data processing method, a storage medium, and a program suitable for saving a data storage area when transmitting DL data to a printer and storing it as a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus for transmitting PDL (Page Description Language) data to a printer and storing it in the form of a document in a storage means called a box, image data after expanding the PDL data is stored. . Further, since the size of image data is usually large, the image data is compressed to a small size by using an image compression technique (first conventional technique).

On the other hand, conventionally, in a device for transmitting PDL data to a printer and storing it in a storage means called a box, there are a method of storing the PDL data itself and a method of storing image data after expanding the PDL data. However, there is no device capable of switching between these two methods. Further, it has not been considered to make these two methods dynamically switchable (second prior art).

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned first conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the case of PDL data, it may be a complicated figure when it is expanded and drawn on the image data. In that case, the image data cannot be compressed at a high compression rate. For example, in PDL data, even information represented by a small amount of information (several bytes to several tens of bytes) such as graphic information, position information, and a hatch pattern becomes a graphic with a large area and a fine pattern when expanded and drawn. Therefore, it is conceivable that the compression rate is very poor, or the data size may be larger than the original image in some cases. On the contrary, even if the PDL command is very complicated data consisting of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, it is very simple image data when drawing and expanding, and very high compression when compressed. Sometimes it can be compressed at a rate.

As described above, the size of the compressed image data is affected by the image, and the image data is compressed as in the conventional method and the document is stored in the device by a function called a box. There is a problem in that doing so is not always the optimum document storage.

On the other hand, the second conventional technique as described above has the following problems. That is, when the PDL data is stored in the box, in many cases, there is an advantage that the data size is smaller than when the image data is stored.
When printing L data, the interpretation process and the drawing process take time. That is, it takes a lot of time to print the PDL data from the box. On the other hand, when the image data is compressed and stored in the box, the data size is usually large, but on the other hand, there is an advantage that the PDL interpretation processing and the drawing processing do not take much time when the image data is taken out from the box. .

Which of the PDL data and the image data becomes larger depends on the PDL data. Therefore, whichever of the method of storing the PDL data itself and the method of storing the image data after the PDL data is expanded is selected. It is difficult to decide whether to adopt it. In general, PDL data is stored when the memory constraint is severe, and image data is stored when the time from the box to printing is shortened. In any case, the above-mentioned conventional technique has a problem that it cannot be said that the design is optimum.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when the transmitted PDL data is stored in the form of a document in a storage means called a box, the data storage area is saved and many documents are saved. Data processing device, data processing system, which can be stored in a box
A first object is to provide a data processing method, a storage medium, and a program.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and responds to a request for printing speed when transmitting PDL data to a printing apparatus and storing it in the form of a document in a storage means called a box. A second object of the present invention is to provide a data processing device, a data processing system, a data processing method, a storage medium, and a program capable of saving the data storage area.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a PDL (Page Description).
Language) data storage device having a function of storing PDL data, PDL interpreting means for interpreting the PDL data, PDL drawing means for developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, It is characterized by further comprising a comparison means for comparing the size of the intermediate data and the size of the image data, and a control means for controlling so as to save the smaller data in the data storage area based on the comparison result.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 further comprises a storage means for storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and data stored in the data storage area. It is characterized in that it has an identifying means for identifying whether it is the intermediate data or the image data, and a restoring means for restoring the saved data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 further applies compression processing to the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and the image data is stored in the data storage area. It is characterized by comprising a compression / decompression means for performing decompression processing on the image data when reading from the.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 further comprises a print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data in the print control means. And an image transfer means for transferring.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 can be applied to a multifunction machine, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function. Is characterized by.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 6 is a data processing device having a function of storing PDL (Page Description Language) data,
PDL interpreting means for interpreting data, PDL drawing means for expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, and compressed data obtained by compressing the PDL data and the image data in a data storage area. Saving means for saving, first measuring means for measuring the size of the PDL data, second measuring means for measuring the size of the compressed data, and comparison of the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data And a deleting unit that deletes the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 7 further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the print speed has priority when printing the data stored in the data storage area, and the print speed priority. In the case of No. 2, the control unit performs a process corresponding to the print speed priority, and when the print speed is not the priority, the control unit controls to delete the larger data from the data storage area.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 8 further applies a compression process to the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and the image data is stored in the data storage area. It is characterized by comprising a compression / decompression means for performing decompression processing on the image data when reading from the.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 9 further comprises a print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data in the print control means. And an image transfer means for transferring.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 10 can be applied to a multi-function peripheral, a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function. Is characterized by.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 11 is an information processing apparatus for transmitting PDL (Page Description Language) data, and data processing having a function of storing the PDL data received from the information processing apparatus. A data processing system including a device, wherein the data processing device interprets the PDL data, and a PDL drawing device that develops and draws intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data. The information processing device, the comparison means for comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and the control means for controlling the smaller data to be stored in the data storage area based on the comparison result. Performs data communication with the data processing device via a network or an interface.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 12 is that the data processing device further comprises a storage means for storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and the data storage area in the data storage area. An identification unit that identifies whether the stored data is the intermediate data or the image data; and a restoration unit that restores the saved data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result. Characterize.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 13 is that the data processing apparatus further compresses the image data when storing the image data in the data storage area, It is characterized by further comprising compression / expansion means for performing expansion processing on the image data when reading data from the data storage area.

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 14, the data processing device further comprises print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data. And an image transfer means for transferring to the print control means.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 15 is characterized in that the data processing device has a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function, a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile. It is applicable to.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 16 is an information processing apparatus for transmitting PDL (Page Description Language) data, and data processing having a storage function of the PDL data received from the information processing apparatus. A data processing system including a device, wherein the data processing device interprets the PDL data, and a PDL drawing device that develops and draws intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data. And the P
Storage means for storing DL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area; and the PDL.
A first measuring means for measuring the size of data, a second measuring means for measuring the size of the compressed data, and the PD
The information processing apparatus includes: a comparison unit that compares the sizes of the L data and the compressed data; and a deletion unit that deletes the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result. And data communication via a network or an interface.

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 17, the data processing device further determines whether or not the print speed has priority when printing the data stored in the data storage area. And a control means for performing processing corresponding to the print speed priority when the print speed is prioritized, and controlling so as to delete the larger data from the data storage area when the print speed is not prioritized. To do.

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 18, the data processing device further compresses the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, It is characterized by further comprising compression / expansion means for performing expansion processing on the image data when reading data from the data storage area.

To achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 19, the data processing device further comprises print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data. And an image transfer means for transferring to the print control means.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 20 is characterized in that the data processing device is provided with a multi-functional peripheral having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function, a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile. It is applicable to.

To achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 21 is a data processing method executed by a data processing device having a function of storing PDL (Page Description Language) data, wherein the PDL data is interpreted. PD
L interpretation step, PDL drawing step of developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, comparison step of comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and based on the comparison result And a control step of controlling so that the smaller data is stored in the data storage area.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 22 further comprises a storage step of storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and the data stored in the data storage area is the storage area. An identification step of identifying whether the data is intermediate data or the image data;
And a restoration step of restoring the saved data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 23 is such that the image data is compressed when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and the image data is stored in the data storage area. It is characterized in that it has a compression / decompression step of performing decompression processing on the image data when reading from the image data.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to a twenty-fourth aspect further includes a print control step for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data in the print control step. And an image transfer step of transferring.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 25 can be applied to a multifunction machine, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function. Is characterized by.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 26 is a data processing method executed by a data processing device having a function for storing PDL (Page Description Language) data, which interprets the PDL data. PD
L interpreting step, PDL drawing step of expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, and saving step of saving the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area When,
A first measuring step of measuring the size of the PDL data, a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data, And a deleting step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 27, further comprises a judgment step of judging whether or not the print speed has priority when printing the data stored in the data storage area, and the print speed priority. In the case of No. 2, the control process is performed so that the process corresponding to the print speed priority is performed, and when the print speed is not prioritized, the larger data is deleted from the data storage area.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 28 is such that the image data is compressed when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and the image data is stored in the data storage area. It is characterized in that it has a compression / decompression step of performing decompression processing on the image data when reading from the image data.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 29 further comprises a print control step of controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and the image data in the print control step. And an image transfer step of transferring.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 30 can be applied to a multi-function peripheral, a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function. Is characterized by.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 31 is read by a computer which stores a program for executing a data processing method applied to a data processing device having a PDL (Page Description Language) data storage function. The data processing method is a possible storage medium, the PDL interpreting step of interpreting the PDL data, the PDL rendering step of rendering intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, and rendering the intermediate data. It is characterized by further comprising a comparison step of comparing the size of the data with the size of the image data, and a control step of controlling so as to save the smaller data in the data storage area based on the comparison result.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 32 is read by a computer which stores a program for executing a data processing method applied to a data processing device having a PDL (Page Description Language) data storage function. The data processing method is a possible storage medium, and the data processing method includes a PDL interpretation step of interpreting the PDL data, a PDL rendering step of rendering intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data and rendering the image data, and the PDL. Data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area; a first measuring step of measuring the size of the PDL data; and a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data. A measuring step and a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data And a deleting step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 33 is a program supplied to a data processing device having a function of storing PDL (Page Description Language) data, which is a PDL interpretation for interpreting the PDL data. A PDL drawing step for developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, a comparing step for comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and a smaller one based on the comparison result. And a control step of controlling so that the data of (1) is stored in the data storage area.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 34 is a program supplied to a data processing device having a function of storing PDL (Page Description Language) data, which is a PDL interpretation for interpreting the PDL data. A PDL drawing step of expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data; a saving step of saving the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area; A first measuring step of measuring the size of the PDL data, a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data, A deletion step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result. Is characterized by.

[0044]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First to fourth embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
The host computer and the peripheral device according to the embodiment of
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the network system connected by AN. The network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of host computers 1-
1, 1-2, 1-3, digital multifunction peripheral 1 which is a peripheral device
-4, LAN (Local Area Network) 1-5.

To explain the above configuration in detail, the host computers 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 generate various jobs,
It is an information processing apparatus that transmits a job to a peripheral device (digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 in this example). Digital MFP 1-4
Has a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, an image forming function, and an image communication function, and is a print job for forming an image on a print medium, a scan job for reading an image from a document,
Various jobs such as a fax job for performing image communication with an external device and a copy job for forming an image read from a document on a print medium are executed. The host computers 1-1 and 1-2 are connected to the LAN 1-5, respectively, and can use the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4. Further, the host computer 1-3 is connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 by an interface 1-6 such as parallel (or serial) rather than LAN.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing the basic configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 which is a peripheral device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU 2-1 and an RO.
M2-2, RAM 2-3, external storage device 2-4, display unit 2-5, operation unit 2-6, engine interface 2-
7, a network interface 2-8, an external interface 2-9, and a system bus 2-10.

Explaining the above configuration in detail, the CPU 2-1
The central processing unit is for performing control of the entire apparatus, arithmetic processing, etc., and executes the processing shown in each flowchart described later based on a program stored in the ROM 2-2. The ROM 2-2 is a read-only memory, and is a storage area for a system startup program, a program for controlling the printer engine, character data, character code information, and the like. The RAM 2-3 is a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no usage restrictions, in which font data additionally registered by downloading is stored, and programs and data are loaded and executed for various processes. The RAM 2-3 can also be used as a data storage area. The external storage device 2-4 is composed of, for example, a hard disk, and spools data, stores programs and various information files, and is used as a work area.

The display unit 2-5 performs, for example, liquid crystal display or the like, and is used for displaying the setting status of the apparatus, the current internal processing of the apparatus, and the error status. Operation unit 2-6
Is used to change or reset settings. The engine interface 2-7 is a port through which commands and the like for actually controlling the engine are exchanged. The network interface 2-8 is for connecting a device to a network via this interface. External interface 2-9 is parallel (or serial)
It is connected to the host computer via an interface such as. The system bus 2-10 should be a data path between the above-mentioned components.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal software structure of the host computer 3-1 and digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The host computer 3-1 is the host computer 1- of FIG.
It corresponds to 1, 1-2, and 1-3. Digital MFP 1-4
Includes controller software 3-2, and the controller software 3-2 can be divided into a protocol interpreting unit 3-3, a job control unit 3-4, and a device unit 3-5. The protocol interpretation unit 3-3 interprets a command (protocol) sent from the host computer 3-1 via the LAN 1-5 or the external interface 1-6, and sends a job to the job control unit 3-4. This is the part that requests execution. The job control unit 3-4
This is the part that actually processes the job requested by the protocol interpreter 3-3. Furthermore, the device used by the job control unit 3-4 to execute the job is included in the device unit 3-5.

FIG. 4 shows the controller software 3-2 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the outline. Host computer 1
A series of operation requests from -1, 1-2, 1-2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 are sent in the form of a command (protocol) via the network I / F 2-8 and the external I / F 2-9. Come on. The command sent to the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 is interpreted by the protocol interpretation unit 3-3 and sent to the job control unit 3-4. At this point, the command is converted into a form that the job control unit 3-4 can understand.

