JP2009122928A - Print job execution device, method used in the same, and computer program executed by the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which allows repeated printing without elongating first print time and can increase a free space in a storage device for storage of a print job. <P>SOLUTION: In an imaging device 4 as a print job execution device, print data described in a page-description language are stored as a print job (A) in a hard disk 24 of a printer controller 2, and the print data are expanded in a bitmapped image data and stored as the print job (A) in a hard disk 34 of a printer 3. In the imaging device 4, pages other than a few prescribed pages from a first page in the order of printout, out of bitmapped image data stored in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3, are deleted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print job execution apparatus, a method used in the print job execution apparatus, and a computer program executed in the print job execution apparatus.

  A printing system in which a client computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) and an image forming apparatus such as a multi-function peripheral (MFP) are connected via a network is known.

  In such a printing system, the PC is used as a print instruction apparatus that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus is used as a print job execution apparatus that executes a received print job. Then, the image forming apparatus receives print data as a print job described in a page description language (PDL) and develops the print data into bitmap image data which is image data in a bitmap format ( A printer controller that performs conversion, and a printer that performs printing based on bitmap image data.

  Here, there is a technique in which a printer controller of an image forming apparatus stores a received print job in a storage device such as a hard disk for reprinting. In this case, since it takes time to develop the print data described in PDL into bitmap image data, the time until the first page is printed from the print instruction, that is, the first print time is shortened. It is desirable to store the print job in the form of bitmap image data. However, generally, the amount of bitmap image data is considerably larger than that of print data described in PDL. Therefore, if a print job is stored in the form of bitmap image data, the total amount of accumulated data is likely to increase. There is a risk that it may be difficult to ensure the free capacity of the storage device.

On the other hand, as a print job storage format, a print control apparatus that automatically selects an appropriate storage format from a data format before development into bitmap image data or a data format after development has been proposed (the following patents). Reference 1). However, this print control apparatus takes into account that if the time required for development is longer than a predetermined value, such as a print job containing a large number of color images, the time delay from the print instruction to the execution of printing increases. The data format after expansion is selected. That is, since a print job including a large amount of data such as a color image is stored in the bitmap image data format, it is difficult to secure a free space in the storage device with the technique described in Patent Document 1. It must be said that it is difficult to solve. In addition, when the capacity of the storage device for storing the print job has become tight, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has no choice but to delete the already stored print job in order to secure the free space of the storage device. There is also a possibility that the reprinting of the printed job may be hindered.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-11233

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can be reprinted without increasing the first print time, and can increase the free capacity of a storage device for storing a print job. An object of the present invention is to provide a print job execution device that can be used, a method used in the print job execution device, and a computer program executed in the print job execution device.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  (1) A print job execution apparatus for executing a print job, the first storage means for saving print data described in a page description language as a print job, and the expansion means for expanding the print data into bitmap image data A second storage unit that stores the bitmap image data expanded by the expansion unit as a print job, and a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order of the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit And a deletion unit that deletes other pages and deletes other pages.

  (2) a reprint instruction unit that receives an instruction to reprint an image based on the print job, and the reprint instruction unit that receives the reprint instruction by the reprint instruction unit, 2 obtained by outputting the bitmap image data stored in the storage means for printing and then expanding the print data stored in the first storage means of the page deleted with respect to the bitmap image data. The print job execution apparatus according to (1), further comprising output means for outputting bitmap image data for printing.

  (3) The deletion unit deletes at least one arbitrary page of the print data stored in the first storage unit corresponding to the bitmap image data among the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit. The print job as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein within the time required to finish developing the bitmap image data, the remaining pages are deleted while leaving the number of printable pages. Execution device.

  (4) The printing according to (1) or (2), wherein the deleting unit deletes the second half page in the print output order from the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit. Job execution device.

  (5) The print job according to (1) or (2), wherein the deletion unit deletes a page designated by the user from the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit. Execution device.

