JP2012045838A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and method and program for control of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform distribution of imaging output when decentrally performing a plurality of copies of imaging output by the plurality of image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which is contained in an image forming system which decentrally performs the plurality of copies of imaging output by the plurality of image forming apparatus connected in series, includes: a switch 39 which acquires and transmits packets in PCIe; an optical conversion I/F 40 which acquires packet which includes information about pixel data, print copies and image split modes from a former stage apparatus, and input it into the switch 39; a print control part 44 which controls an inkjet recording head 48 based on the pixel data acquired by transfer, makes imaging output performed, and inputs the packet into the switch 39 after reducing the number of print copies; and includes the optical conversion I/F 49 which transmits the packets acquired by transfer to a latter stage apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a control method for an image forming apparatus, and a control program, and more particularly to control of processing in which a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
To do.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is often configured as a multifunction machine that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, or a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like.

  Among these image processing devices, when printing multiple copies of the same print page in an image forming device used for outputting digitized information, the time required to complete printing of the specified number of copies is shortened. In order to do this, a method of printing by sharing the number of copies with a plurality of printers (hereinafter referred to as distributed printing) has been implemented.

  15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating an example of a printing system that realizes printing according to the above aspect. FIG. 15 shows an example in which a print server and two printers are connected via a LAN. The print server 1 transmits the same print data to the printer 2 and the printer 3, respectively, so that the printer 2 and the printer 3 execute printing. In the case of this configuration, as the amount of print data increases, the amount of data flowing through the network increases, and it is necessary to secure a network bandwidth in order to shorten the print data transfer time. In addition, since the same print data is transmitted to two destinations, there is a problem that the bandwidth to be secured is twice as much as that required for transmission to one destination.

  On the other hand, FIG. 16 shows an example in which the print server and two printers are connected by dedicated cables. When the print server 10 transmits the print data to the printer 11, the printer 11 prints the print data and transmits the received print data to the printer 12, and the printer 12 prints the received print data. As a result, the printer 11 and the printer 12 execute printing for the same print data.

  As a conventional patent having such a configuration, an example has been proposed in which the main image forming apparatus starts a printing operation and starts transfer of print data to the sub image forming apparatus when receiving print information (for example, Patent Document 1).

  When the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, the main image forming apparatus executes the sharing process of the number of copies and the print instruction process to the sub image forming apparatus. There are problems such as an increase in the processing load of the directly receiving apparatus and an increase in cost due to the configuration for executing the process.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in the case where a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the image forming outputs are efficiently distributed. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of copies of an image forming output are connected in series to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged. An image forming apparatus included in an image forming system that is distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a transfer unit that acquires a packet in a predetermined communication interface and transfers the packet to a predetermined transfer destination; And includes at least one piece of information on the pixels constituting the image to be imaged and output, information on the number of copies to be imaged and output, and information on the division mode of the image to be output. The packet is acquired from the preceding apparatus connected in series and input to the transfer unit, and the packet acquired by transfer An image forming output control unit that controls the image forming unit to execute image forming output based on the information of the included pixels, and a packet including the information on the number of copies acquired by transfer is executed as the image forming output to be executed. A copy number update unit that updates the copy number information by subtracting the number of minutes and inputs the information to the transfer unit; and at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the updated copy number information And an information output unit that transmits the packet to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series, and the copy update unit recognizes completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies in the copy number information In addition, the input of the packet to the transfer unit is canceled.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of images formed in series are connected to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output. An image forming system that is executed in a distributed manner by a forming apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus outputs a command acquisition unit that acquires an image formation output command, information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output, and image formation output A packet output that includes at least one of information on the number of powers and information on the division mode of the image to be output, and generates a packet in a predetermined communication interface and outputs the packet to the subsequent device connected in series The image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit that transfers an input packet to a predetermined transfer destination; and An image acquisition output unit that controls the image formation unit to execute image formation output based on information of the pixel included in the packet acquired by transfer A copy number update unit for updating the copy number information by inputting the packet containing the copy number information acquired by transfer by reducing the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed, and a transfer unit; An information output unit that transmits a packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel information and the updated number of copies acquired to the image forming apparatus of the subsequent stage connected in series, and the number of copies The update unit cancels the input of the packet to the transfer unit when the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the copy number information. And butterflies.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of image forming outputs are generated in a plurality of series connected to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus included in an image forming system that is executed in a distributed manner in an image forming apparatus, the packet being the packet in the predetermined communication interface, and information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output A packet including at least one piece of information on the number of copies to be formed and information on the division mode of the image to be output is acquired from the preceding apparatus connected in series, and the acquired packet is determined. The image forming unit is controlled to execute the image forming output based on the pixel information included in the packet acquired by the transfer. The packet containing the information on the number of copies acquired by transfer is updated by inputting the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed and updated to the transfer unit, and the packet acquired by transfer. A packet including at least one piece of information of pixel information and the updated number of copies is transmitted to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series, and the plurality of copies of the image forming output are included in the number of copies information. When the completion of the packet is recognized, the input of the packet to the transfer unit is canceled.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of image forming outputs are generated in a plurality of series connected to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output. A control program for an image forming apparatus included in an image forming system that is executed in a distributed manner in the image forming apparatus, the packet being the packet in the predetermined communication interface, and information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output Obtaining a packet including at least one piece of information on the number of copies to be formed and information on the division mode of the image to be outputted from the preceding apparatus connected in series; and Transfer to a predetermined transfer destination, and image formation based on the pixel information included in the packet acquired by transfer And executing the image forming output by controlling the number of copies, and updating the number of copies information by reducing the number of copies of the image forming output to be executed in the packet including the number of copies information acquired by transfer. A packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the updated number of copies information is transmitted to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series. And the step of canceling the input of the packet to the transfer unit when the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the information on the number of copies. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently distribute the image forming output when the image forming outputs of other copies are distributed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

1 is a diagram illustrating an operation mode of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating components connected to a bus in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the list of the setting of the transfer destination which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the packet which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | use form of the image forming system which concerns on a prior art. It is a figure which shows the operation | use form of the image forming system which concerns on a prior art.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as an example of an image forming system, an image formed by outputting a plurality of sets of image forming outputs by daisy chain connection (that is, a plurality of ink jet type image forming apparatuses connected in series). A processing system will be described as an example.

