JP2004274270A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the waiting time of the job when the processing request for the other job is made during compression/expansion of the image data of one job. <P>SOLUTION: First image data are inputted from an input means 4, and are outputted to an output means 2, or second image data are inputted from a second input means 2 and are outputted to a second output means 4. The first and the second image data are developed with a work memory 5 after the input. The image data developed by the work memory are compressed and expanded. Also, the first compressed image data or the second compressed image data are stored in a file memory 6. The image data inputted from the first input means or the second input means are transferred by a transfer means 81. It is judged whether the work memory 5 is in an empty state or not during operation of the compression/expansion means to the first image data and when the input/output request for the second image data is made. When it is in the empty state, the second image data are transferred to the second output means after developing them in the work memory 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus used for an MFP (Multi Function Products) having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
The MFP as described above is provided with a receiving unit for receiving image data from a plurality of input units, for example, an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer), and a document for reading a document in order to realize multi-function. A reading unit and the like are provided. The image processing apparatus further includes a plurality of output units, for example, a transmission unit that outputs image data and the like read by a document reading unit to an external device, a printer unit that prints image data and the like from the external device, and the like. In addition, a work memory is provided for expanding the image data input from each input means, and a file memory for storing the image data once input is provided to prepare for the output of the second copy and thereafter.
[0003]
In order to reduce the storage capacity of the image data stored in the file memory, a compression / expansion device for compressing and expanding the image data is generally provided. The image data expanded in the work memory is transferred to a compression / expansion device and compressed, and the compressed image data is stored in a file memory.
[0004]
In such an MFP, for example, when a print job of image data is input from an external device, the input image data is expanded in a work memory, and the expanded image data is sent to a printer unit and printed. . At the same time, the data is transferred to a compression / decompression device, compressed, and stored in a file memory. When printing the second copy, the compressed image data stored in the file memory is decompressed by the compression / decompression device, transferred to the work memory again, and further transferred to the printer unit for printing. It has been done.
[0005]
By the way, during processing of such a print job, a so-called scan-out request for transmitting image data of a document read by the document reading unit to an external device may be made. In this case, since the print job is being executed and the compression / expansion device has already been used, the output processing of the image data read by the document reading unit must be waited until the compression / expansion device is released. However, there is a problem that image transfer to an external device is delayed.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163,086 describes a technique for changing the assignment of a compression operation and a decompression operation according to image data for a compressor / decompressor connected in parallel.
[0007]
By applying this technique, it is also conceivable to operate a part of the compression / decompression device for executing a print job and operate the rest for executing a job accompanying a scan-out request (hereinafter, referred to as a scan-out job).
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-41429
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the operation assignment of the compressor / decompressor is changed, there is a disadvantage that the processing speed of the image data is reduced and the efficiency is not good.
[0010]
Also, without changing the operation assignment of the compression / expansion unit, the compression / expansion of the scan-out job is performed between one page of the print job and the next page while all the compression / expansion units are operated for executing the print job. Stretching is also conceivable. However, in this case, there is a disadvantage that the image transfer speed of the scan-out job is reduced.
[0011]
Such a drawback also occurs when a print job is input from an external device during execution of a scan-out job.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a disadvantage, and when image data in one job is compressed / expanded and another job is requested, the other job is executed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing device capable of reducing the waiting time of processing and outputting the data to a predetermined output destination without lowering the processing speed or the transfer speed.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object is to provide first and second input means, first and second output means, and first image data input from the first input means and output to the first output means, or A second image data input from the second input means and output to the second output means after the input, and the first image data or the second image data expanded in the work memory Compression / expansion means for compressing the compressed image data and expanding the compressed image data; a file memory for storing the first image data or the second image data compressed by the compression / expansion means; Transfer means for transferring the image data input from the input means or the second input means, and wherein the compression / decompression means is operating on the first image data, and the second image data I / O request It is determined whether or not the work memory is vacant, and if it is vacant, the second image data is expanded in the work memory, and then the compression / decompression means is transferred via the transfer means. And control means for transferring the data to the second output means without transferring the data to the second output means.
[0014]
In this data processing device, when the compression / expansion means is operating on the first image data and the input / output request for the second image data is made, the work memory is in an empty state. It is determined whether or not there is, and if it is in an empty state, the second image data is expanded in the work memory and then transferred to the second output means without being transferred to the compression / decompression means.
[0015]
In other words, if the work memory is empty, the second image data is transferred to the second output means immediately after being expanded in the work memory, and the operation of the compression / decompression means for the first image data ends. There is no need to wait until this, and early output processing can be performed. Moreover, there is no need to change the operation assignment of the compression / expansion means or to perform the processing of the second image data between the processing of one page of the first image data and the processing of the next page. Also, the transfer speed does not decrease.