  (6) The deletion unit leaves a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order in the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit at a predetermined deletion time, leaving other pages. The print job execution apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the print job execution apparatus is deleted.

  (7) The print job execution apparatus according to (6), wherein the deletion time includes a time when execution of one print job is completed.

  (8) The print job execution apparatus according to (6) or (7), wherein the deletion time includes a time when the free capacity of the second storage unit becomes a predetermined limit value or less.

  (9) The print job execution apparatus according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein the deletion time includes a time when a deletion instruction is issued by a user.

  (10) The deleting unit may leave a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order of the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit for a preset print job to be deleted. The print job execution apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the page is deleted.

  (11) The first storage unit is provided in a printer controller having the developing unit, and the second storage unit is provided in a printer that prints an image based on the bitmap image data. The print job execution apparatus according to any one of (1) to (10).

  (12) A method used in a print job execution apparatus for executing a print job, the step (a) of storing print data described in a page description language as a print job, and the print data as bitmap image data A step (b) for expanding the bitmap image data, a step (c) for saving the bitmap image data developed in the step (b) as a print job, and a predetermined number from the top in the print output order of the saved bitmap image data. And (d) deleting other pages while leaving pages for the number of pages.

  (13) A computer program executed by a print job execution device that executes a print job, the procedure (a) for instructing to save print data described in a page description language as a print job, and the print data A procedure (b) for developing the bitmap image data, a procedure (c) for instructing to save the bitmap image data developed in the procedure (b) as a print job, and the stored bitmap image data A computer program that causes the print job execution apparatus to execute a procedure (d) of deleting other pages while leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order.

  (14) A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to (13) is recorded.

  According to the present invention, when there is a reprint instruction, the bitmap image data stored for the print job instructed to be reprinted is output for printing and then deleted with respect to the bitmap image data. Bitmap image data obtained by expanding the print data stored on the page can be output for printing.

  Thus, at the time of reprinting, printing can be started immediately using bitmap image data already stored for a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order, and printing for a predetermined number of pages from the top can be performed. Printing can be continued using the bitmap image data obtained by expanding the print data of the subsequent pages while the printing is being performed.

  In this way, reprinting is possible without increasing the first print time, and the free capacity of the storage device for storing the print job can be increased. Also, since the free capacity of the storage device can be increased, more print jobs can be stored. Further, since the compression of the bitmap image data is not employed in order to increase the free capacity of the storage device, the image quality does not deteriorate.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment includes a PC 1 as a print instruction apparatus that transmits a print job, and an image forming apparatus 4 as a print job execution apparatus that receives and executes the print job. Is communicably connected. Note that the PC 1 and the image forming apparatus 4 may be directly connected (locally connected) between devices without going through the network 5.

  The image forming apparatus 4 receives print data as a print job described in PDL, which are locally connected to each other, and develops (converts) the print data into bitmap image data which is bitmap format image data. It comprises a controller 2 and a printer 3 that performs printing based on bitmap image data transferred from the printer controller 2. Various local connection interfaces such as a serial interface such as USB and IEEE1394, a parallel interface such as SCSI and IEEE1284, and a wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE802.11, HomeRF, and IrDA are used for this local connection. However, the printer controller 2 and the printer 3 may be connected via the network 5.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 shown in FIG.

  The PC 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, a display 15, an input device 16 and a network interface 17, which are connected to each other via a bus 18 for exchanging signals.

  The CPU 11 performs control of each part and various arithmetic processes according to the program. The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs and data as a work area. The hard disk 14 stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

  The hard disk 14 is installed with a document creation application for creating a document file and a printer driver for specifying a print instruction / printing method for the created document file. The printer driver creates a print job by converting the document file into print data described in a page description language (PDL) that can be interpreted by the printer controller 2. The hard disk 14 is installed with a PDF direct printing application for directly printing a PDF (Portable Document Format) document file (PDF data) to the image forming apparatus 4 for printing. In this specification, PDF data is also handled as one of print data described in a page description language.

