JP2005119011A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out printing by using as new calibration (CAL) data as possible, even if calibration processing is not actually performed. <P>SOLUTION: A printer on the network transmits the CAL data, which are generated in the calibration processing, to another printer. However, the destination printer is designated by a user. The printer, which receives the CAL data, sets the CAL data as data of its own, so as to renew the CAL data without performing actual calibration. When this operation is performed by a plurality of printers on the network, the calibration processing is mutually complemented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to calibration performed in order to stably maintain desired print characteristics in an image processing apparatus such as a color printer connected to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via a network.

In general, it is known that the printing characteristics of an image processing apparatus may change depending on environmental conditions such as the temperature and humidity of the environment in which it is used. In addition to such environmental conditions, printing characteristics may change as a result of use for a certain period. This is because, in the case of an electrophotographic image processing apparatus, for example, the photosensitive characteristics of the photosensitive drum change due to the environmental conditions and the secular change due to use, and as a result observed in a printed image, for example, gradation characteristics, etc. The printing characteristics of the ink are changed from desired ones. In addition, it is known that the above-described change in printing characteristics occurs in an inkjet image processing apparatus due to, for example, a change in ejection characteristics of a print head.
JP-A-8-9158

  The calibration is performed with respect to such a change in printing characteristics, but the printer that has given print support is not necessarily in a state where the optimum calibration has been performed at that time. For example, the target printer may have already been in a state in which optimal printing cannot be guaranteed due to changes in temperature and humidity after the previous calibration. However, there is a problem in executing the calibration process every time print data is received. This is because the actual calibration process requires a considerable amount of time.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to make calibration as high as possible without making the user aware of the calibration time for keeping the printing characteristics constant. It is to print with data.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

  Calibration data storage means for storing calibration data created by calibration in a predetermined storage means, network connection means for connecting to a network, and image processing apparatus settings for setting information of image processing apparatuses existing on the network Means, image processing apparatus information storage means for storing the set image processing apparatus information, image processing apparatus information display means for displaying the stored image processing apparatus information, and an image processing apparatus indicated by the stored image processing apparatus information An image processing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting and receiving calibration data.

  According to the present invention, when there are a plurality of printers connected to the network and each printer performs a calibration process, the generated calibration data can be provided to other printers on the network. .

  By specifying the calibration data transfer destination of each printer by the user, it can be reliably transferred to the target printer (for example, the same model printer), and the calibration data is not transferred in all directions. .

  As a result, the printers on the network complement each other with the calibration process, and the user can print with relatively new calibration data in any printer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an information processing system having a configuration in which a client PC 101 and printers 103, 104, and 105 are connected via a network 102. In this information processing system, a user causes a client PC 101 to print out a document, an image, or the like processed by various applications by selecting one of a plurality of printers 103, 104, and 105 connected to the network 102. Can do.

  The printers 103, 104, and 105 are connected to the network 102, and can execute printing according to instructions from the client PC 101.

  Each printer has storage units 103c, 104c, and 105c that store calibration data. Each printer stores, in the storage units 103c, 104c, and 105c, calibration tables created by a calibration process that appropriately holds printing characteristics as calibration data. Each printer performs print data generation by performing γ conversion of the image data using this calibration table, specifically, a calibration table that is a γ correction table.

  Each printer has transfer destination printer information 103d, 104d, and 105d for storing printer information indicating the transfer destination of its own calibration data.

  Based on the above configuration, the image processing apparatus in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of calibration data in this embodiment stored in the calibration data storage units 103c, 104c, and 105c of the printers 103, 104, and 105 connected to the network 102. Data 201 is identification information indicating that this data is calibration data. Data 202 is information indicating the total number of bytes of the following file information. Data 203 is an actual calibration table.

  FIG. 5 shows the configuration of transfer destination printer information 103d, 104d, and 105d of the printers 103, 104, and 105 connected to the network 102 in this embodiment.

  Data 501 indicates the number of printer information that follows, and data 502 is printer information that indicates a printer that exists on the network. This printer information is set by the user, and each printer can recognize other printers on the network by referring to this information.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for setting a calibration data transfer destination printer in the printer of this embodiment.

  In step S301, the printer determines whether the user is trying to set a calibration data transfer destination printer. The user gives an instruction using, for example, a hard key or a button displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

  If it is determined that the user intends to set a calibration data transfer destination printer, the process advances to step S302. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S302, the printer refers to the transfer destination printer information held by itself, and informs the user of the already registered network printer. Naturally, no printer information is registered in the printer, such as immediately after the initialization of the printer.

  In addition, the printer waits for the following instruction from the user. That is, a “setting end” instruction for exiting the process of step S302 and returning to the normal process, or a “new registration” instruction for newly registering any printer on the network, or a printer that has already been registered. This is a “deletion” instruction for deletion.

  If it is determined that the user has instructed “end of setting”, the printer proceeds to step S303. If it is determined that the user has instructed “new registration”, the printer proceeds to step S304. If it is determined that the user has instructed “delete”, the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S303, the printer ends the process of setting the calibration data transfer destination printer, and returns to step S301.

  In step S304, the printer starts new registration of transfer destination printer information.