[0016]
The data processing apparatus includes a printer unit and a document reading unit, wherein first image data is image data input from an external device and output by the printer unit, and second image data is stored in the document reading unit. , And may be image data to be output to an external device.
[0017]
In this case, during execution of a print job from the external device, when there is a scan-out request to output image data read by the document reading unit to the external device, the image data read by the document reading unit is output. The data is transferred to the second output means at an early stage and output.
[0018]
The data processing device includes a printer unit and a document reading unit, wherein first image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to an external device, and second image data is The image data may be input from an external device and output by the printer unit.
[0019]
In this case, during execution of a scan-out job for outputting image data read by the document reading unit to an external device, when a print job is requested from the external device, an image transmitted from the external device is transmitted. The data can be printed by the printer unit at an early stage.
[0020]
Further, the second image data may include a plurality of pages, and a determination may be made for each page as to whether or not to transfer to the second output unit without transferring to the compression / decompression unit.
[0021]
In this case, it is determined for each page of the second image data whether or not to directly transfer to the second output means without transferring to the compression / decompression means, so that the compression / decompression means is in operation. If there is free space in the work memory, the data is immediately transferred to the second output means, while if the operation is completed, the data is transferred to the second output means via a normal transfer route via the compression / decompression means. . Therefore, if the operation of the compression / expansion means has been completed, the image data is transferred to the second output means via a normal transfer route even in the middle of the second image data.
[0022]
Further, the data processing apparatus includes a plurality of compression / decompression means, and all the compression / decompression means perform the same compression operation or decompression operation on either the first image data or the second image data. It may be.
[0023]
Thereby, since all of the plurality perform the same compression operation or expansion operation on either the first image data or the second image data, the maximum capacity of the compression / expansion means is increased by the first image data. , And early output processing of the second image data can be performed.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an MFP 1 as a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026]
The data processing apparatus includes a document reading unit 2 as an input unit, a printer unit 3 as an output unit, and an Ethernet (EtherNet) controller 4 functioning as both an input unit and an output unit.
[0027]
The document reading unit 2 includes a scanner for reading a document, and sends image data of the read document to a bus arbiter 8 via a read image interface unit (referred to as an IR image I / F unit in the drawing). Is to be done. The printer unit 3 prints the image data transferred from the bus arbiter 8 on paper or the like.
[0028]
The Ethernet controller 4 functions as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting and receiving image data via the Ethernet, and receives a job including image data transmitted from the external device such as a personal computer (not shown) via the Ethernet. Alternatively, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 2 is transmitted to an external device via the Ethernet.
[0029]
Further, the MFP 1 includes a work memory 5, a file memory 6, a compression / decompression control unit 7, the above-described bus arbitrator 8, CPU 9, and memory controller PCI bridge 10.
[0030]
The work memory 5 expands image data included in a job from an external device received by the Ethernet controller 4, image data read by the document reading unit 2, and stores data other than image data. It is. As shown in FIG. 4, the work memory 5 includes a control program use area 51 and a RIP development area 52 as a basic configuration.
[0031]
The RIP expansion area 52 is an area for RIP (Raster Image Processor) expansion of image data from the external device received by the Ethernet controller 4. The control program use area 51 is a storage area used for purposes other than RIP decompression. The image data read by the document reading unit 2 and the image data decompressed by the compression / decompression control unit 7 as described later are stored in this area. It is developed in the control program use area 51.
[0032]
The compression / decompression control unit 7 includes a plurality of compression / decompression units 71 to 74, and performs compression / decompression of image data from an external device or image data read by the document reading unit 2, for example. Units 71-74. In this embodiment, all of the plurality of compression / expansion units 71 to 74 perform the same compression operation or expansion operation on one image data.
[0033]
The file memory 6 stores the image data compressed by the compression / decompression units 71 to 74.
[0034]
The bus arbiter 8 transfers the image data read by the document reading unit 2 or the image data input from the Ethernet controller 4 from an external device by the transfer control unit 81.
[0035]
The memory controller PCI bridge 10 controls the work memory 5 and connects the bus of the CPU 9 and the PCI bus.
[0036]
The CPU 9 controls the entire MFP 1 including the memory controller PCI bridge 10, the transfer control unit 81, the compression / decompression control unit 7, and the like. For example, it is determined whether or not there is a request for various jobs, the type of the currently executed job, whether or not the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 are in use, and the like. It is determined whether the RIP expansion area 52 of the memory 5 is in use or empty.
