JP2006130816A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of specifying the external device which has transmitted printing data causing a printing error together with the kinds of the printing error generated when the printing error based on the printing data received from the external device is generated. <P>SOLUTION: A control section 30 of a PCL controller 3 performs a command analysis processing for the printing data received through a communication network N and forms image data for outputting an image. Once after storing the formed image data in the image memory 16 of a device body 1, the data is transmitted to a printer section 4. When the image data can not be formed properly and the printing error is generated, the control section 30 forms the error information including the data information stored in a RAM12 of the device body 1 and an error code showing the generated printing error and makes the formed data stored in a RAM32, and transmits the stored data to the printer section 4 through the device body 1 at a designated timing, then outputs the data to papers as an error report. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that generates error information including a print error that has occurred and device information indicating an external device that has transmitted print data that is the cause of the print error when a print error has occurred.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as printers and facsimile combined apparatuses that are used by being connected to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) are widely used. By connecting the information processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus in this manner, the image forming apparatus can be shared by a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and hardware resources can be effectively utilized. Therefore, print data based on documents, graphics, etc. created by the information processing device is transmitted to the image forming device, and commands included in the print data received by the image forming device are analyzed to generate image data for image output Then, image formation based on the generated image data is performed.

In addition, when the image forming apparatus generates image data for image output from the print data received from the information processing apparatus, a command error may occur to prevent generation of appropriate image data. In such a case, the image forming apparatus creates an error report indicating the type of error that has occurred, and forms an image on a sheet as necessary. As a result, the administrator of the image forming apparatus can grasp the type of error that has occurred.
JP 2003-338896 A

  However, in the error report as described above, the type of error that occurred can be grasped, but for example, it is difficult to specify from which information processing apparatus the print data in which the error has occurred is transmitted. There is a problem.

  On the other hand, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an error occurs when data received by facsimile is transferred to a host apparatus connected via a network, the data is transferred together with the type of error that has occurred. Prints an error report with host information indicating the host device However, depending on such a device, it is only possible to grasp the host information of the transfer destination in which an error has occurred during data transfer, and for errors that have occurred during processing based on data received from outside, It is not possible to identify the device that sent the data that caused the error.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to determine the type of print error that has occurred when a print error has occurred during image formation based on print data received from an external device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can identify an external apparatus that has transmitted print data that has caused a print error.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives print data from an external device, a generating unit that generates image data from the print data received by the receiving unit, and an image based on the image data generated by the generating unit. In the image forming apparatus, the receiving unit is configured to receive the print data and device information related to the external device, and a print error based on the received print data. Detecting means for detecting occurrence of the error, and error information generating means for generating error information including information about the received apparatus information and the detected printing error when the detecting means detects the occurrence of a printing error. Features.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that receives print data from an external device, generates image data from the received print data, and forms an image based on the generated image data on a recording medium, together with the print data from the external device When device information related to the external device is received and a print error based on the received print data occurs, error information including the received device information and information related to the generated print error is generated. Therefore, when a print error occurs, it is possible to identify the external device that has transmitted the print data that has caused the print error along with the type of the print error that has occurred.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes storage means for storing apparatus information received by the receiving means, and apparatus information corresponding to the print data from which the image data is generated after the generating means generates image data. The error information generating means, when the detecting means detects the occurrence of a printing error, the error information generating means stores the apparatus information stored in the storing means and the information related to the detected printing error. It is characterized by generating error information including it.

  According to the present invention, the device information received together with the print data from the external device is stored in the storage means, and after the image data is generated from the print data, the corresponding device information is deleted from the storage means. Therefore, when image data can be appropriately generated from the received print data, it is possible to delete unnecessary device information and reduce the memory capacity by deleting the corresponding device information from the storage unit. . Further, when image data cannot be properly generated from the received print data and a printing error occurs, error information can be generated using apparatus information stored in the storage means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes data storage means for storing the image data generated by the generating means, and the forming means reads and reads the image data stored in the data storage means from the data storage means. The image data is configured to form an image based on the image data.

  According to the present invention, the image data generated by the generation unit from the received print data is stored in the data storage unit, the stored image data is read from the data storage unit, and an image based on the read image data is formed. To do. Therefore, since the image data generated from the print data is not directly input to the forming unit that forms an image based on the image data, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the generating unit even when the forming unit is replaced. .

