JP2005108113A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden on image data at a transmission side by cutting image transfer processing time. <P>SOLUTION: A PDL controller 11 analyzes a received PDL job to generate a command sequence of the job. A color, or black and white is determined. In the case of the color, a PDL image description portion is interpreted to generate color multi-valued raster data on a frame buffer. A raster image is subjected to queuing on a transmission image buffer memory. Upon completing image development, the command sequence is transmitted. A image processing controller 10, once receiving the command sequence, starts a preparation for receiving the image and notifies the PDL controller 11 of the settlement of the reception preparation upon settling the reception preparation. A video I/F (Interface) section converts raster image data to video data. The video I/F section conducts transfer processing on a one page-one page basis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system for forming an image on a paper medium by a PDL print job described in a page description language (PDL).

  Conventionally, an image processing apparatus connected to a PDL controller, a command I / F for exchanging commands and a video I / F for exchanging video image data, an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus An image processing system in which is connected is known.

  In the PDL controller, a PDL job received from a host computer connected via a network or the like is analyzed to form a raster image, and a command sequence constructed based on the analysis result is sent to the image processing controller as a command I / F. And then the image data is sent via the video I / F.

  The image processing controller activates the image forming unit based on the received command sequence and image data, forms an image on a paper medium, and outputs the image outside the apparatus.

  One example of such a conventional technique is described in Patent Document 1. In other words, the image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine can perform its full performance, reduce printing failures, and handle the image data after the translation of PDL image information sent from the computer. In order to enable printing at a timing according to the engine speed, the image processing apparatus develops raster image data based on the input image information, compresses it, stores it in the HDD 3020, and stores image management information from the copying machine. A CPU 3011 for retrieving image data from the HDD 3020 based on the image data, an HDD 3020 for storing the image data, a color conversion processing unit 3021 for performing color conversion processing on the image data based on an image formation / output instruction from the copying machine, and image management information And an external video I / F 3030 for outputting image data to a copying machine. There is a configuration image output system.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-285388

  However, in this conventional image processing system, the video I / F that is the image transfer path is occupied regardless of the type of job to be processed. For example, even for a black and white job, since the video I / F is used for image transfer, the next job cannot be processed unless the previous job is completed.

  The present invention solves such a problem, enables two communication paths to be selectively used in image transfer, enables parallel processing in image transfer of at least two or more jobs, and performs image transfer processing time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system that can reduce the load on the image data transmission side.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of facilitating the construction of a cascade system for distributing the load of image formation.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least two or more communication paths are provided between an image generation control unit that generates raster image data of an image, an image formation unit that forms an image on a paper medium, and the image generation control unit. And an image processing control unit that controls the image forming unit and sends raster image data generated by the image generation control unit to the image forming unit. An acquisition means for acquiring the type of image data sent from the image generation control means to the image processing control means, and a communication path for use in image data communication according to the type of image data acquired by the acquisition means And switching means for switching to.

  In claim 1, at least one of the two or more communication channels can be a bidirectional command communication channel that mainly transmits / receives a command, a status that informs each other of the status, and the other at least one of the two or more communication channels. The image data communication path for transmitting the generated raster image data can be mainly used.

  3. The image generation control unit according to claim 2, wherein when the image data to be sent to the image processing control unit is large-capacity image data, the large-capacity image data is transmitted through the image data communication path. When the image data is transmitted to the control unit and is small-capacity image data, the small-capacity image data can be transmitted to the image processing control unit via the command communication path.

  In the third aspect, the large-capacity image data can be color multi-value image data, and the small-capacity image data can be monochrome binary image data.

  In the third aspect, the large-capacity image data can be uncompressed raster image data, and the small-capacity image data can be compressed image data.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least two or more data and / or data between an image generation control unit that generates a bitmap image of an image, an image formation unit that forms an image on a paper medium, and the image generation control unit. Or an image processing control means having a command communication path, comprising: an image processing control means for controlling the image forming means and sending raster image data generated by the image generation control means to the image forming means. In the image forming system, the image generation control unit includes a communication path capable of simultaneously connecting three or more devices as at least one of the data and / or command communication paths. At least one set of image processing control control means different from the image processing control means is connected.

  According to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, two communication paths can be selectively used in image transfer, parallel processing can be performed in image transfer of at least two jobs, and image transfer processing can be performed. The time can be shortened and the load on the image data transmission side can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, it is possible to facilitate the construction of a cascade system that distributes the load of image formation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of an image forming system.