[0037]
Next, the operation of the MFP 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
[0038]
When a print job (hereinafter, referred to as a PC print job) transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer is input to the Ethernet controller 4 via the Ethernet, the image data included in the PC print job receives an instruction from the CPU 9. RIP expansion is performed on the work memory 5 by the memory controller PCI bridge 10.
[0039]
The RIP-decompressed image data is transferred to the printer unit 3 via the printer I / F unit 31 by the transfer control unit 81 that has received an instruction from the CPU 9, and printed. At the same time, the data is also transferred to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74, and is compressed using all the compression / decompression units 71 to 74. The compressed image data is stored in the file memory 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when printing the first copy, the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is used for RIP development, and the control program usage area 51 is also used at the same time. ing.
[0040]
If the PC print job is a job for printing two or more sets of image data, the compressed image data stored in the file memory 6 is expanded using all of the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 from the second copy. Thereafter, the data is transferred to the control program use area 51 of the work memory 5 and further transferred to the printer unit 3 for printing. At the time of the printing of the second copy, the RIP development of the image data has already been completed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is not used, Has become.
[0041]
In this way, the PC print job is executed, and outputs of a plurality of copies of the image data are obtained.
[0042]
During the execution of the PC print job as described above, the document reading unit 2 reads a document and transmits the image data to an external device. This will be described with reference to a flowchart.
[0043]
First, upon receiving a scan-out request in S201, the CPU 9 determines in S202 whether any job is already being executed. If it is not being executed (NO in S202), since the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 are not operating, normal transfer processing is performed in S203. That is, when a document is read by the document reading unit 2, the image data is transferred to the work memory 5 by the transfer control unit 81 and expanded. Then, the data is transferred from the work memory 5 to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 and stored in the file memory 6 after compression. The compressed image data is decompressed by the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 and transferred to the work memory 5, then transferred to the Ethernet controller 4, and output from the controller 4 to an external device via the Ethernet.
[0044]
On the other hand, if any job is already being executed in S202 (YES in S202), it is determined in S204 whether a PC print job is being executed.
[0045]
If the PC print job is not being executed (NO in S204), the process returns to S202 and waits until the job is completed. If the PC print job is being executed (YES in S204), in S205, it is determined whether or not the processing of the second copy or later is being performed, in other words, whether the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is empty. Is determined.
[0046]
If it is the second copy or later (YES in S205), the process proceeds to S206. If it is not the second copy (NO in S205), the process is for the first copy, so in S207, the process waits until the first copy of the PC print job is completed. That is, since the RIP decompression area 52 of the work memory 5 is used and the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 are also used, the read image data cannot be read (decompressed) into the work memory 5. stand by. When the printing of the first copy of the PC print job is completed, it is determined in S208 whether the PC print job includes a print instruction for the second copy or later. If the print instruction for the second copy or later is included (YES in S208), the process proceeds to S206. If the print instruction for the second copy or later is not included (NO in S208), the PC print job is completed by the completion of the printing of the first copy, so the process proceeds to S203 and the processing is performed by the normal transfer route. Output to an external device via Ethernet.
[0047]
In S206, it is determined whether or not the processing is for the image data of the first page document read by the document reading unit 2. In the state where the process has proceeded to S206, since the second and subsequent copies of the PC print job are being printed, the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 are operating, but the RIP decompression processing has already been completed, and the work memory No. 5 RIP development area 52 is empty.
[0048]
Therefore, if it is the first page of the scan-out job (YES in S206), the process proceeds to S209, where the RIP expansion area 52 of the work memory 5 is used. Expand the image data of the page. The decompressed image data is immediately transferred to the Ethernet controller 4 without being transferred to the compression / decompression devices 71 to 74, and is transmitted to a predetermined external device as a scan-out destination via the Ethernet. After the transmission, in S212, it is determined whether or not the next page exists in the scan-out job. If there is no next page (NO in S212), the scan-out job ends. If there is a next page (YES in S212), the process returns to S202.
[0049]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S206 that the image data is for the second and subsequent pages of the document (NO in S206), it is determined in S210 whether the transmission of the image data of the previous page is completed, in other words, the work memory 5 It is determined whether the RIP development area 52 is in use. If the transmission has been completed (YES in S210), since the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is not used (empty state), the process proceeds to S209, and the image data of the page is stored in the work memory 5. After being decompressed in the RIP decompression area 52, it is transferred to the Ethernet controller 4 without being transferred to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74, and is sent to the external device at the scan-out destination.
