JP2012064037A - Print image data generation device, printer, print control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase transfer efficiency of image data.SOLUTION: A printer transfers print image data from a data generation unit generating the print image data from data input by a host to a controller inside the body to perform printing of the print image data in the body. The printer includes determination means for determining colorless parts included in each line of the print image data and transfer means for transferring the each line to the controller while excluding the colorless parts determined in the each line from the transfer objects.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print image data generation device, a printing device, a printing control method, and a program.

  In a conventional printing system, a DFE (digital front end) server that develops print data in a RIP (raster image processor), a printer engine that prints image data on paper, and print image data sent from the DFE server to the printer engine. Some are configured with a main controller to transfer. In this prior art, in order to increase the printing performance, it is preferable that the interface between the DFE server and the main body controller can transfer image data at high speed. On the other hand, the image to be printed is divided into bands, drawn and developed, and for blank areas that are not printed, the blank area information is transferred to the printer engine instead of the blank area image data. There is a technique for reducing the amount of data and transferring image data at high speed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a technology that uses a data compression technique for image data and reduces the amount of transfer data using the compressed data to improve transfer efficiency (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, the conventional print image data transfer technique excluding the blank portion is effective when the image data in the band is all blank, but when the blank area is not a predetermined band unit, the band is transferred. There is a problem that sufficient transfer efficiency cannot be obtained because it is necessary to transfer all of the data.

  In the transfer using the data compression technique, it is necessary to mount the same compression / decompression processing means in the DFE server and the main body controller for data compression / decompression. For this reason, when a plurality of DFE servers employ different compression methods, the main body controller must be equipped with decompression processing means corresponding to the compression methods of all of the plurality of DFE servers. was there.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a print image data generation device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program that can improve the transfer efficiency of image data. .

  In order to achieve such an object, a print image data generation apparatus according to the present invention is a print image data generation apparatus that transfers print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing apparatus. Determination means for determining a colorless portion included in each line of image data; and transfer means for transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from a transfer target. It is characterized by.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described print image data generation apparatus, the controller, and a printer engine that executes printing of print image data received by the controller.

  A print control method according to the present invention is a print control method of a print image data generation apparatus that transfers print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing apparatus, and each of the print image data A determination step of determining a colorless portion included in the line; and a transfer step of transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from a transfer target. .

  Furthermore, a program according to the present invention is a program for causing a print image data generation apparatus that transfers print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing apparatus, A determination process for determining a colorless portion included in a line; and a transfer process for transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from a transfer target. To run.

  According to the present invention, since a colorless portion included in a line of print image data is excluded from the transfer target, a print image data generation device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program capable of improving the transfer efficiency of image data Can be realized.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the DFE server shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main body controller shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of print image data in the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining band division processing according to the present embodiment (part 1). FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining band division processing according to the present embodiment (part 2). FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining band division processing according to the present embodiment (part 3). FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of data transfer processing according to this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of the one-line transfer process shown in step S15 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of the color processing shown in step S35 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of the colorless process shown in step S32 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of the data transfer process shown in step S76 of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of the reception process executed by the main body controller in the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of reception processing executed by the main body controller in the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an operation when data transfer for three lines is performed in the present embodiment (part 1). FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation when data transfer for three lines is performed in the present embodiment (part 2).

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment has the following characteristics when transferring image data from a DFE server that generates print image data to a controller in the printer main body. That is, in this embodiment, white data is not transferred, thereby reducing the data transfer amount and increasing the transfer efficiency of image data. Specifically, an area having data that is not to be printed (hereinafter referred to as colorless data) is identified, and other areas are designated as data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as colored data). The data transfer is performed by designating the data transfer amount.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer system has a configuration in which a host computer 100, a DFE server 110, and a printer 120 are connected via a network such as a bus or a LAN (Local Area Network). The DFE server 110 is a print image data generation device that generates print image data. The printer 120 includes a main body controller 130 that receives print image data from the DFE server 110 and a printer engine 140 that prints the print image data. The print data 101 created by the host computer 100 is transmitted to the DFE server 110 and converted into print image data 111 for each color by RIP processing. The print image data 111 is sent to the main body controller 130 for each color and printed by the printer engine 140.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the DFE server shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main body controller shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the DFE server 110 includes a data reception unit 111, an image data generation unit 112, a memory 113, a colorlessness determination unit 114, and a data transmission unit 115. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body controller 130 includes a data reception unit 131, a memory 132, a page management unit 133, a read / clear unit 134, a printer status control unit 135, and a data transmission unit 136. Have.

