JP2005099932A - Spooling method, program making the same method executed with computer, image forming apparatus, and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense interface changes for each print protocol processing when changes on hardware or the like occurs and to facilitate a program development. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus providing user service regarding image forming processing comprises a print protocol processing sections 131 to 13N interpreting received data of a print object received from a PC 190 connected with a network 180 based on a predetermined communication protocol and sampling specific print data for an application which performs printing, an HDD 150 memorizing the print data as a printing job, and a spool reading processing section 112 being separated from the print protocol processing section 131 to 13N and delivering the print data included in the printing job memorized in the HDD 150 into the application such as a print application A-120a or the like via a common memory 161. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a spool processing method for spooling and outputting print data in response to a print request from a client terminal connected to a network, a program for causing a computer to execute the method, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions of apparatuses such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner are housed in one casing. This multifunction device is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in one casing, and is provided with three types of software respectively corresponding to a printer, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine, and by switching these software, Are operated as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a facsimile machine.

  In such a conventional multi-function peripheral, software corresponding to a printer, a copy, a scanner, and a facsimile apparatus is provided separately, so that development of each software requires a lot of time. A plurality of applications that have hardware resources used in image forming processes such as a display unit, a printing unit, and an imaging unit, and that perform processing specific to each user service such as a printer, a copy, or a facsimile. It consists of various control services that perform management, execution control, and image formation processing of hardware resources that are shared by at least two applications when providing user services. There is an image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) provided with a platform (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a multi-function peripheral, when printing out application data generated by a client terminal such as a PC on a network, the print data is not sent directly to the printer engine but temporarily as a print job. A spool process is performed in which the data is stored in a storage unit such as (HDD) and transmitted to the printer engine later.

  FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration related to spool processing in the above-described conventional multifunction machine. As shown in FIG. 22, a conventional multi-function peripheral is equipped with a printer application 2201 that is an application that performs printing processing in an application layer, and a fax application 2202 that performs facsimile transmission and reception. In addition, a network control service (NCS) 2203 for controlling the network is installed in the control service layer.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the NCS is provided with print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N for each protocol so that processing can be performed corresponding to a plurality of print protocols. Here, the print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N receive data from a PC (Personal Computer) on the network via the network I / F unit 2206 and establish and release a logical session. The data transmitted over the session is interpreted according to the communication protocol, the application-specific data portion is extracted from the interpreted data, and the data is delivered to the corresponding application. Such communication protocols include, for example, FTP, HTTP, and the like, and a plurality of print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N are provided for each protocol in order to correspond to each protocol. Each print protocol processing unit includes spool processing units 2221 and 2222 to 222N that register print data in the HDD 1707 as a print job and control the print job. Since the spool processing units 2221, 2222 to 222 N are registered via the HDD I / F 2205 in the NCS when registering print data in the HDD 1707 as a print job, the spool processing units 2221, 2222 to 222 N are included in the NCS print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N. Is provided.

  The NCS 2203 includes an HDD-I / F unit 2205 that transmits / receives data when accessing the HDD 2207, a printer application that transmits / receives data when accessing the memory, and executes spool processing. The configuration includes a memory transfer I / F-spool transfer I / F unit 2204 that transmits and receives data to and from the fax application, and a network I / F unit 2206 that controls access to a network card (not shown). .

  When a print request is made from a PC (Personal Computer) on the network to the MFP configured as described above, the print request is received via the network I / F unit 2206 of the NCS 2203. Received by the print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N corresponding to the print protocol. Each of the print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221 N interprets the received data according to its own communication protocol, extracts print data that is a part specific to the application from the received data, and spools the extracted print data respectively. The processing units 2221, 2222 to 222 N register the print job in the HDD 2207 via the HDD-I / F unit.

  When executing the print job, the spool processing units 2221, 2222 to 222 N read the print data from the HDD 2205, pass the read print data to the printer application 2201, and the print data depends on the printer engine by the printer application 2201. Is converted to a print format and sent to the printer engine.

JP 2002-84383 A (FIG. 3)

  However, since such a conventional multi-function peripheral includes spool processing units 2221 and 2222 to 222N that perform spool processing for each print protocol processing unit 2211, 2122 to 221N, for example, an SD card or the like in addition to the HDD 2207 When the hardware resources are added, it is necessary to change the processing for the new hardware resources for the spool processing units 2221, 2222 to 222N among all the print protocol processing units 2211, 2122 to 221N. There is a problem that a great deal of labor is required to change the program related to the spool function due to the addition of various hardware resources.

  In addition to assigning a single print data file to one print job, spool data is divided into one print job, for example, when multiple print data files are assigned to each page. There is also. In this case, whether or not to divide for each job of an application such as a printer application, the division unit, etc. may be different, and if a different process is incorporated for each application individually in all spool processing units, a program related to the spool function There is a problem that much labor is required for the creation work.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when a change in hardware or the like occurs, a spool processing method that eliminates the need to change the correction interface for each print protocol process and facilitates program development. An object of the present invention is to obtain a program, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that cause a computer to execute the method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a spool processing method for performing spool processing by transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application via a shared memory. A protocol processing step for interpreting received data to be printed received from a connected client terminal based on a predetermined communication protocol, and extracting print data specific to an image forming application for performing a printing process, and the protocol processing step. A spool reading step of transferring print data included in the print job stored in the storage unit to the image forming application via a shared memory by a functionally independent unit different from the executing unit. Regarding the spool processing method It is intended.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the print data contained in the print job stored in the storage means is transferred via the shared memory by the functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step. By passing it to the image forming application, even if there is a change in the interface related to spool processing, it is possible to cope with the change in the interface by changing the program in one spool processing part. There is no need to change the spool processing part. In addition, even if there is a change in the hardware, the means for performing the spool processing is a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step, so if the means for executing the protocol processing step is changed, There is no need to change the program that executes spool processing. Therefore, according to the present invention, efficient program development can be performed. Further, since the means for performing the spool processing is a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step, data is transferred between the applications via the shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS. Therefore, print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the spool processing method according to the first aspect, a notification step of notifying the image forming application of the completion of reading when the print data is read from the storage unit. Is further included.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when print data is read from the storage unit, the image forming application is notified of the completion of reading, thereby smoothly executing the print job execution process by the image forming application. Can be done.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the spool processing method according to the first or second aspect, the spool read-out step includes a single print data registered as a single print job, and the protocol processing step. Reading from the storage means is performed by a functionally independent means different from the executing means.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, single print data registered as a single print job is read from the storage means by means that is functionally independent from the means for executing the protocol processing step. Therefore, even if there is an interface change related to spool processing, it is not necessary to change the spool processing part for a single print data for a single print job for each protocol, and efficient program development It can be performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the spool processing method according to the first or second aspect, in the spool reading step, a plurality of divided print data registered as a single print job is processed by the protocol processing. Reading from the storage means is performed by a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the steps.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores the plurality of divided print data registered as a single print job by a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step. By reading from, even if there is an interface change related to spool processing, there is no need to change the spool processing part for multiple print data for a single print job for multiple protocols, and an efficient program Development can be done.