  The display 15 is an LCD, a CRT display, or the like, and is used for displaying various types of information. The input device 16 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used for inputting various information.

  The network interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices via the network 5, and standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), token ring, and FDDI are used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer controller 2 of the image forming apparatus 4 shown in FIG.

  The printer controller 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a hard disk 24, a printer interface 25, and a network interface 26, which are connected to each other via a bus 27 for exchanging signals. Note that, among the above-described units of the printer controller 2, descriptions of portions having the same functions as those of the above-described units of the PC 1 are omitted to avoid duplication of description.

  The ROM 22 stores a program for processing (hereinafter also referred to as “RIP”) for generating bitmap image data by translating print data received from the PC 1.

  The printer interface 25 is an interface for communicating with the locally connected printer 3.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 3 of the image forming apparatus 4 shown in FIG. The printer 3 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a hard disk 34, an operation panel unit 35, a printing unit 36, and a controller interface 37, which are connected to each other via a bus 38 for exchanging signals. . Of the parts of the printer 3, those parts having the same functions as those of the parts of the PC 1 are not described in order to avoid duplication.

  The ROM 32 stores a program for printing processing performed based on the bitmap image data received from the printer controller 2.

  The operation panel unit 35 includes a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a start button, a stop button, and the like, and is used for displaying various information and inputting various instructions.

  The printing unit 36 prints an image based on the image data received from the printer controller 2 on a recording medium such as paper using a known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process.

  The controller interface 37 is an interface for communicating with the locally connected printer controller 2.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the printing unit 36.

  The printing unit 36 includes a paper feed unit 50 that supplies a recording medium such as paper, an image forming unit 40 that forms an image on the recording medium, and a paper discharge unit 60 that discharges the paper. The printing unit 36 includes a reversing mechanism unit 70 for reversing the front and back of the paper.

  The image forming unit 40 of the printing unit 36 includes a photosensitive drum 41 that rotates in the direction of an arrow, a charging device 42, an exposure device 43, a developing device 44, an intermediate transfer belt 45, a cleaning device 46, and a fixing device 47. . After the surface of the photoconductive drum 41 is uniformly charged by the charging device 42, an electrostatic latent image is created on the surface of the photoconductive drum 41 by irradiating a laser from the exposure device 43. As the electrostatic latent image rotates, the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 41 and the electrostatic latent image becomes visible. The developing device 44 includes developing rollers 48 for each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and the visualized toner images of each color are transferred to a transfer unit 49. Are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 45 and superimposed, and the superimposed color image is transferred onto the sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 50. The toner image on the paper is fixed by the fixing device 47 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 60.

  The paper feed unit 50 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 51 to 54. The paper feed tray 54 is a manual paper feed tray. On the other hand, the paper discharge unit 60 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays 61 to 64. The paper discharge unit 60 may include a post-processing unit that performs finishing processing such as punching and stapling on the conveyed paper.

  Note that the PC 1, the printer controller 2, and the printer 3 may include components other than the above-described components, or some of the above-described components may not be included.

  Next, the operation of the printing system of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing when a print job is transmitted from the PC 1 to the image forming apparatus 4 in the printing system of the present embodiment.

  First, when the printer driver is activated in order to execute printing based on a predetermined document file in the PC 1, the PC 1 displays a print setting screen (not shown) for performing settings relating to printing on the display 15 and provides it to the user. To do. Subsequently, the PC 1 accepts a print instruction from the user after accepting designation of the print method on the print setting screen based on the user's operation. Upon receiving the print instruction, the PC 1 converts the document file into print data described in PDL and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 4 (S1). The PC 1 can also directly transmit PDF data to the image forming apparatus 4. The printer controller 2 of the image forming apparatus 4 saves the print data received from the PC 1 in the hard disk 24 and develops it into bitmap image data (S2). Subsequently, the printer controller 2 transfers the bitmap image data to the printer 3 of the image forming apparatus 4 (S3). The printer 3 stores the received bitmap image data in the hard disk 34 (S4), and prints an image based on the bitmap image data on the designated paper (S5).