[Configuration of image forming system]
The image processing controller 10 is controlled by the CPU 101 and includes an HDD 104 and a memory (not shown). In addition, a network I / F unit 102 and a video I / F unit 103 are provided, and are connected to the PDL controller via these. Further, it is connected to the scanner 12 and the printer 13 via an I / F (not shown). In addition, a user I / F unit including a key and a liquid crystal display (not shown) is provided.

  The I / F to the printer 13 and the scanner 12 is dedicated and is composed of a control signal line and a video data signal line. The video data signal line is a signal line for transmitting or receiving image data, and the control signal line is a signal line for transmitting / receiving timing control of video data and transmitting various control commands to the scanner or printer. .

  The scanner 12 includes a CCD, can read an image of a document set on a document table, generate electronic data of a raster image, and send it to the image processing controller 10. Depending on the configuration, a DF (Automatic Document Feeder) may be provided to continuously read images of a plurality of documents.

  The printer 13 includes a print engine such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system, and can form image data sent from the image processing controller 10 on a paper medium and output the image data to the outside of the apparatus. Depending on the configuration, it is also possible to provide a plurality of paper feed stages, select a plurality of different sizes and types of media, feed them, and form an image. Further, depending on the configuration, it is possible to provide a specific finishing device and sort a plurality of output originals, or to perform booklet-type saddle binding.

  The image processing controller 10 can perform processing such as compressing the received image, storing it in the HDD 104, rotating it in a desired direction, and enlarging or reducing it to a desired size. Also performs color adjustment such as smoothing and calibration. The image processing controller 10 also includes a memory (not shown), and is also used as a work area for performing these processes. These processes are mainly performed by software by a program stored in a ROM (not shown) or HDD 104 that runs on the CPU 101, but some image processing is hardwareized and a hardware image processing unit is provided for speeding up. It is of course possible to do so. In addition, a video I / F unit 103 for receiving raster image data from the PDL controller and a network I / F 102 for exchanging commands and statuses are provided.

  The PDL controller 11 is controlled by a program that runs on the CPU 111. An external I / F (not shown) is provided, and a print job described in a page description language (PDL) is received from a host computer or the like via the external I / F. Based on the received PDL job, a print job sequence is assembled, an image is developed, and the print job is started. In response to a command from the host computer or the like, it is also possible to send a document reading command to the image processing controller 10 and execute a scan job for sending the transmitted image data to the host computer or the like.

  The network I / F unit 112 is an I / F mainly for exchanging commands and status with the image processing controller 10, and the video I / F unit 113 is an I / F for transmitting an image to be printed to the image processing controller 10. / F. The memory 114 is also used as a work area for program operation and a frame buffer for temporarily storing the developed image. In addition, an HDD (not shown) is provided, which is used to store an OS, a program, job data, and a developed image.

[Description of copy operation]
In a system including the image processing controller 10, the scanner 12, and the printer 13, a copying operation can be performed. In a user I / F unit (not shown), when a user issues a copy operation start command, the image processing controller 10 first generates a copy job sequence in accordance with a preset copy mode such as finishing or color mode. .

  First, an image reading command is issued to the scanner 12, the image data is read from a document set on a document table (not shown) of the scanner 12, and the read image data is temporarily stored in the HDD 104 or a frame buffer in the memory. To do.

  Next, a print start command is issued to the printer 13, and the image data stored in the HDD 104 or the frame buffer is transmitted in the order of images based on the copy job sequence in accordance with the image destination signal transmitted from the printer 13.

  At this time, if the finishing operation is designated by a user I / F (not shown), the CPU 101 designates the finishing operation mode in accordance with the print start command. The printer 13 starts the operation according to the mode designation, sequentially forms the images that are sent on the paper medium, and outputs them to the finisher. The finisher performs a finishing operation by performing operations such as stapling and bin feeding for each specific number of sheets according to the designated finishing mode.

  When the scanner 12 is provided with a DF (not shown), a plurality of originals set in the DF can be continuously read one by one. The reading interval for each sheet at this time can be specified by a program operating on the CPU 101 in accordance with the configuration of the image processing controller 10. For example, if the image processing controller 10 has a sufficient capacity HDD 104 or memory, all the originals are once read and stored, and then the printer 13 stores images one by one in a desired order in accordance with the form of finishing or the like. Data may be sent, or when there is not enough capacity or when it is desired to shorten the time until the first sheet is output (FCOT), the printer 13 is started in parallel with the start of image reading. The image may be output in accordance with the image destination timing of the printer 13 every time one image is read.

