JP2013134739A - Print control device and print control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control device and a print control program, capable of distributing printing of a plurality of pages related to a variable data printing to a plurality of printers so as to regulate a printing quantity shared with each printer and reduce the number of reusable objects necessary in each printer.SOLUTION: A printer A determines the number of pages assigned to each of a plurality of printers A-C to be, for example, equal when distributing printing of a plurality of pages based on variable data printing data inputted from a client terminal device 20 to the printers A-C. Printing of each page on the basis of the variable data printing data is distributed to the printers A-C so that the number of pages assigned to each printer is the determined number of pages, and a plurality of pages using the same reusable object are collected in less printers. In this case, the number of constituent pages of one logical record used as the unit of a printed matter is determined and distributed into the logical record unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control program that perform printing based on variable print data distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses.

  In contrast to offset printing, which basically generates multiple copies of the same content by creating a plate and transferring the content, direct mail, invoices, etc., such as address, name, etc. can be changed as part of the content There is a printing technique called variable printing that generates a printed matter including a portion. For example, variable text printing is performed when creating a direct mail with a structure in which the information about the event is common and the name, address, and recommended product are individually changed according to the customer.

  In variable printing, printing is generally performed using a digital printing apparatus that combines a printer controller for performing digital image processing and a printer engine using an electrophotographic method or the like.

  As a printer language for describing variable print data sent from a PC (personal computer) or the like to a printer controller, the PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language) language formulated by the “PODi (Digital Printing Initiative)” standardization organization is representative. Is. In PPML, an image that is a “part” for composing print contents is called an “object”, and an object that is referred to from a plurality of pages is called a reusable object (Reusable Object). (It shall be called a temporary use object).

  In a general PPML language processing apparatus, a reusable object described in some PDL (Page Description Language) such as PDF (Portable Document Format) is stored in a cache memory after being rasterized by RIP (Raster Image Processing). A raster image is read from the cache memory without being RIP stored and stored. Specifically, when generating a final print image for each page, the temporary use object that appears on the page is RIPed at this point to form a raster image, and the reusable object that appears on the page If the raster image is already in the cache memory, it is read from the cache memory and synthesized. If not, the RIP is synthesized and the raster image is stored in the cache memory.

  As a cache memory for storing a raster image of a reuse object, a relatively high-speed storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) is generally used. There is a size limit. For this reason, in a typical processing apparatus, when storing more than a certain number of raster images of reusable objects, it is necessary to store them after image compression, and when the number of stored images is increased, It is not sufficient to perform compression processing on a raster image of a reuse object, and it is swapped out to a storage device with a large capacity but a relatively low speed such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  For this reason, when the number of reusable objects included in variable print data generally increases and exceeds a certain limit, the reusable object raster image and the temporary reusable object raster image are reused. It is necessary to decompress or swap in the raster image of the used object, and there is a phenomenon that productivity deteriorates a little rapidly.

  By the way, in many cases, a digital printing apparatus for realizing variable printing is introduced into a printing shop in units of a plurality of sets. Therefore, it is desired to establish a technique for reducing turnaround time and improving throughput by performing distributed parallel printing processing for a large amount of printing.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 below, when printing related to variable print data is distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses, each printing apparatus requires a higher-level apparatus that controls distributed printing. A technique for effectively using a cache memory by transmitting only a reuse object is disclosed. Specifically, when a reusable object is required in the printing apparatus, the reusable object is transmitted from the upper apparatus to the printing apparatus for the first time.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, when distributing printing of a plurality of pages related to variable printing to a plurality of printing apparatuses, the printing apparatus in charge of printing each page is set to the contents of a reuse object appearing on the page. A technique for determining a unit is disclosed. For example, if the address is “Tokyo”, it is distributed to the distribution destination A, and if the address is “Kanagawa Prefecture”, it is distributed to the distribution destination B.

JP 2008-108283 A JP 2008-225921 A

  As described above, it is important to reduce the compression / expansion and swap-in / swap-out of the reusable object raster image to prevent the deterioration of productivity. Is the same.

  In the technique disclosed in the cited document 1, since only the reusable object necessary for the printing apparatus is transmitted to each printing apparatus when performing distributed printing, the cache memory of each printing apparatus is not used by the printing apparatus. It is not unnecessarily occupied by the reuse object. However, depending on how to distribute multiple pages of variable print data to a plurality of printing devices, the number of reusable objects required by each printing device increases, and the required reusable object rasters become larger. Even if the image is cached, swap-out or the like may occur, and the effect of preventing the decrease in productivity is very limited only by the technique of the cited document 1.

