JP2004216783A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently performing transmission of information (including information necessary for controlling an image signal and devices) between devices in the image forming apparatus heretofore employed. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises an image input means 1, a memory means 5 for storing an image signal input from the image input means 1, an image output means 2, and a transmission means 7 for transmitting the image signal input from the image input means 1 or stored in the memory means to another image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further comprises an operating means 4 that designates a time period until an input/output operation of the image signal is completed when an input or output operation of the image signal is requested, and a system control means 3 having a function of judging that the operation of input/output of data can be operated within the time period until the input/output operation of the designated image signal is completed, and notifying of the judged result through the operating means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image input unit, a storage unit for storing an image signal input from the image input unit, and an image signal input from the image input unit or an image signal stored in the storage unit for another image forming. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a transfer unit for transferring the image to an apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The prior art is an application of a memory control technique using a DMA for inputting and outputting data to and from an image memory, and provides a highly versatile memory control technique and a control algorithm. 1).
For various purposes, a plurality of image signal output means such as an image scanner, a word processor, a personal computer, etc., which output image signals, and a plurality of printers, etc., each of which forms an image by each of the image signals. A system combining the forming means has been proposed. There is also a system for connecting a digital copying machine to increase the copying operation speed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitalization of copiers has been advanced, and processing and editing using an image memory have been actively performed. Among them, there is a function called an electronic sort in which the image data of a plurality of originals is stored in a memory so that a designated number of copies are collectively output and the sorting operation is eliminated. In order to store a plurality of image data, storing the image data as it is in the image memory requires a memory corresponding to the amount of data corresponding to the number of stored images, and the memory cost becomes enormous. A method is commonly used.
1. An image memory and a storage memory are used, and a secondary storage device such as a hard disk which is less expensive than the image memory is used as the storage memory.
2. An image memory is used as a storage memory, image data is compressed using a compression process, and the amount of data per sheet is reduced to reduce the total memory amount.
3. A plurality of image input / output units (image scanner, printer controller, file server, FAX controller, etc.) share the same image memory.
[0003]
In order to execute input / output of image data to / from an image memory, a memory controller (hereinafter, DMA controller) using a DMA (Direct Memory Access) data transfer method is often used. The DMA controller transfers data to a specific area of the image memory based on memory area management information called a descriptor. It is also possible to transfer data by dividing a memory area where one image is stored into a plurality of descriptors. For example, by using an image memory in the form of a ring buffer, a memory capacity smaller than the capacity of image data can be obtained. In some cases, input / output of image data is executed.
In the memory control using the DMA controller, the progress (start, end) of data transfer specified by each descriptor, the execution timing control of data transfer (interruption or restart of data transfer in the middle of the image memory area, etc.) ) Is also possible, so that the degree of freedom in controlling the timing of data transfer of an image memory connected to a DMA controller or a large-capacity secondary storage device is high, and the range of application is wide.
As described above, when a secondary storage device such as a hard disk, which is less expensive than an image memory, is used as a storage memory, a plurality of data transfers (data write / read operations) cannot normally be performed on a single storage device. By dividing the data transfer unit to the secondary storage device using the descriptor of the DMA controller and executing this in a time-division manner, it is possible to execute a plurality of data transfer operations as if they were being executed in parallel. General.
[0004]
However, when such time-division processing is used, the time required for data transfer is not shortened. Therefore, minimizing the time required for inputting / outputting image data as in an image forming apparatus can reduce the productivity of the apparatus. If it does, performing the time-sharing process may, on the contrary, cause a decrease in productivity. Therefore, the image data is compressed to reduce the data transfer amount, or a secondary storage device with a high data transfer speed is mounted to shorten the time required for data transfer to the secondary storage device. Was. Conventionally, for the purpose of simplifying memory control, time-division transfer is not actively performed, and is occupied as a resource of the secondary storage device substantially in synchronization with the image data input / output operation using the image input / output means. Means for performing data transfer has been used.
In the conventional secondary storage device, the speed at which image data in the image memory is transferred to the secondary storage device is lower than the speed at which image data is transferred to the image input / output means and the image memory. Is performed, the data processing capacity of the secondary storage device is reduced, and there is no difference in the data processing speed between the image input / output means and the image memory. Independently and optimally controlling transfer timing control (including data conversion processing such as data compression), the degree of improvement in productivity of the image forming apparatus has not been very high.