  Also, in order to eliminate the mismatch between the size of the read image and the size and orientation of the paper on which the image is formed, it is also possible to create a sequence so that the image is output to the printer 13 after performing processing such as enlargement / reduction and rotation. It is.

[Description of I / F Between Printer 13 and Image Processing Controller 10]
The printer 13 can receive a color multilevel image signal and a monochrome binary image signal as input images. It is also possible to receive a TAG signal for each pixel.

  In the case of a color multi-value image, a total of 24 bit signals of 8 bits for each color of CMYK are received per pixel. The pixel clock at that time is capable of forming a 600 dpi image in accordance with the image forming speed. That is, in the case of color, image formation of 600 dpi is fundamental, but when a TAG signal is attached to a specific pixel, the gradation is improved by reducing the resolution at 300 dpi with two adjacent pixels as a set unit. Thus, it is possible to form an image. That is, the TAG signal can be distinguished from the character area as a signal representing the area of the photographic image, and good image formation suitable for the characteristics can be performed for each area. As the hard signal lines, there are a total of five signal lines: 8 bits × 4 (CMYK) and 1 bit × 1 for TAG. Of course, there are also control signal lines. These signal lines may be parallel signal lines, but it is also possible to use a high-speed serial line and virtually realize 5 + α signal lines with drivers at both ends.

  In contrast, in the case of a monochrome binary image, a 1-bit signal is received per pixel. The image clock at this time is capable of image formation at 1200 dpi. Since it is a black and white binary image, processing such as dithering that provides gradation in the photographic area has already been performed by the host device, that is, the image processing controller 10 or the PDL controller, so the processing needs to be changed by the TAG bit. There is no. It is not necessary to have the hardware signal lines independently, and the same signal lines as those in the case of the color multi-value can be shared. For example, a 1-bit TAG signal line can be used as an image signal line in the black and white binary mode, and can be operated as a double-speed clock (4 times the speed when sub-operations are combined), or 4 bits of each least significant 1 bit of CMYK May be extracted as image information of a clock corresponding to 1200 dpi by using the 600 dpi clock as it is.

  Of course, in addition to these, for example, a monochrome multi-value 8-bit × 1 color mode can be implemented. In this case, of the CMYK signal lines, only K may be used and the TAG bit may be used together.

[Description of I / F Between PDL Controller 11 and Image Processing Controller 10]
A first I / F between the PDL controller 11 and the image processing controller 10 is a network I / F using Ethernet (registered trademark). It mainly exchanges commands such as print commands and mode designations between both controllers, and status information such as whether the printer 13 and scanner 12 are ready, or whether an error or the like has occurred. Of course, instead of Ethernet (registered trademark), a configuration using a serial line such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394 or a parallel line such as Centro I / F may be employed.

  The second I / F is a video I / F that transfers image data. This I / F is an 8-bit signal for each CMYK, a 1- or 2-bit TAG bit signal line that represents the nature of the image area, a pixel clock that represents the pixel unit of the signal, a Line enable signal that represents the separation for each line, etc. The signal lines are sent (logically) in parallel. Physically necessary number of signal lines may be arranged, but then the cable becomes thick, so several high-speed serial lines are used and the necessary number of signal lines are virtually realized with the drivers at both ends doing.

  The network I / F is a general-purpose Ethernet (registered trademark) I / F, and the amount of information that can be transmitted at a time is relatively small, and is a relatively low-speed I / F. However, a general-purpose protocol such as TCP / IP is used, and a plurality of addresses and ports can be set, and a plurality of types of information can be exchanged at a time. In this image forming system, a network I / F has ports for different purposes such as a print port, a management port, and an event port as separate channels in parallel.

  On the other hand, the video I / F is designed for exclusive use in consideration of the performance of the system and can transfer data at a sufficiently high speed. However, the information that can be sent is only one image data at a time. It is.