  On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in the cited document 2, the printing destination of each page is determined so that one printing apparatus is responsible for printing a plurality of pages using the same reuse object, which is necessary for each printing apparatus. The number of reusable objects is reduced. However, since the number of printed pages assigned to each printing device depends on the number of pages using the reusable object that is a distribution reference to the printing device, the printing amount shared by each printing device is, for example, equalized. This cannot be controlled, and distributed printing cannot be performed efficiently.

  In addition, as an application example of variable printing, there are many cases where information related to individuals such as direct mail, insurance proposals, investment trust reports, school report, etc. is printed, and often the printing for one person consists of multiple pages. The case that is done is seen. For example, in the case of printing an invoice in which a name of a destination address is printed on the front side of a postcard and a billing content is printed on the back side, it is necessary to print the front side and the back side on one sheet. Also, if you want to put these 1 to 3 pages in the same envelope by post-processing machine in the printing of bank transaction notice that prints the transaction details on the first page, address and name on the first page If these 1 to 3 pages are not printed by the same printer, post-processing will be hindered.

  As described above, in distributed printing related to variable printing, it is desired to sort pages so that a plurality of related pages are printed by one printing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made from the above viewpoints, and controls a printing amount to be assigned to each printing apparatus by a plurality of printing apparatuses, and is necessary for each printing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus and a print control program that can be distributed so that the number of reusable objects is reduced.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] Distributing printing of a plurality of pages based on variable print data including a reusable object used a plurality of times, a temporary use object used only once, and layout information on each page to a plurality of printing apparatuses. A printing control device to perform,
An input unit for inputting the variable print data;
A shared amount determination unit that determines the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device when printing a plurality of pages based on the variable print data input from the input unit is distributed to the plurality of printing devices;
The number of pages allocated to each printing device is the number of pages determined by the sharing amount determination unit, and a plurality of pages using the same reusable object are aggregated in a smaller number of printing devices. A distribution unit that distributes printing of a plurality of pages based on the variable print data to the plurality of printing devices;
A printing control apparatus comprising:

  In the invention described in [1] and [8] below, when the printing of a plurality of pages based on the input variable print data is distributed to a plurality of printing devices, the number of pages allocated to each printing device is determined. The distribution unit determines the number of pages to be allocated to each printing apparatus is the number of pages determined by the sharing amount determination unit, and the number of pages using the same reuse object is smaller. A plurality of pages based on the variable print data is distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses in such a manner as to be integrated in the apparatus.

[2] It further includes a determination unit that determines the number of pages constituting one logical record that is a unit of printed matter in variable printing based on the variable printing data,
The sharing amount determination unit determines the number of logical records to be allocated to each printing device based on the number of pages constituting one logical record determined by the determination unit, instead of the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device,
The print control apparatus according to [1], wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by assigning pages to each printing apparatus in units of logical records.

  In the inventions described in [2] and [9] below, a plurality of pages constituting one logical record that is a unit of printed matter is determined, and the pages are distributed in units of logical records. Thereby, a plurality of pages constituting one logical record are printed by one printing apparatus. The plurality of pages constituting one logical record are, for example, a front page and a back page of paper, and a plurality of pages constituting a booklet.

[3] An extraction unit that extracts reuse objects that are used only in some logical records from the reuse objects as group-specific information,
The printing control apparatus according to [2], wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by using only the group specific information as the aggregation target.

  In the above invention, the reusable objects (group-specific information) that are used only in some of the logical records, except for those that are used in all the logical records, are sorted for aggregation. .

[4] The distribution unit aggregates logical records belonging to the logical record group into a smaller number of printing apparatuses in order from the logical record group using group-specific information used from more logical records. The printing control apparatus according to [3], wherein the printing control apparatus is arranged as follows.

  In the above-described invention, the printing apparatus as the distribution destination is determined in order from the logical record group using the group specific information used from more logical records.

[5] The determination unit totals the number of temporarily used objects arranged at the same position in the page from the layout information included in the variable print data by arrangement position, and uses the maximum value as the variable print data. The printing control apparatus according to [2], wherein a quotient obtained by dividing the total number of pages printed based on is obtained as the number of pages constituting one logical record.