  An operation mode of the image processing system according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The printer 21, printer 22, and printer 23 shown in FIG. 1 are ink jet printers. The print server 20 and the printer 21, the printer 21 and the printer 22, and the printer 22 and the printer 23 are connected by optical cables. Data is transmitted and received between devices in accordance with the PCI Express (hereinafter referred to as PCIe) standard.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, each apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is connected by the some cable. This is because a cable is provided for each color of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow), and K (breakK). As described above, by dividing the information for each color and performing the data transfer, it is possible to reduce the overhead due to the information transfer and to reduce the time until the print output is completed.

  Here, when the cable conforming to the PCIe standard is a metal cable such as a copper wire, it is known that the data transmission speed decreases as the length increases. Therefore, an optical cable that does not easily decrease the data transmission speed is used as a connection cable between devices. The print server 20 has a PCIe architecture, and an optical conversion board for converting an electrical signal compliant with the PCIe standard into an optical signal and converting the optical signal into an electrical signal is mounted in the bus expansion slot. Note that two optical cable connection interfaces are mounted on the optical conversion board, and two optical conversion boards are mounted on the print server 20.

  The hardware configuration of the printer 21, the printer 22, and the printer 23 is shown in FIG. The printers 21, 22, and 23 include a CPU 30, a memory control hub 31, a main memory 32, a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) 33, a graphic controller 34, an LCD 35, an I / O control hub 36, a key input controller 37, a hard key 38, PCIe switch (hereinafter referred to as a switch) 39, light conversion I / F 40, light conversion I / F 41, light conversion I / F 42, light conversion I / F 43, cyan print control unit 44, magenta print control unit 45, yellow print control Section 46, black printing control section 47, ink jet recording head 48, light conversion I / F 49, light conversion I / F 50, light conversion I / F 51, light conversion I / F 52, paper feed control section 53, print timing control section 54, etc. It is composed of In the figure, the connection line indicated by the white arrow indicates a PCIe signal line.

  The CPU 30 executes and processes a control processing program and an OS (Operating System) stored in the flash ROM 33. The memory control hub 31 writes and reads data to and from the main memory 32 and the flash ROM 33, and functions as a root complex standardized by PCIe, and includes a graphic controller 34, an I / O control hub 36, a paper feed control unit. 53, exchanges data with the switch 39 according to the PCIe standard.

  The main memory 32 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and is used in the work area of the CPU 30 and the like. The flash ROM 33 is an electrically rewritable ROM that does not erase data even when the power is turned off. Various programs for starting up the system when the power is turned on and printing operations of the printers 21, 22, and 23 are executed. Pre-written. The flash ROM 33 also stores data such as parameters that are referred to when the program is executed.

  The graphic controller 34 performs D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion of character data, graphic data, and the like, and performs control for displaying these data on the LCD 35. The I / O control hub 36 inputs key data and the like, and is connected to the key input controller 37 by an LPC (Low Pin Count) bus. The key input controller 37 performs A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion of the key signal input from the hard key 38 and passes this key data to the I / O control hub 36.

  The switch 39 is a switch standardized by PCIe, and performs data routing between components connected by the PCIe signal line. The optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 use the built-in light emitting / receiving module to convert an optical signal received from the print server 20 or the upper printer into an electrical signal. The image data of each print color obtained by converting the image data into the image data and further A / D converting the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit via the switch 39, respectively. 47 (hereinafter collectively referred to as print control units 44 to 47).

  The optical conversion I / Fs 40, 41, 42, and 43 D / A convert the data (control data) received via the switch 39, convert the electrical signal into an optical signal, and the print server 20 or Send to the upper printer. The cyan printing control unit 44 controls to transfer the cyan image data received from the print server 20 or the upper printer to the ink jet recording head 48 at a predetermined timing, and when there is a subsequent printer, the received image Transfer the data to the subsequent printer.

  Similar to the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, yellow print control unit 46, and black print control unit 47 inkjet print image data of each print color received from the print server 20 or the upper printer. In addition to performing control to pass to the recording head 48, if there is a subsequent printer, the received image data is transferred to the subsequent printer.

  The ink jet recording head 48 ejects ink of each color toward the paper based on the image data passed from the print control units 44 to 47. The optical conversion I / Fs 49, 50, 51, and 52 are the same hardware as the optical conversion I / Fs 40, 41, 42, and 43, and the image data received from the print control units 44 to 47 via the switch 39 is an optical signal. And then sent to the subsequent printer. The paper feed control unit 53 controls paper conveyance so that the ink ejected from the ink jet recording head 48 can adhere to a predetermined position of the recording paper.

  The print timing control unit 54 controls the timing at which the inkjet recording head 48 should execute image formation output of each color after image data is input to the print control units 44 to 47 for each color of CMYK. Specifically, each of the print control units 44 to 47 notifies the print timing control unit 54 via the switch 39 that the image data has been acquired. The print timing control unit 54 confirms that the image data of all colors has been acquired, permits the print control units 44 to 47 to execute image formation output via the switch 39, and records the image on the recording medium. In order to carry the paper, the paper feed control unit 53 is instructed to feed paper.

  Next, an operation in which the printers 21, 22, and 23 execute a configuration according to the PCIe standard will be described. When the power is turned on, the printers 21, 22, and 23 perform bus numbering and configuration of each component connected by the PCIe signal line. The CPU 30 that performs operations in accordance with the control software that performs bus numbering first checks the PCIe Capabilities registers of the memory control hub 31 to know that the memory control hub 31 is a root complex. Then, according to the PCIe bus numbering mechanism, bus numbers are assigned to the PCIe signal lines shown in FIG. The numbered buses and the components connected to those buses are shown in FIG.