[0050]
In S210, if the transmission of the image data of the original of the previous page has not been completed (NO in S210), the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is in use for the transmission processing of the previous page, and the control is performed. Since the program use area 51 is being used for the processing of the second and subsequent copies of the PC print job, the process advances to step S211 until the work memory 5 becomes empty, that is, the PC print job ends or the previous page The process waits until transmission of the read image data is completed, and returns to S202.
[0051]
In this way, even when the compression / expansion units 71 to 74 are used for processing the PC print job, when the RIP expansion area 52 of the work memory 5 is empty, the compression / expansion unit 71 is used. The image data read by the document reading unit 2 is expanded in the RIP expansion area 52 of the work memory 5 without waiting for the operation of steps 74 to 74, and immediately transmitted to the Ethernet controller 4 without being transferred to the compression / expansion units 71 to 74. Transfer and send to external device. Therefore, early processing of the scan-out request can be performed.
[0052]
Next, the processing performed by the CPU 9 when a PC print job is requested during execution of a scan-out job will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0053]
First, upon receiving a request for a PC print job in S301, in S302, the CPU 9 determines whether any job is already being executed. If it is not being executed (NO in S302), since the compression / decompression devices 71 to 74 are not operating, normal transfer processing is performed in S303. That is, the image data input to the Ethernet controller 4 is RIP-decompressed in the work memory 5, transferred to the printer unit 3 and printed, and also transferred to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74 and compressed. The compressed image data is stored in the file memory 6, and for the second and subsequent copies, the compressed image data is transferred to the printer unit 3 and printed while being expanded by the compression / expansion units 71 to 74.
[0054]
On the other hand, if any job is already being executed in S302 (YES in S302), it is determined in S304 whether a scan-out job is being executed.
[0055]
If the scan-out job is not being executed (NO in S304), the process returns to S302 and waits until the job is completed. If the scan-out job is being executed (YES in S304), it is determined in S305 whether or not the processing target of the PC print job is the first page.
[0056]
If it is the first page (YES in S305), the process advances to S3206. Since the image data read by the document reading unit 2 is not subjected to the RIP expansion processing, the RIP expansion area 52 of the work memory 5 is unused and empty. Therefore, in S306, the image data of the first page of the PC print job is RIP-developed in the RIP-expansion area 52 of the work memory 5. Since the compression / expansion units 71 to 74 are being used for processing of the scan-out job, the image data expanded by RIP is transferred to the printer unit 3 without being transferred to the compression / expansion units 71 to 74 and printed. Is done. After printing, it is determined in step S309 whether the next page exists in the PC print job. If there is no next page (NO in step S309), the PC print job ends. If there is a next page (YES in S309), the process returns to S302.
[0057]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S305 that the image data is for the second and subsequent pages (NO in S305), it is determined in S307 whether the printing of the image data of the previous page has been completed, in other words, the RIP of the work memory 5 has been completed. It is determined whether the development area 52 is in use. If the printing has been completed (YES in S210), the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is unused (empty state), so the process proceeds to S306, and the image data of the page is stored in the work memory. After being expanded in the RIP expansion area 52 of FIG. 5, the image data is transferred to the printing unit 3 and printed without being transferred to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74.
[0058]
In S307, if the printing of the image data of the previous page is not completed (NO in S307), the RIP development area 52 of the work memory 5 is being used for the print processing of the previous page, so the flow proceeds to S308. , Waits until the RIP development area 52 becomes empty, that is, until the printing of the image data of the previous page is completed, and returns to S302.
[0059]
In this way, even when the compression / expansion units 71 to 74 are used for processing the scan-out job, if the RIP expansion area 52 of the work memory 5 is empty, the compression / expansion unit 71 The input image data is RIP-decompressed in the RIP decompression area 52 of the work memory 5 without waiting for the completion of the operations of .about.74, and is immediately transmitted to the printer unit 3 without being transmitted to the compression / decompression units 71 to 74. Print. Therefore, early processing of the PC print job request can be performed.
[0060]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a case where a scan-out request is issued during processing of a print job from an external device or a case where a print request is issued during processing of a scan-out job has been described. good.
[0061]
The specific embodiments described above include inventions having the following configurations.
(1) The work memory according to claim 1, wherein the work memory includes an area for RIP expansion, and whether the work memory is in an empty state is determined by determining whether the RIP expansion area is in use. Data processing device.
[0062]
In this data processing device, the determination as to whether or not the work memory is empty is made by determining whether or not the RIP expansion area is in use. Therefore, the second image data is stored in the RIP expansion area using the RIP expansion area. Can be expanded.