[Description of Print Operation by PDL Controller 11]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation during printing. First, the PDL controller 11 receives a print job from the host computer via an external I / F (not shown) such as a network I / F, USB, or IEEE1394 (S502). A print job is written in a so-called page description language (PDL) such as PS, PCL, or LIPS, is in a PDL job format, and is generated via a print driver from an application program running on a host computer or the like. It is a thing. That is, the PDL job includes information (mode designation) necessary for constructing a sequence, such as the paper size and media requested by each page, duplex / single-side designation, color mode, and finishing, and images in PDL format for each page. I have the data together.

  Then, the PDL controller 11 extracts the mode designation from the received PDL job (S503), analyzes it, feeds the paper from each paper feed stage, including finishing, double-sided processing, etc. A series of job sequences is assembled such as whether the sheet feed stage is switched to the first stage or the sheet feed stage is switched in the middle (S504).

  At the same time, the image data portion in the PDL job is taken out and developed into raster image data which is a bitmap image in the frame buffer area on the memory (S505). The developed image data is compressed and temporarily stored in the memory or HDD (S506). This is done for all pages of the job.

  First, the image processing controller 10 is notified via the print port in the form of a command sequence for realizing the constructed job sequence (S507). The image processing controller 10 prepares for image reception in the video I / F unit based on the received job sequence. When the preparation is completed, the PDL controller 11 is notified through the print port that the image reception preparation is completed.

  When the image processing controller 10 confirms the completion of image reception preparation (S508), the PDL controller 11 uses the video I / F unit to synchronize image data and control signals such as line enable with image data. 10 (S509).

  The transfer process is performed for each page, and transfer Start and End commands are exchanged at the print port for each page. If the processing of the image processing controller 10 cannot catch up with the transfer speed due to some reason, the image processing controller 10 notifies the PDL controller 11 that the reception has failed and requests retransmission of the image data of the same page.

  The image transfer of all pages is confirmed (S510), and the print processing of the PDL controller 11 is completed.

  Of course, FIG. 5 is an example. When one or more pages of image development and storage processing in S505 and S506 are completed, the command sequence transmission processing in S507 is performed, and the command sequence transmission is performed while the image is transmitted between command transmissions. The data development (S505) and image data transfer (S509) processes can be performed in parallel.

  The image data sent from the PDL controller 11 to the image processing controller 10 is temporarily stored in the HDD or memory. At this time, depending on the finishing of the print sequence sent in advance and various other mode settings, it waits until all pages are received, or depending on the mode, the printer 13 is activated when one or more pages are received.

  When starting up the printer 13, a mode such as a paper feed stage, double-sided printing, or finishing is designated based on the job sequence sent from the PDL controller 11, and the image data is converted into image data in the order of pages required by the operation of the image forming apparatus. Related page information is placed in an internal queue on a memory (not shown). At this time, at least the first image data to be transmitted is expanded in a frame buffer on the memory, and the image data stored in the remaining HDD is sequentially transferred from the HDD to the memory as soon as the frame buffer is available. Like that.

  Then, in synchronization with the image destination signal from the printer 13, the image data is sent to the printer 13 in the order of the page information in the queue. The printer 13 forms an image for each page that is sent on a medium in a designated paper feed stage, performs designated finishing, and discharges the image outside the apparatus.

[Raster data generated by the PDL controller 11]
The PDL controller 11 can generate two types of raster data, a color multi-value image and a monochrome binary image. The type of image to be generated is based on the designation from the driver on the host computer, but if it is not designated, the default setting designated in advance in the PDL controller 11 is followed.

  If the original PDL data to be developed is monochrome multi-value, or if the original is multi-color, but the designation in the driver is monochrome, the developed monochrome multi-value image is converted to a monochrome binary image. To do. At this time, the multi-value image is converted into a binary image by dithering or the like. In the case of the present embodiment, in the case of black and white binary, since the expansion is performed at 1200 dpi, the character and graphic areas are subjected to smoothing processing from 600 dpi to 1200 dpi, and the edges and the like are smoothed.

  At the time of development, based on the description in the PDL language, it is possible to determine whether the specific area of the image is a character / graphic or an original bitmap image such as a photograph. The image processing controller 10 stores these pieces of information together as region information when developing the raster image. Thus, it can be used for smoothing processing in the case of the above-described black and white binary, and generation of a TAG signal for the image processing controller 10.

[Compression function]
The PDL controller 11 has a function for compressing and expanding a raster image. The monochrome binary raster data is compressed by the so-called JBIG method. Since the JBIG method is lossless compression, the compression rate is not so high. In the case of color multi-value raster data, it can be compressed by the JPEG method. The JPEG method is irreversible compression, and the compression rate is high, but the image quality is somewhat deteriorated.