The job generator 4-1 generates a job 4-10. Various jobs such as a copy job, a print job, a scan job, and a FAX job can be considered as the job 4-10. For example, for a print job,
It also includes setting information such as the name of the document to be printed, the number of copies, the designation of the output tray of the output destination, and the print data itself (PDL code). The job 4-10 is sent to the job processing unit 4-2, and the settings (settings such as collectively printing and stapling a plurality of documents) and processing relating to the entire job are performed. Further, the job processing unit 4-2 divides the input document 4-11, which is a unit of smaller work, except for the settings and processes related to the entire job.

The input document 4-11 is converted into an output document 4-14 by the document processing section 4-3. That is, for example, when considering a scan job in which a bundle of documents is read by a scanner and converted into a plurality of image data, it is the input document 4-11 in which the setting and operation procedures regarding the bundle of documents are written. The output document 4-14 describes the procedure for setting and operating the image data. The document processing unit 4 has a role of converting each paper image in the bundle of documents into a plurality of image data.
-3. Further, the document processing unit 4-3 performs only the processing in document units, and generates the input page 4-12 which is a unit of smaller work. This is because the job processing unit 4-2 concentrates on the processing for each job,
It's like generating a document for more detailed work.

The document-based setting / operation specifically relates to page order such as page rearrangement, double-sided printing setting, cover addition, OHP insertion, and the like.
Further, the input page 4-12 is converted into an output page 4-15 by the page processing section 4-4. For example, in the case of the scan job of the above example, the input page 4-12 describes settings and procedures such as the reading resolution and reading direction (landscape / portrait), and the output page 4-15 shows , Image data storage location (RAM
Settings and procedures such as 2-3 and addresses and data names of the external storage device 2-4 are written.

The job processing unit 4-2, the document processing unit 4-3, and the page processing unit 4-4 all use devices when proceeding with processing. Of course, if a plurality of processing units proceed with work at the same time, a device conflict occurs. Therefore, the device allocating unit 4-6 arbitrates this. Device 1 (4-7), Device 2 (4-8), Device 3
(4-9) is a device assigned to the processing unit by the device assigning unit 4-6, such as a page memory, a document feeder, a marking engine,
A scanner or the like can be considered.

Next, the first aspect of the present invention constructed as described above
The operation centering on the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 of the network system according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example in which each unit shown in FIG. 6 in the digital multi-functional peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention waits to receive an event from another unit. In step S501, it waits for an event sent from other means or itself. At this time, instead of occupying the CPU 2-1, the control is transferred to other means. In step S502, it is determined whether or not an event addressed to itself has been transmitted. If no event exists, step S501.
Return to and wait for the event again. If there is an event, the process proceeds to step S503, and predetermined processing corresponding to the received event is performed. After that, step S501
Return to and wait for the event again.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship of each means during PDL print job processing in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the event is propagated to both sides in the same layer (horizontal line) in the unit of large work (upper) and the unit of small work (lower). Host computers 1-1, 1-2,
The PDL data sent from the printer driver 1-3 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 is in the form of a command (protocol) and is network I / F2-8, external I / F2-
It will be sent via 9. The command sent to the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 sends the protocol interpretation unit 3-3 (601).
(Equivalent to) and is sent to the job control unit 3-4.
At this point, the command is converted into a form that the job control unit 3-4 can understand.

Job generator 4-11 (equivalent to 602)
Interprets the sent command and generates a PDL print job 603. A PDL print job 603, which is a composite job, includes a PDL interpretation job 604 and a PDL drawing job 6 having a function for realizing PDL printing.
05, and a print job 606 is generated. Furthermore,
The PDL interpretation job 604, the PDL drawing job 605, and the print job 606 generate a document processing unit and a page processing unit, respectively. Specifically, the PDL interpretation job 604 generates a document processing unit A607 and a page processing unit A608. Similarly, the PDL drawing job 605 generates the document processing unit B611 and the page processing unit B612, and the print job 606 generates the document processing unit C615 and the page processing unit C616.

In the protocol interpreting unit 601, so-called job attributes (settings such as the number of copies to be printed, finishing processing of print completion paper, double-sided printing / single-sided printing) attached to the print processing are sent to the job generating unit 602, and then the job is processed. In this way, it becomes a form that can be referred to in a series of processes. Apart from that, the PDL data is sent to the PDL interpreter 620. The result interpreted by the PDL interpreter 620 is sent to the document processor A607. Document processing unit A60
The information sent to 7 is the job attribute obtained in the process of interpreting the PDL data. The job attributes obtained in the process of interpreting the PDL data and the PDL print job 6 described above.
Regarding the job attributes added to 03, attributes of the same type may exist, but which attribute has priority is dependent on the specifications of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 and the types of attributes.

The job attribute set by the PDL interpreting unit 602 is sent to the document processing unit A 607, and the intermediate document 609 is generated. The above-mentioned job attributes are stored in the intermediate document 609, and in particular, the attributes required when the PDL drawing unit 621 performs drawing processing are referred to. The document processing unit B611 refers to the intermediate document 609 to generate the image document 613. The job attributes are stored in the image document 613 as described above. Similarly, the document processing section C
615 generates a paper document 617 with reference to the image document 613. The job attributes are also stored in the paper document 617.

The PDL data itself has no page breaks as a data stream, but the PDL interpreter 620
In the process of interpreting PDL data, data to be drawn is cut out in page units. The PDL interpretation unit 620 notifies the page processing unit A 608 of a page generation event in page units. The page processing unit A 608 generates an intermediate page 610 by using it as a trigger. What is the intermediate page 610?
It is a collection of drawing data for one page. That is, it can be considered as a data group including types, sizes, colors, position information, etc. of figures and fonts. Intermediate page 610 is PDL
It is generated every time the interpretation unit 620 notifies a page generation event. Therefore, only the number of pages is generated (instantiated).

Next, the intermediate page 610 is the PDL drawing section 6
21. The page processing unit B612 secures a memory necessary for image drawing, and uses the memory for the PDL drawing unit 6
21 and requests drawing processing. PDL drawing unit 6
The image data on the memory that has undergone the drawing process in 21 is managed in the form of an image page 614. Similar to the intermediate page 610, the image pages 614 are generated (instantiated) by the number of pages.

As described above, PDL data is converted into image data one after another. When the image data is printed by the printer engine, the expanded image page 614 (image data) is transferred to the image transfer unit 62.
2 is sent to the printer control unit 62.
3 is sent and printed. More specifically, image data is DMA (Direct Memory Access) transferred from the memory to the printer engine via the engine I / F 2-7. In the case of double-sided printing or through-pass printing, the printing order of the image pages does not have to be simply output in the order of generation of the image pages 614, but is scheduled by the printer paper control unit 619.