  Here, the graphic controller 34, the I / O control hub 36, the light conversion I / Fs 40 to 43, the light conversion I / Fs 49 to 52, the print control units 44 to 47, and the paper feed control unit 53 are PCIe end points (hereinafter referred to as end points). Function as a point).

  Next, the memory control hub 31 serving as the root complex transmits a configuration write request packet to each component connected by the PCIe signal line. Here, the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex switches a type 0 configuration write request TLP (Transaction Layer Packet) packet to the graphic controller 34, the I / O control hub 36, and the paper feed control unit 53. 39, a type 1 configuration write request TLP packet is transmitted.

  When the switch 39 receives the type 1 configuration write request TLP packet, the switch 39 converts it into a type 0 configuration write request TLP packet, and converts the optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43, the optical conversion I / Fs 49 to 52, which are endpoints, It transmits to the printing control parts 44-47. The configuration write request TLP packet transmitted to each endpoint includes the device number and the bus number to which each endpoint is connected.

  The memory control hub 31 which is a root complex includes a configuration write request TLP packet transmitted to the optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43 and the print control units 44 to 47, and a bus to which image data is transferred in its data payload. Include the number and device number. The structure of this configuration write request TLP packet is shown in FIGS. 4A shows the structure of the entire TLP packet including data of the data link layer and the physical layer, FIG. 4B shows the structure of the header of the TLP packet, and FIG. 4C shows the structure of the data payload of the TLP packet. Indicates.

  The graphic controller 34, the I / O control hub 36, the optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43, the optical conversion I / Fs 49 to 52, the print control units 44 to 47, and the paper feed control unit 53 receive this configuration write request TLP packet. Then, the bus number, device number, and function number included in the TLP header are stored as information on the own device. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the optical conversion I / F 40 stores bus number = 3, device number = 0, and function number = 0 (not shown) as information of its own device.

  The optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43 and the print control units 44 to 47 further transfer the image data based on the transfer destination bus number (existing in byte 1) and the transfer destination device number (existing in byte 3) included in the data payload. Store as previous information. FIG. 5 shows the bus numbers and device numbers of the transfer destinations of the image data stored in the optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43 and the print control units 44 to 47. Note that the name of the transfer destination described in FIG. 5 is for convenience of explanation, and it is not necessary to store it.

  Since the printer 23 is a daisy chain connection termination device and there is no need to transmit image data to a subsequent printer, the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex of the printer 23 transmits the print data to the print control units 44 to 47. No value is set in the data payload of the configuration write request TLP packet. The print control units 44 to 47 of the printer 23 that have received the configuration write request TLP packet do not need to store the transfer destination bus number and device number included in the data payload.

  Next, an operation for printing the image data transmitted from the print server 20 by the printer 21, the printer 22, and the printer 23 will be described. As a premise of the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the print server 20 receives a print job via a network, and pixel data (bits) that is information on pixels constituting an image based on image data included in the print job. Map). Each pixel data is 24-bit data including an 8-bit R (Red) component, an 8-bit G (Green) component, and an 8-bit B (Blue) component. Then, the print server 20 converts each pixel data by CMYK data calculation that is a printing color, and cyan pixel data, magenta pixel data, yellow pixel data, black pixel data (hereinafter, each printing color pixel data). Is generated). That is, the print server 20 is an image processing apparatus, and includes a command acquisition unit that acquires a print job that is a command for image formation output.

  The print server 20 converts the generated color pixel data for printing into a connection interface of the optical cable 55 connected to the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21 for the cyan pixel data and the magenta pixel data for each predetermined amount of data. The yellow pixel data is connected to the connection interface of the optical cable 57 connected to the optical conversion I / F 42 of the printer 21, and the black pixel data is connected to the optical interface of the printer 21. The data is transmitted to the connection interface of the optical cable 58 connected to the conversion I / F 43. That is, the optical conversion I / Fs 40 to 43 function as an information acquisition unit that acquires a packet from the preceding apparatus and inputs the packet to the switch 39 that is a transfer unit.

  These pixel data are transmitted in the packet format (transaction layer format) of the message request TLP. The structure of this message request TLP is shown in FIGS. 6A shows the structure of the TLP of the transaction layer, FIG. 6B shows the structure of the TLP header, and FIG. 6C shows the structure of the data payload of the TLP. Here, the message request code with the data payload is in the Fmt field of the header, the ID routing code is in the Type field, and the size of the data payload in the length field (unit is DW (Double Word)). However, the code of the vendor type 0 message is set in the message code.

  The requester ID field includes a bus number (8 bits), a device number (5 bits), and a function number (3 bits) of the transmission source device, and each data is set. The bus number existing at the byte 8 position, the device number existing at the byte 9 position, and the function number are the bus number, device number, and function number of the transfer destination device, respectively. The data payload includes a print copy number identification code, the number of print copies, a page position identification code, a page position, an identification code representing a print color, any value representing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and the size of pixel data ( The unit is byte), and pixel data is included.

  The optical cable connection interface (corresponding to the end point) of the print server 20 transmits the message request TLP transmitted from the root complex of the print server 20 to the printer 21 as it is. That is, the print server 20 includes a packet output unit that outputs information as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C for each color of CMYK when a print job is received.

  Among the information shown in FIG. 6C, “print number identification code” is information for identifying that the information stored in the next byte is information on the number of copies to be printed. “Number of copies” is information indicating the number of copies to be output in the current print job. One of the gist according to the present embodiment is that the printers 21 to 23 execute processing based on the numerical value stored in the “number of copies”.