  In the said invention, the number of pages which comprise 1 logical record is determined by the appearance period of the temporary use object arrange | positioned in the same arrangement position.

[6] The system further includes an extraction unit that extracts, as group specific information, a reuse object that is used only on some pages from the reuse object.
The print control apparatus according to [1], wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by using only the group specific information as a target of the aggregation.

  In the above-described invention, except for the reuse objects that are used on all pages, the group specific information that is the reuse object that is used only on some pages is used for aggregation.

[7] The distribution unit distributes the pages belonging to the page group in order from the page group using group-specific information used from more pages so that the pages belonging to the page group are collected into a smaller number of printing apparatuses. [6] The printing control apparatus according to [6].

  In the above-described invention, the printing apparatus as the distribution destination is determined in order from the page group using the group specific information used from more pages.

[8] Information processing apparatus
An input unit for inputting variable print data including a reuse object used multiple times, a temporary use object used only once, and layout information on each page;
A shared amount determination unit that determines the number of pages to be assigned to each printing device when printing a plurality of pages based on the variable print data input from the input unit is distributed to a plurality of printing devices;
The number of pages allocated to each printing device is the number of pages determined by the sharing amount determination unit, and a plurality of pages using the same reusable object are aggregated in a smaller number of printing devices. A distribution unit that distributes printing of a plurality of pages based on the variable print data to the plurality of printing devices;
A print control program that operates so as to function as a computer.

[9] The information processing apparatus is
While operating to further function as a determination unit that determines the number of pages constituting one logical record that is a unit of printed matter in variable printing based on the variable printing data,
The sharing amount determination unit determines the number of logical records to be allocated to each printing device based on the number of pages constituting one logical record determined by the determination unit, instead of the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device,
The print control program according to [8], wherein the distribution unit operates to perform the distribution by assigning pages to each printing apparatus in units of logical records.

  According to the printing control device and the printing control program according to the present invention, printing of a plurality of pages related to variable printing is controlled by a plurality of printing devices, and the printing amount shared by each printing device is required for each printing device. The number of reuse objects can be distributed so as to be reduced. As a result, each of the distribution destination printing apparatuses has a shortage of cache memory for storing raster images of reusable objects, and the possibility of image compression or swap-out is kept low, thereby speeding up image composition processing. In addition, it is possible to obtain a synergistic printing time shortening effect combined with the productivity improvement effect by performing the distributed printing process.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration example of the distributed printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a client terminal device. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. The data structure of PPML data is shown notionally. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the reuse object and temporary use object in postcard direct mail. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the distribution function of this invention simply. It is a flowchart which shows a logical record structure page number determination process. It is a figure which shows an example of the total table for totaling the number of temporary use objects according to arrangement position. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print job distribution processing performed by the representative printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows an example of the reference count total table which totaled the number of logical records referred by reuse object. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of distribution of reusable objects and layout description pages to printing apparatuses A to C by a distribution function.

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

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a distributed printing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The distributed printing system 10 is configured by connecting a client terminal device 20 and a printing device group 30 including a plurality of printing devices 31 so as to be communicable by a network line concentrator 4. In the example of FIG. 1, the printing device group 30 includes three printing devices 31, that is, a printing device A, a printing device B, and a printing device C. The client terminal device 20 and the printing device group 30 are configured to be connected to the LAN by the network line concentrator 4.

  The printing apparatus A is a “representative printing apparatus”, receives a print job input from the client terminal apparatus 20, divides the print job into a plurality of divided jobs, and configures each divided job as a printing apparatus group 30. A distribution function for transferring to each printing device 31.

  Note that the present invention may be provided with a print control device dedicated to the above distribution function that does not have a print function. In this case, each printing device 31 configuring the printing device group 30 may have a function of receiving a divided job from the printing control device and printing it.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the client terminal device 20. The client terminal device 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21, a random access memory (RAM) 22, an input I / F 23, an output I / F 24, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 25, a network I / F 26, and the like on a system bus 27. Connected and configured. A keyboard 23a and a pointing device 23b such as a mouse are connected to the input I / F 23 as input devices for user operations. The output I / F 24 is connected to a monitor device 24a for displaying various screens.