However, with recent technological advances, the data transfer speed of a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, and the data compression rate and processing speed of a data compression unit have been remarkably improved. In a storage device capable of connecting such a large-capacity storage device as a secondary storage device, the data transfer speed to the secondary storage device is lower than the data input and output speed of the connected image input / output means. It may be fast.
For this reason, in the case where the apparatus has a configuration in which input and output of a plurality of image signals can be simultaneously executed in parallel, how to efficiently perform processing of inputting (saving) and outputting (reading) image signal data to and from the secondary storage device Is an issue of improving the productivity of the image forming apparatus. In a situation where the number of image input / output means connected to the image forming apparatus is extremely large, it is difficult to secure the productivity by maximizing the capacity of the storage device and the data compression means in the conventional memory control. ing.
[0005]
In view of such a situation, a memory control method using DMA is applied, and resource acquisition and release management for obtaining maximum utilization efficiency according to the processing capacity of the storage device and management of the data transfer operation are performed. Efficient control means are used.
In an image forming apparatus that performs input / output control of an image signal using such a storage device, a configuration is employed in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected and image input / output means connected to each image forming apparatus can be used. As a result, productivity is also improved. For example, two image forming apparatuses are connected, an image is output (print output) while an image is being input from one image input unit (such as a scanner), and an input image signal is transferred to the other image forming apparatus. An apparatus having a configuration capable of outputting to an image output means (printer) has also been developed. Executing an image input / output operation by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses is called a “connection” operation.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-6-103225
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-5-304575
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, in transferring an image signal for performing a connecting operation, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which an interface dedicated to the image signal is provided to shorten the transfer time of the image signal and only the image signal can be transferred at a high speed. There were many. In order to realize the connection operation, it is necessary to transmit information for instructing the operation from one image forming apparatus to the other in addition to the image signal. Interface is required. Therefore, in order to connect the devices, it is necessary to construct a dedicated interface for securing the performance (productivity) of the connection operation, and the number of connected devices is limited, and only the same model can be connected. Often occur.
By the way, recently, (general-purpose) interface technology for data transfer has been advanced along with the improvement of the processing performance of the storage means due to the above-mentioned technical advancement of the storage device, and it is not necessary to provide a dedicated interface only for image signals. Data transfer performance can be ensured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of more efficiently performing information transfer (including an image signal and information necessary for control between apparatuses) of the image forming apparatus, which has been conventionally performed. And
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes an image input unit, a storage unit for storing an image signal input from the image input unit, an image output unit, and the image input unit. A transfer unit for transferring an input image signal or an image signal stored in the storage unit to another image forming apparatus, the input / output of the image signal at the time of a request for the input or output operation of the image signal. An operation means for designating a time until the completion of the processing, and judging whether or not an operation of data input / output is possible within a time until the input / output processing of the designated image signal is completed, and notifying the judgment result by the operation means And a system control unit having a function.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the system control unit includes an information transfer operation unit that controls interruption / resumption of an information transfer operation that is being performed, and a plurality of storage units simultaneously. Request receiving means for receiving a request for an image signal input / output operation, order control means for controlling the order of a plurality of requested image signal input / output operations, and whether or not the image signal input / output processing being executed can be interrupted And an operation control unit that controls interruption / resumption of the operation being executed based on the result of the determination by the determination unit.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the operation unit enables control for executing an operation within a time period until completion of input / output processing of the designated image signal. The main feature is to select whether or not.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.
The reading process of the reading unit 1 and the image forming process of the image forming unit 2 will be described. The original is scanned and exposed by a movable exposure lamp along the original table 11, and the reflected light is photoelectrically converted by a CCD (image sensor) 12 to produce an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light.
An IPU (image processing unit) 13 performs processing such as shading correction on the electric signal and A / D converts the signal into an 8-bit digital signal, and further performs image processing such as scaling processing and dither processing. The image signal is sent to the image forming unit 2 together with the synchronization signal.
FIG. 2 is a view of the platen as viewed from above. The scanner control unit 14 (see FIG. 1) detects various sensors and controls a drive motor and the like to execute the above process. Set various parameters. The above is the reading process.
In the image forming unit 2, the photoreceptor 22, which is uniformly charged by the charging charger 21 and rotates at a constant speed, is exposed to laser light modulated by image data from the writing unit 23. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 22, and is developed with toner in the developing device 24 to form a visualized toner image.