  The “page position identification code” is information for identifying that the information stored in the next byte is a value representing the top, middle, and end of the page, that is, page position information. “Page position” is information indicating whether the pixel data included in the message request TLP packet indicates the head, middle or end of the page. In the image forming system according to this embodiment, pixel data constituting an image of one page is divided into a plurality of pieces and stored in a message request TLP packet, and the print control units 44 to 47 exchange pixels for one page. The image forming output is executed by the ink jet recording head 48 without waiting for the data to be prepared.

  Next, the operation of the printer 21 will be described. When the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21 receives the message request TLP including cyan pixel data from the print server 20, the transfer destination bus number (= 11) and device number (= 0) shown in FIG. In addition, the bus number (= 3) and device number (= 0) of the device itself are set in the requester ID and transmitted to the switch 39. The switch 39 transfers the message request TLP to the cyan print control unit 44 based on the transfer destination bus number (= 11) set in the TLP header as described above. That is, the switch 39 functions as a transfer unit that transfers the acquired packet to a designated transfer destination.

  Similarly, a message request TLP including magenta pixel data received by the light conversion I / F 41 of the printer 21 is sent to the magenta print control unit 45, and a message request TLP including yellow pixel data received by the light conversion I / F 42 is yellow print control. The message request TLP including the black pixel data received by the light conversion I / F 43 is transferred to the black print control unit 47.

  When the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit 47 receive the pixel data, they transmit a message request TLP including the pixel data reception information to the print timing control unit 54. . When the print timing control unit 54 receives the reception notification of the pixel data, the print timing control unit 54 includes print start instruction information. When the print timing control unit 54 receives the pixel data reception notification, the print timing control unit 54 sends a message request TLP including print start instruction information to the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print. A message request TLP including paper feed instruction information is sent to the paper feed control unit 53.

  The cyan print control unit 44 passes the previously received cyan pixel data to the ink jet recording head 48 in accordance with the print start instruction from the print timing control unit 54, and the ink jet recording head 48 directs cyan ink toward the recording paper. Spray. Similarly, the magenta print control unit 45 receives magenta pixel data, the yellow print control unit 46 receives yellow pixel data, and the black print control unit 47 receives black pixel data from the print timing control unit 54, respectively. The ink jet recording head 48 ejects the ink of each color toward the recording paper. That is, the print control units 44 to 47 function as an image formation output control unit.

  Thereafter, the cyan printing control unit 44 adds the bus number and device number of the transfer destination shown in FIG. 5 to the bus number and device number of the header of the message request TLP including the received cyan pixel data. And the bus number (= 11) and device number (= 0) of the own device are set in the requester ID. Further, the cyan printing control unit 44 replaces the value (= 3) of the number of printing copies included in the data payload with a value (= 2) obtained by subtracting 1 and transmits it to the switch 39. In other words, in the present embodiment, the print control units 44 to 47 also function as a copy number update unit. The switch 39 transfers this to the optical conversion I / F 49 based on the bus number of the transfer destination.

  Similarly, the magenta print control unit 45 outputs the magenta pixel data, the yellow print control unit 46 outputs the yellow pixel data, and the black print control unit 47 transmits the black pixel data via the switch 39 to the light conversion I / F 50 and the light conversion I, respectively. / F51 and the optical conversion I / F52. The optical conversion I / F 49, the optical conversion I / F 50, the optical conversion I / F 51, and the optical conversion I / F 52 send these message request TLPs of the transaction layer sent via the switch 39 to the subsequent printer 22 as they are. Send to.

  The printer 22 performs the same processing as the printer 21, and the optical conversion I / F 49, the optical conversion I / F 50, the optical conversion I / F 51, and the optical conversion I / F 52 of the printer 22 are sent via the switch 39. The incoming transaction layer message request TLP is transmitted to the subsequent printer 23 as it is.

  Next, the operation of the printer 23 will be described. The optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 of the printer 23 respectively send a message request TLP including pixel data received from the printer 22 via the switch 39. The print control units 44 to 47 send the pixel data included in the received message request TLP to the inkjet recording head 48 and eject ink of each color onto the recording paper. The processing is the same as that of the printer 21 and the printer 22.

  The print control units 44 to 47 of the printer 23 check the value of the number of copies included in the data payload of the message request TLP including the received pixel data. Therefore, the image data transfer process to the subsequent printer is not executed. That is, the print control units 44 to 47 recognize the completion of the image forming output of a plurality of copies based on the information on the number of copies to be printed.

  FIG. 7 shows an operation flow of the cyan print control unit 44 in one print job. As shown in FIG. 7, when the cyan print control unit 44 receives the configuration write request TLP packet (S701 / YES), it stores the bus number, device number, and function number included in the TLP header as information of its own device. (S702). Further, the cyan print control unit 44 stores the transfer destination bus number and transfer destination device number included in the data payload as information on the transfer destination of the message request TLP (S703).

  Thereafter, when the cyan print control unit 44 receives a message request TLP including cyan pixel data (S704 / YES), it passes the cyan pixel data to the inkjet recording head 48 at a predetermined timing (S705). Thereby, the inkjet recording head 48 ejects ink.

  Thereafter, the cyan print control unit 44 checks the value of the number of copies included in the data payload of the message request TLP including the received pixel data (S706). If the value is 1 (S706 / YES), It is determined that the device is the final device of the daisy chain connection, and the image data transfer processing to the subsequent printer is not executed, and the processing ends.

  On the other hand, when the value is not 1 (S706 / NO), the cyan print control unit 44 sets the bus number and device number of the header of the message request TLP including the received cyan pixel data to the transfer destination bus shown in FIG. In addition to setting the number and device number, the bus number and device number of the device itself are set in the requester ID, and the value of the number of copies included in the data payload is replaced with a value obtained by subtracting 1 and transmitted to the switch 39. (S707). The switch 39 transfers this to the optical conversion I / F 49. As a result, the print data is transmitted to the subsequent printer.