  A program for creating variable print data (referred to as a “VDP application program”) is loaded from the HDD 25 to the RAM 22 and executed by the CPU 21. The VDP application program is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) -based program. The keyboard 23a and the pointing device 23b are used to accept user operations for image editing, and the contents of the image editing are displayed on the monitor device 24a so that they can be confirmed at any time. Is done.

  After the image editing is completed, variable print data is generated by the function of the VDP application program, and the generated variable print data is sent as a print job to the representative printing apparatus (printing apparatus A) in the printing apparatus group 30 via the network I / F 26. It is thrown.

  The variable print data is composed of objects such as characters and graphics, and layout information of objects on each page. The object includes a temporary use object that is used only once and a reuse object that is used a plurality of times. Here, the client terminal device 20 creates variable print data in which a reuse object and a temporary use object are PDF files in which one object is stored in each page, and layout information and the like are in the form of PPML data.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the printing device 31 that constitutes the printing device group 30. FIG. 1 shows the internal configuration of the printing apparatus A, which is a representative printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus A will be described here. The other printing apparatuses B and C have the same basic configuration as the printing apparatus A. The differences will be described later.

  The printing device 31 includes a printer controller 32 and a printer engine 33. The basic function of the printer controller 32 is to generate a print image from the received print job and transfer it to the printer engine 33. In the case of the representative printing apparatus A, the printer controller 32 further performs a distribution function of dividing the print job into a plurality of divided jobs and transmitting the divided jobs to each printing apparatus. The basic function of the printer engine 33 is to form an image based on the print image received from the printer controller 32 on a recording sheet to generate a printed matter.

  The printer controller 32 is configured by connecting a CPU 35, a RAM 36, an HDD 37, a network I / F 38, a flash memory 39, a Video I / F 41, and the like to a system bus 34.

  The CPU 35 performs overall control of the operation of the printer controller 32. The flash memory 39 stores various programs executed by the CPU 35. In the case of the representative printing apparatus A, the flash memory 39 stores programs such as a PPML job distribution function 39a, a PPML interpreter function 39b, and a RIP function 39c. In the case of the other printing apparatuses B and C, the PPML job distribution function 39a program is not stored, but the PPML interpreter function 39b and RIP function 39c programs are stored.

  The RAM 36 is a cache memory that stores a reuse object image that is a raster image obtained by RIPing a reuse object, in addition to a work memory that temporarily stores various data when the CPU 35 executes a program. Used as the used object cache 36a.

  The network I / F 38 communicates with the client terminal device 20 and other printing devices 31. Specifically, the representative printing apparatus A receives a print job from the client terminal apparatus 20 and transmits a divided job to the other printing apparatuses B and C via the network I / F 38. In the case of the other printing apparatuses B and C, the division job is received from the representative printing apparatus A via the network I / F 38.

  The HDD 37 is a large capacity non-volatile storage device. The HDD 37 is used for storing the received print job, divided job, swap-out file 37a of reusable object images, and the like. The print image generated by the printer controller 32 is transferred to the printer engine 33 via the Video I / F 41.

  The PPML job distribution function 39a divides a print job (variable print data) received from the client terminal device 20 and stored in the HDD 37 into a plurality of divided jobs, and distributes and transfers to each printing device including the own device. Do.

  The PPML interpreter function 39b analyzes the divided job and generates a print image. The RIP function 39c develops a reuse object and a temporary use object into a raster image. The PPML interpreter function 39b generates a reuse object image by converting the reuse object in the divided job into a raster image using the RIP function 39c, and stores the reuse object image in the reuse object cache 36a.

  At this time, if the reusable object cache 36a has a sufficient capacity, the reusable object image is stored without compression. If the reusable object cache 36a does not have a sufficient capacity, the reusable object image having a low reference frequency from the page layout description data has priority. Compressed and stored. Further, if the capacity exceeds even when all the reuse object images in the reuse object cache 36a are compressed, the swap-out file 37a is written preferentially over the reuse object image with a low reference frequency from the page layout description data. Are stored in the HDD 37 and deleted from the reuse object cache 36a.

  Next, the PPML interpreter function 39b converts the temporary use object of each page into a raster image using the RIP function 39c, acquires the reuse object image referenced from the page from the reuse object cache 36a, and outputs these images. Are combined with the layout position according to the page layout description data to generate a print image of each page.