  In this way, print data described in PDL is stored as print job A on the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2, and bitmap image data is stored as print job A on the hard disk 34 of the printer 3. By storing the print job A in such a form, printing can be started immediately using the bitmap image data stored in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3 at the time of reprinting. In addition, when there is a change in settings relating to printing that requires RIP again, such as color conversion, the print data stored in the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2 can be RIPed again and reprinted.

  In this embodiment, as described below, it is effective to delete a part of bitmap image data whose data amount is generally larger than that of print data described in PDL without affecting the first print time. A method for increasing the free space of the hard disk 34 is provided.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a hard disk free space securing request issuing process in the printer 3. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is stored as a program in a storage device such as the hard disk 34 of the printer 3, and is executed on the RAM 33 by the CPU 31 (the same applies to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 14).

  Here, when a predetermined page of bitmap image data is deleted, when execution of one print job is finished (when the job is finished), when the free space of the hard disk 34 becomes less than a predetermined limit value (when the hard disk capacity is tight) ) And when there is a deletion instruction by the user (at the time of the user's deletion instruction), a case will be described in which one is preset based on the user's operation. However, at least one of these three periods may be set in advance based on the user's operation. Alternatively, a hard disk free space securing request may be issued if one of these three periods is met.

  First, it is determined whether or not the job end time is set as the deletion time (S101). If it is determined that the job end time is set as the deletion time (S101: YES), it is determined whether the current time is the job end time (S102). If it is determined that the current time is the end of the job (S102: YES), a hard disk free space securing request is issued (S103). If it is determined that the current time is not the end of the job (S102: NO), the processing in FIG. 7 ends. However, the process of FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that the job end time is not set as the deletion time (S101: NO), it is determined whether or not hard disk capacity shortage is set as the deletion time (S104). When it is determined that the hard disk capacity is tight as the deletion time (S104: YES), the free capacity of the hard disk 34 is checked (S105), and whether the free capacity of the hard disk 34 is equal to or less than a predetermined limit value. Is determined (S106). As the predetermined limit value, for example, a predetermined number of bytes is used. When it is determined that the free space of the hard disk 34 is equal to or less than the predetermined limit value (S106: YES), a hard disk free space securing request is issued (S103). When it is determined that the free space of the hard disk 34 is not less than the predetermined limit value (S106: NO), the processing in FIG. 7 ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that the hard disk capacity shortage is not set as the deletion time (S104: NO), it is determined here that the user's deletion instruction time is set as the deletion time. It is determined whether or not there is a deletion instruction (S107). If it is determined that there is an instruction for deletion by the user (S107: YES), a hard disk free space securing request is issued (S103). When it is determined that there is no deletion instruction from the user at present (S107: NO), the processing in FIG. 7 ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, the hard disk free space securing process in the printer 3 will be described.

  First, it is determined whether a hard disk free space securing request has been issued (S103) (S201). If it is determined that there is no hard disk space requirement request (S103) (S201: NO), the processing in FIG. 8 ends. However, the process of FIG. 8 is repeatedly executed.

  When it is determined that a request for securing free hard disk space (S103) has been issued (S201: YES), a print job to be deleted is selected (S202). Here, for example, one or a plurality of print jobs are selected as deletion targets in order of the reception date and time. However, one or a plurality of print jobs may be selected as a deletion target in descending order of the data amount, or one or a plurality of print jobs may be selected as a deletion target in the order of low use frequency such as reprinting. . Furthermore, one or a plurality of print jobs may be selected for deletion based on the user's designation.

  Subsequently, a process for determining a page to be deleted (deleted page) in the print job to be deleted is performed (S203). That is, it is determined that, among the bitmap image data stored in the hard disk 34, other pages are deleted while leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order.

