JP2003330664A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system capable of preventing the load on a printer or a network from being concentrated temporally. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming system is provided with an image inputting device for generating job data for printing generated print data, and for transmitting the job data to an image printing device and an image printing device for printing an image while spooling the print data when the job data includes the print data, and for acquiring the print data based on information indicating the location of the print data, and for printing the image when the job data includes information indicating the location of the print data. The image inputting device checks the spool deal capacity of the image printing device, and decides whether the print data or the information indicating the location of the print data should be included in the job data to be transmitted to the image printing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote copy function for printing an image read by a scanner by a printer connected to a network and a multiple copy function for outputting an image read by one scanner by a plurality of printers. , It relates to an image forming system that realizes a PDL clustering printing function and the like, in which PDL data received by one PDL printer is printed by a plurality of printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, remote copy, multiple copy, P
Functions such as DL clustering printing are supported by scanner and PDL.
It is realized by a configuration in which an image input device that generates print data, such as a printer, unidirectionally sends the print data to a printer that is an image printing device.

[0003]

However, in such a configuration, the spool area of the printer overflows, and jobs from other clients cannot be accepted.
The problem that network traffic increases due to the retry of job transmission easily occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of preventing the time concentration of a load on a printer or a network. .

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image input device for generating job data for printing the generated print data and sending the job data to an image printing device, and printing the job data. When the data is included, the image is printed while spooling the print data, and when the job data includes the information indicating the whereabouts of the print data, the print data is acquired and the image is printed based on the information indicating the whereabouts of the print data. In an image forming system including an image printing device, an image input device checks the spool free space of the image printing device and includes print data in the job data to be sent to the image printing device or information indicating the location of the print data. It is characterized by determining whether to include.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a network configuration to which an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1-1 is a LAN constructed by an Ether Network, and an image forming system 1-2 according to an embodiment of the present invention is constructed on the LAN 1-1, and the construction of the image forming system is shown. Two digital multi-function peripherals (1-3 and 1-4), which are elements, are connected. The computers 1-5, which are clients of the image forming system, are also connected to the same LAN.

The operation example of the image forming system 1-2 is as follows.

Remote copy function: Digital multifunction peripheral A
The document image is read by the scanner 1-3 and the generated image data is printed by the printer of the digital multifunction peripheral B1-4.

Double copy function: Digital multi-function peripheral A1-
An original image is read by the scanner 3 and the generated image data is distributed to the printers of the digital multi-function peripheral A1-3 and the printer of the digital multi-function peripheral B1-4 and printed.

PDL clustering print function: The digital multifunction peripheral A1-3 allows the client PC 1-5 to perform PDL.
The printer of the digital multi-function peripheral A1-3 and the digital multi-function peripheral B1- receive either the PDL data, the intermediate code data for rendering generated by translating the PDL data, or the rendered image data.
Print to 4 printers.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of digital multi-function peripherals A and B shown in FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the CPU 2-1 executes various programs for controlling the entire digital multi-function peripheral and performing arithmetic processing.

The ROM 2-2 is for integrated control of the entire system, control of scanner devices and printer devices, and PDL.
Data translation and rendering processing (expansion to images),
It is a storage area for programs that control network protocol processing, user interfaces, and character data.

The RAM 2-3 is used for input / output of image data and P
It is used to temporarily store image data in DL processing or the like, or to store control data in various processing.

The external storage device 2-4 is composed of a hard disk, for example, for spooling job data,
It is used to store PDL data, intermediate code data, image data, etc. for a long period of time.

The network interface 2-5 is L
It is an interface to Ethernet (registered trademark), which is a physical layer of AN, and is used for input / output of various network protocol data.

The display unit 2-6 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and is used for displaying an operation menu of the digital multi-function peripheral, a setting state, an error state and the like.

The operation section 2-7 is used to receive an operator's input such as selection of an operation menu and set values.

The scanner interface 2-8 is used to output control commands for the scanner device, input device status, and input image data.

The printer interface 2-9 is used to output control commands of the printer device, input device status, and output image data.

The system bus 1-10 serves as a path for data and control signals between the above components.

With the above-described structure, the digital multi-function peripheral stores the image data input from the scanner interface in the RAM when realizing the function of the copying machine.
The image data is output from the printer interface.