  In the present invention, an image forming apparatus that generates image data from print data received from an external apparatus and forms an image based on the generated image data on a recording medium includes apparatus information related to the external apparatus together with print data from the external apparatus. Receive. Further, when a print error based on the received print data occurs, error information including apparatus information received together with the print data and information related to the generated print error is generated. Thereby, when a print error occurs, the type of the print error that has occurred and the external device that has transmitted the print data that caused the print error can be specified.

  In the present invention, the device information received together with the print data from the external device is stored in the storage means, and when the image data is appropriately generated from the print data, the corresponding device information is deleted from the storage means. Therefore, when image data can be generated from received print data without causing a printing error, the corresponding device information is deleted from the storage means, thereby deleting unnecessary device information and reducing the memory capacity. can do. If image data cannot be generated from the received print data and a print error occurs, error information can be generated using the device information stored in the storage means.

  In the present invention, the image data generated by the generation unit from the received print data is stored in the data storage unit, and an image based on the image data read from the data storage unit is formed to generate the print data. Since the image data is not directly input to the forming unit that forms an image based on the image data, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the generating unit even when the forming unit is replaced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment performs image formation on a NIC (Network Interface Controller) unit 2 connected to a communication network N such as a LAN and print data received via the communication network N. A PCL (Printer Control Language) controller 3 that converts the image data into a printer unit 4 that performs image forming processing based on the image data generated by the PCL controller 3, the NIC unit 2, the PCL controller 3, and the printer unit 4 are connected. The apparatus main body 1 is comprised.

  The NIC unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 100 includes a network interface 20 that can be connected to the communication network N, and a main body connection interface 21 that can be connected to the apparatus main body 1. The NIC unit 2 receives print data based on documents, graphics, and the like created by external computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) 5 and 5 connected to the communication network N via the network interface (reception unit) 20. Then, the print data received from the PCs (external devices) 5, 5 are transferred from the main body connection interface 21 to the main body 1.

  The apparatus main body 1 is connected to a control unit 10 constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processor Unit), a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a NIC interface 13 for connecting to the NIC unit 2, and a PCL controller 3. The PCL interface 14, the memory control unit 15, the image memory 16, the printer connection unit 17 for connecting to the printer unit 4, and the like are provided as main components, and these are mutually connected via the system bus 1 a. .

  The control unit 10 controls each hardware unit as described above of the apparatus main body 1 connected via the system bus 1a, and executes software functions according to various control programs stored in the ROM 11. The RAM 12 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and temporarily stores data generated when the control unit 10 executes the control program.

  The apparatus main body 1 transfers the print data acquired from the NIC interface 13 from the PCL interface 14 to the PCL controller 3. Here, the print data received via the communication network N includes data to be processed to form an image on a sheet and commands indicating various instructions for appropriately forming the data. Then, the PCL controller 3 analyzes a command included in the print data acquired from the apparatus main body 1, converts it into image data (raster data) in a format that can be formed by the printer unit 4, and returns the image data to the apparatus main body 1. Therefore, the apparatus main body 1 causes the memory control unit 15 to store the image data acquired from the PCL controller 3 via the PCL interface 14 in the image memory (data storage unit) 16. Thereafter, the control unit 10 reads the image data from the image memory 16 at a predetermined timing, and transfers the image data from the printer connection unit 17 to the printer unit 4.

  The printer unit 4 includes a main body connection unit 40 for connecting to the apparatus main body 1, a printer control unit 41, a page memory 42, an image forming unit 43, and the like as main components, each of which is mutually connected via a system bus 4a. It is connected to the. The printer control unit 41 temporarily stores the image data sent from the apparatus main body 1 in the page memory 42 and inputs it to the image forming unit 43 in units of pages. The image forming unit 43 is a forming unit that forms an image based on image data input from the page memory 42 on a sheet (recording medium). The image forming unit 43 can use a printer apparatus such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, a thermal transfer system, and a sublimation system.

  The PCL controller 3 includes a control unit 30 constituted by a CPU or MPU having a clock means (not shown), a ROM 31, a RAM 32, a main body connection interface 33 for connecting to the apparatus main body 1, a spooler 34, and the like as main components. These are connected to each other via a system bus 3a.