When the image data is printed by the printer engine, the page processing unit C616 generates a paper page 618 corresponding to the image page 614. Size when printed on paper page 618 (A4, A3, etc.)
Information is stored in the printer paper control unit 619.
The page is scheduled with reference to the information.
The paper document 617 manages the paper page 618, and the paper page 618 is registered in the printer paper control unit 619 every time the paper page 618 is generated. As a result of the scheduling, the printer paper control unit 619 notifies the paper page 618 of a paper feed permission event. This paper feed permission event is transmitted to the page processing unit C616 and issues a paper feed command to the printer control unit 623. Further, the page processing unit C616 sends an image transfer start event to the image transfer unit 622, so that the image data (image page 614) is printed.

Up to this point, the case of printing PDL data has been described. Next, a function of saving PDL data in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 (hereinafter referred to as a box function) will be described. In FIG. 6, when the image data after drawing is stored, the page processing unit B612 is the compression / expansion unit 6.
Image page 614 is compressed and written in the data storage area (external storage device 2-4 etc.) 625 by sending the image compression event to 24. Also, the intermediate page 61
There is also a system that stores 0 in the data storage area 625.

The PDL data is input to the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 as a print job to be stored in a box. At that time, it is possible to specify in which box the PDL data is to be stored, and a document can be stored. You can specify the name of. These pieces of information are processed in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 as the job information. In particular,
Document processing unit B611 is image document 6
PD based on the above job information stored in 13
The L data is saved in the data storage area 625.

Next, the PDL data is sent to the digital multifunction peripheral 1-
The process of saving as a document will be described in No. 4. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the page processing unit B612 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In step S1101, this process is started. At this stage, the initialization process necessary for the operation is performed. Step S1
At 102, wait for the event to be sent. When the event is transmitted, in step S1103, it is determined whether or not the image page creation completion notification is transmitted from the PDL drawing unit 621. If it is not the image page creation completion notification sent from the PDL drawing unit 621 in step S1103, the process advances to step S1109 to process other events. Conversely, the above step S110
If it is the image page creation completion notification sent from the PDL drawing unit 621 in 3, the process advances to step S1104 to acquire the data storage mode of the print job.

Next, in step S1105, a conditional branch is made as to whether or not the mode is for storing data. If it is not the mode for storing data in step S1105, the process proceeds to step S1102, and the event waiting state is entered again. In the case of the data storage mode in step S1105, the process proceeds to step S1106, and the page processing unit B612 activates the compression / expansion unit 624 to compress the image page 614 (image data).

Next, in step S1107, the page processing unit B612 compares the size of the compressed image page with the size of the intermediate page from which the image page was created. If the size of the compressed image page is smaller in step S1107, step S1
Proceed to step 108 to store the compressed image page in the data storage area 6
Write to 25. If the intermediate page is smaller in step S1107, the process advances to step S1110 to write the intermediate page in the data storage area 625. Then, the above step S1108 or the above step S1
When the process of 110 is completed, the process returns to step S1102, and the event waiting state is entered again.

As a result of the data storage processing as described above, the document is managed inside the digital multi-functional peripheral 1-4 as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a management table of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 701 is a device box (B0 to B9 in this example)
9 is a box management table for managing 100 pieces of 9). In the box management table 701, for example, the box name of the box B0 is “report”, and the box is D
It shows that three documents of 0, D1, and D2 are stored. A document management table 702 includes a document name,
It manages the storage pages in the document. In the document management table 702, for example, the document D0 in the box B0 (box name “report”) is the document name “1999 sales report”, and the pages constituting the document are P0, P1,
It shows that it is P2.

Further, a page management table 703 manages P0 to P3999 as page IDs, which indicates that 4000 pages can be managed. In the page management table 703, the pages P0, P1 and P2 forming the document D0 are the same as those shown in FIG.
As described above, it is composed of compressed image pages (files) and intermediate pages (files). For example, it is actually managed by a file name of the OS file system in the form of a file. In FIG. 7, the document D0 (document name “1999 sales report”) is composed of three pages, and the first page is a compressed image page (FILE00
0. img) The second page is the intermediate page (FILE001.mi
d), and the third page is the compressed image page (FILE0
02. img). This is a result of comparing the sizes of the compressed image page and the intermediate page and storing a page of a small size for each page, as described in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
The result of document storage explained up to now is the digital multifunction device 1-
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how it is displayed on the operation unit 2-6 of FIG. Reference numeral 801 is a box list screen. 802
Is an icon indicating a box 00 (B0 in FIG. 7). Reference numeral 803 represents that the name of the box 00 is “report”. Further, 804 is a box 03 (see FIG. 7).
Then, the icon indicates B03), but it indicates that the document is not saved. Also, since there are 100 boxes in this example, scroll buttons 805 and 806 are for displaying them on the screen.

When the icon 802 of the box 00 (name “report”) is pressed, a document list screen 901 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Reference numeral 902 indicates the name of the box containing the document. Reference numeral 903 is a document list display field. Further, reference numeral 904 denotes a document stored in the box. Further, reference numeral 905 is a check button indicating the selected state of the document. In addition, scroll buttons 906 and 907 are used in case the document cannot be displayed on the screen 901.
Is prepared. If the user wants to print a document, the check button 905 is pressed to select the document in the list display field 903, and then the print button 908 is pressed to start printing. Further, when the operation is stopped halfway, the close button 909 is pressed.

Next, the process of printing the document stored in the box will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of box print execution processing in the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The objects in FIG. 10 are the same as those described in FIG. 6 above. To print the document stored in the User Box,
Since it is not necessary to interpret the PDL data itself, the PDL interpreting unit 620 and the PDL print job 603 are unnecessary, but the BOX print job 1001 is required instead of the PDL print job 603.

The BOX print job 1001 includes the document ID of the document to be printed and the box ID of the storage destination of the document. The information is transmitted to the intermediate document 609, the document processing unit B611, and the image document 613. Therefore, the page processing unit B612 can specify the page of the data storage area (the data storage area including the management table of FIG. 7). The process from the formation of the intermediate page 610 and the image page 614 to the printing is the same as the case described in FIG.

Now, the process of the page processing unit 612 reproducing the image page or the intermediate page from the data storage area (the data storage area including the management table of FIG. 7) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows the first of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing processing of a page processing unit B612 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the embodiment of FIG. In step S1201, this process is started. At this stage, the initialization process necessary for the operation is performed. In step S1202, it waits for an event to be transmitted. When the event is transmitted, in step S1203, it is determined whether the event is a page print instruction event from the document processing unit 611.