  As described above, according to the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the processes to be executed by the printer 21 and the printer 22 other than the final daisy chain connection other than the image forming output are the update of the “number of copies” information. Only the process of transferring the print data to the subsequent printer, and the process that the printer 23 as the final device of the daisy chain connection should execute other than the image formation output is only the process of referring to the information of “number of copies”. Therefore, it is possible to execute distributed printing quickly without increasing the processing load of the printers connected in a daisy chain.

  Further, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6C, by providing “values representing the beginning, middle, and end of a page”, pixel data for one page is prepared. Image formation output can be started without waiting. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a memory for storing the pixel data for one page, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced, and the waiting time until the pixel data for one page is completed is eliminated. The time until image formation output is completed can be shortened.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the number of copies is included in the print control information and transmitted to the next printer. The hardware configuration of the printer 21, the printer 22, and the printer 23 of the present embodiment is the same as that described in FIG. In this embodiment, instead of the print control units 44 to 47 in the first embodiment, the print timing control unit 54 sets the value of “number of print copies” received from the preceding print server 20 or printer to one. Replace with the subtracted value and pass to the subsequent printer. That is, in the present embodiment, the print timing control unit 54 functions as a copy number update unit. Print control information such as the number of copies is transmitted between devices using an optical cable that transmits cyan pixel data.

  In the configuration write request TLP packet transmitted to the print timing control unit 54, the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex includes the transfer destination of the number of copies in the data payload, that is, the bus number of the optical conversion I / F 49. The device number, the bus number and device number of the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit 47, which are transfer destinations of the print timing control data, and the paper feed The bus number and device number of the paper feed control unit 53 that is the transfer destination of the control data are included.

  The structure of this data payload is shown in FIG. The print timing control unit 54 stores the bus number and the device number of the transfer destination of the number of copies included in the data payload, the transfer destination of the print timing control data, and the transfer destination of the paper feed control data. As described with reference to FIG. 6C, each piece of data is constituted by identification data indicating that the next byte is the data and the data itself.

  The optical conversion I / F 40 that receives the TLP including the cyan pixel data and the print control information such as the number of copies via the optical cable transmits the TLP including the cyan pixel data to the cyan print control unit 44 of the print control information such as the number of prints. Since the TLP needs to be transmitted to the print timing control unit 54, the cyan print control unit 44 and the print timing control are included in the data payload of the configuration write request TLP packet transmitted to the optical conversion I / F 40. The bus number and device number of the unit 54 are included. The structure of this data payload is shown in FIG.

  The optical conversion I / F 40 uses the bus number and device number of the cyan print control unit 44 as a transfer destination of TLP including pixel data, and the bus number of the print timing control unit 54 as a transfer destination of TLP including print control information such as the number of copies. And device number.

  Upon execution of the image forming output, the print server 20 that has received the print job converts the TLP including the print control information such as the number of copies into the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21 before transmitting the TLP including the top pixel data of the page. To the connection interface of the optical cable 55 connected to Print control information such as the number of copies to be printed is transmitted in the message request TLP packet format (transaction layer format). This message request TLP has no data payload, does not add a digest, and has only a TLP header. The structure of this TLP header is shown in FIG.

  Here, the message request code without the data payload is in the Fmt field of the header, the ID routing code is in the Type field, the size of the data payload is 0 in the length field, and the vendor is in the message code. -Type 0 message code is set. The requester ID field includes a bus number (8 bits), a device number (5 bits), and a function number (3 bits) of the transmission source device, and each data is set.

  The bus number existing at the byte 8 position, the device number existing at the byte 9 position, and the function number are the bus number, device number, and function number of the transfer destination device, respectively. A print copy number identification code is set at the byte 12 position, and a print copy value is set at the byte 13 position. The optical cable connection interface (corresponding to the end point) of the print server 20 transmits the message request TLP transmitted from the root complex of the print server 20 to the printer 21 as it is.

  When the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21 receives from the print server 20 a message request TLP containing the number of copies and no data payload, the bus number (= 15) and device number (= 0) of the print timing control unit 54. Is set in the TLP header, and the bus number (= 3) and device number (= 0) of the own device are set in the requester ID and transmitted to the switch 39. The switch 39 transfers this TLP to the print timing control unit 54 based on the set bus number and device number.

  Upon receiving this message request TLP, the print timing control unit 54 sets the bus number and device number of the optical conversion I / F 49 in the bus number and device number of this TLP header, and the value of the number of print copies (= 3). Is replaced with a value obtained by subtracting 1 (= 2) and transmitted to the switch 39. The switch 39 transfers this TLP to the optical conversion I / F 49 based on the set bus number and device number, and the optical conversion I / F 49 sends the message request TLP of this transaction layer to the subsequent printer 22 as it is. Send.

  Next, the print server 20 transmits a message request TLP including a predetermined amount of cyan pixel data to the connection interface of the optical cable 55 connected to the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21. The structure of the data payload of this message request TLP is shown in FIG. When the optical conversion I / F 40 of the printer 21 receives the message request TLP including cyan pixel data from the print server 20, the transfer destination bus number (= 11) and device number (= 0) shown in FIG. In addition, the bus number (= 3) and device number (= 0) of the device itself are set in the requester ID and transmitted to the switch 39. The switch 39 transfers this to the cyan printing control unit 44.

  Subsequently, the print server 20 transmits a TLP including predetermined amounts of magenta, yellow, and black pixel data to the printer 21 as in the case of the TLP including cyan pixel data. The optical conversion I / F 41 of the printer 21 transmits the TLP including the received magenta pixel data to the magenta print control unit 45, and the optical conversion I / F 42 transmits the received TLP including the yellow pixel data to the yellow print control unit 46. / F43 transfers the received TLP including the black pixel data to the black print control unit 47 via the switch 39.