  Moreover, since the invention concerning Claim 5 is a program which makes a computer perform the method as described in any one of Claims 1-4, any one operation | movement of Claims 1-4 is performed by a computer can do.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an image forming apparatus that provides user service for image forming processing by transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application via a shared memory, Protocol processing means for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol and extracting print data specific to an image forming application for performing print processing; and the print data Unlike the protocol processing unit, the storage unit stores the print data included in the print job stored in the storage unit to the image forming application via a shared memory. And a spool reading means for delivery. To.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, unlike the protocol processing means, the print data included in the print job stored in the storage means is delivered to the image forming application via the shared memory, independently of the function. Therefore, even if there is a change in the interface related to spool processing, it is possible to cope with the change in the interface by changing the program of the spool writing means at one place. There is no need to do. Even if the hardware is changed, the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means. Therefore, if the protocol processing means is changed, it is necessary to change the program of the spool reading means. Absent. For this reason, according to the present invention, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, it is possible to perform efficient program development by making them functionally independent. Further, since the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS. It is possible to pass print data between applications that are not directly affected by the change.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, hardware resources used in the image forming process, and an application layer that performs a process specific to the user service related to the image forming process, and The acquisition request, management, execution control, and image formation of the hardware resource that are commonly required by at least two applications when providing a user service that is interposed between the application layer and the hardware resource A control service layer that performs processing, wherein the control service layer includes the protocol processing unit, and the application layer includes the spool reading unit and a printer application as the image forming application. It is characterized by.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the protocol processing means is provided in the control service layer and the spool reading means is provided in the application layer, so that even when there is a change in spool processing that does not affect the hardware. If the spool reading means of the application layer that does not affect the hardware is corrected, it is not necessary to correct the protocol processing means of the control service layer that affects the hardware for each protocol. Further, when there is a change in hardware, if the protocol processing means in the control layer is changed, there is no need to change the program in the spool reading means in the application layer. As described above, according to the present invention, the spool reading means that is not affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is the part affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the control layer. With this configuration, efficient program development can be performed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the control service layer includes a network control service that controls the network and includes the protocol processing unit, and the application layer includes the A spool application having a spool reading unit is further provided.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the control service layer includes a network control service that controls the network and includes the protocol processing unit, and the application layer includes a spool reading unit and a spool application including the above. Even if there is a change in the spool processing that does not affect the hardware, if the application layer spool application that does not affect the hardware is modified, the protocol processing means of the control service layer that affects the hardware can be changed for each protocol. There is no need to correct it. Further, when there is a change in hardware, it is not necessary to change the spool application of the application layer by changing the protocol processing means of the control layer. As described above, according to the present invention, the spool application that is not affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is the part affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the control layer. With the configuration, efficient program development can be performed.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the spool reading unit reads the print data from the storage unit when the print data is read from the storage unit. The application or the printer application is notified of the completion of reading.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when print data is read from the storage means, the image forming application or the printer application notifies the image forming application or the printer application that the reading is completed, so that printing by the image forming application or the printer application is performed. Job execution processing can be performed smoothly.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, the spool reading unit stores a single print data registered as a single print job. It reads from the said memory | storage means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a change in the interface related to the spool processing by reading out the single print data registered as a single print job from the storage means by the spool reading means. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the spool processing portion relating to a single print data for a single print job for each of a plurality of protocols, and an efficient program development can be performed.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application via a shared memory to provide a user service for image forming processing. Protocol processing means for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol and extracting print data specific to an image forming application for performing print processing; and the print data Unlike the protocol processing means, the storage means for storing one or a plurality of print data divided based on spool setting information that defines the spool processing content from the protocol processing means The one or more print data stored in the storage means are shared. Characterized by comprising a spool reading means for passing through the shared memory to the image forming application via the memory.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, unlike the protocol processing means, it is functionally independent and divided based on the spool setting information that defines the spool processing contents from the print data stored in the storage means. By transferring one or more print data to the image forming application via the shared memory via the shared memory, even if there is a change in the interface related to spool processing, the program change of one spool writing means If this is done, it is possible to cope with changes in the interface, and there is no need to change the spool processing portion for each of a plurality of printing protocols. Even if the hardware is changed, the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means. Therefore, if the protocol processing means is changed, it is necessary to change the program of the spool reading means. Absent. For this reason, according to the present invention, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, it is possible to perform efficient program development by making them functionally independent. Further, since the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS. It is possible to pass print data between applications that are not directly affected by the change.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the storage unit sets the spool setting information that defines the print data division processing information for each of the image forming applications from the print data. One or a plurality of print data divided based on the above is stored as a single print job.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores one or a plurality of print data divided from print data based on spool setting information defining print data division processing information for each image forming application. By storing as a single print job, it is not necessary to develop a spool processing program for handling a plurality of print data as a single print job for each protocol, and an efficient program development can be performed.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, hardware resources used in the image forming process, and an application layer that performs a process specific to the user service related to the image forming process, The hardware resource acquisition request, management, execution control, and image that are commonly required by at least two of the application layers when providing a user service that is interposed between the application layer and the hardware resources. A control service layer that performs a forming process, wherein the control service layer controls the network and includes the protocol processing unit, and the application layer includes the spool reading unit.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the control service layer has the protocol processing means and the application layer has the spool reading means, the hardware and hardware such as the storage means related to the spool processing can be used. Even if there is a change in the interface, the spool reading means that is not affected by hardware changes is separated into the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is affected by hardware changes is separated into the control layer. Therefore, if the spool reading means of the application layer that does not affect the hardware is modified even if there is a change in the spool processing that does not affect the hardware, the protocol of the control service layer that affects the hardware Modify processing methods for each protocol It needs to be eliminated. Further, when there is a change in hardware, if the protocol processing means in the control layer is changed, there is no need to change the program in the spool reading means in the application layer. As described above, according to the present invention, the spool reading means that is not affected by changes in hardware and the like is separated into the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is affected by changes in hardware and the like is separated into the control layer. With this configuration, efficient program development can be performed.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the control service layer includes a network control service that controls the network and includes the protocol processing unit, and the application layer includes the A spool application having a spool reading unit and a printer application as the image forming application are provided.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the control service layer includes a network control service that controls the network and includes the protocol processing unit, and the application includes a spool application that includes a spool reading unit. Even if there is a change in the spool processing that does not affect the hardware, if you modify the spool application of the application layer that does not affect the hardware, the protocol processing means of the control service layer that affects the hardware is corrected for each protocol There is no need. Further, when there is a change in hardware, it is not necessary to change the spool application of the application layer by changing the protocol processing means of the control layer. As described above, according to the present invention, the spool application that is not affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is the part affected by the change of hardware or the like is separated into the control layer. With the configuration, efficient program development can be performed.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the eleventh to fourteenth aspects, the spool reading unit stores the one or a plurality of divided print data as a print job. When reading from the means, the image forming application or the printer application is notified of the completion of reading.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when one or a plurality of divided print data is read from the storage unit, the image forming application or the printer application is notified of the completion of reading, whereby the image forming application or the print application is notified. The execution process of the print job by the printer application can be smoothly performed.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus that receives a print request from a client terminal connected to a network and performs a printing process on a printer apparatus connected to the network, the client terminal connected to the network The received data to be printed received from the printer is interpreted based on a predetermined communication protocol, the protocol processing means for extracting print data specific to the image forming processing means for performing the printing process, and the print data is stored as a print job. A spool reading means for delivering print data included in a print job stored in the storage means to the image forming processing means via a shared memory, which is functionally independent from the storage means and the protocol processing means. And.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, unlike the protocol processing means, the print data included in the print job stored in the storage means is received by the image forming processing means via the shared memory, independently of the function. By passing, even if there is a change in the interface related to spool processing, it is possible to cope with the change in the interface by changing the program of the spool writing means at one place. There is no need to make changes. Even if the hardware is changed, the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means. Therefore, if the protocol processing means is changed, it is necessary to change the program of the spool reading means. Absent. For this reason, according to the present invention, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, it is possible to perform efficient program development by making them functionally independent. Further, since the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS. It is possible to pass print data between applications that are not directly affected by the change.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the sixteenth aspect, after the spool reading unit reads the print data from the storage unit, the spool forming unit notifies the image forming processing unit that the reading is completed. It is characterized by notifying.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, when print data is read from the storage unit, a print job is executed by the image forming application or the printer application by notifying the image forming processing unit of the completion of reading. Can be carried out smoothly.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the spool reading means reads a single print data registered as a single print job from the storage means. It is characterized by that.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a change in the interface related to the spool processing by reading out the single print data registered as a single print job from the storage means by the spool reading means. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the spool processing portion relating to a single print data for a single print job for each of a plurality of protocols, and an efficient program development can be performed.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed. In addition, according to the present invention, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS, and print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes. The effect that it becomes possible to deliver is produced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when print data is read from the storage unit, the image forming application is notified of the completion of reading, thereby executing a print job execution process by the image forming application. There is an effect that it can be performed smoothly.

  According to the invention of claim 3, even when there is a change in the interface related to the spool processing, the spool processing portion related to a single print data for a single print job is changed for each of a plurality of protocols. This eliminates the need for efficient program development.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is necessary to change the spool processing portion for a plurality of print data for a single print job for each of a plurality of protocols even when the interface related to the spool processing is changed. There is no effect, and there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed.

  Moreover, according to the invention concerning Claim 5, there exists an effect that the operation | movement of any one of Claims 1-4 can be performed by a computer.