If it is not the page print instruction event from the document processing unit 611 in step S1203, the process proceeds to step S1207 to process other events. If it is a page print instruction event from the document processing unit 611 in step S1203, the process advances to step S1204, and the image document 613
From the box ID and the document ID stored in, the page management table of FIG. 7 is referred to, and the target page file is specified.

Next, in step S1205, conditional branching is performed based on the file identifier to determine the file format. If the identifier is. In step S1205 above. img
If so, the file is determined to be compressed data, the process proceeds to step S1206, the compressed image file is opened and read, and the compression / decompression unit 624 is activated to reproduce (restore) the image page (image data).
To do. Further, if the identifier is. If it is mid, the file is determined to be intermediate page data, the process proceeds to step S1208, the intermediate data file is read, and the intermediate page 610 is reproduced (restored). When the processing in step S1208 or step S1206 ends, the process returns to step S1102, and the event waiting state is entered again.

As described above, the document stored in the form of compressed image page data or intermediate page data can be printed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the digital multi-function peripheral interprets the PDL data, the PDL interpreting unit 620, and the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data as image data. Since the PDL drawing unit 621 that expands and draws the image data into the PDL drawing unit 621 and the page processing unit B612 that controls the size of the intermediate data and the image data and saves the smaller data in the data storage area 625 based on the comparison result are included. It has the following effects.

PDL sent from the host computer
In a digital multi-function peripheral having a function of saving data in the form of a document in a storage means called a box, PDL
The size of the entire document can be reduced by comparing the size of the intermediate data required for drawing the data with the image data that was drawn and expanded, and saving the smaller data in the data storage area. It is possible to save the data storage area, and many documents can be saved and stored in the box. Also,
It is possible to print a document in which intermediate data and image data are mixed.

[Second Embodiment] As in the second embodiment of the present invention, in the form of compressed image page data or intermediate page data in the data storage area described in the first embodiment. It is also possible to switch between the two methods of saving and compressing only compressed image page data in the data storage area based on the common setting (default setting) of the digital multi-function peripheral. Also in the second embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] The host computers 1-1, 1-2, 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
3 and the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 are connected by a LAN to a network system (see FIG. 1), the basic configuration of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 (see FIG. 2), and the software structure of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4. Overview (see FIG. 3), details of software structure of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 (see FIG. 4)
Are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the configurations of the respective parts have been described in detail in the first embodiment, and will be omitted.

Next, the third aspect of the present invention configured as described above.
The operation centered on the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 of the network system according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 13 to 18.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example in which each unit shown in FIG. 13 in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention waits to receive an event from another unit. In step S501, it waits for an event sent from other means or itself. At this time, instead of occupying the CPU 2-1, the control is transferred to other means. In step S502, it is determined whether or not an event addressed to itself has been transmitted. If no event exists, step S501.
Return to and wait for the event again. If there is an event, the process proceeds to step S503, and predetermined processing corresponding to the received event is performed. After that, step S501
Return to and wait for the event again.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship of each means during PDL print job processing in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, an event has a unit of large work (upper), a unit of small work (lower), and the same layer (horizontal line).
Is propagated to both sides. Host computers 1-1, 1-
2, 1-3 printer driver to digital multi-function peripheral 1-
The PDL data sent to the network No. 4 is in the form of a command (protocol), the network I / F 2-8, the external I / F.
It is sent via F2-9. Digital MFP 1-4
Command sent to the protocol interpreter 3-3
(Equivalent to 1601) and sent to the job control unit 3-4. At this point, the command is the job control unit 3-4.
Will be converted into a form that can be understood.

Job generator 4-11 (equivalent to 1602)
Interprets the sent command and generates a PDL print job 1603. The PDL print job 1603, which is a composite job, generates a PDL interpretation job 1604, a PDL drawing job 1605, and a print job 1606 that have a function for realizing PDL printing. Further, the PDL interpretation job 1604, the PDL drawing job 1605, and the print job 1606 generate a document processing unit and a page processing unit, respectively. Specifically, the PDL interpretation job 1604 generates a document processing unit A1607 and a page processing unit A1608. Similarly, the PDL drawing job 1605 creates the document processing unit B1611 and the page processing unit B1612, and the print job 1606 creates the document processing unit C1615 and the page processing unit C1616.

In the protocol interpreting unit 1601, so-called job attributes (settings such as the number of copies to be printed, finishing processing of print completion paper, double-sided printing / single-sided printing) incidental to the printing process are sent to the job generating unit 602, and then the job is processed. In this way, it becomes a form that can be referred to in a series of processes. Apart from that, the PDL data is sent to the PDL interpreter 1620. The result of interpretation by the PDL interpretation unit 1620 is sent to the document processing unit A1607. Document processing unit A
The information sent to 1607 is the job attribute obtained in the process of interpreting PDL data. Regarding the job attribute obtained in the process of interpreting the PDL data and the job attribute added to the PDL print job 1603, the same type of attribute may exist, but which attribute has priority is determined by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 -4 depends on the specifications and types of attributes.

The job attribute set by the PDL interpreting unit 1602 is sent to the document processing unit A 1607 and the intermediate document 1609 is generated. Intermediate document 1
The above-mentioned job attributes are stored in 609.
The attributes required when the DL drawing unit 1621 performs the drawing process are referred to. The document processing unit B1611 refers to the intermediate document 1609 and refers to the image document 1
613 is generated. The job attributes are stored in the image document 1613 as described above. Similarly, the document processing unit C1615 refers to the image document 1613 to generate a paper document 1617. The job attributes are also stored in the paper document 1617.

The PDL data itself does not have page breaks as a data stream, but the PDL interpreter 1620
However, in the process of interpreting the PDL data, the data to be drawn is cut out in page units. The PDL interpretation unit 1620 notifies the page processing unit A1608 of a page generation event in page units. The page processing unit A1608 generates an intermediate page 1610 by using it as a trigger. The intermediate page 1610 is a collection of drawing data for one page. That is, it can be considered as a data group including types, sizes, colors, position information, etc. of figures and fonts. The intermediate page 1610 is generated each time the PDL interpretation unit 1620 notifies the page generation event. Therefore, only the number of pages is generated (instantiated).

Next, the intermediate page 1610 is transferred to the PDL drawing unit 1621. The page processing unit B1612 secures a memory necessary for image drawing, transfers the memory to the PDL drawing unit 1621, and requests drawing processing. PDL
The image data on the memory that has undergone the drawing processing by the drawing unit 1621 is managed in the form of an image page 1614. Image page 16 as well as intermediate page 1610
14 is also generated (instantiated) by the number of pages.