  A data receiving unit 111 in the DFE server 110 receives data from the host computer 100. The image data generation unit 112 generates print image data for each color by performing RIP processing on the data received by the data reception unit 111. The memory 113 stores print image data for each color generated by the image data generation unit 112. The colorless determination unit 114 reads the print image data stored in the memory 113, and determines whether or not the colorless data portion that is data not to be printed continues in the read print image data for a threshold value or more. The colorless determination unit 114 may be configured to adjust the threshold value according to the transfer status of print image data from the DFE server 110 to the main body controller 130. For example, if the data amount (data transfer amount) of the print image data to be transferred from the DFE server 110 to the main body controller 130 is small (for example, smaller than a predetermined threshold value), the colorlessness determination unit 114 prints to be transferred. A larger threshold value may be used than when the image data amount (data transfer amount) is large (for example, larger than a predetermined threshold value). The data transmission unit 115 includes a color determination unit that determines a colored portion in the print image data from the determination result of the colorless determination unit 114. The transfer destination address (designated address) of the portion determined to be colored and the image data transfer The amount and the image data are transferred to the printer 120.

  A data receiving unit 131 in the main body controller 130 receives print image data for each color from the DFE server 110. The page management unit 133 reads out print image data stored in the memory 132 on a page-by-page basis, and grasps the status of the printer engine 140 from the printer status control unit 135. The printer status control unit 135 manages the status of the printer engine 140. The data transmission unit 136 transmits print image data to the printer engine 140 in response to an instruction from the page management unit 133.

  Here, an example of print image data will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of print image data in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the print image data includes characters, pictures, photographs, and the like. Further, the print image data includes a blank portion having no data. For example, in the case of a business card image (business card image 300), generally, a name, a company name, an address, etc. are drawn in black (black part 320), and a company logo is colored (color part 310). Has been drawn. If the print image data is divided into CMYK for each color and analyzed, the print image data for each color includes more blank portions. Note that the blank portion is at a different position for each color of CMYK. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the image data generation unit 112 in the DFE server 110 detects blank portions included in the print image data for each color after being converted into print image data for each color (print image for each color). By performing a process that does not transfer at least a part of the blank portion, the data transfer amount from the DFE server 110 to the main body controller 130 is reduced.

  Subsequently, the band division processing in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining the band division processing in the present embodiment. 5A, in the band dividing process, one print image data 500 is divided into a plurality of bands 510 (for example, bands 1 to 7 in this description). Further, as shown in FIG. The band 510 includes a plurality of lines 520. Further, as shown in Fig. 5C, each line 520 is divided into a plurality of blocks 530. The division into the bands 510 is performed as necessary. In the following, the description of the band division process is omitted.

  Next, data transfer processing by the DFE server 110 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of data transfer processing according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, when starting the data transfer process for one page, the DFE server 110 first determines whether or not the next line exists in the untransferred portion of the print image data (step S11). In this determination, if the next line exists (Yes in step S11), the DFE server 110 transfers the transfer destination address AD at the time of data transfer and the amount of colorless data included in the print image data to be transferred (colorless data amount). B) and the data transfer amount C are respectively initialized (steps S12 to S14). Subsequently, the DFE server 110 executes a one-line transfer process for transferring print image data for one line (step S15), and then returns to step S11 to determine whether or not the next line exists. To do. If the result of this determination is that there is no next line (NO in step S11), the DFE server 110 ends the data transfer process for one page shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the one-line transfer process shown in step S15 of FIG. 6 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of the one-line transfer process shown in step S15 of FIG. Note that a block is the amount of information held by the smallest unit address that can be specified during data transfer. As shown in FIG. 7, when one line data transfer processing is started, the DFE server 110 first determines whether or not all pixels are colorless for each block (step S31). When all the pixels are colorless (Yes in Step S31), the DFE server 110 executes a colorless process described later with reference to FIG. 9 (Step S32). On the other hand, if all the pixels are not colorless, that is, if there is even one colored pixel (No in step S31), the DFE server 110 executes a colored process described later with reference to FIG. 8 (step S35). ).