  Further, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed by making them functionally independent. In addition, according to the present invention, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS, and print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes. The effect that it becomes possible to deliver is produced.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the spool reading means that is not affected by changes in hardware or the like is controlled in the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is affected by changes in hardware or the like is controlled. By having a configuration separated into layers, an effect is achieved that efficient program development can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 8, the spool application that is not affected by the change of hardware or the like is used as the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is the part affected by the change of hardware or the like as the control layer. By having the configuration separated into two, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to smoothly execute a print job execution process by the image forming application or the printer application.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a change in the interface related to the spool processing, the spool processing portion related to a single print data for a single print job is changed for each of a plurality of protocols. This eliminates the need for efficient program development.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 11, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed by making them functionally independent. Further, according to the present invention, since the spool reading means is a functionally independent means different from the protocol processing means, data is transferred between applications through the shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS. Therefore, print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is no need to develop a spool processing program for handling a plurality of print data as a single print job for each protocol, and an efficient program development can be performed. Play.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the spool reading means that is not affected by changes in hardware or the like is controlled in the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is affected by changes in hardware or the like is controlled. By having a configuration separated into layers, an effect is achieved that efficient program development can be performed.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the spool application that is not affected by the change of hardware or the like is used as the application layer, and the protocol processing means that is the part affected by the change of hardware or the like is used as the control layer. By having the configuration separated into two, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed.

  Further, according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to smoothly execute a print job process by the image forming application or the printer application.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, unlike the spool reading means and the protocol processing means, there is an effect that efficient program development can be performed by making them functionally independent. In addition, according to the present invention, data can be transferred between applications via a shared memory by issuing a system call provided by the OS, and print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes. The effect that it becomes possible to deliver is produced.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to smoothly execute the print job execution by the image forming application or the printer application.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a change in the interface related to the spool processing, the spool processing portion related to a single print data for a single print job is changed for each of a plurality of protocols. This eliminates the need for efficient program development.

  Exemplary embodiments of a spool processing method, a program for causing a computer to execute the method, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to a multifunction machine. Note that the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine in addition to a multifunction machine.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration and a network configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the multifunction peripheral 100 and a PC (Personal Computer) 190 are connected via a network 180 such as Ethernet (R).

  The PC 190 is a normal computer and constitutes a client terminal in the present invention. That is, the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment operates as a server using the PC 190 as a client.

  The MFP 100 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a spool application 110, a printer application-A 120a, and a printer application-B 120b in the application layer. In addition, a network control service (NCS) 130 is mainly installed in a control service layer that performs common processing for each application.

  In addition, the MFP 100 includes an OS 140 such as UNIX (registered trademark), which is a general-purpose OS (Operating System), a hard disk device (HDD) 150 as a hardware resource, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 160, and an Ethernet (R) cable. Is provided.

  The spool application 110 is realized in the application layer by using a spool processing unit for executing a spool function provided in the print protocol processing unit of the NCS 139 in the conventional multifunction peripheral 100 as a processing unit common to the communication protocol. The spool application 110 mainly includes a spool write processing unit 111, a spool read processing unit 112, a spool transfer I / F unit 115, a memory transfer I / F unit 114, and an HDD-I / F unit 113. Here, the spool reading processing unit 112 constitutes a spool reading means in the present invention.

  When there is a print request from the PC 190, the spool writing processing unit 111 generates a print job and stores print data to be printed from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N into the HDD 150 via the shared memory 161. is there.

  Here, the print job refers to a unit of processing to be executed by the OS regarding printing, and one print job is registered by storing a job information file and a job data file in the HDD 150.

  The job information file is a data file in which information related to a print job is recorded. Specifically, the host name and IP address that are identification names of the PC 190 that has made a print request, the user name that has made the print request, the job name, and the print Consists of print settings such as the target document name and tray designation. The job data file is a print data file that is a target of a print request. The job data file can be configured to include a plurality of job data files for a single print job in addition to a single job data file for a single print job. In the present embodiment, a single job data file is included for a single print job.

  The spool reading unit 112 reads out print data corresponding to a print job stored in the HDD 150 when the print job is executed, and passes the print data to the printer application-A 120a and the printer application-B 120b via the shared memory.

  The spool transfer I / F unit 115 controls data transfer during spool processing. The memory transfer I / F unit 114 controls access to a memory such as the RAM 160 or the shared memory area 161 secured in the RAM 160. The HDD-I / F unit 113 controls access to the HDD 150.

  In this embodiment, only the memory transfer I / F unit 114 and the HDD-I / F unit 113 are interfaces as storage means. However, when other storage means such as an SD card is mounted, the SD card An SD card I / F unit for controlling access to the card is provided. As described above, since a part that performs processing unique to hardware is provided in the spool application 110 in the application layer, when the interface is changed due to a change in storage means such as the HDD 150 or addition of new hardware. If the spool application 110 in the application layer is changed, it is not necessary to modify each of the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130, and the efficiency of program development can be improved.

  The NCS 130 provides a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O, and distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, or transfers data from the application to the network side. Intermediary when sending.

  The NCS 130 mainly includes a plurality of print protocol processing units 131 to 13N, a device management unit 132, a device management protocol processing unit 134, a network management unit 133, an application management unit 135, and a network I / F unit 137. It becomes the composition. Here, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N constitute a protocol processing means in the present invention.

  Each of the plurality of printing protocol processing units 131 to 13N performs processing according to various communication protocols, and exists corresponding to each protocol. Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N receive data from a PC (Personal Computer) 190 on the network 180 via the network I / F unit 137, and establish and release a logical session. Interpret the data sent over the established session according to the communication protocol. Then, after interpreting the data, a data portion specific to the application is extracted from the data, and the data is transferred to the corresponding application. Such communication protocols include FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), NPR (Network Printer), IIP (Internet Printing Protocol: Internet Printing Protocol), and Network (registered trademark). Corresponding to each protocol, print protocol processing units 131 to 13N are provided.

  The device management protocol processing unit 134 performs processing according to a network management protocol. Examples of such a protocol include SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). The device management unit 132 performs network management of the multifunction peripheral using the device management protocol processing unit 134.

  The network management unit 133 performs processing related to the network according to a protocol such as TCP / IP.

  The application management unit 135 manages applications such as the printer application-A 120a and the printer application-B 120b that operate in the application layer, and manages an application ID that is identification data of each application.

  The memory transfer I / F unit 139 controls access to a memory such as a RAM or a shared memory. The network I / F unit 137 controls access to the network card 170.

  In the RAM 160, a shared memory area (hereinafter referred to as “shared memory”) is secured. This shared memory is secured by the spool application 110 and can be referred to from the printer application-A 120a and the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 in addition to the spool application 110.

  Next, the overall functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a monochrome laser printer (B & W LP) 201, a color laser printer (Color LP) 202, a hardware resource 204 such as a scanner, a facsimile, and a memory, and a platform 220. And a software group 210 including the application 230.

  The platform 220 interprets a processing request from an application and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and a system resource manager that manages one or more hardware resources and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service. (SRM) 223 and a general-purpose OS 140.

  The control service is formed of a plurality of service modules, and includes an SCS (system control service) 222, an ECS (engine control service) 224, an MCS (memory control service) 225, an OCS (operation panel control service) 226, and an FCS. (Fax control service) 227 and NCS (network control service) 130. The platform 220 has an application program interface (API) that can receive a processing request from the application 230 using a predefined function.

  As described above, the general-purpose OS 140 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 220 and the application 230 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the SRM 223 performs system control and resource management together with the SCS 222. The SRM 223 process includes hardware resources such as an engine such as a scanner unit and a printer unit, memory, HDD file, host I / O (Centro I / F, network I / F), IEEE 1394 I / F, RS232C I / F, and the like. It performs arbitration according to the request from the upper layer that uses, and controls execution.

  Specifically, the SRM 223 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is used. Tell the upper layer that it is possible. The SRM 223 performs hardware resource usage scheduling in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes the request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation, memory allocation, file generation, etc. by the printer engine). .

  The process of the SCS 222 performs application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, resource management, interrupt application control, and the like.

  The ECS 224 process controls the engine of a hardware resource 204 including a black and white laser printer (B & W LP) 201, a color laser printer (Color LP) 202, an HDD 150, a scanner, and a facsimile.

  The MCS 225 process acquires and releases image memory, uses a hard disk drive (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

  The process of FCS 227 includes facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. Provides an API to do.

  The process of the OCS 226 controls an operation panel (operation panel) serving as information transmission means between the operator (user) and the main body control. The OCS 226 is an OCS process that acquires a key press (or touch operation) from the operation panel as a key event and transmits a key event function corresponding to the acquired key to the SCS 222. Further, various screens for the operation display unit of the operation panel are rendered and output, and other operations are controlled by calling various functions such as a drawing function registered in the OCS function library from the application 130 or the control service.