The transfer paper fed in advance from the paper feed tray 26 by the paper feed roller 25 and waiting by the registration rollers 27 is conveyed to the photoconductor 22 in a timely manner, and the toner on the photoconductor 22 is transferred by the transfer charger 28. The transfer paper is electrostatically transferred to paper, and the transfer paper is separated from the photoconductor 22 by the separation charger 29. After that, the toner image on the transfer paper is fixed by heating with the fixing device 30, and then the transfer paper is discharged to the discharge tray 32 by the discharge roller 31.
On the other hand, the toner image remaining on the photoconductor 22 after the electrostatic transfer is removed by the cleaning device 33 being pressed against the photoconductor 22, and the photoconductor 22 is discharged by the discharging charger 34. The plotter control unit 35 performs detection of various sensors and controls a drive motor and the like in order to execute the above process. The above is the image forming process.
[0009]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image synchronization signal output from the IPU of the reading unit. The frame gate signal (/ FGATE) is a signal representing an image effective range for an image area in the sub-scanning direction, and image data is valid while this signal is at a low level (low active). The signal / FGATE is asserted or negated at the falling edge of the line synchronization signal (/ LSYNC). / LSYNC is asserted for a predetermined number of clocks at the rising edge of the pixel synchronization signal (PCLK), and after the rising of this signal, the image data in the main scanning direction becomes valid after a predetermined clock. The transmitted image data is one for one cycle of PCLK, and is divided into 400 DPI equivalents from the arrow part in FIG. The image data is sent out as raster format data, starting from the arrow. The effective sub-scanning range of image data is usually determined by the size of the transfer paper.
The system control unit 3 in FIG. 1 detects the input state of the operator to the operation unit 4 and sets various parameters to the reading unit 1, the storage unit 5, the image forming unit 2, the FAX unit 6, and the I / F unit 7. , A process execution instruction and the like are performed by communication. The state of the entire system is displayed on the operation unit. An instruction to the system control unit 3 is made by a key input to the operation unit 4 by the operator.
The storage unit 5 stores image data of a document normally input from the IPU 13 and is used for a copy application such as a repeat copy and a rotation copy. It is also used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing the binary image data from the FAX unit 6. Further, it is also used as a means for storing unique information of the input / output device means. These data storage instructions are given by the system control unit 3.
In accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 3, the FAX unit 6 binary-compresses the transmitted image data based on the G3 and G4 FAX data transfer rules and transfers the image data to the telephone line. The data transferred from the telephone line to the FAX unit 6 is restored to binary image data, sent to the writing unit 23 of the image forming unit 2, and visualized.
The I / F unit 7 is a high-speed serial I / F based on the IEEE 1394 standard, and transmits data in the storage unit 5 to the outside or receives data from the outside and stores it in the storage unit 5 according to an instruction from the system control unit 3.
The selector unit 8 changes the state of the selector according to an instruction from the system control unit 3 and selects the source of the image data for forming an image from the reading unit 1, the storage unit 5, the FAX unit 6, or the I / F unit 7. Choose more.
[0010]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the storage unit shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the function will be described for each block. The image input / output DMAC 41 is configured by a CPU and logic, communicates with a memory control unit 43 described later, receives a command, performs an operation setting according to the command, and transmits status information for notifying its own state. Send. When an image input command is received, the input image data is packed as 8-pixel memory data in accordance with the input image synchronization signal, and is output to the memory control unit 43 together with the memory access signal as needed. When an image output command is received, image data from the memory control unit 43 is output in synchronization with an output image synchronization signal.
The image memory 42 is composed of a semiconductor storage element such as a DRAM where image data is stored. The total amount of memory is 400 DPI, 4 Mbytes of A3 size of binary image data, 4 Mbytes of electronic sort storage memory, The work area for data transfer is 6 Mbytes, for a total of 14 Mbytes. Reading and writing are controlled from the memory control unit 43.
The memory control unit 43 is configured by a CPU and logic, communicates with the system control unit 3 in FIG. 1 to receive a command, performs operation setting according to the command, and changes the state of the storage unit 5 in FIG. Send status information to inform.
The operation commands from the system control unit 3 include image input, image output, compression, decompression, and the like. Commands for image input and image output are sent to the image input / output DMAC 41, and compression-related commands are sent to the image transfer DMAC 44 described later. The data is transmitted to the transfer DMAC 45 and the compression / expansion unit 46.