  Specifically, at least one arbitrary page of the print data stored in the hard disk 24 corresponding to the bitmap image data among the bitmap image data stored in the hard disk 34 has been expanded into the bitmap image data. It is determined that other pages are deleted while leaving the number of printable pages within the time required for. For example, the expansion time of the print data received from the PC 1 is stored for each page, and the expansion time of the page that took the longest is stored. Then, it is determined that other pages are deleted while leaving as many pages as the number of printable pages during the development time of the longest page from the top in the print output order.

  However, the deletion page determination process can be executed more simply. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the latter half of the bitmap image data may be determined as the deletion page.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the case of a print job in which a booklet layout print setting is performed, pages near the top and pages near the rear end are printed first, and pages near the center are printed later. Therefore, the page near the center is determined as the deletion page.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 11, in the case of a combined job in which a plurality of print jobs a and b are combined, the deletion page is determined in consideration of the total number of pages after combining, and therefore, the print that is normally combined backward. Job b includes a deletion page. However, for example, when the second half of the page is determined to be a deleted page, the deleted page may be included in the print job b that is combined forward depending on the number of pages of the combined print job. Alternatively, it may be determined to simply delete the pages included in the second and subsequent print jobs while leaving the pages included in the first print job of the combined jobs.

  When the deletion page is determined, the deletion page determined in step S203 is deleted from the bitmap image data of the print job selected in step S202 (S204).

  Subsequently, deleted page information, which is information related to the deleted page, is transmitted to the printer controller 2 (S205). Here, the deleted page information includes the name of the print job from which the page has been deleted (job name) and the number of the deleted page.

  Next, the deletion page information reception process in the printer controller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is stored as a program in a storage device such as the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2, and is executed on the RAM 23 by the CPU 21 (the same applies to the flowchart of FIG. 15).

  First, the printer controller 2 determines whether deleted page information has been received from the printer 3 (S301). If it is determined that the deleted page information has not been received from the printer 3 (S301: NO), the processing in FIG. 12 ends. However, the process of FIG. 12 is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the deleted page information has been received from the printer 3 (S301: YES), the printer controller 2 associates the received deleted page information with the print job corresponding to the job name included in the deleted page information. The data is stored in the hard disk 24 (S302, see FIG. 13).

  Next, an outline of an image reprinting process based on a stored print job in the printing system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when receiving an instruction to reprint an image based on a stored print job (S11), the printer 3 determines whether or not there is a deleted page in the bitmap image data for the print job instructed to reprint. Judgment is made (S12). If there is a deletion page in the bitmap image data for the print job instructed to be reprinted, the printer 3 requests the RIP of the deletion page from the printer controller 2 (S13). Here, the printer controller 2 performs RIP of the print data of the page corresponding to the deleted page (S14). On the other hand, the printer 3 outputs the bitmap image data for the print job for which reprinting has been instructed for printing (S15), and then RIPs the print data of the page corresponding to the deleted page. Image data is received from the printer controller 2 (S16) and output for printing (S17).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an image reprint process based on a stored print job in the printer 3. Here, a case will be described in which there is no change in print settings that require RIP again, such as color conversion. If there is a change in print settings that requires RIP again, the print data stored in the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2 is RIPed again and reprinting is performed.

  First, the printer 3 determines whether an instruction to reprint an image based on a stored print job has been received (S401). Here, the reprint instruction is accepted based on a user operation through the operation panel unit 35. If it is determined that a reprint instruction has not been accepted (S401: NO), the processing in FIG. 14 ends. However, the process of FIG. 14 is repeatedly executed.

  If it is determined that a reprint instruction has been accepted (S401: YES), it is determined whether there is a deleted page in the bitmap image data for the print job for which reprint instruction has been issued (S402). If it is determined that the deleted page does not exist (S402: NO), the process proceeds to step S404. In this embodiment, since a part of the bitmap image data is deleted only for a preset print job to be deleted, a print job having no deleted page is immediately required without requiring RIP. Printing is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S402 that a deleted page exists (S402: YES), a RIP request for the deleted page is transmitted to the printer controller 2 (S403). The RIP request for this deletion page includes the name (job name) of the print job instructed to reprint.