  The printer engine 33 includes, for example, a recording paper conveyance device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and an electrophotographic process. Thus, it is configured as a so-called electrophotographic printer engine that forms an image. The printer engine 33 may be an ink jet system or another system.

  FIG. 4 conceptually shows the data structure of PPML data. The standard PPML data 50 is divided into a reuse object description part 51 and a page layout description part 52. In the reuse object description section 51, descriptions of reuse objects are listed. Here, information indicating what kind of rectangle is cut out from which page of an object file such as PDF is described. Specifically, the page information, the lower left coordinates (x1, y1) near the origin of the rectangle, and the upper right coordinates (x2, y2) are described. In addition, the name of the reuse object is described.

  In the page layout description section 52, layout information of each page is described. Normally, one page layout description consists of a plurality of object descriptions. The object description may be a reuse object reference or a temporary use object description. In the former case, the information includes the name of the reuse object to be referred to and the arrangement position (x, y) in the page. In the case of a temporary use object description, an object file cutout page, cutout rectangles (x1, y1, x2, y2), and an arrangement position (x3, y3) are described. Of the cutout rectangles (x1, y1, x2, y2), (x1, y1) indicates the lower left coordinates near the origin of the cutout rectangle, and (x2, y2) indicates the upper right coordinates.

Next, a logical record of PPML data will be described.
“Logical record” means “one unit constituting a variable print”. In the case of a variable print that is variable in content for each individual, a print page (or print page group) related to one individual is designated as one logical record.

  For example, in an example of an invoice in which the address, address, and name are printed on the front side of the postcard and the billing content is printed on the back side, a print page that combines the front and back sides is one logical record. In this example, it is assumed that “one logical record is composed of two pages of print contents”. As another example, if it is a bank transaction notice that prints transaction details on the first page, address and name on the first page, one logical record consists of three pages of print contents. Will be. The number of pages constituting one logical record can take an arbitrary integer of 1 or more.

  In variable printing, printing is usually performed on the front / back surface of the same sheet in logical record units as in the above example, or after printing, it is stored in the same envelope in logical record units by a post-processing machine. . For this reason, when variable printing is distributed and processed in parallel by a plurality of printing apparatuses, the print data included in one logical record must be transmitted to the same printing apparatus in an adjacent form.

  Next, characteristics of the data structure of PPML data when focusing on the variable printed matter itself will be described.

  As already mentioned, a reuse object is premised on being referred to from multiple pages, unlike a temporary use object. "It does not always appear for each record".

In typical PPML data, a “reuse object that always appears for each logical record” may be, for example, a frame ruled line of a document. The “reusable object that does not always appear for each logical record” corresponds to information assigned to a specific group (for example, an individual group). The “temporarily used object” is often information corresponding to a specific individual (or a specific number). In this sense, these are called “common information”, “group specific information”, and “completely variable information”, respectively.

  This is specifically shown along with an example of the postcard direct mail shown in FIG. In this example, the front surface 61 and the back surface 62 of the postcard 60 constitute one unit of printed matter, and one page includes one logical record. Common information that is “a reusable object that always appears for each logical record” includes a postal code frame ruled line 63, a postcard backside frame ruled line 64, and a guide sentence 65. Further, as the group unique information that is “a reuse object that does not always appear for each logical record”, there is a recommended product image 66.

  The “recommended product image” in this example is assigned based on the past purchase history of the direct mail destination customer, and corresponds to information assigned to one specific customer group. In this example, those that are not reusable objects include a postal code 67, an address 68, and an address 69, which are information unique to each customer.

  FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of a job distribution method using the above-described configuration characteristics of PPML data (particularly group specific information). This distribution process is executed by the PPML job distribution function 39a. Here, first, an outline of distribution will be described using a simple example.

  In FIG. 6, the input print job 70 includes three descriptions of reuse objects a, b, and c as reuse object descriptions. The page layout description is composed of descriptions for 12 pages. In this print job, the number of pages constituting one logical record is “2”, such as page 1 and page 2, page 3 and page 4, page 5 and page 6,..., Page 11 and page 12. Each of the odd-numbered page and the subsequent even-numbered page forms one logical record.

  In this example, the reuse object is referred to in the even pages of each logical record. In FIG. 6, for example, the description “reference a” indicates that the reuse object a is being referred to. A method for determining the number of pages constituting one logical record will be described later.