  In step S305, the printer prompts the user to input printer information of a printer to be set as a calibration data transfer destination. As this printer information, the use of an IP address can be considered in practice. When the input from the user is completed, the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S306, the printer checks whether the printer indicated by the printer information input by the user actually exists on the network. If it exists on the network, the process proceeds to step S307, and if not, the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S308, the printer notifies the user of an error to indicate that the printer indicated by the printer information input by the user does not exist on the network. Then, the process returns to step S305 to wait for the input of printer information from the user again.

  In step S307, the printer adds the printer information input from the user to the transfer destination printer information. Returning to the process of step S302, the user is notified of the newly registered printer. As described above, steps S304 to S308 are the processing when a new printer is set as the transfer destination printer.

  In step S309, the printer starts processing for deleting arbitrary printer information from its transfer destination printer information.

  In step S <b> 310, the printer prompts the user to select a printer to be deleted from printers currently registered as calibration data transfer destinations. If the printer determines that the user's selection has been completed, the printer proceeds to step S311.

  In step S311, the printer confirms with the user whether the printer information indicating the selected printer may be deleted from the transfer destination printer information. If the printer determines that the user is satisfied, the process advances to step S312. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S302, and the calibration data transfer destination printer is set again.

  In step S312, the printer deletes the printer information indicating the printer selected in step S310 from the transfer destination printer information.

  In step S313, the printer performs processing other than the setting of the transfer destination printer.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing from the start to the end of calibration of the printer according to the present exemplary embodiment connected to the network 102. This embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart, but for the sake of convenience, the following assumptions are made.

  The printer 103 stores the printer 104 and printer 105 information in the transfer destination printer information according to the procedure shown in FIG. In other words, the printer 103 can recognize that the printer 104 and the printer 105 are connected to the same network as itself, and can transmit calibration data to them. Based on the above assumptions, processing at the time of calibration of the printer 103 will be described.

  In step S401, the printer 103 checks whether to start calibration. As conditions for starting calibration, environmental changes such as temperature and humidity can be considered, but details thereof are not questioned here. If calibration is started, the process proceeds to step S402, and processing for calibration is started. If the calibration is not started, the process proceeds to step S408, and after other processing is executed, the start of calibration is checked again in step S401.

  In step S402, the printer 103 executes an actual calibration process, and generates a calibration table that is a γ correction table.

  In step S403, the printer 103 checks whether the calibration process is completed. If completed, the calibration data is updated after step S404, and if not completed, the calibration process is continued in step S402.

  In step S404, the printer 103 stores the calibration table generated in step S503 in the calibration data storage unit, and proceeds to step S507.

  In step S405, the printer 103 writes the total number of bytes of the calibration data shown in FIG.

  In step S406, the printer 103 refers to its own transfer destination printer information 103d. At this time, the destination printer information shown in FIG. 5 is as shown in FIG. 6 in this assumption. Since the printers 104 and 105 have been registered as calibration data transfer destinations, the total number of printers 601 indicates 2, and printer information 602 for each printer follows.

  In step S407, the printer 103 transfers the calibration data of the printer 103 itself to the printer indicated by the printer information in the transfer destination printer information, that is, the printer 104 and the printer 105.

  This completes the printer calibration process in this embodiment.

  Next, the processing procedure of the printer that receives the transferred calibration data will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing when the printer in this embodiment receives either print data or calibration data.

  In step S701, reception of data is checked. If any data is received, the process proceeds to step S702, and if not, the process proceeds to step S705.

  In step S702, the printer analyzes the received data. If the received data is calibration data, the head of the data coincides with the identification information shown in FIG.

  In step S703, if the result of analyzing the received data is calibration data, the printer process proceeds to step S704. Otherwise, it is determined as normal print data, and the process proceeds to step S706.

  In step S704, the printer stores the received calibration data in a calibration data storage unit of the printer itself. As a result, the printer has updated the calibration data without actually performing the calibration process, and the next print data can be expected to have good quality in the print process.

  Step S705 is a normal printing process.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information system in a present Example. It is a figure explaining the structure of the calibration data in a present Example. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when setting a transfer destination of calibration data in the printer according to the present exemplary embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing from the start to the end of printer calibration according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the printer destination printer information in a present Example. It is a specific example of transfer destination printer information in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the printer according to the present exemplary embodiment receives data.

Explanation of symbols

101 Client PC
101d Printer driver 102 Network 103, 104, 105 Printer 103c, 104c, 105c Calibration data storage unit 103d, 104d, 105d Transfer destination printer information 201 Identification information 202 Total number of bytes 203 Calibration table 501 Total number of printers 502 Printer information 401 Total Number of printers 502 Printer information of printers 104 and 105

Claims (2)

  Calibration data storage means for storing calibration data created by calibration in a predetermined storage means, network connection means for connecting to a network, and image processing apparatus information setting for setting information of an image processing apparatus existing on the network Means, image processing apparatus information storage means for storing the set image processing apparatus information, image processing apparatus information display means for displaying the stored image processing apparatus information, and an image processing apparatus indicated by the stored image processing apparatus information An image processing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting and receiving calibration data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the end of calibration, the created calibration data is transmitted to another image processing apparatus stored in the image processing apparatus information storage means.

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