  In step S404, printing of bitmap image data for the print job instructed to reprint is started (see S15 in FIG. 13). For example, in the case of the print job A shown in FIG. 13, the total number of pages is 10, and the latter five pages are deleted. In this case, first, bitmap image data of 1 to 5 pages stored in the hard disk 34 is output to the printing unit 36 one by one in order. Then, the printing unit 36 prints an image based on the bitmap image data on a sheet.

  In step S405, it is determined again whether there is a deleted page in the bitmap image data for the print job instructed to be reprinted. If it is determined that the deleted page does not exist (S404: NO), the process proceeds to step S409.

  If it is determined in step S405 that a deleted page exists (S405: YES), it is determined whether the printing order for the deleted page has come (S406). That is, the processing is advanced page by page. If it is determined that the print order for the deleted page has not come (S406: NO), the process returns to step S404.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing order for the deleted page has come (S406: YES), it is determined whether the bitmap image data of the deleted page has been received from the printer controller 2 (S407). That is, it is determined whether a response to the RIP request for the deleted page transmitted in step S403 has been received. If the bitmap image data of the deleted page has not been received from the printer controller 2 (S407: NO), the process waits until it is received.

  When the bitmap image data of the deleted page is received from the printer controller 2 (S407: YES), the printing output of the bitmap image data of the deleted page is started (S408). For example, in the case of print job A shown in FIG. 13, received bitmap image data of 6 to 10 pages is output to the printing unit 36 one by one in order. Then, the printing unit 36 prints an image based on the bitmap image data on a sheet.

  In step S409, it is determined whether printing of all pages of the print job instructed to reprint is completed. If printing of all pages has not been completed yet (S409: NO), the process returns to step S404. If it is determined that printing of all pages has been completed (S409: YES), the processing in FIG. 14 ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 15, a process for receiving a RIP request for a deletion page in the printer controller 2 will be described.

  First, the printer controller 2 determines whether or not a delete page RIP request (see S403) has been received from the printer 3 (S501). If it is determined that the RIP request for the deletion page has not been received (S501: NO), the processing in FIG. 15 ends. However, the process of FIG. 15 is repeatedly executed.

  If it is determined that a delete page RIP request has been received (S501: YES), the delete page number is determined from the delete page information stored in association with the print job corresponding to the job name included in the delete page RIP request. Are extracted (S502).

  Subsequently, the print data of the page corresponding to the extracted deletion page number is RIPed and developed into bitmap image data (S503).

  Then, the bitmap image data of the deleted page is transmitted to the printer 3 that is the RIP request source (S504).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 4 as a print job execution apparatus stores print data described in a page description language as a print job in the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2 and bitmaps the print data. The image data is expanded and stored as a print job in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3. Then, the image forming apparatus 4 deletes other pages from the bitmap image data stored in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3 while leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order.

  Therefore, when there is a reprint instruction, the image forming apparatus 4 outputs the bitmap image data stored in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3 for the print job instructed to reprint, Bitmap image data obtained by expanding the print data stored in the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2 of the page deleted with respect to the bitmap image data can be output for printing.

  Thus, at the time of reprinting, printing can be started immediately using bitmap image data already stored for a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order, and printing for a predetermined number of pages from the top can be performed. Printing can be continued using the bitmap image data obtained by expanding the print data of the subsequent pages while the printing is being performed.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, reprinting is possible without increasing the first print time, and the free capacity of the storage device for storing the print job can be increased. Also, since the free capacity of the storage device can be increased, more print jobs can be stored. Further, since the compression of the bitmap image data is not employed in order to increase the free capacity of the storage device, the image quality does not deteriorate.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, print data described in PDL is stored in the hard disk 24 of the printer controller 2, and bitmap image data is stored in the hard disk 34 of the printer 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. In the present invention, for example, both print data and bitmap image data may be stored in one storage device in the printer controller 2 or the printer 3.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 4 is divided into the printer controller 2 and the printer 3 and is locally connected to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the printer controller 2 may be included in the printer 3. For example, the image forming apparatus 4 may be configured as one MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral).