As described above, PDL data is converted into image data one after another. When the image data is printed by the printer engine, the expanded image page 1614 (image data) is transferred to the image transfer unit 1.
When sent to 622, the image data is further sent to the printer control section 1623 and printed. More specifically, image data is DMA (Direct Memory Access) transferred from the memory to the printer engine via the engine I / F 2-7. In the case of double-sided printing or through-pass printing, the printing order of the image pages does not have to be simply output sequentially in the order of generation of the image pages 1614, but is scheduled by the printer paper control unit 1619.

When the image data is printed by the printer engine, the page processing section C1616 generates a paper page 1618 corresponding to the image page 1614. The size when printed on the paper page 1618 (A4,
Information such as A3) is stored in the printer paper control unit 1
619 performs page scheduling with reference to the information. The paper document 1617 is the paper page 161.
8 is managed, and the paper page 1618 is registered in the printer paper control unit 1619 every time the paper page 1618 is generated. As a result of the scheduling, the printer paper control unit 1619 notifies the paper page 1618 of a paper feed permission event. This paper feed permission event is transmitted to the page processing unit C1616 and issues a paper feed command to the printer control unit 1623. Furthermore, the page processing unit C161
6 sends an image transfer start event to the image transfer unit 1622, so that image data (image page 161
4) is printed.

Up to this point, the case of printing PDL data has been described. Next, a function of saving PDL data in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 (hereinafter referred to as a box function) will be described. In the case of storing PDL data itself in FIG. 16 described above, the protocol interpretation unit 1601 stores the PDL data A1625 in the data storage area (external storage device 2-4 or the like).
Save as. When the image data after drawing is saved, the page processing unit B1612 is used by the compression / expansion unit 16.
By sending an image compression event to 24, the image page 1614 is compressed and written in the data storage area (external storage device 2-4 or the like).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the processing of the protocol interpretation unit 1601 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Step S1701
Then, this process is started. At this stage, the initialization process necessary for the operation is performed. As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the protocol interpretation unit 1601 also has an event driven structure, and waits for an event to be transmitted in step S1702. When the PDL data is sent and the event is sent from the outside, it is determined in step S1703 whether the event is a data transfer start instruction.

If the event is not the data transfer start instruction in step S1703, the process proceeds to step S1708 to process another event. Step S1
At 708, another event is determined. If the event is the data transfer start instruction in step S1703, the process advances to step S1704 to execute the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4.
The common speed setting (default setting) “speed priority mode” (mode in which the printing speed of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 is prioritized) is acquired. Further, the process proceeds to step S1705, and the setting of the “speed priority mode” acquired above is turned on.
Or OFF is determined.

If the "speed priority mode" is set to OFF in step S1705, step S1
In step 709, the data storage mode of the job is acquired. Further, in step S1710, it is determined whether or not the data storage mode. If it is not in the data storage mode in step S1710, the process advances to step S1706. If the data storage mode is set in step S1710, the process advances to step S1707 to instruct to write the PDL data in the data storage area, and the PDL data is set to DataA. After that, the process advances to step S1706 to send the PDL data to the PDL interpretation unit 1620. If in step S1705 the "speed priority mode"
If the setting is ON, storing the PDL data causes a decrease in printing speed when printing from the box, so the process of storing the PDL data in the data storage area is not performed, and the process proceeds to step S1706. .

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the processing of the protocol interpreter 1601 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Step S1801
Then, this process is started. At this stage, the initialization process necessary for the operation is performed. In step S1802, it waits for an event to be transmitted. When the event is transmitted, it is determined in step S1803 whether the event is a data end detection notification. If it is not the data end detection notification event in step S1803, step S180
Go to step 5 to perform other event processing.

When the PDL interpreter 1620 detects the end of PDL data, a data end detection notification event is sent to the protocol interpreter 1601. Then, in the judgment branch of step S1803, the process proceeds to step S1804. In step S1804, in order to store the data amount of the above-mentioned PDL data (DataA) stored in the data storage area, Da is set in the variable DatasizeA.
Substitute the size of taA. Then, the process waits for an event again in step S1802.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the processing of the page processing unit B1612 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In step S1901,
This process starts. At this stage, the initialization process necessary for the operation is performed. In step S1902, it waits for an event to be transmitted. When the event is transmitted, in step S1903, it is determined whether the notification is a page creation completion notification. If it is not the page creation completion notification in step S1903, the process advances to step S1907 to process other events. Conversely, if it is the page creation completion notification in step S1903, the flow advances to step S1904 to acquire the data storage mode of the print job.

Next, in step S1905, a conditional branch is made as to whether or not the mode is for storing data. If the mode is the data storage mode in step S1905, the process moves to step S1902, and the event waiting state is entered again. If the mode is not the data storage mode in step S1905, the process advances to step S1906, the page processing unit B1612 activates the compression / expansion unit 1624 to compress the image page 614 (image data), and the compressed data To the data storage area. Here, for convenience, the data is set to DataB. When the process of step S1906 is completed, the process returns to step S1902, and the event waiting state is entered again.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the processing when the storage of the image page 1614 in the data storage area described in FIG. 16 is completed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. is there. In step S2001, this process is started. Step S20
02, waiting for an event, and in step S2003,
It is determined whether the event is a storage completion notification from the compression / expansion unit 1624. If it is not the storage completion notification from the compression / expansion unit 1624 in step S2003, the process advances to step S2005 to perform other event processing. Also,
If it is the storage completion notification from the compression / expansion unit 1624 in step S2003, the flow advances to step S2004 to integrate the data amount of the stored compressed data. The integrated amount is written in the variable DatasizeB.

FIG. 18 is a PDL print job 1603 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1-4 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing of step 1, that is, the processing when the PDL drawing is completed. In step S2101, this process is started including the initialization process. In step S2102,
Enter the event waiting state. When the event is notified, the event is analyzed in step S2103. If it is not the PDL drawing job end notification from the PDL drawing job 1605 in step S2103, step S2
In step 111, another event process is performed. If PD
If it is the PDL drawing job end notification from the L drawing job 1605, the process advances to step S2104 to acquire the data storage mode information of the job.

In step S2105, it is determined whether or not the mode is for storing data. If the above step S21
If the mode is not storing data in 05, neither PDL data nor compressed image data is stored in the data storage area, so that no processing is necessary thereafter, the process returns to step S2102, and the event waiting state is resumed. Become. If the mode is the data storage mode in step S2105, the process proceeds to step S2106, and the common speed of the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4 is changed to the "speed priority mode".
To get.