[0011]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the address generation unit and the comparison unit of the memory control unit shown in FIG. The function will be described for each block. The input / output image address counter 51 is an address counter that counts up in response to an input / output memory access request signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where input / output image data is stored. At the start of memory access, the address is temporarily initialized.
The transfer image address counter 52 is an address counter that counts up according to a transfer memory access permission signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where transfer image data is stored. At the start of memory access, the address is initialized once.
In a case where an image memory is used as a buffer at the time of inputting an image, the line setting unit 53 compares a value to be compared with a difference result between the input processing line and the transfer line output from the difference calculating unit 54 by a difference comparing unit 55 to be described later. Set from the control unit 3. Any value can be set.
The difference calculation unit 54 subtracts the number of input / output processing lines output by the image input / output DMAC 41 from the number of transfer processing lines output by the compression / expansion unit 46 shown in FIG. 4 when an image is input, and outputs the result to the difference comparison unit 55. .
The difference comparison unit 55 compares the number of difference lines output by the difference calculation unit 54 at the time of image input with the set value output by the line setting unit 53, and outputs an error signal if the number of difference lines = set value. When the number of difference lines becomes 0, the transfer request mask signal of the comparison result output to the arbiter 57 described later is activated. Otherwise, active is not output when the input / output image is not operating.
The address selector 56 is a selector selected by the arbiter 57, and selects either the address of the input image or the address of the transfer image.
The arbiter 57 outputs a memory access permission signal for accessing the compression / expansion unit 46. Under the condition that the address comparison signal is active and the input / output memory access signal is inactive, the memory access permission signal is output.
The request mask 58 masks (disables) the transfer memory access request signal for accessing the compression / expansion unit 46 based on the comparison result from the difference comparison unit 55, and stops the transfer processing.
The access control circuit 59 divides an input physical address into a row address and a column address corresponding to a DRAM which is an image memory, and outputs the resultant to an 11-bit address bus. In addition, according to the access start signal from the arbiter 57, it outputs a DRAM control signal (RAS, CAS, WE).
In response to an image input instruction from the system control unit 3, the memory control unit 43 is initialized and waits for image data. When the reading unit 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 operates, the image data is input to the storage unit 5. The input image data is temporarily written to the image memory 42. The number of processing lines of the written image data is counted by the image input / output DMAC 41 and input to the memory control unit 43. The compression / expansion unit 46 outputs the transfer memory access request signal in response to the image transfer command. However, the request signal is masked by the request mask unit of the memory control unit 43, and actual memory access is not performed.
When one line of input data from the image input / output DMAC 41 is completed, the mask of the transfer memory access request signal is released, the image memory 42 is read, and the operation of transferring the image data to the compression / expansion unit 46 is started. . Further, even during operation, the difference calculation unit 54 calculates the difference between the two processing line numbers, and masks the transfer memory access request signal so that the address is not overtaken when the difference becomes zero. The above is the description of the configuration of the memory control 43 unit.
[0012]
Returning to FIG. 4 again, the image transfer DMAC 44 includes a CPU and a logic, communicates with the memory control unit 43, receives a command, performs an operation setting in accordance with the command, and sets status information for notifying a state. Send When a compression command is received, a memory access request signal is output to the memory control unit 43. When the memory access permission signal is active, image data is received and transferred to the compression / expansion unit 46. Further, it incorporates an address counter that counts up in response to a memory access request signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where image data is stored.
The code transfer DMAC 45 includes a CPU and logic, communicates with the memory control unit 43, receives a command, performs an operation setting according to the command, and transmits status information to notify a state. When a decompression command is received, a memory access request signal is output to the memory control unit 43, and when the memory access permission signal is active, image data is received and transferred to the compression / decompression unit 46. Further, it incorporates an address counter that counts up in response to a memory access request signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where image data is stored. The descriptor access operation of the DMAC will be described later.
The compression / expansion unit 46 includes a CPU and logic, communicates with the memory control unit 43, receives a command, sets an operation according to the command, and transmits status information to notify a state. The binary data is processed by the MH encoding method.
The HDC controller 47 includes a CPU and logic, communicates with the memory control unit 43, receives a command, sets an operation according to the command, and transmits the status as status information to notify the status. HD status read and data transfer. The HD (hard disk) 48 is a secondary storage device. The above is the description of the configuration of the storage unit 5.