  The means and method for performing various processes in the printing system of the present embodiment can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. The program may be provided as a single application software, or may be incorporated into the software of the device as one function of the device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer controller of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing when a print job is transmitted from a PC to an image forming apparatus in the printing system of the present embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for issuing a hard disk free space securing request in a printer. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a hard disk free space securing process in a printer. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a deletion page. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a deletion page in the case of a print job in which a booklet layout print setting is performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a deletion page in the case of a combined job. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of received page information reception processing in the printer controller. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an image reprinting process based on a stored print job in the printing system according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image reprint processing based on a stored print job in a printer. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for receiving a deleted page RIP request in the printer controller.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC,
2 Printer controller,
3 Printer,
4 image forming apparatus,
5 network,
11, 21, 31 CPU,
12, 22, 32 ROM,
13, 23, 33 RAM,
14, 24, 34 hard disk,
15 display,
16 input devices,
17, 26 Network interface,
18, 27, 38 buses,
25 Printer interface,
35 Operation panel section,
36 Printing Department,
37 Controller interface,
500 print setting screen,
A, a, b Print job.

Claims (14)

A print job execution device that executes a print job,
First storage means for storing print data described in a page description language as a print job;
Expansion means for expanding the print data into bitmap image data;
Second storage means for storing the bitmap image data developed by the development means as a print job;
Deleting means for deleting other pages by leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order among the bitmap image data stored in the second storage means;
A print job execution apparatus. Reprint instruction means for receiving an instruction to reprint an image based on the print job;
When the reprint instruction is accepted by the reprint instruction unit, the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit for the print job instructed to reprint is output for printing, and then the bit Output means for outputting for printing the bitmap image data obtained by expanding the print data stored in the first storage means of the page deleted with respect to the map image data;
The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The deletion unit selects at least one arbitrary page of the print data stored in the first storage unit corresponding to the bitmap image data among the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit as a bitmap image. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, within the time required to finish developing the data, the remaining pages are deleted while leaving the number of pages that can be printed.   3. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion unit deletes the second half page in the print output order from the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit.   3. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion unit deletes a page designated by a user from the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit.   The deletion means deletes other pages by leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order in the bitmap image data stored in the second storage means at a preset deletion time. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The print job execution apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the deletion time includes a time when execution of one print job is completed.   The print job execution apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the deletion time includes a time when the free capacity of the second storage unit becomes a predetermined limit value or less.   The print job execution apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the deletion time includes a time when a deletion instruction is issued by a user.   The deletion unit leaves a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order in the bitmap image data stored in the second storage unit for other preset print jobs to be deleted. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job execution apparatus deletes the print job.   11. The first storage unit is provided in a printer controller having the developing unit, and the second storage unit is provided in a printer that prints an image based on the bitmap image data. The print job execution apparatus according to claim 1. A method used in a print job execution device for executing a print job,
A step (a) of storing print data described in a page description language as a print job;
Developing the print data into bitmap image data (b);
Storing the bitmap image data developed in step (b) as a print job (c);
A step (d) of deleting other pages while leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order in the saved bitmap image data;
A method characterized by comprising: A computer program executed by a print job execution apparatus that executes a print job,
A procedure (a) for instructing to save print data described in a page description language as a print job;
A procedure (b) for developing the print data into bitmap image data;
A procedure (c) for instructing to save the bitmap image data developed in the procedure (b) as a print job;
A procedure (d) for deleting other pages while leaving a predetermined number of pages from the top in the print output order in the saved bitmap image data; and
Is executed by the print job execution apparatus.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 13 is recorded.

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