In step S2107, it is determined whether the "speed priority mode" is set to ON or OFF. If the "speed priority mode" is set to ON in step S2107, DataB is stored in the data storage area, and the process is completed.
Return to 02. Conversely, if the "speed priority mode" setting is OFF in step S2107, step S2107 is executed.
Proceed to 2108. At this stage, the PD is stored in the data storage area.
L data (DataA) and compressed image data (Data
Both ab) are stored. In step S2108, the two data sizes are compared. If PDL
If the data (DataA) is larger, step S2
In step 109, DataA is deleted from the data storage area. On the other hand, if the compressed image data (DataB) is larger, the process advances to step S2110 to delete DataB from the data storage area.

As described above, the data having a small data size is stored in the digital multifunction peripheral 1-4, which leads to the saving of the data storage area and more data can be stored.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the digital multi-function peripheral interprets the PDL data, the PDL interpreter 1620, and the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data as image data. PDL to develop and draw on
A drawing unit 1621, a page processing unit B1612 that stores PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing image data in a data storage area, and that measures the size of the compressed data.
Protocol interpreting unit 16 for measuring the size of PDL data
01, the PDL print job 1603 that compares the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data and deletes the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result has the following effects.

PDL sent from the host computer
In a digital multi-function peripheral that has a function of saving data in the form of a document in a storage unit called a box, when the print speed priority mode is OFF, the size of the PDL data and the image data are compared, and the larger data size In order to delete the data in other words, in other words, to save the data with the smaller data size, it is possible to meet the demand for printing speed, save the data storage area, and provide a user-friendly device. can do.

[Fourth Embodiment] As in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in FIG. 8, the compressed image data is written in the PDL data every time the compressed image data is written in the data storage area in page units. In comparison with the above, if the compressed image data becomes large at that time, it is possible to not save the image data from the next page. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect that the overhead due to the image data compression processing can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the network system having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. Computers, peripherals (digital multifunction devices)
It is possible to install any number of
As peripheral devices, printers,
It is also possible to install a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, the printing method of the peripheral device is not particularly mentioned, but the present invention is applicable to various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a heat sensitive method and an electrostatic method. It is possible to apply.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the document shown in FIG. 7 is taken as an example of the document managed in the peripheral device. However, the present invention is not limited to the document shown in FIG. Instead, it can be applied to various documents.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A medium such as a storage medium storing a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the medium such as the storage medium. Needless to say, the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the medium such as the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the medium such as the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. It will be. As a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card,
ROM or download via a network can be used.

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Furthermore, after the program code read from a medium such as a storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the instruction of the program code is given. Based on the above, a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is not included in the present invention. Needless to say.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The size of the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data is compared with the size of the image data in which the intermediate data is developed and drawn, and based on the comparison result, the smaller data is controlled to be stored in the data storage area. It produces the effect like.
In a data processing device having a function of saving transmitted PDL data in the form of a document in a storage means called a box, the intermediate data necessary for drawing the PDL data and the size of image data obtained by drawing and developing the intermediate data. Compared with the above, by saving the smaller data in the data storage area, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire document, save the data storage area, and save many documents in the box. can do. It is also possible to print a document in which intermediate data and image data are mixed.

Further, according to the present invention, PDL data,
In order to perform control to compare the size of the compressed intermediate image data obtained by interpreting the PDL data with the compressed compressed image data and delete the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result. It has the following effects. In a data processing device having a function of storing transmitted PDL data in the form of a document in a storage means called a box, if print speed is not prioritized, PDL
By comparing the size of data and compressed data and deleting the data with the larger data size, in other words, saving the data with the smaller data size, it is possible to meet the demand for printing speed. In addition, it is possible to provide a data processing device that is easy to use for the user because it leads to saving of the data storage area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a network system in which a host computer and peripheral devices according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention are connected by a LAN.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a peripheral device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a software structure of a peripheral device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of a software structure of a peripheral device according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an event reception waiting process according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a PDL print job execution process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a box table, a document table, and a page management table according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a box screen according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a document list screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of box print execution processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing by a page completion notification event of the page processing unit B according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing by a page print instruction event of the page processing unit B according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a PDL print job execution process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processing by a data transfer start instruction event of the protocol interpreting unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing by a data end detection event of a protocol interpretation unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing processing by a page creation completion notification event of the page processing unit B according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing by a page storage completion notification event of the page processing unit B according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing by a PDL drawing processing end event of a PDL print job according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1, 1-2, 1-3 Host computer 1-4 Digital multi-function peripheral 2-1 CPU 2-4 External storage device 2-8 Network interface 2-9 External interface 612, 1612 Page processing unit B (control means, Storing means, identifying means, restoring means) 620, 1620 PDL interpreting section (PDL interpreting means) 621, 1621 PDL drawing section (PDL drawing means) 622, 1622 Image transfer section (image transfer section) 623 Printer control section (print control section) ) 624, 1624 Compression / expansion unit (compression / expansion unit) 625 Data storage area 1601 Protocol interpretation unit (first measurement unit) 1603 PDL print job (comparison unit, determination unit, deletion unit) 1612 Page processing unit B (second Measuring means)

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C087 AA03 AA09 AB05 BA03 BA14                       BB10 BC05 BD40                 5B021 AA01 AA02 AA05 AA19 CC08                       DD13                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA29 AB22                       AB41 AB42 AC07 AC23 AC25                       AC43 AC60 AF07 AF12 BA00                       BC06                 5C073 AA03 BC04 BD03 CE01