  When the print control units 44 to 47 receive the TLP including the pixel data, the print control units 44 to 47 transmit a message request TLP including the reception notification information to the print timing control unit 54. Upon receiving the notification of reception of these pixel data, the print timing control unit 54 transmits a message request TLP including print start instruction information to the print control units 44 to 47, and also includes paper feed instruction information. A message request TLP is transmitted to the paper feed control unit 53.

  Then, ink of each color is ejected onto the recording paper by the ink jet recording head 48 controlled by the print control units 44 to 47, and a predetermined amount of image is recorded. Thereafter, the cyan printing control unit 44 performs TLP including the received cyan pixel data, the magenta printing control unit 45 performs TLP including the received magenta pixel data, and the yellow printing control unit 46 performs TLP including the received yellow pixel data. The black printing control unit 47 transmits the received TLP including the black pixel data to the light conversion I / F 49, the light conversion I / F 50, the light conversion I / F 51, and the light conversion I / F 52 via the switch 39, respectively.

  The optical conversion I / F 49, the optical conversion I / F 50, the optical conversion I / F 51, and the optical conversion I / F 52 send these message request TLPs of the transaction layer sent via the switch 39 to the subsequent printer 22 as they are. Send to.

  Further, in the printer 23 shown in FIG. 1, when the print timing control unit 54 recognizes that the value of the number of copies is “1”, it notifies that the transfer to the subsequent stage of the TLP including the pixel data is unnecessary. TLP for this is transmitted to the print control units 44 to 47. As a result, the print control units 44 to 47 in the printer 23 perform the process without inputting the TLP including the pixel data to the switch 39 after controlling the inkjet recording head 48 to execute the image formation output as described above. finish.

  The operation flow of the print timing control unit 54 is shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is the same as the process described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. Note that an optical cable for connecting the apparatuses may be added, and print control information such as the number of prints may be transmitted using the added optical cable.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In this embodiment, an operation when a printing error occurs due to a paper jam or the like during a printing operation will be described. A case where a printing error has occurred in the printer 21 having the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 in the device connection shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The printer 22 has the same hardware configuration as the printer 21, and the processing operation of the printer 21 described below applies to the printer 22 in the same manner.

  When a paper jam occurs during the printing operation of the printer 21 and the paper feed control unit 53 detects an error, the paper feed control unit 53 sends a message request TLP containing error information to the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex. To do. This message request TLP has no data payload, does not add a digest, and has only a TLP header. The structure of this TLP header is shown in FIG.

  Here, the message request code without the data payload is in the Fmt field of the header, the routing code to be transmitted to the root complex is in the Type field, and the size of the data payload is 0 in the length field. The code of the vendor type 0 message is set in the code. The requester ID field includes a bus number (8 bits), a device number (5 bits), and a function number (3 bits) of the transmission source device, and each data is set.

  Since the destination of this TLP is a root complex (specified in the Type field), it is not necessary to set data in the bus number existing at the byte 8 position, the device number existing at the byte 9 position, and the function number. . Further, an error identification code is set at the position of byte 12, and an error code value indicating a paper jam is set at the position of byte 13. When the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex receives this message request TLP, the CPU 30 that performs the operation according to the control program sets the ID routing code in the Type field of the header of the received message request TLP, and the bus number and device Set the bus number (= 3) and device number (= 0) of the optical conversion I / F 40 to the number, and set the bus number (= 1) and device number (= 0) of the own device to the requester ID. , To the switch 39.

  The switch 39 transfers this to the optical conversion I / F 40. The optical conversion I / F 40 transmits the message request TLP of the transaction layer sent via the switch 39 to the print server 20 as it is. Thereafter, since the printer 21 cannot execute the printing process until the error is resolved, the optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 are sent from the print server 20. The image data is not transferred to the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit 47, and the light conversion I / F 49, the light conversion I / F 50, and the light conversion I The configuration is changed so that data is transferred toward / F51 and optical conversion I / F52.

  In order to change the configuration, the memory control hub 31 as the root complex converts the configuration write request TLP packet having the structure shown in FIG. 4 into the optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, and the optical conversion I. / F42 and optical conversion I / F43. That is, the memory control hub 31 functions as a transfer control unit. At this time, the bus number and device number of the transfer destination pixel data of the data payload, the bus number and device number of the optical conversion I / F 49 for the optical conversion I / F 40, and the optical conversion I / F 41 Indicates the bus number and device number of the optical conversion I / F 50, the bus number and device number of the optical conversion I / F 51 for the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 52 for the optical conversion I / F 43. Set the bus number and device number.

  Upon receiving this configuration write request TLP, the optical conversion I / F 40, optical conversion I / F 41, optical conversion I / F 42, and optical conversion I / F 43 receive the transfer destination bus number (in byte 1) included in the data payload. Presence) and transfer destination device number (existing in byte 3) are stored as transfer destination information of the pixel data. (Change transfer destination information)

  Thereafter, the light conversion I / F 40 transmits a message request TLP including cyan pixel data received from the print server 20 to the switch 39 using the light conversion I / F 49 as a transfer destination. Similarly, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 convert the message request TLP including the received pixel data into the optical conversion using the optical conversion I / F 50 as the transfer destination. The I / F 42 transmits to the switch 39 using the optical conversion I / F 51 as the transfer destination, and the optical conversion I / F 43 transmits the optical conversion I / F 52 as the transfer destination.

  As described above, the pixel data input to the printer 21 does not pass through the cyan printing control unit 44, the magenta printing control unit 45, the yellow printing control unit 46, and the black printing control unit 47, and is directed to the subsequent printer 22. Is output. On the other hand, when the connection interface of the optical cable 53 in the print server 20 receives a message request TLP including error information from the printer 21, it sends this message request TLP to the root complex, and the control program of the print server 20 sends an error message to the printer. Execute processing such as displaying a message on the display on the display.