  Next, the DFE server 110 determines whether or not there is a next block (step S33). If there is a next block (Yes in step S33), the target block is set as the next block (step S34). Return to step S31. On the other hand, when the next block does not exist, that is, when the block being processed is the last block in one line (No in step S33), the DFE server 110 subtracts the colorless data amount B from the data transfer amount C. (C = CB: Step S36), then, the data transfer of the colored data portion is performed to the transfer destination address AD with the data transfer amount C (= CB) (Step S37), and the data transfer for one line is completed. To do. In step S36, the colorless data portion at the end of the line is not included in the data transfer even if it is less than the threshold value. This reduces the amount of transfer data.

  Next, the color process shown in step S35 of FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of the color processing shown in step S35 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, when the color processing is started, the DFE server 110 first determines whether or not there is a color block (color data portion) that has not been transferred (step S51). (No in S51), the process proceeds to step S53. On the other hand, if it does not exist (Yes in step S51), the higher-level device 10 substitutes the transfer destination address “ADx” for the transfer destination address AD (step S52), and proceeds to step S53. In step S53, the DFE server 110 increases the transfer target data transfer amount C by the number of blocks (C = C + G: step S53). Subsequently, the DFE server 110 clears the colorless data amount B (B = 0: step S54), and then ends the colored process.

  Further, the colorless process shown in step S32 of FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of the colorless process shown in step S32 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, when the colorless processing is started, the DFE server 110 first determines whether or not there is a colored block that has not been transferred (step S71), and if it does not exist (No in step S71), The process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if it exists (Yes in step S71), the DFE server 110 increases the colorless data amount B by the number of blocks (B = B + G: step S72) and increases the data transfer amount C by the number of blocks (C = C + G: Step S73). Subsequently, the DFE server 110 determines whether or not the colorless data amount B is larger than the threshold value D (step S74), and if not (No in step S74), the process ends. On the other hand, if it is larger (Yes in step S74), the DFE server 110 subtracts the invalid data amount B from the data transfer amount C (C = C−B: step S75), and then the transfer destination address obtained in the above step. Data transfer processing is executed with the AD and the data transfer amount C (step S76). Next, the DFE server 110 resets the colorless data amount B (step S77), clears the data transfer amount C (step S78), and then ends the colorless processing.

  Next, the data transfer process shown in step S76 of FIG. 9 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of the data transfer process shown in step S76 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, when the data transfer process is executed, the DFE server 110 instructs the main body controller 130 to designate a transfer destination address AD, a data amount to be transferred (data transfer amount C), print image data, and the like. Are sequentially transmitted (steps S91 to S93), and the process ends.

  For the data transfer process shown in FIG. 10, the main body controller 110 on the receiving side executes the reception process shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, in the receiving process, the main body controller 110 first substitutes “0” into the memory 132 (step S111), and then executes a one-page receiving process for receiving print image data for one page. (Step S112). Next, the main body controller 110 reads print image data for one page (step S113), and thereafter ends the processing. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the print image data is transmitted from the DFE server 110 with the transfer destination address AD = AD72 and the data transfer amount C = 4, the main body controller 130 prints to the address “AD72” in the memory 132. Stores image data (transfer data).

  Next, the operation described above will be described by taking as an example the case of transferring data for three lines. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are diagrams for explaining the operation when data transfer for three lines is performed in the present embodiment. In this example, data transfer is performed on line 0 (900), line 1 (910), and line 2 (920). Assume that the addresses 930 of the lines 900 to 920 are ‘AD00 to AD09’, ‘AD10 to AD19’, and ‘AD20 to AD29’, respectively. That is, four pixels 940 are set as one block 950, and one line is set as 10 blocks. Furthermore, the threshold value of the block amount required for designating the transfer destination address and the data transfer amount to the main body controller 130 is set to “2”. That is, when two or more colorless blocks are continuous, they are not included in the print image data to be transferred.

  First, the line 0 (900) will be described. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the colorless block 901 (see FIG. 14) is scanned from the address “AD00” to the address “AD04”. The colorless block 901 is not included in the print image data to be transferred, and the subsequent address ‘AD06’ is scanned using the head address ‘AD05’ of the subsequent colored block 904 as the transfer destination address 902. Note that the block 903 at the address “AD07” is a colorless block, but since there is no continuous colorless block and is sandwiched between colored blocks, the colorless block 903 is treated as a part of the colored block 904. As a result, the print image data at addresses ‘AD05 to AD09’ becomes print image data (transfer data) to be transferred and transferred. This completes the processing for line 0 (900). Thus, for the line 0 (900), data transfer for 5 blocks from the address “AD05” is executed.