In order to realize the network printer function, the PD input from the network interface
L data is converted into image data by a PDL translation program and a rendering program and stored in RAM,
The image data is output from the printer interface.

When operating as the master side of the remote copy function, the image data input from the scanner interface is stored in the RAM or the hard disk, and the job data for printing the image data is transferred from the network interface to another. To the digital multi-function peripheral.

When operating as the master side of the multiple copy function, the image data input from the scanner interface is stored in the RAM and output from the printer interface for printing by the master. Further, for printing by the slave, the image data is stored in the RAM or the hard disk and the job data for printing the image data is transmitted from the network interface to another digital multi-function peripheral.

When operating as the master side of the PDL clustering printing function, the PDL data input from the network interface is used as a PD for printing on the master side.
The image data is converted into image data by the L translation program and the rendering program and stored in the RAM, and the image data is output from the printer interface. Further, for printing by the slave, the PDL data itself, the intermediate code data, and the image data are stored in the RAM or the hard disk, and the job data for printing the data is transferred from the network interface to another digital multi-function peripheral. Send.

When operating as a slave side of the remote copy function or the multiple copy function, the image data input from the network interface is stored in the RAM and the image data is output from the printer interface.

When operating as a slave side of the PDL clustering printing function, data input from the network interface is converted into image data by a PDL translation program or rendering program according to the type of data and stored in RAM. Output from the printer interface.

FIG. 3 shows the CPU2- which is stored in the ROM 2-2.
2 is a data flow diagram illustrating the functional modules that make up the program executed by 1 and the flow of information between the functional modules. FIG.

The system control function 3-1 controls the entire system by communicating with the other six functions as described below. Job data transmission for realizing remote copy, multiple copy, PDL clustering printing, etc. is also performed.

The UI control function 3-2 controls the display section and the operation section to control the user interface. Based on the user's operation, a remote copy and multiple copy start instruction is sent to the system control 3-1.

The IPP printer function 3-3 has an IPP (In
ternet Printing Protocol: IETF Recommendation RFC2565 ~ 256
7) IPP printer (RFC2566-1.1. Simpl)
function (see ifiedPrinting Model). The IPP request data (see RFC2565 and RFC2566) input from the network interface 2-5 is processed, and the corresponding IPP response data is output from the network interface.

In the IPP printer function, when the IPP operation of the IPP request data is Print-Job (direct print instruction), the print data included in the IPP message is spool area of the file system 3-9 constructed on the hard disk. System control function 3
Notify the spool file name to -1. The system control function notifies the PDL processing function, which will be described later, of the spool file name.

When the IPP operation is Print-URI (reference print instruction), the URL is notified to the system control function 3-1. The system control function checks the free space in the spool area of the file system, and if there is sufficient capacity, acquires print data by the HTTP GET operation, stores it in the spool area of the file system, and then stores the spool file name. Notify the PDL processing function. If there is not enough free space in the spool area, the URL is saved.

The HTTP server function 3-4 realizes an HTTP server function based on HTTP / 1.1, and an IPP printer function 3-
It provides three transport layer protocols.
Also, the specific area of the file system 3-9 is disclosed to the HTTP client on the network. Also, a specific U
When the RL is instructed, the free space of the spool area in the file system is notified.

The scanner control function 3-5 controls the scanner device via the scanner interface and stores the image data in the image memory 3-8 on the RAM 2-3.
When the scanning of one page is completed and the image data is completely stored, an image completion notification is sent to the system control function. Upon receiving the image completion notification, the system control function sends a print instruction to the print control function described later.

When the scanner control function 3-5 receives a print data saving instruction from the system control function, the scanner control function 3-5 specifies the image data in the image memory 3-8 in the file system which is opened to the network by the HTTP server function. Save in the area and notify the system control function of the file name.

Upon receiving the spool file name from the system control function, the PDL processing function 3-6 reads the file from the spool area and PDLs the data according to the type of data.
The translation program and the rendering program are activated to generate image data. When one page of the generated image data has been stored in the image memory, an image completion notification is sent to the system control processing. Upon receiving the image completion notification, the system control function sends a print instruction to the print control function and deletes the spool file that is no longer needed. At this time, if the URL is saved and there is sufficient free space in the spool area, the HTTP G
The print data is acquired by the ET operation and stored in the spool area of the file system. Then, the name of the spool file is notified to the PDL processing function.