  The application 230 includes a printer application A120a and a printer application B120b that are applications for a printer having page description language (PDL), PCL, and PostScript (PS), a copy application 212 that is a copy application, and a facsimile application. A fax application 213, a scanner application 214 as a scanner application, a net file application 215 as a network file application, a process inspection application 216 as a process inspection application, and the spool application 110 described above. ing.

  Each process of the application 230 and each process of the control service realize a user service related to image forming processing such as copying, printer, scanner, facsimile, etc. while performing inter-process communication by calling a function, sending its return value, and sending / receiving a message. doing.

  As described above, the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of applications 130 and a plurality of control services, all of which operate as processes. In each of these processes, one or a plurality of threads are generated and parallel execution is performed in units of threads. The control service provides a common service to the application 230. For this reason, a large number of these processes perform a parallel operation and a parallel operation of threads to perform inter-process communication with each other. User services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles are provided.

  Also, in the multifunction device 100, a third party such as a customer of the multifunction device 100 or a third vendor can develop and install an external application on the application layer above the control service layer.

  Next, a description will be given of spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow at the time of registration of a print job in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The print job registration process is performed as follows. When there is a print request from the PC 190 to the multifunction peripheral 100 via the network 180, as shown in FIG. 3, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 receive the print data to be printed (step S301).

  Then, a logical session is established by the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 corresponding to the communication protocol, and data transmitted on the established session is interpreted according to the communication protocol. Then, a data portion specific to the application is extracted from the data as print data, and the print data is transferred to the spool write processing unit 111. Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N write the print data to the write area of the shared memory 161 (step S302), and the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N send a write notification to the shared memory to the spool write processing unit 111. Notification is made (step S303).

  The spool write processing unit 111 that has received the write notification to the shared memory stores print data in the write area of the shared memory 161 in the HDD 150 by issuing a Write system call provided by the OS file system (step S304). As a result, the print job is registered. Thereafter, the spool write processing unit 111 notifies the spool read processing unit 112 of a write notification to the HDD (step S305).

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N and the spool writing processing unit 111 is performed via the shared memory 161.

  Next, detailed processing for registering the print job will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 when registering a print job.

  The print protocol processing units 131 to 13N are in a connection waiting state with the PC 190 (step S401), and when there is a connection request (step S401: Yes), the connection processing is performed (step S402). Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N establish a session with the PC 190, transmit a connection request to the spool write processing unit 111 of the spool application 110, and receive a connection ID from the spool write processing unit 111.

  Next, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N perform job start processing (step S403). Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N specify a connection ID and a transfer method to the spool writing processing unit 111 of the spool application 110 and transmit a job start request, and as a result, the spool writing processing unit 111 receives a job ID. Receive. Also, the job information is set by specifying the job ID and job information to the spool writing processing unit 111, or a job transfer start request is made.

  Next, it is determined whether there is data to be received from the PC 190 (step S404). If there is data to be received, it is checked whether there is an empty area in the shared memory 161 (step S405). ). If there is no free area (step S405: No), the process waits until a free area is created.

  On the other hand, if there is an empty area in the shared memory 161 (step S405: Yes), data from the PC 190 is received (step S406), and the received data is written in the writing area of the shared memory 161 (step S407). The processing from step S404 to S407 is repeated until an EOF (End Of File) of the received data is detected (step S408).

  When the writing of the reception data to the shared memory 161 is completed, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N perform a data writing completion process (step S409). Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N notify the spool writing processing unit 111 of a notification of all data writing completion together with the job ID.

  Next, processing performed by the spool writing processing unit 111 of the spool application 110 when registering a print job will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a processing procedure performed by the spool writing processing unit 111 of the spool application 110 when registering a print job.

  The spool writing processing unit 111 is in a connection waiting state with the NCS 130 (step S501), and when there is a connection request from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 (step S501: Yes), connection processing is performed (step S501). S502). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a connection request to the spool read processing unit 112 and receives a connection ID from the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool writing processing unit 111 performs job start processing (step S503). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a job start request by specifying a connection ID to the spool read processing unit 112, and as a result, receives a job ID from the spool read processing unit 112. Also, a job transfer start request is sent to the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool write processing unit 111 performs a job data file open process on the HDD 150 (step S505). Specifically, this open processing is performed by issuing an Open system call provided by the OS file system. Then, it is checked whether or not received data exists in the shared memory 161 (step S505). If the received data exists (step S505: Yes), it is checked whether or not there is a free area in the HDD 150 (step S506).

  If there is no free space in the HDD 150 (step S506: No), the HDD 150 waits until a free space is created. On the other hand, if there is free space in the HDD 150, a Write system call provided by the OS file system is issued, and the data in the shared memory 161 is written in the HDD 150 as a job data file (step S507).

  Then, the processes from step S505 to S507 are repeated until an EOF (End Of File) of data in the shared memory is detected (step S508).

  When the writing of the job data file to the HDD 150 is completed, the spool writing processing unit 111 performs a closing process of the job data file by issuing a Close system call provided by the OS file system (step S509), and writing the data Completion processing is performed (step S510). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 notifies the spool read processing unit 112 of a data write completion notification together with the job ID.

  The print job registration process by the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 and the spool application 110 has been described. Next, the flow of commands and data of each unit during the print job registration process will be described. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the flow of instructions in spool processing, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print job registration processing, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of job data write processing of print jobs.

  When making a print request, the PC 190 makes a connection request to the multifunction peripheral 100 (step S601). The NCS 130 of the MFP 100 receives the connection request and issues a connection request to the spool write processing unit 111 of the spool application 110 (step S602). The spool write processing unit 111 sends the spool read processing unit 112 to the spool read processing unit 112. Sequentially issues a connection request to the printer application-A 120a (steps S603 and S604).

  Upon receiving the connection request, the printer application-A 120a transmits the connection ID to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S605), and sequentially transmits the spool read processing unit 112, the spool write processing unit 111, and the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130. The message is transmitted (steps S606 and S607), and a message indicating that the connection is OK is transmitted from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N to the PC 190 (step S608), thereby establishing a connection between the PC 190 and the MFP 100.

  Next, the PC 190 transmits a job start request to the multifunction device 100 (step S609). In the MFP 100, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 receive the job start request, and the job start request is sent from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N together with the connection ID and the transfer method from the spool write processing unit 111 and the spool read processing. Are sequentially transmitted to the printer 112 and the printer application A-120a (steps S610, S611, and S612). The printer application A-120a determines the job ID, transmits the determined job ID to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S613), the spool read processing unit 112, the spool write processing unit 111, and the print protocol processing unit 131 of the NCS 130. To 13N sequentially (steps S614 and S615).

  Next, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N specify a job ID and a job information file to the spool writing processing unit 111 and transmit a job information setting request (step S616). Here, the job information is data composed of a host name and an address which are identification names of the PC 190, a user name that has made a print request in the PC 190, a job name, a document name to be printed, a print setting such as tray designation, and the like. is there.

  The spool writing processing unit 111 that has received the job information setting request writes the job information file in the HDD 150 (step S617). Then, the spool writing processing unit 111 sets a notification timing in the printing protocol processing units 131 to 13N (step S618).

  On the other hand, the spool read processing unit 112 reads a job information file from the HDD 150 (step S619), and transmits a job setting request to the printer application A-120a (step S620).

  In the printer application A-120a, job information setting is performed according to the contents of the job information file, and notification timing is set to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S621).

  In the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130, when the notification timing is set in step S618, the print data transfer is started. At this time, the job data transfer start notification is sent to the spool write processing unit 111. (Step S623). The job data transfer start notification is sequentially transmitted from the spool writing processing unit 111 to the spool reading processing unit 112 and from the spool reading processing unit 112 to the printer application A-120a (steps S623 and S624).

  When the printer application-A 120a receives the job data transfer start notification and is ready to receive print data, the printer application-A 120a transmits a notification of OK to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S625). This OK notification is sequentially transmitted from the spool read processing unit 112 to the spool write processing unit 111 and from the spool write processing unit 111 to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (steps S626 and S627). Further, a notice of OK is transmitted from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N to the PC 190 (step S628).

  When the spool write processing unit 111 receives a notification that the job data transfer start is OK, it issues a job data open command (OS Open system call) to generate a job data file in the HDD 150 (step S701).

  Then, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 receive print data to be printed from the PC 190 (step S702), perform corresponding protocol processing on the received print data, and print data in the write area in the shared memory 161. Is written (step S703). When the writing to the shared memory is completed, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N notify the spool writing processing unit 111 of a shared memory data write notification (step S704).