As an overall operation of the storage unit 5, image data is written to or read from a predetermined image area of the image memory 42 by the image transfer DMAC 44 according to an instruction from the system control unit 3 when inputting and storing data. At this time, the image transfer DMAC 44 counts the number of image lines.
[0013]
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a descriptor access operation and a data transfer operation of the video input DMAC. The image data in the figure is divided into four bands, and the image data of the number of lines set in each band is transferred. When the video input DMAC 61 receives the transfer command, the DMA is started, the descriptor 1 is read-accessed to the chain destination a address set in advance by the CPU in the internal descriptor storage register 62, and the contents of the descriptor 1 in the memory are stored in the descriptor. Load into register 62.
The loaded contents are composed of four words, and the chain destination address indicating the storage address of the next descriptor, the data transfer destination address indicating the head address of the data to be transferred, and the data amount of the data to be transferred are represented by the number of lines. The indicated data transfer line number and format information on whether or not to generate a CPU interrupt when the set line number transfer is completed. In the least significant bit of the format information, a bit indicating whether to generate a CPU interrupt when the set number of lines has been transferred is arranged.
Similarly, when data is transferred from the image memory 42 to the HD 48 through the compression / expansion unit 46 (primary storage device → secondary storage device), since the data is transferred in one band, the number of lines of the descriptor of the image transfer DMAC 44 is Set and transfer as the number of lines. At that time, the transfer destination of the code transfer DMAC 45 is set to the HDD controller 47. A storage address is set in the HDD controller 47, and image data can be transferred through a path of the image memory 42, the image transfer DMAC 44, the compression / expansion unit 46, the code transfer DMAC 45, the HDD controller 47, and the HD 48.
[0014]
After the data transfer is completed, the HDD controller 47 notifies the used data amount when the data is stored in the HD 48, and stores the address stored in the HD 48 and the used data amount in the HDD management area secured in the primary storage device. . Further, the memory control unit 43 masks the transfer memory access request so that the transfer of the image data to the compression / expansion unit 46 does not overtake the transfer from the image input / output DMAC 41 (data to the secondary storage device). The transfer is controlled not to overtake the image input data transfer.)
Conversely, when data is transferred from the HD 48 to the image memory 42 through the compression / expansion unit 46 (secondary storage device → primary storage device), the data is stored in the HD 48 stored in the HDD management area secured in the primary storage device. The storage address and the used data amount at the time of the transfer are obtained, the storage address is set in the HDD controller 47, the used data amount is set in the code transfer DMAC 45, and the number of decompressed lines is set in the image transfer DMAC 44. Image data can be transferred through the path of the HDD controller 47 → code transfer DMAC 45 → compressor / decompressor 46 → image transfer DMAC 44 → image memory 42.
The image ID, size, and image format of the image stored in the storage unit 5 are stored in the image data management area, the storage address to the HDD, and the storage data amount are stored in the HDD management area, and the area is updated. Each time it is stored in the HD 48 as well.
[0015]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which two digital copying machines are connected. A description will be given of a case where two digital copiers are connected via an I / F unit, and printing is performed by sharing the image data stored in one digital copier with the two digital copiers.
One-page A4 size original is read. The image data sent from the reading unit 1 is transferred from the video input DMAC 61 → the image memory 42 → the image transfer DMAC 44 → the compression / expansion unit 46 → the code transfer DMAC 45 → the HDD controller 47 → the HD 48 and stored in the HD 48. The image ID, size, and image format of the image data at that time are stored in the image data management management area, and the storage address and storage data amount are stored in the HDD management area.
A case in which data stored in the HD 48 is shared by two connected digital copiers and printing is performed will be described. The digital copying machine on the data transfer side is the master machine A, and the digital copying machine on the receiving and printing side is the slave machine B. First, a data area for image data information and print information to be transferred to the image transfer data work area by the master machine A is secured, and the image ID, size, image format, and necessary print mode of the image are entered.
Next, the master machine A transfers the image data from the HD 48 to the image memory 42. When data is transferred from the HD 48 to the image memory 42 through the compression / expansion unit 46 (secondary storage device → primary storage device), when data is stored in the HD 48 stored in the HDD management area secured in the primary storage device , The storage address is set in the HDD controller 47, the used data amount is set in the code transfer DMAC 45, and the number of expanded lines is set in the image transfer DMAC 44. Image data can be transferred to the image data area through a path of 47 → code transfer DMAC 45 → compressor / decompressor 46 → image transfer DMAC 44 → image memory 42.