  Next, the line 1 (910) will be described. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the address “AD10” is set as the transfer destination address 911, and the address “AD11” and thereafter are scanned. Here, the address 'AD912' is a colorless block, but, like the colorless block 904, since there is no continuous colorless block and is sandwiched between colored blocks, this colorless block is treated as a part of the colored block, Scan after address 'AD17'. However, the address “AD19” is a colorless block having no continuous colorless block, but is not included in the data transfer target because it is a block at the end of the line. As a result, the data transfer of the block of the addresses “AD10 to AD18” is performed, and the processing for the line 1 (910) is completed. Thus, for the line 1 (910), data transfer for 9 blocks from the address "AD10" is executed.

  Next, the line 2 (920) will be described. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the colorless block 921 at the address “AD20” is not included in the data transfer target because it is the beginning of the line. Therefore, the head address ‘AD21’ of the color data portion 924 is set as the transfer destination address 922, and the address ‘AD22’ and beyond are scanned. Here, since the blocks of the addresses ‘AD25’ and ‘AD26’ are continuous colorless blocks 923, the data transfer of the block 924 to the addresses ‘AD21 to AD25’ is performed first. Next, the head address “AD27” of the color data portion 926 is set as the transfer destination address 925, and the address “AD28” and the following are scanned. Here, since the colorless block of the address “AD29” is the block at the end of the line, the data transfer relating to the print image data of the addresses “AD27 to AD29” is performed, and the processing for the line 2 (920) is completed. Thus, for line 2 (920), data transfer for two blocks from address 'AD21' and three blocks from address 'AD27' is executed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the blank portion (colorless block) smaller than the blank region in units of bands in the print image data generated by the DFE server 110 is not transferred. As a result, in the present embodiment, when transferring an image from the DFE server 110 to the main body controller 130, the data transfer amount can be reduced, and the transfer efficiency of image data can be increased even when there is no blank area in band units. Is possible.

  The operations of the DFE server 110 and the main body controller 130 described above are executed when a control device such as a CPU reads and executes a program stored in a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM, HDD, or CD drive device. But it is feasible. In addition to the provision method that is preinstalled in the apparatus, this program is configured to be provided by distribution of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, or download via a network such as the Internet. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is described by taking an example in which the image forming apparatus is applied to a multifunction machine having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a printer, a scanner apparatus, and a facsimile apparatus.

  Further, the above embodiment is merely an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications according to specifications and the like are within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, it is needless to say that the modification examples illustrated as appropriate for each embodiment can be applied to other embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Host computer 110 DFE server 111,131 Data reception part 112 Image data generation part 113,132 Memory 114 Colorlessness determination part 115,136 Data transmission part 120 Printer 130 Main body controller 133 Page management part 134 Read / clear part 135 Printer status control part 140 Printer engine 300 Business card image 310 Color part 320 Black character part 500 Print image data 510 Band 520 line 530 block 900, 910, 920 line 901, 921, 923 Colorless block 902, 922, 925 Transfer destination address 903, 950 block 904, 924 Colored block 926 Colored data part 930 Address 940 pixels

JP-A-8-258378 Japanese Patent No. 3655457

Claims (7)

A print image data generation device that transfers print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing device,
Determination means for determining a colorless portion included in each line of the print image data;
Transfer means for transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from being transferred;
A print image data generation apparatus comprising: Each line comprises a plurality of blocks,
The print image data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the colorless portion in units of blocks.   3. The printing according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that the continuous colorless block is the colorless portion when the colorless block has a number of colorless portions equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Image data generation device.   The print image data generation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit adjusts the threshold according to a transfer state of the print image data from the data generation unit to the controller. Print image data generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The controller;
A printer engine that executes printing of print image data received by the controller;
A printing apparatus comprising: A print control method for a print image data generation apparatus that transfers print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing apparatus,
A determination step of determining a colorless portion included in each line of the print image data;
A transfer step of transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from a transfer target;
A printing control method comprising: A program for causing a print image data generation apparatus to transfer print image data generated from data input from a host to a controller inside the printing apparatus,
A determination process for determining a colorless portion included in each line of the print image data;
A transfer process for transferring each line to the controller while excluding the colorless portion determined in each line from the transfer target;
For causing the print image data generation apparatus to execute the program.