  Upon receiving the shared memory data write notification, the spool write processing unit 111 issues an OS Write system call and saves the print data in the shared memory 161 as a job data file in the HDD 150 (step S705). Then, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a data read notification to the shared memory to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (step S706). Such processes from step S702 to step S706 are repeated every time data is transmitted from the PC 190.

  When the transmission of all print data to be printed is completed, the PC 190 transmits a data transmission completion notification to the multi-function device 100 (step S707). In the multi-function device 100, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N receive the notification, and transmit an all data writing completion notification to the spool writing processing unit 111 (step S708). When the spool writing processing unit 111 receives the notification of completion of all data writing, the spool writing processing unit 111 issues a file close command (OS Close system call) to the job data file in the HDD 150 (step S709), and further to the spool reading processing unit 112. A job data file write completion notification is transmitted (step S710). The spool read processing unit 112 receives the job data file writing completion notification and transmits the notification to the printer application-A 120a (step S711). As a result, when the printer application-A 120a executes a print job, it can be seen that the print data can be read from the HDD 150. As a result, a print job is registered, and one print data is generated in the HDD 150 for one print job.

  Next, the reading process of the print job registered as described above will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is read in the spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment. The print job execution process is performed as follows.

  When a job data writing completion notification is sent from the spool writing processing unit 111 to the spool reading processing unit 112 (step S801), the spool reading unit 112 reads the job data file (print data) of the corresponding job ID stored in the HDD 150. Is stored in the read area of the shared memory 161 by issuing a Write system call provided by the OS (step S802). Thereafter, the spool reading unit 112 transmits a shared memory data write notification to the printer application-A 120a (step S803). Receiving the shared memory data write notification, the printer application-A 120a issues a Read system call provided by the OS to read the print data from the read area of the shared memory (step S804) and perform print processing.

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the spool read processing unit 112 and the printer application-A 120a is performed via the shared memory 161 by issuing a system call. It is possible to exchange data between applications that do not receive data directly.

  Next, a detailed process of reading the print job will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job read processing by the spool read processing unit 112.

  The spool read processing unit 112 is in a connection waiting state with the spool write processing unit 111 (step S901), and when there is a connection request from the spool write processing unit 111 (step S901: Yes), connection processing is performed (step S901). S902). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 designates an application ID (application ID of the printer application-A 120a in the present embodiment) of an application that performs processing by interpreting received data by the print protocol processing unit, and the application (printer). A connection request is transmitted to the application-A 120 a), and a connection ID is received from the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 performs job start processing (step S903). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 transmits a job start request specifying a connection ID and a transfer method to the application, and receives a job ID from the application as a result. The spool read processing unit 112 also performs a job information file read process from the HDD 150 and sets job information for an application.

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 waits for a job data file write completion notification (step S904). When the job data file write completion notification is received (step S904: Yes), the job data file of the HDD 150 is opened. Processing is performed (step S905). Specifically, this open processing is performed by issuing an Open system call provided by the OS file system. Then, it is checked whether there is a free area in the shared memory 161 (step S906).

  If there is no free area in the shared memory 161 (step S906: Yes), the process waits until a free area is created. On the other hand, if there is a free area in the shared memory 161, the contents of the job data file are read from the HDD 150 (step S907), and the contents of the read job data file are written in the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S908).

  Then, the processes from step S906 to S908 are repeated until an EOF (End Of File) of the job data file is detected (step S909).

  When the writing of the job data file to the shared memory 161 is completed, the spool read processing unit 112 performs a job data file closing process by issuing a Close system call provided by the OS file system (step S910). Data write completion processing is performed (step S911). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 notifies the application of a data write notification.

  FIG. 10 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of data and instructions in the job data reading process of the print job described above.

  When the spool read processing unit 112 receives the job data file write completion notification from the spool write processing unit 111, the spool read processing unit 112 issues an open command (Open system call of the OS) for the job data file (print data) in the HDD 150 (step S1001). Next, the spool read processing unit 112 reads the job data file opened from the HDD 150 (step S1002), and writes the read data in the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S1003).

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 transmits a shared memory data write notification to the printer application-A 120a (step S1004). The printer application-A 120a that has received the shared memory data write notification reads print data from the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S1005). Here, such reading is performed by reading data corresponding to the size registered in the management table from the position of the head address registered in the management table of the shared memory. Then, the printer application-A 120a transmits a shared memory data read notification to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1006).

  Then, the processes from step S1002 to step S1006 are repeated until reading of all the records of the job data file is completed.

  When all the records of the job data file have been read, the spool read processing unit 112 issues a job data file close command (OS Close system call) (step S1007). When the printer application A-120a has read all the data in the shared memory, the printer application A-120a transmits a notification of completion of reading all data together with the processing result to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1008). The spool read processing unit 112 that has received the all data read completion notification transmits a file read completion notification to the spool write processing unit 111 (step S1009), and the spool write processing unit 111 that has received the file read completion notification receives all data read. A completion notification is transmitted to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (step S1010). Thus, the print data read process by the printer application A-120a is completed, and the print process by the printer application A-120a is executed.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of instructions in the print job end processing. When the PC 190 transmits a job end request to the MFP 100, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 receive the job end request (step S1101). Then, the job end request is sequentially transmitted from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N to the spool writing processing unit 111, from the spool writing processing unit 111 to the spool reading processing unit 112, and from the spool reading processing unit 112 to the printer application A-120a ( Steps S1102, S1103 and S1104).

  The printer application-A 120a performs job end processing, and then transmits the job end result to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1105). Further, the job end result is spooled from the spool read processing unit 112 to the spool write processing unit 111. The data is sequentially transmitted from the writing processing unit 111 to the printing protocol processing units 131 to 13N and from the printing protocol processing units 131 to 13N to the PC 190 (steps S1106, S1107, and S1108).

  Next, the PC 190 makes a disconnection request to the multifunction device 100 (step S1109). On the other hand, the printer application-A 120a issues a disconnection request to the spool read processing unit 112 by specifying a connection ID (step S1110). This disconnection request is further sequentially transmitted from the spool read processing unit 112 to the spool write processing unit 111 and from the spool write processing unit 111 to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (steps S1111 and S1112).

  When receiving a disconnection request from the PC 190 and the spool writing processing unit 111, the printing protocol processing units 131 to 13N perform the disconnecting process, transmit the disconnection result to the PC 190 (step S1113), and further transmit to the spool writing processing unit 111. (Step S1114).

  Then, the spool writing processing unit 111 sequentially transmits the received cutting result to the spool reading processing unit 112 and from the spool reading processing unit 112 to the printer application A-120a (steps S1115 and S1116).

  After the printing process is completed, the printer application-A 120 a transmits a print completion notification to the spool read processing unit 112, and the spool read processing unit 112 that has received the print completion notification deletes the job data file from the HDD 150. As a result, the job ends.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, the print data is functionally independent from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N by the spool reading unit 112. Since the data is read from the HDD 150, if the spool application 110 of the application layer that does not affect the hardware is modified even if the spool processing that does not affect the hardware is changed, the control service layer that affects the hardware Need not be corrected for each protocol. Further, even when there is a change in the hardware interface due to the addition of a new hardware resource such as an SD card, the program of the spool application 110 in the application layer can be changed by changing the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N in the control layer. No change is necessary. Therefore, a configuration in which the spool application 110 that is not affected by changes in hardware or the like is separated into the application layer, and the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N that are affected by changes in hardware or the like are separated into the control layer and As a result, efficient program development can be performed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the spool application 110 is a functionally independent means different from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N, and therefore, by issuing a system call provided by the OS for passing data between applications. This can be done via a shared memory, and print data can be passed between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes.

  In the present embodiment, print data is transferred to the printer application-A 120a. However, in addition to this, a configuration in which the print data is transferred to the printer application-B 120b or other applications can be adopted.

(Embodiment 2)
The MFP 100 according to the first embodiment assigns one print job to a single print data and performs spool processing. However, the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment applies to a plurality of print data. A single print job is assigned to perform spool processing.

  The functional configuration of the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the MFP 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  However, in the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment, the spool application 110 has a setting parameter, and whether to assign a single print job to a plurality of print data according to the setting contents of the setting parameter is divided. This is different from the multifunction machine of the first embodiment in that the size is determined.

  Next, spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow at the time of registration of a print job in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The print job registration process is performed as follows. When there is a print request from the PC 190 to the MFP 100 via the network 180, the NCS 130 receives the print data to be printed as shown in FIG. 12 (step S1201).