  The PDL controller 11 once compresses the rasterized image data and stores it in the HDD, and expands it again on the frame buffer when transferring the image data in the video I / F. As a result, even if the transfer of the previous page is not completed, the image development can be performed in advance within the possible processing range.

[Transfer images for black and white binary]
When the image sent from the PDL controller 11 to the image processing controller 10 is a color multivalued image, data for the number of pixels of (8 bits × 4 (CMYK) +1 bit (TAG)) × 1 page per page Image data amount. However, in the case of black and white binary, the number of pixels is 1 bit × 1 page, and in this embodiment, black and white is 1200 dpi for color 600 dpi, so the data amount is about 1/8 or less.

  Of course, this may be transmitted to the image processing controller 10 by the video I / F. However, if the amount of data decreases so far, it can be compressed and incorporated into the command sequence of the print port. In other words, the network I / F unit can send image data in accordance with the job sequence, and the image processing controller 10 receives the image data simultaneously with the sequence, so it is necessary to synchronize with the video I / F. This reduces the processing burden on the CPU.

[Others]
The PDL controller 11 of the present embodiment can process PostScript (PS) as a PDL language. However, it is of course possible to construct other PDL data such as PCL, PDF, and LIPS.

  In addition, the user can designate a desired image quality level using a driver (PPD). With this designation, the PDL controller 11 can adjust the level of image quality degradation by adjusting the compression rate of the image temporarily stored in the HDD.

  Furthermore, in the driver, the user can specify whether to print in color or monochrome.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the PDL controller 11. In this processing, the communication path for sending image data to the image processing controller 10 is switched between the case where the image developed into the raster image by the PDL controller 11 is color multi-valued and the case of monochrome binary. .

  When receiving the PDL job from the host computer, the PDL controller 11 first analyzes in step S202. Then, a job operation designation portion such as a job mode designation such as double-sided or finishing, or a job size designation or media designation of each page is taken out, and a command sequence of this print job is generated.

  Next, in step S203, it is determined whether the type of image in this job, that is, color or monochrome.

  In the case of color, in step S204, the PDL image description portion is interpreted, and 8-bit color multilevel raster data for each color of CMYK is generated on the frame buffer.

  In step S205, a raster image is queued in the transmission image buffer memory. When there is sufficient buffer memory, the image data itself may be queued in the order of pages to be transmitted. However, it is usually difficult in terms of cost to mount a memory having such capacity. Therefore, what is queued is a label for raster data for each page, and the raster data itself is associated with this label, JPEG compressed, and stored in the HDD. Since the page number is normally uniquely determined in the job, a unique job ID can be assigned to the generated print job, and the job ID + page ID can be used as a label for the raster data.

  When the image development is completed, a command sequence is transmitted in step S206. Receiving the command sequence, the image processing controller 10 starts preparation for receiving an image, and notifies the PDL controller 11 when it is ready to receive an image.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S207, where the raster image data is converted into video data in the video I / F unit, and the video I / F unit performs transfer processing page by page. At this time, a timing command indicating the start and end of each page is sent separately from the print port.

  Since the normal job is composed of a plurality of pages, the raster development and queuing processes in steps S204 and S205 are repeated for every page, and then the command sequence is transmitted in step S206. However, another port for transmitting a command indicating the start and end timing of image transfer is prepared, and the command sequence transmission is immediately sent to the image processing controller 10 after the command sequence is generated in step S202. Of course, the video data may be sent to the image processing controller 10 in units of pages while generating the raster image. In this manner, the image processing controller 10 can know whether advance what image is sent ahead, ready to accept the video data quickly merit can be performed occurs.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S203 that the image type is a monochrome job, raster data is generated in step S208. At this time, for example, there may be a case where the user originally selects black and white with a driver for a color multi-valued image. In such a case, the generated image is monochrome multivalued.

  If the generated raster image is black and white multi-valued, binarization is performed in the binarization processing in step S209.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing in detail the binarization process in step S209 of FIG. First, in step S302, the raster image is analyzed, and in step S303, it is determined whether the image is a multi-value image or a binary image. If it is a multi-valued image, image area separation processing is performed in step S304. The image area separation processing in step S304 uses TAG bit information indicating each area information stored when the PDL data is expanded, and in the bitmap area, the character area is determined from the gradation change pattern. And photographic area.