  First, the number of pages to be allocated to each printing apparatus when the printing related to the print job is distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses is determined. Here, it is assumed that pages are allocated to each printing apparatus in units of logical records so that the printing amount is equal. Therefore, the total number of pages is divided by the number of pages of one logical record to obtain the total number of logical records, and the total number of logical records is divided by the number of printing apparatuses to obtain the number of logical records to be allocated per unit.

  The print job of this example is composed of 6 (12 ÷ 2 = 6) logical records because the total number of pages is 12 and one logical record is 2 pages. In addition, since the printing apparatus group 30 of this example is composed of three printing apparatuses A, B, and C, if each printing apparatus has an equal printing amount and is distributed in units of logical records, each printing apparatus The number of logical records to be allocated to the device is “2” because 6 ÷ 3 = 2. In terms of the number of pages, 4 pages are allocated.

  Next, the number of logical records to be assigned to each printing device is set to the number determined above, and a plurality of logical records using the same reusable object are aggregated to a smaller number of printing devices so that each logical record Are distributed to a plurality of printing devices.

  In this example, the reuse object a is referred to by three logical records of the logical records of pages 1 and 2, the logical records of pages 5 and 6, and the logical records of pages 11 and 12. A divided job 71 including a page layout description corresponding to two logical records (in this example, logical records of pages 1 and 2 and logical records of pages 5 and 6) and a description of the reuse object a is generated. Sort to printing device A.

  The reusable object c is referenced from two logical records (the logical records of pages 7 and 8 and the logical records of pages 9 and 10), and matches the number of logical records to be distributed to one printing apparatus. . Therefore, a divided job 72 including a page layout description corresponding to two logical records that refer to the reuse object c and a description of the reuse object c is generated and distributed to the printing apparatus B.

  Finally, a page layout description corresponding to the remaining one logical record that references the reuse object a, a page layout description that corresponds to the logical record that references the reuse object b, and a description for the reuse object a and the reuse object b Are generated and distributed to the printing apparatus C.

  As a result of performing the distribution process as described above, the number of reuse objects distributed to each of the printing apparatuses A to C is the smallest “1” for the printing apparatus A and the printing apparatus B, and the printing apparatus Only C is “2” as a result of the generation of fractions, and both are numerical values smaller than “3” of the number of reuse objects in the original data.

  In this way, the number of logical records allocated to each printing apparatus is controlled to be a predetermined printing amount (equal in the above example), and the number of logical records that refer to the same reuse object is smaller. Since the print jobs are distributed to a plurality of printing apparatuses in such a way as to be integrated into the printing apparatuses, it is possible to reduce the number of reusable objects stored in the cache memory in each printing apparatus. As a result, it becomes difficult for each printing apparatus to compress or swap out the reusable object image, and the print processing time can be shortened accordingly.

  Next, a method for determining the number of pages constituting one logical record will be described.

  In this determination, the layout description part of the PPML data is scanned, and the number of temporarily used objects arranged at the same position in the page is totaled according to the arrangement position, and the total number of pages printed based on the variable print data by the maximum value. The quotient obtained by dividing the number is obtained as the number of pages constituting one logical record.

  The reason for this determination by the temporary use object is that, for example, if the reuse object is a frame ruled line or a page background image, there is a possibility that the same thing is used in different pages in one logical record. In the case of a temporary use object such as a name, a common object cannot be used in different pages in one logical record. Also, temporary use objects such as addresses and names are assumed to be placed at the same position in all logical records.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of logical record configuration page number determination processing for determining the number of pages constituting one logical record. FIG. 8 shows a counting table 80 for counting the number of temporarily used objects by arrangement position.

  The CPU 35 executing the PPML job distribution function 39a in the representative printing apparatus A performs this processing. First, the CPU 35 acquires elements in order from the top of the page layout description part of PPML data (step S101). The element is a description that becomes one unit in the page layout description section.

  If the element has been acquired (step S102; No), it is determined whether or not this is a “page element”, that is, a description that appears at the top of the page description of each page (step S103). If the acquired element is a page element (step S103; Yes), the page counter is incremented by 1 (step S104), the process returns to step S101, and the next element is acquired.

