JP2007125851A - Printing control device, imaging method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assign optimal processor elements to a printing data interpretation system and various image processings, in juxtaposing image processings in a printing device. <P>SOLUTION: This printing control device generates a printing image from printing data and outputs the printing image to an output device. The device comprises the following constituent components: a printing data interpretation means which generates intermediate data by interpreting the printing data; a region dividing means which plurally divides a printing region where the printing data are printed; at least one kind of partial data processing means which processes data to a partial region corresponding to a region divided by the region dividing means; a juxtapositional execution means which executes the juxtapositional operation of the partial data processing means to the partial region; a processing distribution means which distributes a process request for the partial region to the partial data processing means whose juxtapositional operation is executed by the juxtapositional execution means; and an alignment means which aligns the data processed juxtapositionally by the juxtapositional execution means in the order intended for by the printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing control apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium, which are techniques related to a printing apparatus having a plurality of processor elements.

  In recent years, the resolution of printing apparatuses has been increasing due to demands for higher quality printing results and higher image quality. With such high resolution, the amount of data to be processed by the printing apparatus has also increased dramatically.

  Measures against the increase in the amount of processing data include speeding up the CPU that performs processing and speeding up the available memory. Especially for speeding up the CPU, not only simply increasing the CPU drive frequency, but also using a plurality of CPUs, or even a single CPU using a CPU having a plurality of processor elements (PE) within the CPU. There are also printing apparatuses having a mechanism capable of executing a plurality of processes simultaneously.

  In a printing apparatus that can use a plurality of PEs, for example, when four processor elements PE0, PE1, PE2, and PE3 are available, job management and print data interpretation systems are arranged in PE0, and PE0 and PE1. A configuration in which an image generation system that performs rendering and the like, and an image processing system that performs color correction, color conversion, halftone processing, and the like are arranged in PE2 and PE3 can be considered.

  The interpretation system operating in PE0 interprets print data described in a predetermined PDL (Page Description Language) received via the network, and generates a data structure including a more primitive drawing command called a display list. .

  The image generation system arranged in PE0, PE1, PE2, and PE3 interprets the display list received from PE0 and generates a raster image composed of RGB pixels in accordance with a drawing command for drawing the area in charge. In this case, the processing of PE0, PE1, PE2, and PE3 can be performed in parallel by assigning the processing to different small regions (bands) in the page.

  The state of parallel processing will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that a three-page document is processed. First, a print data interpretation system that has received print data through a predetermined input means such as a network executes interpretation processing for the first page (FIG. 4-I1). In the process I1, a display list for the first page is generated. In this example, it is assumed that the print area of one page is divided into four bands for the sake of simplicity. However, in practice, the print area is often divided into several tens of bands in order to reduce memory consumption.

Since the image generation means are arranged in PE0 to PE3, 4-band processing can be performed simultaneously (FIGS. 4R1-1 to R1-4). The image generation means arranged in each PE performs processing of the band in charge based on the output display list generated by the print data interpretation means. When the image generation for all the bands on the first page is completed, the print data interpretation process for the second page is executed (I2). Thereafter, processing for three pages is similarly performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-287412

  When print data is divided into partial data and processed in parallel by a multiprocessor, it is difficult to increase the operating rate of all processors.

  When the parallel processing is advanced in the configuration as shown in FIG. 4, the processing of one page document can be performed at a very high speed. However, when printing a document of a plurality of pages, PE1 to PE3 are in a state of waiting for interpretation processing during print data interpretation processing of each page, and the processor cannot be effectively used. Such processing waiting time is called idle time.

  In order to achieve a high effect in parallel processing, it is necessary to reduce the idle time of PE as much as possible. In the above example, although the rasterizer is in an operable state, intermediate data necessary for the operation is not supplied.

  As described above, the present invention provides a print data interpretation system and a print control apparatus and an image forming method capable of assigning optimum processor elements to various image processes in parallelizing image processing and the like in the printing apparatus. In addition, an object is to provide a storage medium.

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

(1) In a print control device that generates a print image from print data and outputs the print image to an output device,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Print data interpretation end detection means for detecting the end of the print data interpretation means;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Image generation means for collecting and combining data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
A printing control apparatus comprising:

(2) An image forming method for generating a print image from print data and forming the print image,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Alignment means for aligning data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means in an order intended by the print data;
An image forming method comprising:

(3) A storage medium for generating a print image from print data and storing a program for generating the print image,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Alignment means for aligning data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means in an order intended by the print data;
A storage medium comprising:

  By adopting such a configuration, the processing can proceed as shown in FIG. In PE0, the interpretation process for the second page is started immediately after the interpretation process for the first page is completed. When the interpretation processing system is operating at PE0, the image generation system is operated only at PE1 to PE3. In a typical document, the time (I2) required for the interpretation processing is often shorter than the time required for image generation. Therefore, when the image generation processing and image conversion processing for the first page are all completed, Interpretation processing is often completed. For this reason, since the image generation process can immediately move to the process for the second page, the image generation process does not have a long idle time as shown in the conventional example, and the processing time is shortened as a whole. be able to.