  Note that the printer 23 located at the end of the daisy chain connection is notified that the number of copies is 2 after the occurrence of an error in the printer 21, but executes the same processing as before the occurrence of the error where the number of copies was notified as 1.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In this embodiment, when a printing error occurs due to a paper jam or the like during a printing operation, the pixel data input to the printer is converted into a cyan printing control unit 44, a magenta printing control unit, as in the third embodiment. 45, output to the subsequent printer without passing through the yellow print control unit 46 and the black print control unit 47, and the switch 39 sets the value of the number of print copies included in the message request TLP to 1. The operation of replacing with a value obtained by subtracting only will be described.

  Similar to the third embodiment, a case where a printing error occurs in the printer 21 having the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2 in the device connection shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The printer 22 has the same hardware configuration as the printer 21, and the processing operation of the printer 21 described below applies to the printer 22 in the same manner.

  In this embodiment, the message request TLP including the image data transmitted from the print server 20 to the printer 21 has the header structure shown in FIG. 10 and the data payload shown in FIG. When a paper jam occurs during the printing operation of the printer 21 and the paper feed control unit 53 detects an error, the paper feed control unit 53 sends a message request TLP containing error information to the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex. To do. This message request TLP has no data payload, does not add a digest, and has only the TLP header shown in FIG.

  Here, the message request code without the data payload is in the Fmt field of the header, the routing code to be transmitted to the root complex is in the Type field, and the size of the data payload is 0 in the length field. The code of the vendor type 0 message is set in the code. The requester ID field includes a bus number (8 bits), a device number (5 bits), and a function number (3 bits) of the transmission source device, and each data is set.

  Since the destination of this TLP is a root complex (specified in the Type field), it is not necessary to set data in the bus number existing at the byte 8 position, the device number existing at the byte 9 position, and the function number. . Further, an error identification code is set at the position of byte 12, and an error code value indicating a paper jam is set at the position of byte 13. When the memory control hub 31 that is the root complex receives this message request TLP, the CPU 30 that performs the operation according to the control program sets the ID routing code in the Type field of the header of the received message request TLP, and the bus number and device Set the bus number (= 3) and device number (= 0) of the optical conversion I / F 40 to the number, and set the bus number (= 1) and device number (= 0) of the own device to the requester ID. , To the switch 39.

  The switch 39 transfers this to the optical conversion I / F 40. The optical conversion I / F 40 transmits the message request TLP of the transaction layer sent via the switch 39 to the print server 20 as it is. Thereafter, since the printer 21 cannot execute the printing process until the error is resolved, the optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 are sent from the print server 20. The pixel data is not transferred to the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit 47, but the light conversion I / F 49, the light conversion I / F 50, and the light conversion I. When the switch 39 transfers the message request TLP including the pixel data and the number of copies, the value of the number of copies is replaced with a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of copies. Change the configuration as shown.

  In order to change the configuration, the memory control hub 31 as the root complex converts the configuration write request TLP packet having the structure shown in FIG. 14 into the optical conversion I / F 40, the optical conversion I / F 41, and the optical conversion I. / F42 and optical conversion I / F43. A DN (Decrease Number) in byte 0 and bit 7 of the header of this configuration write request TLP packet is a field newly defined in the present invention. By setting this DN value to 1, the number of copies to be printed to the switch 39 is set. The operation of subtracting 1 from 1 is instructed.

  The field described as “R” in the header shown in FIG. 14B is undefined in the PCIe standard, and the DN field may be defined at another position described as “R”. Is possible. Also, the bus number and device number of the transfer destination image data of the data payload of this configuration write request TLP packet, and the optical conversion I / F 49 bus number and device number for the optical conversion I / F 40, The optical conversion I / F 50 bus number and device number for the conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 51 bus number and device number for the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 Then, the bus number and device number of the optical conversion I / F 52 are respectively set.

  When the switch 39 receives this configuration write request TLP, it checks the DN field of the header. If the switch 39 confirms that this value is 1, it sets the operation mode to subtract 1 from the value of the number of copies. Upon receiving this configuration write request TLP, the optical conversion I / F 40, optical conversion I / F 41, optical conversion I / F 42, and optical conversion I / F 43 receive the transfer destination bus number (in byte 1) included in the data payload. And the transfer destination device number (existing in byte 3) are stored as transfer destination information of the pixel data (change of transfer destination information).

  Thereafter, the light conversion I / F 40 transmits a message request TLP including cyan pixel data received from the print server 20 to the switch 39 using the light conversion I / F 49 as a transfer destination. Similarly, the optical conversion I / F 41, the optical conversion I / F 42, and the optical conversion I / F 43 convert the message request TLP including the received pixel data into the optical conversion using the optical conversion I / F 50 as the transfer destination. The I / F 42 transmits to the switch 39 using the optical conversion I / F 51 as the transfer destination, and the optical conversion I / F 43 transmits the optical conversion I / F 52 as the transfer destination. Upon receiving these message request TLPs, the switch 39 replaces the value (= 3) of the number of copies included in the header with a value (= 2) obtained by subtracting 1 and transfers it to the designated transfer destination.

  As described above, the pixel data input to the printer 21 does not pass through the cyan print control unit 44, the magenta print control unit 45, the yellow print control unit 46, and the black print control unit 47, and the value of the number of print copies. 1 is subtracted and output to the subsequent printer 22.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where three printers are used has been described. However, a configuration in which four or more printers are connected is similarly applicable. Further, any number of copies can be specified as long as the number of copies to be printed simultaneously is equal to or less than the number of printers.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the ink jet printer has been described as an example of the printing method. Also, by providing the printer with a memory for storing print data for one page, it is possible to execute a print operation after receiving image data for one page.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the switch 39 performs signal allocation on the premise of the PCIe interface has been described as an example. In addition, it is possible to realize the same function even if a router is used instead of the switch 39 on the premise of the TCP / IP protocol. When the PCIe interface is used, each endpoint stores the transfer destination information as described above. However, when the TCP / IP protocol is used, the router transmits the transfer (forwarding) destination information for each port. The devices such as the light conversion I / F 40 and the cyan printing control unit 44 communicate with each other using different ports.