  In step S305, for the character area, smoothing processing is performed in step S305. This is, for example, a process of pattern matching an 8 × 8 region and expanding it to 16 × 16 to smooth the edge portion. That is, a 600 dpi raster image is expanded to 1200 dpi. Of course, gray rather than black characters are smoothed with the same gradation.

  The number of pixels is expanded for the area determined to be a photograph in step S306. This is simply expanded from 1 pixel to 4 pixels without changing the gradation. As described above, multi-value 1200 dpi conversion is performed for the entire image region.

  Thereafter, a dither method is performed in step S307 to convert the multi-valued image into a binary image. At this time, by binarizing the photographic area, the high frequency is removed and the gradation is slightly lowered. Therefore, rattling due to the previous one pixel being made into four pixels is absorbed and becomes inconspicuous. By representing the gradation with a 1200 dpi binary value, a better gradation can be obtained than when binarization is performed with 600 dpi.

  If the next developed image is originally binary 600 dpi, the image area separation processing for binary image in step S308 only uses the information of the previous TAG bit.

  In step S309, the smoothing process is performed on the character area in the same manner as in step S305.

  Since the photographic area is originally a binary dither image of 600 dpi, the roughness is reduced by expanding it to 1200 dpi in step S310. For example, the average density in a somewhat narrow range such as 5 × 5 of the original image is calculated, and the density (multivalue) of the central pixel is determined as the average density. Since the image becomes slightly blurred as it is, edge enhancement filtering is performed, and then the number of pixels is expanded as in steps S306 and S307, and a 1200 dpi binary image is then obtained by the dither method. What is necessary is just to perform the process of obtaining.

  As described above, a good 1200 dpi binary black and white raster image can be obtained for both monochrome and binary 600 dpi multi-value and binary images.

  Next, this raster image is JBIG compressed in step S210. JBIG is a reversible compression, and when developed, the original image can be completely reproduced, so there is no image degradation due to this.

  In step S211, the compressed image data is merged into the command. This is to add image data in addition to the portion in which information such as media and size in page units is described in the command sequence generated in step S202. In this way, the finally generated command sequence is the one that holds the JBIG compressed image of each page inside.

  Then, the command sequence generated in step S212 is generated. The image processing controller 10 can extract image data from the received command sequence, perform JBIG expansion, and immediately perform processing such as printing or storing in the HDD. Unlike the case of multi-valued color, it is not necessary to wait for the image sent from the video after synchronization, and it is possible to proceed to the next processing promptly.

  The flowchart in FIG. 2 is merely an example. Depending on the structure of the PDL language, it is of course possible to determine whether the color is black or white after image development.

  In the processing for multi-valued color, if the PDL controller 11 loads all the raster images of the job in a queue and leaves the image transmission to another program that operates in parallel, the PDL controller 11 can immediately start analyzing the next PDL. Can do. However, if the next PDL job is also multi-color, the job transfer completion will eventually be dragged to the video data transfer completion.

  In the present invention, for example, in the case of an office use system, when a black and white job is main and a color job is occasionally sent, two communication lines can be used effectively. If the frequency of the color job is low, the video I / F does not have to be so fast, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the color and black and white are divided. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where color and black and white are mixedly loaded on a page basis. In this case, it is obvious that the page for switching the route for sending the image data may be changed.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of constructing a system in which the color image processing controller 10 and the monochrome image processing controller 10 have a redundant configuration.

  The PDL controller 41 has the same configuration as the PDL controller 11 of FIG. The image processing controller 40 has the same configuration as the image processing controller 10 of FIG. The scanner 42 has the same configuration as the scanner 12 of FIG. The color printer 43 has the same configuration as the printer 13 of FIG.

  The PDL controller 41 and the image processing controller 40 are connected by a video I / F 45, and image data can be transferred by the video I / F. The PDL controller 41 and the image processing controller 40 are connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) 44 such as a HUB, and can exchange commands and status through the Ethernet (registered trademark) 44.

  In other words, the image processing system including the PDL controller 41, the image processing controller 40, the scanner 42, and the color printer 43 can realize the same functions as the image processing system shown in FIG.

  Incidentally, another image processing controller 46 is connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) 44. The image processing controller 46 has a configuration in which the video I / F unit is removed from the image processing controller 10 shown in FIG. 1, and is a monochrome-only image processing controller 46 that can process only a monochrome image. Yes.