  Further, in order to increase the processor operation rate, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image generation process and the image conversion process are executed in PE0 that has finished the interpretation process for the third page. With this configuration, it is possible to effectively use the calculation resources of all processors.

  In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to effectively utilize the CPU resources of all PEs by substituting processes performed by PEs such as rasterization processing and image processing after completion of interpretation processing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to assign an optimal processor element in parallel processing such as image processing in a printing apparatus, and high-speed print data processing can be performed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below based on examples.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an external apparatus 101 and a printing apparatus 102.

  Further, the printing apparatus 102 includes a controller unit 103 and an engine unit 104.

  The external device 101 is configured as a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS), and sends print data described in a page description language to the printing device 102.

  The controller unit 103 of the printing apparatus 102 is connected to the engine unit 104, receives print data described in a page description language (PDL) such as PDL (Page Description Language) sent from the external apparatus 101, and based on these data Image data composed of dot data of C, M, Y, and K colors is generated, and the dot data is sequentially transmitted to the engine unit 104.

  The engine unit 104 of the printing apparatus 102 superimposes four colors C, M, Y, and K on a sheet by actually forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum for each dot data of C, M, Y, and K, Printing is performed by heat fixing. The controller unit 103 and the engine unit 104 of the printing apparatus 102 are connected by a predetermined video interface.

  Next, the processing flow of the controller unit 103 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.

  The data is sent to the data interpretation means 201 via the input means 200.

  The print data interpretation unit 201 analyzes the print data sent from the input unit 200 and generates a display list that constitutes a band of a predetermined size. The print data to be input is not particularly limited, and may be any PDL according to the application of the printer. The generated display list of each band is configured not to depend on each other so that it can be processed by an arbitrary partial data processing unit described later. The print data interpretation unit 201 generates band data by adding the number of the page to which the approximate band belongs and the band number of the approximate band as header information to the generated display list. The print data interpretation unit 201 notifies the generated band data to the partial data processing distribution unit 202, and immediately starts the interpretation process for the next page when the next page process is necessary. If the processed page is the last page, the print data interpretation process end flag is set to true.

  The partial data processing distribution unit 202 determines a processor for processing the partial data according to the flow shown in FIG. The partial data processing distribution unit 202 (801) receives the distribution request from the print data interpretation unit 201 in step 802, and in 803, determines a processor for processing the corresponding partial data. Subsequently, in step 804, the partial data is transmitted to the partial data processing means operating in the processor determined in step 802.

  FIG. 9 shows in detail the flow of the processor determination means performed in step 803 of FIG. 8 described above. In step 902, the processor determination unit (901) receives a data transmission request from a partial data processing unit described later. It is assumed that the data transmission request describes the processor number that transmitted the request. In step 903, the processor determination unit returns the received processor number to the partial data processing distribution unit 202.

  The processing procedure of the partial data processing means will be described with reference to FIG.

  The partial data processing means 1 203, the partial data processing means 2 204, the partial data processing means 3 205, and the partial data processing means 4 206 are arranged in separate PEs to operate in parallel.

  In this embodiment, they are arranged in PE0, PE1, PE2, and PE3, respectively. These partial data processing procedures can be arranged in the same PE as the other means constituting the present invention unless the partial data processing procedures are arranged in the same PE.

  Each partial data processing means confirms which processor is activated (step 1001). If the activated processor is different from the print data interpretation unit 201, a data transfer request is transmitted to the processor determination unit 901 as it is (step 1002).

  If the activated processor is the same PE0 as the print data interpretation unit 201, the data transfer request is not transmitted until the print data interpretation unit 201 is finished, and a standby state is entered (step 1003). Whether or not the print data interpretation unit 201 has ended can be determined by referring to the print data interpretation process end flag described above.

  The partial data processing unit 1 203, the partial data processing unit 2 204, the partial data processing unit 3 205, and the partial data processing unit 4 206 receive the partial data from the partial data processing distribution unit 202 (step 1004).

  In step 1005, the partial data processing means performs predetermined image processing on the received partial data. The partial data processing means 1 203, the partial data processing means 2 204, the partial data processing means 3 205, and the partial data processing means 4 206 receive raster data from the display list in the band data notified from the partial data processing distribution means 202. Assume that the module performs color conversion and halftone processing according to the characteristics of the renderer and printer engine to be generated. As described above, by applying a plurality of different series of processes for the same band as the process performed by the partial data processing means, processing between bands or different processing of the same band depends on other partial data processing means. The need to do so can be eliminated. That is, since synchronization between processors in parallel band processing can be minimized, a high parallelization effect can be realized.

  The partial data processing unit 1 203, the partial data processing unit 2 204, the partial data processing unit 3 205, and the partial data processing unit 4 206 send the processing result to the image generation unit 207 every time one band is processed. Transmit (step 1006). Further, in order to receive the next band, a data transmission request is transmitted to the partial data processing distribution unit 202, and a reception waiting state is entered (returning to step 1001).

  The image generation unit 207 collects the received partial images and generates an image for one page.