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. A PDL (Page Description Language)
A data processing device having a data storage function, comprising: a PDL interpreting means for interpreting the PDL data;
PDL drawing means for developing and drawing the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the DL data into image data, comparing means for comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and data of the smaller data based on the comparison result. A data processing device, comprising: a control unit that controls the data to be stored in a storage area. 2. A storage means for storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and identifying whether the data stored in the data storage area is the intermediate data or the image data. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an identification unit that performs the storage, and a restoration unit that restores the stored data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result. 3. The compression method further comprising: compressing the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and decompressing the image data when reading the image data from the data storage area. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a decompressing unit. 4. A print control unit for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed,
4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image transfer unit that transfers the image data to the print control unit. 5. The invention can be applied to a multi-function peripheral, a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function.
5. The data processing device according to any one of 4 to 4. 6. A PDL (Page Description Language)
A data processing device having a data storage function, comprising: a PDL interpreting means for interpreting the PDL data;
PDL drawing means for expanding and drawing the intermediate data obtained by interpreting the DL data into image data, storage means for storing the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area, and the PDL data First measuring means for measuring the size, second measuring means for measuring the size of the compressed data, comparing means for comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data, and based on the comparison result. A data processing device, comprising: a deleting unit that deletes the larger data from the data storage area. 7. Further, when the data stored in the data storage area is printed, a determination means for determining whether or not the print speed is prioritized, and in the case of the print speed prioritized, a process corresponding to the print speed prioritized is performed. 7. The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a control unit that controls to delete the larger data from the data storage area when the printing speed is not prioritized. 8. A compression method for compressing the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and for expanding the image data when reading the image data from the data storage area. 8. The data processing device according to claim 6, further comprising a decompressing unit. 9. A print control unit for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed,
9. The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an image transfer unit that transfers the image data to the print control unit. 10. A multifunction machine, a copying machine, a printer, etc. having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function, an image communication function, etc.
10. The data processing device according to claim 6, which is applicable to a facsimile. 11. A PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A data processing system including an information processing device that transmits data, and a data processing device having a function of storing the PDL data received from the information processing device, wherein the data processing device stores the PDL data. P to interpret
DL interpreting means, PDL drawing means for expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, comparing means for comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and based on the comparison result. Data processing, characterized in that the information processing apparatus performs data communication with the data processing apparatus via a network or an interface. system. 12. The data processing device further comprises a storage unit for storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and whether the data stored in the data storage area is the intermediate data. The data processing system according to claim 11, further comprising: an identifying unit that identifies whether the data is data and a restoring unit that restores the stored data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result. 13. The data processing device further performs a compression process on the image data when storing the image data in the data storage area, and the image data when reading the image data from the data storage area. 13. The data processing system according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a compression / decompression means for performing decompression processing. 14. The data processing apparatus further comprises print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and image transfer means for transferring the image data to the print control means. The data processing system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: 15. The data processing device can be applied to a multi-function peripheral, a copier, a printer, and a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function, and an image communication function. 15. The data processing system according to any one of 14 to 14. 16. A PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A data processing system including an information processing device that transmits data, and a data processing device having a function of storing the PDL data received from the information processing device, wherein the data processing device stores the PDL data. P to interpret
DL interpreting means, PDL drawing means for expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, and storage means for saving the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area. When,
First measuring means for measuring the size of the PDL data, second measuring means for measuring the size of the compressed data, comparing means for comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data, And a deletion unit that deletes the larger data from the data storage area based on a comparison result, wherein the information processing apparatus performs data communication with the data processing apparatus via a network or an interface. Processing system. 17. The data processing device further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the print speed is prioritized when printing the data stored in the data storage area; and the print speed is prioritized when the print speed is prioritized. 17. The data processing system according to claim 16, further comprising: a control unit that performs corresponding processing and controls to delete the larger data from the data storage area when the printing speed is not prioritized. 18. The data processing device further performs a compression process on the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and the image data is read when the image data is read from the data storage area. 18. The data processing system according to claim 16, further comprising a compression / decompression means for performing decompression processing. 19. The data processing apparatus further comprises print control means for controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and image transfer means for transferring the image data to the print control means. The data processing system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by comprising. 20. The data processing device can be applied to a multi-function peripheral, a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function, and an image communication function. 20. The data processing system according to any one of 1 to 19. 21. PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A data processing method executed by a data processing device having a data storage function, comprising: a PDL interpretation step of interpreting the PDL data;
A PDL drawing step of expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting DL data, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and data of a smaller data based on the comparison result. And a control step of controlling the data to be stored in a storage area. 22. A storage step of storing the intermediate data and the image data in the data storage area, and identifying whether the data stored in the data storage area is the intermediate data or the image data. 22. The data processing method according to claim 21, further comprising: an identifying step of: and a restoring step of restoring the saved data to the intermediate data or the image data based on the identification result. 23. Further, a compression process for compressing the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage region, and a decompression process for the image data when reading the image data from the data storage region. The method according to claim 21 or 2, further comprising a stretching step.
2. The data processing method described in 2. 24. A print control step of controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and an image transfer step of transferring the image data to the print control step. The data processing method according to claim 21. 25. A multifunction peripheral, a copying machine, a printer, which has a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function, an image communication function, etc.
The data processing method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, which is applicable to a facsimile. 26. PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A data processing method executed by a data processing device having a data storage function, comprising: a PDL interpretation step of interpreting the PDL data;
A PDL drawing step of expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the DL data into image data; a saving step of saving the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area; A first measuring step of measuring the size, a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data, and based on the comparison result. And a deletion step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area. 27. Further, when the data stored in the data storage area is printed, a determination step of determining whether or not the print speed is prioritized, and a process corresponding to the print speed prioritized when the print speed is prioritized 27. The data processing method according to claim 26, further comprising a control step of controlling so as to delete the larger data from the data storage area when the print speed is not prioritized. 28. Further, compression for compressing the image data when the image data is stored in the data storage area, and for expanding the image data when reading the image data from the data storage area. 27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising an extending step.
7. The data processing method described in 7. 29. A print control step of controlling printing of a document in which the intermediate data and the image data are mixed, and an image transfer step of transferring the image data to the print control step. The data processing method according to claim 26. 30. A multifunction peripheral, a copying machine, a printer, etc. having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printing function and an image communication function.
30. The data processing method according to claim 26, which is applicable to a facsimile. 31. PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a data processing method applied to a data processing device having a data storage function, wherein the data processing method interprets the PDL data.
A DL interpreting step, a PDL drawing step of developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and based on the comparison result And a control step of controlling so that the smaller data is stored in the data storage area. 32. PDL (Page Description Languag)
e) A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a data processing method applied to a data processing device having a data storage function, wherein the data processing method interprets the PDL data.
DL interpreting step, PDL drawing step for expanding and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data, and saving step for saving the PDL data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area A first measuring step of measuring the size of the PDL data, a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data, and a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data. And a deleting step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result. 33. PDL (Page Description Languag
e) A program supplied to a data processing device having a data storage function, which comprises a PDL interpreting step for interpreting the PDL data, and a PDL for developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data. A drawing step, a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the intermediate data and the image data, and a control step of controlling so that the smaller data is stored in a data storage area based on the comparison result. Program to do. 34. PDL (Page Description Languag
e) A program supplied to a data processing device having a data storage function, which comprises a PDL interpreting step for interpreting the PDL data, and a PDL for developing and drawing intermediate data obtained by interpreting the PDL data into image data. Drawing step and the PDL
A storage step of storing data and compressed data obtained by compressing the image data in a data storage area;
A first measuring step of measuring the size of the data, a second measuring step of measuring the size of the compressed data,
A program comprising: a comparing step of comparing the sizes of the PDL data and the compressed data; and a deleting step of deleting the larger data from the data storage area based on the comparison result.