  Similar to the image processing controller 40, the image processing controller 46 includes a scanner 47 and a monochrome printer 48. However, the monochrome printer 48 can construct only a monochrome image on a paper medium and forms a color image. I can't do it.

  In other words, the image processing controller 46 can accept only the monochrome binary image described in the first embodiment as an input image and can form an image with the monochrome printer 48. Naturally, the input image is compressed and passed to the print port on the network I / F of the image processing controller 46 in a form embedded in the command.

  When this system is used, it is possible to easily distribute the load of the image forming apparatus in the processing described with reference to FIG. For example, if it is determined that the job is a black and white job in step S203, the command sequence transmission destination in step S212 is the image processing controller 46. If it is determined that the job is color, a command is sent to the image processing controller 40 in steps S206 and S207. If sequence transmission and video data transfer are performed, even for PDL jobs sent to the same PDL controller 41, the output destination is switched depending on the type of job, and load distribution can be realized.

  Of course, when a color page and a monochrome page are mixedly included in one job, it is obvious that a function can be constructed in which only the color page is output to the image processing controller 40 and the monochrome page is output to the image processing controller 46. Or, even for a black and white job, if the image processing controller 46 is executing a copy, scan, or previous print job, it is obvious that it may be output to the image processing controller 40.

  Further, if the PDL controller 41 is configured to have a plurality of video I / F units, it will be obvious that the load can be distributed by overlapping a plurality of color image processing controllers 10.

  In the first and second embodiments, the large-capacity image data is described as a color multi-valued image, and the small-capacity image data is described as a black-and-white binary image. However, this is merely an example. For example, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a monochromatic image having a specific CMYK ratio instead of black and white as small-capacity data.

  In addition, according to the configuration of the developed image, the present invention can be applied to an image mainly composed of photographs and bitmap images as a large-capacity image and an image mainly composed of text and graphics as small-capacity images. It is self-explanatory.

  Further, the image processing controller 46 having no video I / F is used to process a color binary image instead of black and white, and the image forming apparatus connected thereto is an apparatus for forming a color binary image. Of course, it is possible to configure so that a color job that does not require image quality is output to the color binary image forming apparatus side by a driver designation or the like.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image processing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the switching process of an image transfer path | route in the image processing system which is preferable one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which binarizes a monochrome image in the image processing system which is one preferable embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system including two image processing controllers 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing during a printing operation in a PDL controller 11 which is an embodiment of an image generation controller of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image processing controller 11 PDL controller 12 Scanner 13 Printer 101, 111 CPU
102, 112 Network I / F unit 103, 113 Video I / F unit 104 HDD
114 memory

Claims (6)

Image generation control means for generating raster image data of the image;
Image forming means for forming an image on a paper medium;
An image processing control unit having at least two or more communication paths with the image generation control unit, wherein the image generation unit controls the raster generated by the image generation control unit. An image forming system comprising image processing control means for sending image data,
Acquisition means for acquiring the type of image data sent from the image generation control means to the image processing control means;
An image forming system comprising switching means for switching to a communication path for use in image data communication according to the type of image data acquired by the acquisition means.   2. The two or more communication paths according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more communication paths is a bi-directional command communication path that mainly transmits and receives commands and statuses for notifying each other's status, and another at least one is mainly generated. An image forming system characterized by being an image data communication path for transmitting the raster image data.   3. The image generation control unit according to claim 2, wherein when the image data to be sent to the image processing control unit is large-capacity image data, the large-capacity image data is transmitted through the image data communication path. An image forming system, wherein, when the image data is small-capacity image data, the small-capacity image data is transmitted to the image processing control unit via the command communication path. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the large-capacity image data is color multi-value image data, and the small-capacity image data is monochrome binary image data. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the large-capacity image data is uncompressed raster image data, and the small-capacity image data is compressed image data. Image generation control means for generating a bitmap image of the image;
Image forming means for forming an image on a paper medium;
Image processing control means having at least two or more data and / or command communication paths with the image generation control means, the image processing control means controlling the image forming means, and the image formation control means An image processing system comprising image processing control means for sending raster image data generated by
The image generation control means has a communication path capable of simultaneously connecting three or more devices as at least one of the data and / or command communication paths, and the image processing control means At least one set of another image processing control control means is connected.

Images