  The output unit 208 transfers the image for one page generated by the image generation unit 207 to the printer engine in response to a print request from the printer engine.

  Next, the configuration of a plurality of processor elements for operating the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the high-speed memory of each processor element will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment of the present invention, the high-speed memory is realized by SRAM.

  Reference numerals 301, 302, 303, and 304 in FIG. 3 denote a processor element 1, a processor element 2, a processor element 3, and a processor element 4, respectively.

  Each of the processor elements 301, 302, 303, and 304 includes high-speed and small-capacity memories 305, 306, 307, and 308, respectively. Each processor element 301, 302, 303, 304 can read / write at high speed with respect to its own high-speed and small-capacity memory. Also, the high-speed and small-capacity memory possessed by other processor elements has a longer access latency for its own high-speed and small-capacity memory access, but can be accessed by using the high-speed memory bus 310.

  The memory 309 is a large-capacity memory that is longer than the self-other high-speed and small-capacity memory access latency, and can be used from each processor element 301, 302, 303, 304 using the memory bus 311. .

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the partial data processing unit 1203, the partial data processing unit 2 204, the partial data processing unit 3 205, and the partial data processing unit 4 206 are respectively included in the processor element 302, the processor element 303, and the processor element 304. The print data interpretation processing unit 201 is provided to operate in the processor element 301.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where image data for one page to be printed is divided into a plurality of band regions. Reference numeral 601 denotes an image of image data for one page, and is composed of five bands. In this embodiment, the number of bands is set to 5 for simplification, but it goes without saying that it is possible to configure with more bands without losing generality.

  The image data 601 for one page is indicated by a band 602 indicated by band 1, a band 603 indicated by band 2, a band 604 indicated by band 3, a band 605 indicated by band 4, and a band 5 by the image forming unit 602. The band 606 is divided into each band region and processed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the components of band data.

  One line in the band region indicated by 701 is a set of pixels 707.

  Reference numeral 708 denotes a component of the pixel 707.

  The pixel 707 stores an area 702 for storing R (red) color information, an area 703 for storing G (green) color information, an area 704 for storing B (blue) color, and pixel transparency information (A). Area 705 to be used. Each area has a capacity of 1 byte. In this embodiment, the lower 4 bits of the area 705 for storing A are used, and an object identifier 706 for specifying an image object represented by a pixel is used. The object identifier 706 indicates any of a vector object, a font object, and a raster object in order from the upper bit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in parallel processing such as image processing in a printing apparatus, it is possible to assign an optimum processor element for a print data interpretation system and various image processing, and high-speed print data processing can be performed. .

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the controller part 103 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a plurality of processor elements that operate a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a high-speed memory of each processor element. The figure which shows a mode that the color processing table has been arrange | positioned to the high-speed small-capacity memory 306,307,308. The figure showing the structure of the band information which the image formation part 202 produces | generates A figure showing how the image data for one page to be printed is divided into multiple band areas Diagram showing the components of band data The figure explaining determination of the processor which processes partial data The figure which shows the flow until it transmits band data and band information to the image processing part of each processor element. The figure which shows the processor element selection flow which performs image processing

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 External apparatus 102 Printing apparatus 103 Controller part 104 Engine part 200 Input means 201 Print data interpretation means 202 Partial data processing distribution means 203 Partial data processing means 1
204 Partial data processing means 2
205 Partial data processing means 3
206 Partial data processing means 4
207 Image generation means 208 Output means 301 Processor element 1
302 Processor element 2
303 Processor element 3
304 Processor element 4
305 High-speed memory 306 High-speed memory 307 High-speed memory 308 High-speed memory 309 Memory 310 High-speed memory bus 311 Memory bus 601 Page image 602 Band area 1
603 Band region 2
604 band region 3
605 band region 4
606 band region 5
701 1 line 702 R region 703 G region 704 B region 705 A region 706 Object identifier region 707 Pixel 708 Pixel configuration

Claims (9)

In a print control device that generates a print image from print data and outputs the print image to an output device,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Print data interpretation end detection means for detecting the end of the print data interpretation means;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Image generating means for collecting and combining data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
A printing control apparatus comprising:   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate data has a display list structure.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial data processing unit includes a rendering process.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial data processing unit includes a color correction process.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial data processing unit includes a color space conversion process.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial data processing unit includes a halftone process.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial data processing unit includes a compression process. An image forming method for generating a print image from print data and forming the print image,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Alignment means for aligning data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means in an order intended by the print data;
An image forming method comprising: A storage medium for generating a print image from print data and storing a program for generating the print image,
Print data interpretation means for interpreting print data and generating intermediate data;
Area dividing means for dividing the print area on which the print data is printed, into a plurality of areas;
At least one type of partial data processing means for performing data processing on a partial area corresponding to the area divided by the area dividing means;
Parallel execution means for executing partial data processing means for the partial area in parallel;
Processing distribution means for distributing processing requests for the partial area to the partial data processing means executed in parallel by the parallel execution means;
Alignment means for aligning data processed in parallel by the parallel execution means in an order intended by the print data;
A storage medium comprising: