JP2008290363A - Printing controller and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an incorrect operation and an degradation of performance, by detecting a discrepancy of configuration conditions between respective units or apparatuses, in such a case that a printing controller is configured of a plurality of units, or printing controllers are provided in an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: When a controller 11 is configured of four control units 14C-14K, the control unit 14C being a master unit acquires information on a hardware configuration and information on a software version regarding the other control units 14M, 14Y and 14K, at the time of start-up, and determines whether there is any discrepancy between the acquired pieces of configuration information. When there is a discrepancy between the pieces of configuration information of the four control units 14C-14K, the control unit 14C informs a user accordingly, and stops the system without starting a printing service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and an image forming system for controlling a printing operation of an image output apparatus.

  In some cases, a controller that controls the printing operation of the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of units. For example, a configuration may be used in which an independent unit is provided for each color of CMYK, and various processes such as color conversion are performed independently for each color. In addition, in an image forming system having a multi-layer configuration in which printing of the front and back surfaces of printing paper is performed simultaneously by a plurality of image output devices, a plurality of print control devices are provided.

  When such a configuration is used, it is desirable that each unit or device uses an equivalent hardware configuration and the same version of software. The reason is that if the configuration of a specific unit is different from that of other units, a malfunction may occur in the operation of the entire image forming system and a predetermined performance may not be exhibited. For example, when a necessary HDD is not connected to a unit that performs image processing of a specific color, only the processing of the specific color is extremely slow, and the print processing speed of the entire image forming system is deteriorated. There is a possibility. In addition, when the software version of a specific unit is different from the software version of another unit, the functions performed in the other unit are not executed or the processing performed in the other unit is executed in the specific unit. This is because problems such as failure to occur occur.

  However, when software update is performed via a network, there may be a case where a network interface of a specific unit is defective and software update is not performed only for that unit. Also, there is a case where the specified hardware is not installed in a unit, the expansion board that should be installed is not installed, or an expansion board that is different from the expansion boat that should be installed is installed incorrectly. possible.

  Various types of printing apparatuses having a self-diagnosis function have been proposed for the purpose of detecting erroneous hardware installation (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus that compares destination information in a flash ROM in an apparatus main body and ROM in an operation panel and displays an error when the destination information does not match.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a printing apparatus in which the state of the interface is checked when the power is turned on, and the power is turned off in the case of an error.

  However, the above two prior arts are only intended for diagnosing whether there is a defect in the hardware configuration of a single device or whether hardware that should not be originally installed is installed. And inconsistencies between units cannot be detected.

JP 2004-249632 A JP 2005-1111849 A

  The prior art described above has a problem that it is not possible to detect a configuration mismatch between a plurality of devices and units.

  It is an object of the present invention to detect inconsistencies in configuration conditions between units or apparatuses when the print control apparatus is composed of a plurality of units or a plurality of print control apparatuses are provided in an image forming system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control apparatus and an image forming system that can prevent unauthorized operations and performance degradation.

[Print control device]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing control apparatus of the present invention is a printing control apparatus composed of a plurality of units,
Acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of other units at startup;
And determining means for determining whether the configuration information of the other unit acquired by the acquiring means and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy a predetermined requirement.

  According to the present invention, whether or not there is a mismatch in the configuration of a plurality of control units constituting the print control apparatus is determined at the time of startup. For this reason, when the configuration conditions are different between the control units, inconsistencies in the configuration conditions can be detected before the start of printing, and it is possible to prevent unauthorized printing operations and performance degradation.

  Preferably, the printing control apparatus according to the present invention further includes notification means for notifying that when the determination means determines that any of the configuration information of each unit does not satisfy a predetermined requirement.

  Preferably, the configuration information is information related to a hardware configuration of each unit and software version information.

[Image forming system]
The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system having a print control device composed of a plurality of units,
Printing having acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of another unit, and determination means for determining whether the configuration information of the other unit acquired by the acquisition means and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy a predetermined requirement A control device;
And an image output device whose printing operation is controlled by the print control device.

The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system including a plurality of image output devices and a plurality of print control devices for controlling the plurality of image output devices, respectively.
Any one of the plurality of printing control devices is
Acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of another print control apparatus;
Determining means for determining whether the configuration information of the other printing control apparatus acquired by the acquiring means and the configuration information of the own apparatus satisfy a predetermined requirement.

  According to the present invention, whether or not there is a mismatch in the configuration of the plurality of print control apparatuses that constitute the image forming system is determined at the time of startup. For this reason, when the configuration conditions are different between the print control apparatuses, inconsistencies in the configuration conditions can be detected before printing is started, and it is possible to prevent an illegal printing operation or performance degradation.

Preferably, the print control device is configured by a plurality of units,
The acquisition means acquires configuration information of other units at the time of startup,
The determination unit determines whether the configuration information of the other unit acquired by the acquisition unit and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy a predetermined requirement.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the print control apparatus is configured by a plurality of units, or when a plurality of print control apparatuses are provided in the image forming system, the configuration between the units or apparatuses. By detecting the mismatching of conditions, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unauthorized operation and performance degradation.

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

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system of the present embodiment includes a printer 10 that is an image forming apparatus and a host device 20.

  The host device 20 generates print data such as a print job and transmits it to the printer 10. The printer 10 receives the print data transmitted from the host device 20 and outputs an image corresponding to the print data on the printing paper.

  The printer 10 includes a controller unit 11, a printing mechanism unit 12, and a UI (user interface) device 13 having a touch panel and a liquid crystal display. The controller unit 11 includes control units 14C to 14K corresponding to CMYK colors.

  The controller unit 11 functions as a print control device for controlling the printing operation of the printing mechanism unit 12 that is an image output device.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of each of the control units 14C to 14K of the controller unit 11 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, only the control units 14C and 14K are shown for ease of explanation, but the control units 14M and 14Y also have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 14 </ b> C includes a communication IF (interface) 31, a hard disk drive (HDD) 32, a RAM 33, a CPU 34, and an expansion board 35. The control unit 14K includes a communication IF 41, a hard disk drive (HDD) 42, a RAM 43, a CPU 44, and an expansion board 45.

  The communication IF 31 transmits and receives data to and from the other control units 14M to 14K, the host device 20, and the printing mechanism unit 12 via a network.

  The CPU 34 controls the operation of the control unit 14 </ b> C by executing a predetermined process based on the print control program stored in the RAM 33 or the HDD 32.

  The expansion board 35 is equipped with firmware incorporating software for realizing a specific function, and has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the control unit 14C.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 14C realized by executing the above print control program. In the present embodiment, description will be given using the case where the control unit 14C functions as a parent unit among the four control units 14C to 14K. However, which control unit of the four control units 14C to 14K serves as the parent unit. Even when functional, the present invention is equally applicable.

  Note that the parent unit refers to a control unit that acquires configuration information of other control units and determines whether there is a configuration mismatch between the plurality of control units.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 14 </ b> C in the present embodiment includes a communication IF 31, a configuration information acquisition unit 51, a configuration information storage unit 52, a determination unit 53, and a notification unit 54. The control units 14M to 14K that are not the parent unit are not provided with the configuration information acquisition unit 51, the determination unit 53, and the notification unit 54, and the configuration information of the own unit is obtained by a request from the control unit 14C that is the parent unit. It has a function to transmit.

  The configuration information acquisition unit 51 acquires configuration information of the other control units 14M, 14Y, and 14K via the communication IF 31 at the time of activation. In the present embodiment, a case where information regarding the hardware configuration of each control unit and software version information are used as the configuration information of the control unit will be described. The information regarding the hardware configuration of each control unit is specifically information such as RAM capacity, HDD capacity, number of connected units, number of CPUs, operation speed, clock frequency, and the like.

  The configuration information storage unit 52 stores configuration information of the own unit, that is, the control unit 14C.

  The determination unit 53 determines whether the configuration information of the other control units 14M, 14Y, and 14K acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 41 and the configuration information of the own unit stored in the configuration information storage unit 52 satisfy predetermined requirements. Determine whether.

  Here, the criterion for determining whether or not the configuration information satisfies a predetermined requirement is that the version information matches when comparing software version information. In addition, when comparing information regarding hardware configurations, whether or not each control unit satisfies the minimum memory capacity, HDD capacity, CPU operating speed, etc., necessary for normal operation. .

  When the determination unit 53 determines that any of the configuration information of each control unit including its own unit does not satisfy the predetermined requirement, the notification unit 54 notifies the user to that effect.

Next, the operation of the image forming system of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller unit 11 in the image forming system of the present embodiment.

  When the control units 14C to 14K of the controller unit 11 are activated and initialized due to the power of the printer 10 being turned on (step S101), the configuration information acquisition unit 51 of the control unit 14C that is the parent unit is The hardware (HW) information in the other control units 14M to 14K is acquired (step S102).

  Then, the determination unit 53 of the control unit 14C determines that the hardware information of the own unit stored in the configuration information storage unit 52 and the hardware information of other control units acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 51 are predetermined. It is determined whether or not the condition is met (step S103).

  In step S103, when the determination unit 53 determines that the hardware information of one of the control units does not meet the predetermined condition, the notification unit 54 notifies the error code and stops the system operation of the image forming system. (Step S107).

  In step 103, when it is determined that the hardware information of all the control units 14C to 14K satisfies the predetermined condition, the configuration information acquisition unit 51 of the control unit 14C that is the parent unit receives the other control units 14M to 14M. 14K software version information is acquired (step S104).

  Then, the determination unit 53 of the control unit 14C includes the version information of the software of the own unit stored in the configuration information storage unit 52 and the version information of the software of other control units acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 51. It is determined whether or not all match (step S105).

  In step S105, when the determination unit 53 determines that the software version information of any control unit is different from the other control units, the notification unit 54 notifies the error code, and the system operation of the image forming system is stopped. (Step S107).

  If it is determined in step 105 that the software version information of all the control units 14C to 14K match, the print service of the image forming system is activated to enable printing (step S106).