  Then, the logical protocol is established by the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 corresponding to the print protocol, and the data transmitted on the established session is interpreted according to the communication protocol. Then, a data portion specific to the application is extracted from the data as print data, and the print data is transferred to the spool application 110. Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N write the print data to the write area of the shared memory 161 (step S1202, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N notify the spool write processing unit 111 of a write notification to the shared memory). (Step S1203).

  The spool writing processing unit 111 that has received the notification of writing to the shared memory refers to the setting parameter table 1201 (step S1204) and determines how to handle the print data for the corresponding application. Then, a Write system call provided by the OS file system is issued to write the print data in the writing area of the shared memory 161 to the HDD 150 (step S1205). At this time, when a plurality of print data is handled by a single print job in accordance with the contents of the referenced setting parameter table, the print data in the shared memory 161 is divided into the size set in the setting parameter table 901 and stored in the HDD 150. As a result, the print job is registered. Thereafter, the spool write processing unit 111 notifies the spool read processing unit 112 of a write notification to the HDD (step S1206).

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N and the spool writing processing unit 111 is performed via the shared memory 161.

  Here, the setting parameter table 1210 will be described. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the setting parameter table 1210. As shown in FIG. 14, the setting parameter table 1210 defines a spool area, file division, division unit, and maximum spool number for each application.

  The spool area is a directory in the HDD 150 that stores print data. File division defines whether to divide print data for one print job, and the division unit is the size of the divided print data. The maximum number of spools defines the maximum number of print jobs that can be registered.

  Next, detailed processing for registering the print job will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a processing procedure performed by the spool writing processing unit 111 of the spool application 110 when registering a print job. Note that the processing of the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The spool writing processing unit 111 is in a connection waiting state with the NCS 130 (step S1301), and when there is a connection request from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 (step S1301: Yes), connection processing is performed (step S1301). S1302). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a connection request to the spool read processing unit 112 and receives a connection ID from the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool writing processing unit 111 performs job start processing (step S1303). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a job start request by specifying a connection ID to the spool read processing unit 112, and as a result, receives a job ID from the spool read processing unit 112. Also, a job transfer start request is sent to the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool write processing unit 111 reads the setting parameter table 1210 (step S1304), and determines whether the print data is handled in the print job for the corresponding application. Then, the job data file #N is opened on the HDD 150 (step S1305). Specifically, this open processing is performed by issuing an Open system call provided by the OS file system. Thereafter, it is checked whether or not received data exists in the shared memory 161 (step S1306). If the received data exists (step S1306: Yes), it is checked whether or not there is a free area in the HDD 150 (step S1307).

  If there is no free space in the HDD 150 (step S1307: No), the HDD 150 waits until a free space is created. On the other hand, if there is free space in the HDD 150, a Write system call is issued to write the data in the shared memory 161 to the HDD 150 as a job data file #N (step S1308).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the data size of the job data file #N has reached the division size of the corresponding application (printer application-A in the present embodiment) in the setting parameter table 1210 (step S1309).

  If the data size of the job data file #N has not reached the division size set in the setting parameter table 1210 (step S1309: No), the processing from step S1306 to S1308 is repeated (step S1309). ), Data is written to the job data file #N until the data size of the job data file #N reaches the division size.

  When the writing of the job data file #N to the HDD 150 is completed, the spool writing processing unit 111 performs a closing process of the job data file #N by issuing a Close system call provided by the OS file system (step S1310). ), Job data file #N write completion processing is performed (step S1311). Specifically, the spool write processing unit 111 notifies the spool read processing unit 112 of the job data file #N write completion notification together with the job ID.

  The print job registration process by the spool application 110 has been described. Next, an instruction and data flow of each unit during the print job registration process will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of job data write processing of a print job. Note that the processing at the time of registering a print job is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As in the first embodiment, when the spool writing processing unit 111 receives a notification that the job data transfer start is OK, the spool writing processing unit 111 reads the setting parameter table 1210 (step S1501), and the corresponding application, in this example, the printer application— Read the setting parameters for A120a. When the file division of the setting parameter table 1501 is set to “Yes”, the processing described below is performed. On the other hand, when the file division is set to “No”, the same process as the print job writing process described in the first embodiment is performed.

  In this example, the application is the printer application-A 120a. In the setting parameter file, the file division is set to “Yes”, the division unit is set to “100 KB”, and the maximum number of spools is set to “64”.

  For this reason, every time print data is received from the PC 190, the spool writing processing unit 111 generates one job data file when one print data reaches a size of 100 KB. In one print job. If the print data received from the PC 190 is larger than the division size, the received print data may be divided into 100 KB sizes.

  Next, the spool write processing unit 111 issues an open command (Open system call of the OS) for the job data file #N (step S1502). In FIG. 15, it is a job data file #N. N is an integer equal to or greater than 1, and job data file #N indicates individual job data files obtained by dividing print data, which is job data files, by the division size set in the setting parameter table 901.

  The print protocol processing units 131 to 13N of the NCS 130 receive the print data to be printed from the PC 190 (step S1503), perform corresponding protocol processing on the received print data, and print the print data in the write area in the shared memory 161. Is written (step S1504). When the writing to the shared memory 161 is completed, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N notify the spool writing processing unit 111 of a shared memory data write notification (step S1505).

  Upon receiving the shared memory data write notification, the spool write processing unit 111 issues a Write system call provided by the OS file system, and print data stored in the shared memory 161 is stored in the HDD 150 as a job data file #N. Store (step S1506). Then, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a data read notification to the shared memory 161 to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (step S1507). Such processes from step S1503 to step S1507 are repeated until the size of the job data file #N reaches the division size of the setting parameter table 1210.

  Next, the spool writing processing unit 111 issues a close instruction (close system call of the OS) of the job data file #N (step S1508), and the divided job data file #N is generated in the HDD 150. . Therefore, the spool write processing unit 111 transmits a job data file #N write completion notification together with the job ID to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1509).

  The spool reading processing unit 112 and the printer application-A 120a read the notified job data file #N (step S1510). When the reading is completed, the job data file #N reading completion notification is written together with the job ID into the spool writing. The data is transmitted to the processing unit 111 (step S1511). The spool read processing unit 112 and the printer application-A 120a will be described later with reference to the job data file #N that has been notified.

  The processes from steps S1502 to S1511 are repeated until data transmission from the PC 190 is completed. When repeating, increase the value of #N by 1. As a result, a plurality of job data files #N are generated in the HDD 150.

  When the transmission of all print data to be printed is completed, the PC 190 transmits a data transmission completion notification to the multi-function device 100 (step S1512). In the multifunction device 100, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N receive the notification, and transmit an all data writing completion notification to the spool writing processing unit 111 (step S1513). Upon receiving the all data writing completion notification, the spool writing processing unit 111 transmits an all job data file writing completion notification to the spool reading processing unit 112 (step S1514).

  Next, the reading process of the print job registered as described above will be described. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is read in the spool processing by the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment. The print job execution process is performed as follows.

  When notification of completion of writing of the job data file #N divided from the spool writing processing unit 111 to the spool reading processing unit 112 is made (step S1601), the spool reading unit 112 reads the job with the corresponding job ID stored in the HDD 150. The data file #N (the example of # 1 in FIG. 16) is stored in the read area of the shared memory 161 by issuing a Write system call provided by the OS (step S1602). Thereafter, the spool reading unit 112 transmits a shared memory data write notification to the printer application-A 120a (step S1603). Upon receiving the shared memory data write notification, the printer application-A 120a issues a Read system call provided by the OS to read the print data from the read area of the shared memory (step S1604), and performs the printing process.

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the spool read processing unit 112 and the printer application-A 120a is performed via the shared memory 161. Therefore, an application that is not directly affected by hardware changes. Data can be exchanged between them.

  Next, a detailed process of reading the print job will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job read processing by the spool read processing unit 112.

  The spool read processing unit 112 is in a connection waiting state with the spool write processing unit 111 (step S1701), and when there is a connection request from the spool write processing unit 111 (step S1701: Yes), connection processing is performed (step S1701). S1702). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 designates an application ID (application ID of the printer application-A 120a in the present embodiment) of an application that performs processing by interpreting received data by the print protocol processing unit, and the application (printer). A connection request is transmitted to the application-A 120 a), and a connection ID is received from the spool read processing unit 112.

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 performs job start processing (step S1703). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 transmits a job start request specifying a connection ID and a transfer method to the application, and receives a job ID from the application as a result. The spool read processing unit 112 also performs a job information file read process from the HDD 150 and sets job information for an application.