After the information data, the image data is transferred to the slave B in a single transfer in the order of the image data. In the data received by the slave unit B, the information of the image data and the data size of the information part are stored at the head of the print mode information part, so that it can be separated from the image data. The image ID, size, and image format are stored and managed in the image data management management area for each image data.
The print mode information is also stored and managed in a print mode information management area secured in the temporary storage device. When it is necessary to store and store the data in the HD 48 of the slave unit, the data is stored in the HD 48, and the storage address and storage data amount can be stored and managed in the HDD management area. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing data in the management area.
[0016]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first example of the flow of the image signal and the control signal. Signals flow through the system control unit 3, the memory control unit 43, the input device (master device A) 71, the output device (slave device B) 72, the primary storage unit 73, and the secondary storage unit 74 as shown in the figure.
FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart when the image signal A in FIG. 9 is input and output. The transfer speed capability of the input / output device stored in the system is acquired, and the process stands by until an input / output request is issued (S1). An input / output request for the image signal A is generated, and parameters for the input / output request for the generated image signal A are set (S2). The end time of the set parameter is specified (S3), and it is determined whether the end can be completed within the specified time based on the acquired transfer speed capability and input / output parameters (S4). The determination result is notified to the system control unit 3 (S5).
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of the flow of the image signal and the control signal. As in FIG. 9, the system control unit 3, the memory control unit 43, the input device (master device A) 71, the output device (slave device B) 72, the primary storage unit 73, and the secondary storage unit 74 Flows.
FIGS. 12 to 19 show that when an input / output operation request of the image signal B is received during execution of the input / output of the image signal A, it is determined whether or not the image signal A can be interrupted, and the input / output of the image signal B is performed. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart when signal A is restarted. The description of the operation will be given with the same step numbers given to the same step numbers as in FIG.
12 and 13 (S1 to S17), input / output of the image signal A is being executed. When an input / output request of the image signal B occurs during the input / output of the image signal A, the parameter of the input / output request of the image signal B is set and the end time is specified. While the image signal A is being executed, it is determined whether the image signal B can be completed within the designated time. If the image signal B cannot be ended within the designated time, the operator is notified that the image signal B cannot be ended, and input / output is continued with the image signal A unchanged.
If the image signal B can also be ended within the designated time, the interruption of the image signal A is determined.
If the image signal A is being input to the input device, it is determined that the input operation of the image signal A can be interrupted.
[0017]
In FIG. 14 (S21 to S28), if the image signal A is not being input, the input order of the image signal B is issued by changing the control order. If the image signal A is being input, it is determined whether the input operation of the image signal A can be interrupted. If the input operation of the image signal A can be interrupted, a request to interrupt the input operation of the image signal A is issued, and an input request of the image signal B is issued. When the input operation of the image signal B is completed, a request to restart the input operation of the image signal A is issued. If the input operation of the image signal A cannot be interrupted, the input operation of the image signal B waits.
In FIG. 15 (S31 to S38), if the image signal A is not being transferred from the primary storage unit to the secondary storage unit, the control order is changed and a transfer request for the image signal B is issued. If the image signal A is being transferred, it is determined whether the transfer operation of the image signal A can be interrupted. If the transfer operation of the image signal A can be interrupted, a request to interrupt the transfer operation of the image signal A is issued, and a transfer request of the image signal B is issued. When the transfer operation of the image signal B is completed, a request to restart the transfer operation of the image signal A is issued. If the transfer operation of the image signal A cannot be interrupted, the transfer operation of the image signal B waits.
In FIG. 16 (S41 to S48), if the image signal A is not being transferred from the secondary storage unit to the primary storage unit, the control order is changed and a transfer request for the image signal B is issued. If the image signal A is being transferred, it is determined whether the transfer operation of the image signal A can be interrupted. If the transfer operation of the image signal A can be interrupted, a request to interrupt the transfer operation of the image signal A is issued, and a transfer request of the image signal B is issued. When the transfer operation of the image signal B is completed, a request to restart the transfer operation of the image signal A is issued. If the transfer operation of the image signal A cannot be interrupted, the transfer operation of the image signal B waits.