  By executing the processing as described above, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, it is determined at the time of activation whether the configurations of the four control units 14C to 14K constituting the controller unit 11 are inconsistent. . For this reason, even if there is a mismatch where the conditions regarding the hardware, the version of software, and the like differ between the control units, this mismatch can be detected. If there is a mismatch between the control units, the printing operation is not performed to prevent the printing operation from being performed while there is a mismatch between the configurations of the control units. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of operation and performance degradation.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The image forming system of the present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a multi-layer configuration in which printing of the front and back surfaces of continuous paper is simultaneously performed by two continuous paper printers.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming system according to the present embodiment includes a redundant controller 60, a host device 61, controller units 71 and 72, and continuous paper printers 91 and 92.

  The controller unit 71 is configured by four control units 80C to 80K corresponding to CMYK four colors. Also in the present embodiment, the control unit 80C is described as functioning as a parent unit, as in the image forming system of the first embodiment described above.

  In the description, it is assumed that the controller unit 71 that controls the upstream continuous paper printer 91 among the controller units 71 and 72 functions as a parent device. Note that the configuration of the controller unit 72 is the same as the configuration of the controller unit 71, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, the operation of the image forming system of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller unit 71 in the image forming system of this embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same steps as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, steps S201 to S203 are added to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

  First, when the image forming system is activated, it is confirmed in the controller units 71 and 72 that there is no inconsistency in configuration conditions between the control units (steps S101 to S105). Since the processing up to this point is the same as the processing in the image forming system of the first embodiment described above, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  If it is determined in steps S101 to S105 that there is no inconsistency in the configuration between the control units in the controller units 71 and 72, it is determined whether or not the image forming system has a redundant configuration (step S201). In the case of a double-connected configuration, the control unit 71, which is a parent device, requests configuration information from the controller unit 72 (step S202). The transmission / reception of the configuration information between the controller units 71 and 72 is performed between the parent units in the controller units 71 and 72.

  Then, in the control unit 80C of the controller unit 71 which is the parent device, the configuration information of the controller unit 71 and the configuration information of the controller unit 72 are compared (step S203). If it does not match, an error code notification and a system operation stop process are performed (step S107).

  Also in the present embodiment, the information regarding the hardware configuration of each control unit and the software version information are used as the configuration information transmitted and received between the controller units 71 and 72.

  According to the image forming system of the present embodiment, not only the presence / absence of mismatch between the control units in the controller units 71 and 72 but also the presence / absence of mismatch of the configuration between the controller units 71 and 72 can be determined. it can. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as a difference in printing conditions between the back surface and the front surface before printing starts when printing continuous paper.

  In the present embodiment, the controller units 71 and 72 are described as being configured by a plurality of control units, but the present invention can be applied even when the controller units 71 and 72 are not configured as such. It is. In the case of such a configuration, the controller units 71 and 72 do not determine whether there is a mismatch between the control units, but determines whether there is a configuration mismatch between the controller units 71 and 72.

[Modification]
In the first and second embodiments, the case where the print control apparatus is configured by four control units corresponding to four colors has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, The present invention can be applied as long as the print control apparatus includes at least two or more control units.

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of each control unit 14C to 14K of the controller unit 11 in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of 14 C of control units in the image forming system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a controller unit 11 in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the image forming system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a controller unit 71 in an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Controller part 12 Printing mechanism part 13 User interface (UI) apparatus 14C-14K Control unit 20 Host apparatus 31 Communication interface (IF)
32 HDD
33 RAM
34 CPU
35 Expansion board 41 Communication interface (IF)
42 HDD
43 RAM
44 CPU
45 Expansion board 51 Configuration information acquisition unit 52 Configuration information storage unit 53 Determination unit 54 Notification unit 60 Duplex controller 61 Host device 71, 72 Controller unit 80C-80K Control unit 91, 92 Continuous paper printer S101-S107 Step S201-S203 Step

Claims (6)

A printing control apparatus composed of a plurality of units,
Acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of other units at startup;
Determination means for determining whether the configuration information of the other unit acquired by the acquisition means and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy a predetermined requirement;
A printing control apparatus.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies that when any of the configuration information of each unit does not satisfy a predetermined requirement by the determining unit.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information is information relating to a hardware configuration of each unit and software version information. An image forming system having a print control device composed of a plurality of units,
Printing having acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of another unit, and determination means for determining whether the configuration information of the other unit acquired by the acquisition means and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy a predetermined requirement A control device;
An image output device whose printing operation is controlled by the print control device;
An image forming system. An image forming system including a plurality of image output devices and a plurality of print control devices for controlling the plurality of image output devices,
Any one of the plurality of printing control devices is
Acquisition means for acquiring configuration information of another print control apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the configuration information of the other print control apparatus acquired by the acquisition unit and the configuration information of the self apparatus satisfy a predetermined requirement. The print control device is composed of a plurality of units,
The acquisition means acquires configuration information of other units at the time of startup,
The determination unit is an image forming system that determines whether the configuration information of another unit acquired by the acquisition unit and the configuration information of the own unit satisfy predetermined requirements.

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