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 waits for a job data file #N write completion notification (step S1704), and upon receiving a job data file #N write completion notification (step S1704: Yes), the job of the HDD 150 is processed. The data file #N is opened (step S1705). Specifically, this open process is performed by issuing an Open system call provided by the OS file system. Then, it is checked whether there is a free area in the shared memory 161 (step S1706).

  If there is no free area in the shared memory 161 (step S1706: Yes), the process waits until a free area is created. On the other hand, if there is a free area in the shared memory 161, the contents of the job data file are read from the HDD 150 (step S1707), and the contents of the read job data file #N are written to the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S1708). .

  Then, the processing from step S1706 to S1708 is repeated until EOF (End Of File) of the job data file is detected (step S1709).

  When the writing of the job data file to the shared memory 161 is completed, the spool read processing unit 112 performs a job data file closing process by issuing a Close system call provided by the OS file system (step S1710). Data write completion processing is performed (step S1711). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 notifies the application of a data write notification.

  The processes from step S1704 to S1711 are repeated until the contents of all job data files #N stored in the HDD 150 are read (step S1712). When the contents of all job data files #N are read, all job data file read completion processing is performed (step S1713). Specifically, the spool read processing unit 112 notifies the spool write processing unit 111 of an all file read completion notification.

  FIG. 18 is a data flow diagram showing the flow of data and instructions in the job data reading process of the print job described above.

  When the spool read processing unit 112 receives a job data file #N write completion notification from the spool write processing unit 111 (step S1801), the spool data read processing unit 112 opens a job data file #N (print data) in the HDD 150 (Open system call of the OS). Is issued (step S1802). Next, the spool read processing unit 112 reads the job data file opened from the HDD 150 (step S1803), and writes the read data in the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S1804).

  Next, the spool read processing unit 112 transmits a shared memory data write notification to the printer application-A 120a (step S1805). The printer application-A 120a that has received the shared memory data write notification reads print data from the read area of the shared memory 161 (step S1806). Here, such reading is performed by reading data corresponding to the size registered in the management table from the position of the head address registered in the management table of the shared memory. Then, the printer application-A 120a transmits a shared memory data read notification to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1807).

  The processes from step S1803 to step S1807 are repeated until reading of all the records of job data file #N is completed.

  When the printer application A-120a completes reading all the records of the job data file #N, the printer application A-120a transmits a job data file #N read completion notification to the spool read processing unit 112 (step S1808). Upon receiving the job data file #N read completion notification, the spool read processing unit 112 issues a close instruction (OS Close system call) for the job data file #N (step S1309). Thereby, the read processing of the divided job data file #N is completed. Then, the processing from steps S1801 to S1809 is repeated for all the divided job data files #N.

  When the reading process for all job data files #N is completed, a notification of completion of reading all job data files is sent to the spool reading processing unit 112 together with the processing result (step S1810). The spool read processing unit 112 that has received the all job data file read completion notification transmits the all file read completion notification to the spool write processing unit 111 (step S1811), and the spool write processing unit 111 that has received the all file read completion notification The all data reading completion notification is transmitted to the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N (step S1812). Thus, the print data read process by the printer application A-120a is completed, and the print process by the printer application A-120a is executed. Note that the print job end process is the same as the process described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, the spool read processing unit 112 reads the print data from the HDD 150 separately from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N. Therefore, even if there is a change in the spool processing that does not affect the hardware, if the spool application 110 in the application layer that does not affect the hardware is corrected, the print protocol processing unit 131 in the control service layer that affects the hardware. There is no need to modify ~ 13N for each protocol. Further, even when there is a change in the hardware interface due to the addition of a new hardware resource such as an SD card, the program of the spool application 110 in the application layer can be changed by changing the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N in the control layer. No change is necessary. Therefore, a configuration in which the spool application 110 that is not affected by changes in hardware or the like is separated into the application layer, and the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N that are affected by changes in hardware or the like are separated into the control layer and As a result, efficient program development can be performed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the spool application 110 is a functionally independent means different from the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N, and therefore, by issuing a system call provided by the OS for passing data between applications. This can be done via a shared memory, and print data can be passed between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first and second embodiments, the spool processing of the present invention is executed in the multifunction peripheral 100. However, in the third embodiment, the spool processing of the present invention is executed by a printer server.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration of the printer system according to the third embodiment and a functional configuration of the printer server. As shown in FIG. 19, in this embodiment, a printer server 1900, a PC 190, and a printer device 1990 are connected via a network 180 such as Ethernet (R).

  The PC 190 is a normal computer and constitutes a client terminal in the present invention. In other words, the printer server 1900 according to the present embodiment operates as a server using the PC 190 as a client.

  The printer server 1900 of this embodiment constitutes an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and mainly includes a spool processing unit 1910, a print processing unit 1920, and a network processing unit 1930.

  In addition, the printer server 1900 is provided with an OS 1940, an HDD 1950, a RAM 1960, and a network card 1970 for connecting an Ethernet (R) cable.

  The spool processing unit 1910 executes a spool function that has been performed in the conventional print protocol processing unit separately from the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N. The spool processing unit 1910 mainly includes a spool write processing unit 1911, a spool read processing unit 1912, a spool transfer I / F unit 1915, a memory transfer I / F unit 1914, and an HDD-I / F unit 1913. . Here, the spool reading processing unit 1912 constitutes a spool reading means in the present invention.

  The spool write processing unit 1911 generates a print job when a print request is received from the PC 190, and stores print data to be printed from the print protocol processing unit 1931 to 193N in the HDD 1950 via the shared memory 1961. is there.

  The spool reading unit process 1912 reads out print data corresponding to a print job stored in the HDD 1950 when the print job is executed, and passes the print data to the print processing unit 1920 via the shared memory.

  The spool transfer I / F unit 1915 controls data transfer during spool processing. The memory transfer I / F unit 1914 controls access to a memory such as the RAM 1960 or the shared memory 1961. The HDD-I / F unit 1913 controls access to the HDD 1950.

  In this embodiment, only the memory transfer I / F unit 1914 and the HDD-I / F unit 1913 are provided as interfaces of the storage means. However, when other storage means such as an SD card is mounted, the SD card An SD card I / F unit for controlling access to the card is provided. As described above, since a part that performs processing specific to hardware is provided in the spool processing unit 1910 in the application layer, the interface is changed due to a change in storage means such as the HDD 1950 or addition of new hardware. In other words, if the spool processing unit 1910 is changed, it is not necessary to modify each of the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N, and the efficiency of program development can be improved.

  The network processing unit 1930 processes data received by each protocol from the network side. The network processing unit 1930 mainly includes a plurality of print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N, a network management unit 1935, a memory transfer I / F unit 1939, and a network I / F unit 1937. Here, the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N constitute protocol processing means in the present invention.

  Each of the plurality of print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N performs processing according to various communication protocols, and exists corresponding to each protocol. Specifically, the print protocol processing units 131 to 13N receive data from the PC 190 or the like on the network 180 via the network I / F unit 1937, and establish and release a logical session. Interpret the data sent by, according to the communication protocol. Then, a data portion specific to the application is extracted from the interpreted data and transferred to the print processing unit 1920. Here, such a communication protocol is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  The network management unit 1935 performs processing related to the network in accordance with protocols such as TCP / IP and http.

  The print processing unit 1920 is, for example, a printer driver or the like, and performs processing such as converting print data received from the PC 190 into print format data depending on the printer device 1990 to be printed.

  The printer server 1900 of this embodiment is connected to a control device such as a CPU, a recording device such as an HDD 1950, a storage device such as a RAM 1960, and a communication device such as a network card 1970, and is connected to a normal computer using a computer. It is a configuration.

  The spool processing program executed by the printer server 1900 of the present embodiment is an installable or executable file that can be read by a computer such as a CD-ROM, floppy (R) disk (FD), or DVD. Recorded on a simple recording medium.

  In addition, the spool processing program of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the C language program generation program of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The spool processing program according to the present embodiment is loaded on the main storage device by being read from the storage medium and executed by the printer server 1400, and the respective units described in the functional configuration are generated on the main storage device. It has become.

  Next, the spool processing by the printer server 1900 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow when registering a print job in spool processing by the printer server 1900 of this embodiment.

  The print job registration process is performed as follows. When there is a print request from the PC 190 to the printer server 1900 via the network 180, as shown in FIG. 20, the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N of the network processing unit 1930 receive the print data to be printed (step S1901). ).