  The control unit 30 controls each hardware unit as described above of the PCL controller 3 connected via the system bus 3a, and executes software functions according to various control programs stored in the ROM 31. The RAM 32 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and temporarily stores data generated when the control program is executed by the control unit 30. The ROM 31 stores in advance a command analysis program for developing print data received from the external PCs 5 and 5 via the communication network N and generating image data for image formation.

  When the control unit 30 acquires print data from the apparatus main body 1 via the main body connection interface 33, the control unit 30 stores the print data in the spooler 34. In addition, the control unit 30 operates as a generation unit that reads out and executes a command analysis program stored in the ROM 31 and executes the command analysis program on the print data sequentially read from the spooler 34 to generate image data. The generated image data is sequentially input from the main body connection interface 33 to the apparatus main body 1 and stored in the image memory 16 by the memory control unit 15.

  Here, when the PCs 5 and 5 transmit print data via the communication network N, the PC information indicating the transmission source, the user information indicating the users of the PCs 5 and 5, and the image data to be printed included in the print data are displayed. Data information (device information) including a file name to be identified is also transmitted. In the image forming apparatus 100, the NIC unit 2 that has received the data information together with the print data transfers the received print information and data information to the apparatus main body 1. The apparatus body 1 transfers the print data acquired from the NIC unit 2 to the PCL controller 3 as it is and stores the data information in a RAM (storage means) 12.

  Then, the PCL controller 3 that has acquired the print data from the apparatus main body 1 generates image data by executing a command analysis process on the print data read from the spooler 34 while accumulating the print data in the spooler 34. Transfer to the main unit 1. The control unit 10 stores the image data acquired from the PCL controller 3 in the image memory 16 and completes transfer of image data corresponding to one print data from the PCL controller 3 based on data communication with the PCL controller 3. If it is completed, the data information corresponding to the print data is erased from the RAM 12.

  Incidentally, print data received via the communication network N may not be converted into image data by the PCL controller 3 in some cases. For example, when the printer driver is mistaken on the PC 5 and image output is executed from a printer driver different from the printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit (detection unit) 30 of the PCL controller 3 Since command analysis cannot be performed and image data cannot be generated, it is detected that a printing error has occurred.

  When detecting the occurrence of a printing error, the control unit 30 acquires data information stored in the RAM 12 of the apparatus main body 1 and generates error information including the acquired data information and an error code indicating the generated printing error. It operates as error information generation means for generating. The generated error information is temporarily stored in the RAM 32 of the PCL controller 3 and transferred to the printer unit 4 via the apparatus main body 1 according to a preset timing, and as an error report as shown in FIG. The image is output.

  The error report shown in FIG. 2 describes the time of occurrence of a print error, an error code indicating the type of print error that has occurred, PC information included in data information, user information, a file name, and the like. By outputting such an error report as an image, it is possible to specify the type of the print error that has occurred and the PC 5 and the user that sent the print data that caused the print error. In addition, when image data is appropriately converted from print data without causing a print error, data information (PC information, user information, file name for specifying the PC 5 and the user who sent the print data) ) From the RAM 12 after the image data is generated, the RAM 12 can be effectively used.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the PCL controller 3 in the image forming apparatus 100 having the above-described configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image processing by the PCL controller 3. Each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 below is executed by the control unit 30 of the PCL controller 3 in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 31 in advance.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 receives print data received from the external PCs 5 and 5 connected to the communication network N via the NIC unit 2 via the apparatus main body 1 and is sent to the spooler 34 of the PCL controller 3. Remember. The control unit 30 of the PCL controller 3 determines whether or not there is print data in the spooler 34 (S1). If it is determined that there is no print data (S1: NO), the control unit 30 stands by.

  When it is determined that the spooler 34 has print data (S1: YES), the control unit 30 reads the command analysis program stored in the ROM 31 into the RAM 32 and executes the command analysis program so that the print data sequentially read from the spooler 34 is obtained. Command analysis processing is executed (S2). Here, the control unit 30 determines whether or not a print error (for example, a printer driver error) has occurred in the executed command analysis process (S3), and determines that a print error has occurred (S3: YES), the print data which is the cause of the print error is skipped (S4). That is, the control unit 30 skips the print data stored in the spooler 34 to the end of the print job in which the print error has occurred. Therefore, the next print data read from the spooler 34 becomes print data related to the next print job.

  When detecting the occurrence of a printing error, the control unit 30 acquires the data information of the printing data that has caused the printing error from the RAM 12 of the apparatus body 1 (S5), and the error occurrence time indicated by its own clock means, Error information is generated based on the error code of the generated printing error and the data information acquired from the apparatus main body 1 (S6). In addition, the control unit 30 transfers the generated error information to the printer unit 4 via the apparatus main body 1 (S7), and the printer unit 4 outputs the error information to a sheet as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that no printing error has occurred (S3: NO), that is, command analysis processing is executed on the print data sequentially read from the spooler 34 by the command analysis program executed by the control unit 30. If possible, the command analysis processing is continued (S8), and the sequentially generated image data is transferred to the apparatus main body 1 and stored in the image memory 16. The control unit 10 of the apparatus main body 1 transfers the image data transferred from the PCL controller 3 and stored in the image memory 16 to the printer unit 4 in units of pages.

  The control unit 30 determines whether or not the command analysis process for the print data for one page has been completed (S9), and if it is determined that the command analysis process has not been completed (S9: NO), the process returns to step S1. Then, the print data stored in the spooler 34 is read and the command analysis process is continued (S2). When it is determined that the command analysis processing for one page of print data has been completed (S9: YES), the control unit 30 determines whether or not the command analysis processing for one print data has been completed (S10) and ends. If it is determined that the process has not been performed (S10: NO), the process returns to the process of step S1, and the processes of steps S1 to S9 described above are repeated. When the control unit 10 determines that the command analysis processing for one piece of print data has been completed (S10: YES), the control unit 10 ends the above-described processing.

  In the above-described embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the configuration in which the apparatus main body 1, the NIC unit 2, the PCL controller 3, and the printer unit 4 configuring the image forming apparatus 100 are mounted on different substrates has been described. May be mounted on one substrate. The image data generated by the command analysis by the PCL controller 3 is temporarily stored in the image memory 16 of the apparatus body 1, read out from the image memory 16 in units of pages, and transferred to the printer unit 4. Since the image data is not directly transferred from the printer unit 4 to the printer unit 4, even if the printer unit 4 is changed, there is an effect that it is not necessary to change the PCL controller 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which print data and data information are received via the communication network N and the received data information is stored in the RAM 12 of the apparatus main body 1 has been described. The data information can be described in PJL (Printer Job Language) described in the above, and the data information can be acquired when the PCL controller 3 analyzes the PJL. That is, the data received by the PCL controller 3 can be analyzed to acquire data information, and the acquired data information can be transferred to the RAM 12 of the apparatus body 1 and stored. In this case, for example, print data received via other input ports such as a parallel port and a USB port, that is, received via another input port included in the apparatus main body 1 without passing through the NIC unit 2. As for the print data, since the data information of each print data can be acquired, an error report describing the data information can be created.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of an error report. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image processing by a PCL controller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 1 Apparatus main body 12 RAM (memory | storage means)
16 Image memory (data storage means)
2 NIC unit 20 Network interface (reception means)
3 PCL controller 30 control unit (generating means, detecting means, error information generating means)
4 Printer unit 43 Image forming unit (forming unit)
5 PC (external device)

Claims (3)

Receiving means for receiving print data from an external device; generating means for generating image data from print data received by the receiving means; and forming means for forming an image based on the image data generated by the generating means on a recording medium In an image forming apparatus comprising:
The receiving means is configured to receive the print data and device information relating to the external device,
Detection means for detecting the occurrence of a print error based on the received print data;
An image forming apparatus comprising: error information generation means for generating error information including information about received apparatus information and information related to the detected print error when the detection means detects occurrence of a print error. Storage means for storing device information received by the receiving means;
Means for erasing device information corresponding to the print data from which the image data has been generated from the storage means after the generation means has generated the image data;
The error information generation unit is configured to generate error information including apparatus information stored in the storage unit and information related to the detected print error when the detection unit detects occurrence of a print error. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided. Data storage means for storing image data generated by the generation means;
3. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit is configured to read the image data stored in the data storage unit from the data storage unit and form an image based on the read image data. The image forming apparatus described.

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