When the PDL processing function 3-6 detects an instruction for PDL clustering printing when translating PDL data, it sends an instruction to start PDL clustering printing to the system control function 3-1.

In addition, when the PDL processing function 3-6 receives a print data saving instruction from the system control function, the HTTP server function of the image data in the image memory 3-8, the intermediate code data, or the PDL data is transferred to the network by the HTTP server function. It is saved in a specific area in the file system that is open to the public and the file name is notified to the system control function.

The printer control function 3-7 controls the printer device via the printer interface according to the print instruction from the system control function, and prints the image data in the image memory.

FIG. 4 shows that the system control function 3-1 receives a remote copy or multiple copy start instruction from the UI control function 3-2, or receives a PDL clustering print start instruction from the PDL processing function. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the processing of FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, in step 4-1, an image completion notification from the scanner control function or PDL processing function is awaited.

Upon receipt of the image completion notice, step 4-2
Check the spool free space of the child machine, which is the destination of the job data, via the network.
You can get free spool space by pointing a specific URL to the TP server).

From the result, in step 4-3, it is judged whether or not the spool free space is sufficient. If it is sufficient, in step 4-4, if it is insufficient, in step 4-5, print or job data is printed. Send.

In step 4-4, if it is necessary to print the page on the base unit side by setting, a print instruction is sent to the printer control function to print the image data on the image memory. If it is necessary to print the page on the remote machine side by setting, IPP operation is performed by Print-Job.
To include the image data on the image memory in the IPP message and send the IPP job to the child device. When the PDL processing function generates image data, the spool file is deleted when printing and transmission of job data are completed.

In step 4-5, if it is necessary to print the page on the base unit side by setting, a print instruction is sent to the printer control function to print the image data on the image memory. If it is necessary to print the page on the remote machine side depending on the settings, send a print data save instruction to either the scan control function or PDL processing function (the function that is generating the image data), and then use the HTTP server function. Causes a data file to be created in a specific area in the file system that is open to the network. When saving is completed and the file name is notified, IPP operation is performed by Print-URI,
Document-URI is set to the URL of the data file and IP
Send the P job to the child machine.

After step 4-4 or step 4-5, it is determined in step 4-6 whether there is further image data to be generated, and if there is, the process proceeds to step 4-1.
If not, end.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image generating apparatus that generates print data and sends a print job to a printer checks the status of the printer, and when the load on the printer is light, Job data including print data can be sent, and when the load on the printer is heavy, job data that informs the save location of the print data can be sent to prevent the load from being concentrated on the printer or network over time. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example to which an image forming system according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of digital multi-function peripherals A and B shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a data flow diagram illustrating functional modules that make up a program stored in a ROM 2-2 and executed by a CPU 2-1 and a flow of information between the functional modules.

FIG. 4 is a system control function 3-1 having a UI control function 3-2.
7 is a flowchart for explaining a part of the processing when a remote copy or multiple copy start instruction is received from PDL cluster printing or when a PDL clustering print start instruction is received from the PDL processing function.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 LAN 1-2 Image forming system 1-3 Digital multifunction device 1-4 Digital multifunction device 1-5 Client PC 2-1 CPU 2-2 ROM 2-3 RAM 2-4 External storage device 2-5 Network interface 2-6 Operation part 2-7 Display 2-8 Printer interface 2-9 Scanner interface 2-10 System Bus

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C187 AD04 AE07 AE11 BF60 BG03                       FD20                 5B021 AA05 AA19 BB01 BB04 BB10                       CC05 EE04                 5C062 AA05 AA35 AB02 AB41 AB42                       AC04 AC22 AC58 BA00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image input device which generates job data for printing the generated print data and sends the job data to an image printing device; and when the job data includes the print data, the image is printed while spooling the print data, When the job data includes information indicating the location of the print data, in the image forming system including an image printing apparatus that acquires the print data based on the information indicating the location of the print data and prints an image, An image forming system characterized by checking free spool capacity of an image printing device and determining whether the job data to be sent to the image printing device includes print data or information indicating a location of the print data. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image input device is a scanner that reads an image from a document, and the print data is image data read from the document. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image input device is a page printer that processes a page description language, and the print data is page description language data. 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image input device is a page printer that processes a page description language, and the print data is intermediate code data that is an input of a rendering process. 5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image input device is a page printer that processes a page description language, and the print data is image data that is an output of a rendering process.