  Then, a logical session is established by the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N corresponding to the communication protocol, and data transmitted on the established session is interpreted according to the communication protocol. Then, a data portion specific to the application is extracted from the data as print data, and the print data is transferred to the spool write processing unit 1911. Specifically, the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N write the print data to the write area of the shared memory 1961 (step S2002), and the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N send a write notification to the shared memory to the spool write processing unit 1911. Notification is made (step S2003).

  The spool writing processing unit 1911 that has received the notification of writing to the shared memory 1961 stores the print data in the writing area of the shared memory 1961 in the HDD 1950 by the Write system call provided by the file system of the OS 1940 (step S2004). As a result, the print job is registered. Thereafter, the spool write processing unit 1911 notifies the spool read processing unit 1912 of a write notification to the HDD 1950 (step S2006).

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N and the spool writing processing unit 1911 is performed via the shared memory 1961. The detailed processing for registering the print job is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the reading process of the print job registered as described above will be described. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of data when a print job is read in the spool processing by the printer server 1900 of this embodiment. The print job execution process is performed as follows.

  When a job data write completion notification is sent from the spool write processor 1911 to the spool read processor 1912 (step S2101), the spool read processor 1912 sends the job data file (print data) of the corresponding job ID from the HDD 1950 to the OS. Is stored in the read area of the shared memory 1961 (step S2102). Thereafter, the spool read processing unit 1912 transmits a shared memory data write notification to the print processing unit 1920 (step S2103). Upon receiving the shared memory data write notification, the print processing unit 1920 issues a Read system call provided by the OS, reads print data from the read area of the shared memory 1961 (step S2104), and performs print processing.

  As described above, the transfer of print data between the spool read processing unit 1912 and the print processing unit 1920 is performed via the shared memory 1961. Therefore, an application that is not directly affected by hardware changes. Data can be exchanged between them. Note that the detailed processing for reading out the print job is the same as that in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in the printer server 1900 according to the third embodiment, the spool read processing unit 1912 causes the print data included in the print job stored in the HDD 1950 to be sent to the print processing unit 1920 separately from the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N. Therefore, if the spool write processing unit 1911 that does not affect the hardware is modified even if the spool processing that does not affect the hardware is changed, the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N that affect the hardware are performed. Need not be modified for each protocol. Further, even when there is a change in the hardware interface due to the addition of a new hardware resource such as an SD card, for example, if the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N are changed, it is necessary to change the program of the spool writing processing unit 1911. Absent. Therefore, efficient program development can be performed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the spool read processing unit 1912 is a functionally independent means different from the print protocol processing units 1931 to 193N, a system call provided by the OS for passing data between applications is provided. Issuing can be performed via the shared memory, and print data can be transferred between applications that are not directly affected by hardware changes.

  In the printer server 1900 of this embodiment, a single print job handles a single print data. However, the print data is divided so that a single print job can handle a plurality of print data. Also good.

  As described above, the spool processing method according to the present invention, the program for causing a computer to execute the method, the image forming apparatus, and the information processing apparatus are suitable for a multifunction peripheral including a printer apparatus, a printer server, and a printer function.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration and a network configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when registering a print job in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by a print protocol processing unit of the NCS when registering a print job. 10 is a flowchart of a processing procedure performed by a spool writing processing unit of a spool application when registering a print job. FIG. 9 is a data flow diagram of print job registration processing. FIG. 10 is a data flow diagram of job data write processing of a print job. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is read in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job read processing by a spool read processing unit. FIG. 7 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data and commands in a job data read process of a print job. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of instructions in a print job end process. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is registered in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of a processing procedure performed by a spool writing processing unit of a spool application when registering a print job. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of a setting parameter table. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of job data write processing for a print job. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is read in spool processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job read processing by a spool read processing unit. FIG. 7 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data and commands in a job data read process of a print job. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration of a printer system according to a third embodiment and a functional configuration of a printer server. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is registered in spool processing by the printer server according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data flow when a print job is read in spool processing by the printer server according to the third embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure relevant to the spool process in the conventional multifunction device.

Explanation of symbols

100 MFP 110 Spool application 111, 1911 Spool writing processing unit 112, 1912 Spool reading processing unit 113, 1913 HDD-I / F unit 114, 139, 1914, 1939 Memory transfer I / F unit 115, 1915 Spool transfer I / F Unit 137, 1937 Network I / F unit 131-13N, 1931-193N Print protocol processing unit 132 Device management unit 133, 1935 Network management unit 134 Device management protocol processing unit 135 Application management unit 161, 1961 Shared memory 120a Printer application-A
120b Printer app-B
130 NCS
170, 1970 Network card 180 Network 201 Black and white line printer 202 Color line printer 203 Hardware resource 210 Software group 212 Copy application 213 Fax application 214 Scanner application 215 Net file application 216 Process inspection application 220 Platform 221 General purpose OS
222 SCS
223 SRM
224 ECS
225 MCS
226 OCS
227 FCS
1210 Setting parameter table 1900 Printer server 1910 Spool processing unit 1920 Print processing unit 1930 Network processing unit 1990 Printer device

Claims (18)

A spool processing method for performing spool processing by transmitting and receiving data via a shared memory between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application,
A protocol processing step for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol, and extracting print data specific to an image forming application that performs the printing process;
A spool reading step of transferring print data included in the print job stored in the storage means to the image forming application via a shared memory by a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step; ,
A spool processing method.   The spool processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a notification step of notifying the image forming application of completion of reading when the print data is read from the storage unit.   In the spool reading step, single print data registered as a single print job is read from the storage unit by a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step. The spool processing method according to claim 1 or 2.   The spool reading step reads out the print data divided into a plurality of pieces registered as a single print job from the storage unit by a functionally independent means different from the means for executing the protocol processing step. The spool processing method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.   The program which makes a computer perform the method as described in any one of Claims 1-4. An image forming apparatus that transmits and receives data between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application via a shared memory and provides a user service related to an image forming process,
Protocol processing means for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol and extracting print data specific to an image forming application that performs print processing;
Storage means for storing the print data as a print job;
Spool reading means for delivering print data included in a print job stored in the storage means to the image forming application via a shared memory, functionally independent from the protocol processing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Hardware resources used in the image forming process;
An application layer that performs processing specific to each user service related to image formation processing;
Acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resource that are commonly required by at least two applications when providing a user service that is interposed between the application layer and the hardware resource And a control service layer for performing
The control service layer has the protocol processing means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the application layer includes the spool reading unit and a printer application as the image forming application. The control service layer includes a network control service for controlling the network and having the protocol processing means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the application layer further includes a spool application having the spool reading unit.   The spool reading unit notifies the image forming application or the printer application of the completion of reading when the print data is read from the storage unit. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spool reading unit reads a single print data registered as a single print job from the storage unit. An image forming apparatus that transmits and receives data between a plurality of applications including at least an image forming application via a shared memory and provides a user service related to an image forming process,
Protocol processing means for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol and extracting print data specific to an image forming application that performs print processing;
Storage means for storing one or a plurality of print data divided based on spool setting information defining spool processing contents from the print data as a single print job;
Unlike the protocol processing unit, a spool reading unit that functionally and independently transfers the one or more print data stored in the storage unit to the image forming application via a shared memory via the shared memory. When,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The storage unit stores, as a single print job, one or a plurality of print data divided based on the spool setting information defining the print data division processing information for each image forming application from the print data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11. Hardware resources used in the image forming process;
An application layer that performs processing specific to each user service related to image formation processing;
Acquisition request, management, execution control, and image formation of the hardware resource that are commonly required by at least two of the application layers when providing user services that are interposed between the application layer and the hardware resources A control service layer for processing,
The control service layer controls the network and has the protocol processing means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the application layer includes the spool reading unit. The control service layer includes a network control service for controlling the network and having the protocol processing means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the application layer includes a spool application having the spool reading unit and a printer application as the image forming application.   The spool reading unit notifies the image forming application or the printer application of the completion of reading when the one or a plurality of divided print data are read from the storage unit as a print job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11. An information processing apparatus that receives a print request from a client terminal connected to a network and performs print processing on a printer apparatus connected to the network,
Protocol processing means for interpreting received data to be printed received from a client terminal connected to a network based on a predetermined communication protocol, and extracting print data unique to an image forming processing means for performing print processing;
Storage means for storing the print data as a print job;
A spool reading means for delivering print data included in a print job stored in the storage means to the image formation processing means via a shared memory, functionally independent from the protocol processing means,
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the spool reading unit notifies the image forming processing unit of the completion of reading after reading the print data from the storage unit.   18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the spool reading unit reads single print data registered as a single print job from the storage unit.

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