[0018]
In FIG. 17 (S51 to S58), if the image signal A is not being output, the output order of the image signal B is issued by changing the control order. If the image signal A is being output, it is determined whether the output operation of the image signal A can be interrupted. If the output operation of the image signal A can be interrupted, a request to interrupt the output operation of the image signal A is issued, and an output request of the image signal B is issued. When the output operation of the image signal B is completed, a request to restart the output operation of the image signal A is issued. If the output operation of the image signal A cannot be interrupted, the output operation of the image signal B waits.
As a result, even while the input / output of the image signal A is being executed, it is possible to change the processing order of the input / output of another plurality of image signals and interrupt the execution.
FIGS. 18 and 19 are operation flow diagrams (S61 to S79) in which it is determined whether or not execution control is performed within a designated time. The setting of whether or not the execution determination within the specified time is performed is set in advance by the operator (or fixed in the system). When the designated time processing is performed in S63 according to the setting contents, the same processing as in FIG. 10 is performed. If not performed, the process of the specified time control is skipped and the operation is continued.
When the designated time processing is performed in S72 according to the setting contents, the same processing as in FIG. If not performed, the processing of the specified time control is skipped, and the operation is continued after the input / output processing of the image signal A is completed. With this, it is possible to select whether to execute input / output without being restricted by the designated time.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an image input unit, a storage unit for storing an image signal input from the image input unit, an image output unit, and an image signal input from the image input unit or In an image forming apparatus provided with a transfer means for transferring an image signal stored in a storage means to another image forming apparatus, a time until input / output processing of the image signal is completed when an input or output operation of the image signal is requested is designated. Operating means for performing a data input / output operation within a time period until completion of input / output processing of a specified image signal, and a system control means having a function of notifying the determination result by the operating means. With this configuration, information transfer (including image signals and information necessary for control between devices) of the image forming apparatus, which has been conventionally performed, can be performed more efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the document table viewed from above.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image synchronization signal output from an IPU of a reading unit.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a storage unit shown in FIG. 1;
5 is a configuration diagram of an address generation unit and a comparison unit of the memory control unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a descriptor access operation and a data transfer operation of a video input DMAC.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where two digital copying machines are connected.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing data of a management area.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a flow of an image signal and a control signal.
10 is an operation flowchart when inputting / outputting an image signal A in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the flow of the image signal and the control signal.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an input / output operation of an image signal when a request for input / output operation of an image signal B is received during execution of input / output of an image signal A; It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an input / output operation of an image signal when a request for an input / output operation of an image signal is received during execution of input / output of an image signal. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an input / output operation of an image signal B when an input / output operation request for an image signal B is received during execution of an input / output operation of the image signal A; It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process for determining whether or not the image signal A can be interrupted when an input / output operation request for the image signal B is received while the image signal A is being input / output. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an input / output operation of an image signal when a request for an input / output operation of an image signal B is received during execution of input / output of an image signal A; It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an input / output operation of an image signal when a request for input / output operation of an image signal B is received during execution of input / output of the image signal A; It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of restart.
FIG. 18 is an operation flowchart in which a determination is made as to whether or not execution control is to be performed within a designated time.
FIG. 19 is an operation flowchart in which a determination is made as to whether or not execution control is to be performed within a designated time.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 reading unit (image input means)
2 Image forming unit (image output unit)
3 System control unit (system control means)
4 Operation part (operation means)
5. Storage unit (storage means)
7 I / F section (transfer means)

Claims (3)

An image input unit, a storage unit for storing an image signal input from the image input unit, an image output unit, and an image signal input from the image input unit or an image signal stored in the storage unit. Transfer means for transferring to another image forming apparatus,
Operation means for specifying the time until the completion of the input / output processing of the image signal when requesting the input or output operation of the image signal, and data input / output operation can be performed within the time until the completion of the input / output processing of the specified image signal An image forming apparatus comprising: a system control unit having a function of determining whether or not the determination is made and notifying the determination result by the operation unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit controls the interruption / resumption of the ongoing information transfer operation, and receives a request for a plurality of image signal input / output operations to the storage device at the same time. Request receiving means for performing, the order control means for controlling the order of the plurality of requested image signal input and output operations, and a determination means for determining whether or not the image signal input and output processing being executed can be interrupted, An image forming apparatus comprising: an operation control unit that controls interruption / resumption of an operation being executed based on a determination result of the determination unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit selects whether to enable control for executing an operation within a time period until completion of input / output processing of the designated image signal. 4. Characteristic image forming apparatus.

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