(2) The first image data input from the first input means and output to the first output means, or the second image data input from the second input means and output to the second output means, , After input, expand to work memory;
Compressing the first image data or the second image data expanded in the work memory;
Accumulating the compressed first image data or second image data in a file memory;
Transfer means for transferring the image data input from the first input means or the second input means;
When the compression / decompression means is operating for the first image data and when there is an input / output request for the second image data, it is determined whether or not the work memory is free. The step of determining;
When it is determined that the work memory is empty, after expanding the second image data in the work memory, transferring the second image data to the second output unit without compression;
A data processing method comprising:
[0063]
According to this data processing method, if the work memory is empty, the second image data is transferred to the second output means immediately after being expanded in the work memory, so that early output processing can be performed.
(3) The first image data is image data input from an external device and output by the printer unit, and the second image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to the external device. The data processing method according to (2).
[0064]
In this data processing method, when a scan-out request to output image data read by a document reading unit to an external device is issued during execution of a print job from an external device, the image data read by the document reading unit is Are early transferred to the second output means and output.
(4) The first image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to the external device, and the second image data is image data input from the external device and output by the printer unit. The data processing method according to (2).
[0065]
According to this data processing method, during a scan-out job for outputting image data read by the document reading unit to an external device, a request for a print job from the external device is transmitted from the external device. The image data can be printed early by the printer unit.
(5) The work memory has a RIP development area, and the determination as to whether the work memory is empty is made by determining whether the RIP development area is in use. Processing method.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention depends on the above, it is not necessary to wait until the operation of the compression / decompression means for the first image data is completed, and the output processing of the second image data can be performed early. Moreover, there is no need to change the operation assignment of the compression / expansion means or to perform the processing of the second image data between the processing of one page of the first image data and the processing of the next page. Also, there is no inconvenience that causes a decrease in transfer speed.
[0067]
Also, a printer unit and a document reading unit are provided, the first image data is image data input from an external device and output by the printer unit, and the second image data is read by the document reading unit and If the image data is output to the device, when a print-out request to output the image data read by the document reading unit to the external device is issued during the execution of the print job from the external device, An early output process of the image data read by the document reading unit to the second output unit can be realized.
[0068]
The data processing device includes a printer unit and a document reading unit, wherein first image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to an external device, and second image data is If the image data is input from an external device and output by the printer unit, during execution of a scan-out job for outputting image data read by the document reading unit to the external device, a print job When a request is made, image data transmitted from an external device can be printed by the printer unit at an early stage.
[0069]
In the case where the second image data is composed of a plurality of pages, and it is determined whether or not each page is transferred to the second output unit without being transferred to the compression / decompression unit, the compression is performed. If the operation of the / expansion means has been completed, it is possible to transfer the data to the second output means via a normal transfer route even in the middle of the second image data.
[0070]
Further, the data processing apparatus includes a plurality of compression / decompression means, and all the compression / decompression means perform the same compression operation or decompression operation on either the first image data or the second image data. Thus, the early output processing of the second image data can be performed while the maximum capacity of the compression / expansion means is exerted in the processing of the first image data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a scan-out request is issued during execution of a print job from an external device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a print job is requested from an external device during execution of scan-out.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a storage area of a work memory and a transfer flow of image data.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 MFP (data processing device)
2 Document reading unit (input means)
3 Printer section (output means)
4 Ethernet controller (input means, output means)
5 Work memory
6 File memory
71-74 Compressor / Decompressor
81 Transfer control unit (transfer means)
9 CPU (control means)
10 Memory controller

Claims (5)

First and second input means;
First and second output means;
The first image data input from the first input means and output to the first output means, or the second image data input from the second input means and output to the second output means, Work memory to be expanded later,
Compression / expansion means for compressing the first image data or the second image data expanded in the work memory, and expanding the compressed image data;
A file memory for storing the first image data or the second image data compressed by the compression / decompression means;
Transfer means for transferring the image data input from the first input means or the second input means;
When the compression / expansion means is operating on the first image data and an input / output request for the second image data is made, it is determined whether or not the work memory is in an empty state. Judging that if it is empty, the control means causes the second image data to be transferred to the second output means via the transfer means without being transferred to the compression / decompression means after the second image data is expanded in the work memory; ,
A data processing device comprising: It has a printer section and a document reading section,
The first image data is image data input from an external device and output by the printer unit, and the second image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to the external device. Item 2. The data processing device according to item 1. It has a printer section and a document reading section,
The first image data is image data read by the document reading unit and output to an external device, and the second image data is image data input from an external device and output by the printer unit. Item 2. The data processing device according to item 1. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image data includes a plurality of pages, and it is determined for each page whether or not to transfer to the second output unit without transferring to the compression / decompression unit. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of compression / decompression means, wherein all compression / decompression means perform the same compression operation or decompression operation on either the first image data or the second image data. .

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