1, 10, 20 Print server 2, 3, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23 Printer 30 CPU
31 Memory control hub 32 Main memory 33 Flash ROM
34 Graphic controller 35 LCD
36 I / O control hub 37 Key input controller 38 Hard key 39 Switch 40, 41, 42, 43, 49, 50, 51, 52 Optical conversion I / F
44 Cyan Print Control Unit 45 Magenta Print Control Unit 46 Yellow Print Control Unit 47 Black Print Control Unit 48 Inkjet Recording Head 53 Paper Feed Control Unit 54 Print Timing Control Unit 55, 56, 57, 58 Optical Cable

JP 2004-17339 A

Claims (13)

Image formation in which a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information of pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output An image forming apparatus included in the system,
A transfer unit that acquires a packet in a predetermined communication interface and transfers the packet to a predetermined transfer destination;
It is a packet in the predetermined communication interface, and at least one information among information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output, information on the number of copies to be imaged and output, and information on a division mode of the image to be output An information acquisition unit that acquires the included packet from the preceding device connected in series and inputs the packet to the transfer unit;
An image formation output control unit that controls the image formation unit to execute image formation output based on information on the pixels included in the packet acquired by transfer;
A copy number update unit that updates the information on the number of copies by subtracting the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed, and inputs the packet including the number of copies information acquired by transfer to the transfer unit;
An information output unit that transmits a packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the updated number of copies to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series;
The copy number updating unit cancels the input of the packet to the transfer unit when the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the copy number information. The information acquisition unit acquires a packet including information on the pixel and information on the number of copies,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the copy number update unit inputs a packet including the updated copy number information and the pixel information to the transfer unit. The information acquisition unit acquires a packet including information on the pixel and a packet including information on the number of copies, respectively.
The image formation output control unit inputs a packet including the pixel information to the transfer unit,
When the completion of the plurality of copies of the image formation output is recognized in the number of copies information, the number of copies update section sends the packet including the pixel information to the transfer section to the image formation output control section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input is canceled. The pixel information is included in the packet different for different colors,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer destination of a packet including pixel information of each color is determined by the image forming output control unit corresponding to each color. 5. .   5. The image according to claim 4, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires each packet including pixel information of each different color from each of the previous devices connected in series through different transmission paths. Forming equipment.   The image processing apparatus further includes a transfer control unit that changes a transfer destination of a packet acquired by the information acquisition unit and input to the transfer unit to the information output unit when a defect in image formation output is detected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The transfer unit executes the packet including the information on the number of copies when the transfer destination of the packet acquired by the information acquisition unit and input to the transfer unit is changed to the information output unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein information on the number of copies is updated and transferred to the information output unit by reducing a planned number of copies for image formation output. The information acquisition unit and the copy number update unit store information on a transfer destination for transferring the packet, and input the packet including the transfer destination information to the transfer unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the packet by using the transfer destination information included in the packet as the predetermined transfer destination. . The packet has a format corresponding to PCI Express,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transfer unit is a PCI Express switch.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit stores information on a transfer destination determined for each acquisition source of the packet. Image formation in which a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information of pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output A system,
The image processing apparatus includes:
An instruction acquisition unit for acquiring an image formation output instruction;
A packet including at least one of information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output, information on the number of copies to be imaged and output, and information on a division mode of the image to be output, and a packet in a predetermined communication interface A packet output unit that generates and outputs to the subsequent device connected in series,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A transfer unit that transfers the input packet to a predetermined transfer destination; and
An information acquisition unit that acquires the packet from the upstream device connected in series and inputs the packet to the transfer unit;
An image formation output control unit that controls the image formation unit to execute image formation output based on information on the pixels included in the packet acquired by transfer;
A copy number update unit that updates the information on the number of copies by subtracting the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed, and inputs the packet including the number of copies information acquired by transfer to the transfer unit;
An information output unit that transmits a packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the updated number of copies to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series;
The copy number updating unit cancels the input of the packet to the transfer unit when the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the copy number information. Image formation in which a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information of pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output A control method for an image forming apparatus included in a system,
It is a packet in the predetermined communication interface, and at least one information among information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output, information on the number of copies to be imaged and output, and information on a division mode of the image to be output Obtain the included packet from the previous device connected in series,
The acquired packet is transferred to a predetermined transfer destination,
Based on the information of the pixels included in the packet acquired by transfer, the image forming unit is controlled to execute image forming output,
A packet including the information on the number of copies acquired by transfer is input to the transfer unit by updating the information on the number of copies by reducing the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed.
A packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the information of the updated number of copies is transmitted to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series;
An image forming apparatus control method, comprising: canceling input of the packet to the transfer unit when the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the information on the number of copies. Image formation in which a plurality of image forming outputs are distributed and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series to an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs information of pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output A control program for an image forming apparatus included in a system,
It is a packet in the predetermined communication interface, and at least one information among information on pixels constituting an image to be imaged and output, information on the number of copies to be imaged and output, and information on a division mode of the image to be output Obtaining the included packet from the upstream device connected in series;
Forwarding the acquired packet to a predetermined forwarding destination;
Controlling the image forming unit based on the information on the pixels included in the packet acquired by transfer to execute image forming output;
A step of updating the information on the number of copies by subtracting the number of copies for the image forming output to be executed and inputting the packet including the information on the number of copies acquired by the transfer to the transfer unit;
Transmitting a packet including at least one piece of information of the pixel acquired by transfer and the updated number of copies to the subsequent image forming apparatus connected in series;
When the completion of the image forming output of the plurality of copies is recognized in the information on the number of copies, the image forming apparatus executes the step of canceling the input of the packet to the transfer unit. Device control program.

Images