  On the other hand, when the acquired element is not a page element (step S103; No), it is determined whether or not the element is a description of a temporary use object (step S105). If the acquired element is not a description of a temporary use object, that is, a description of a reuse object (step S105; No), the process returns to step S101 immediately without performing anything, and an acquisition process for the next element is performed.

  If the acquired element is a temporary use object (step S105; Yes), it is determined whether or not arrangement information at the same arrangement position as the temporary use object has been registered in the aggregation table (step S106). If registered (step S106; Yes), the number of appearances corresponding to the arrangement information of the arrangement position is incremented by +1 (step S107), the process returns to step S101, and the next element is acquired.

  If not registered (step S106; No), the arrangement information of the arrangement position is registered as a new table element in the aggregation table 80, the corresponding number of appearances is set to “1” (step S108), and the process returns to step S101. The next element is acquired.

  If the next element cannot be acquired in the process of step S101, it is determined that scanning of all descriptions in the page layout description part has been completed (step S102; Yes), and the process proceeds to step S109.

  In step S109, one logical record is formed by obtaining the maximum number of appearances of the placement information, which is the maximum value of the number of appearances registered in the aggregation table 80, and dividing the total number of pages by the maximum number of appearances of the placement information. The logical record configuration page number LP, which is the number of pages, is calculated, and this process ends.

  Next, the print job distribution process will be described in detail.

  9 and 10 are flowcharts showing print job distribution processing. The CPU 35 executing the PPML job distribution function 39a in the representative printing apparatus A performs this processing. First, the CPU 35 performs the logical record configuration page number determination process shown in FIG. 7 (step S201), and acquires the number of logical record configuration pages that is the number of pages constituting one logical record.

  Next, the number of logical records to be transmitted to each printing apparatus is calculated (step S202). Here, a print job having a total number of pages of 200 is taken as an example. Further, it is assumed that the number of logical record constituent pages of this print job is determined to be “2”, and distributed processing is performed on the printing apparatuses A to C. In this case, the number of logical records to be transmitted to one printing apparatus is 200 ÷ 2 ÷ 3 = 33.333..., Which is converted into an integer, and 33 logical numbers are respectively transmitted to the printing apparatus A and the printing apparatus B. It is assumed that 34 logical records are assigned to the printing apparatus C.

  Next, the PPML data is scanned, and for each reusable object, the number of references indicating how many logical records the reusable object is referred to is counted, and the number of references is registered for each reusable object. A table 90 (see FIG. 11) is created (step S203). Further, the reference count table 90 is sorted in descending order of reference count (step S204).

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 11, six reusable objects a, b, c, d, e, and f are detected, and the number of times of reference (the number of logical records to be referenced) is 100 times. The description will be made assuming that the number of times was 43, 27, 18, and 12.

  Thereafter, while processing the six reuse objects registered in the reference count table 90 one by one in descending order of the reference count, each reuse object and the page description referring to it are logically recorded. Performs processing to distribute to printing devices.

  Specifically, first, the CPU 35 checks whether or not an unprocessed reusable object remains (step S205). If the process has been completed for all the reusable objects (step S205; No), the process ends. (END).

  If an unprocessed reuse object remains (step S205; Yes), an unprocessed reuse object having the highest reference count is selected as a reuse object to be determined (step S206).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the selected determination-target reuse object is referenced from all logical records, that is, whether or not it is “common information” (step S207). Specifically, the number of references to this reusable object is determined based on the total number of logical records of the print job, that is, whether it is “100” in the case of the illustrated print job. In the case of a print job according to the reference count table 90 shown in FIG. 11, it is determined that the reuse object a and the reuse object b meet the conditions.

  When it is determined that the reuse object to be determined is common information (step S207; Yes), the reuse object is registered as common information that needs to be transmitted to all printing apparatuses (see FIG. 12). Returning to step S205, the processing is continued.

  If the reusable object to be determined is not common information (step S207; No), this reusable object is group-specific information, and thus becomes a processing target in steps S208 to S211 shown in FIG. In the case of the reference count table 90 in FIG. 11, the reuse objects c, d, e, and f are group-specific information, and the total number of references of these reuse objects c to f is “100”. The group specific information is distributed in such a manner that logical records including layout description pages that refer to each group are aggregated in as few printers as possible.

  Specifically, it is determined whether or not there is a printing apparatus in which the number of remaining allocable logical records is equal to or greater than the reference count of the reuse object to be determined (step S208). If there is a printing apparatus in which the number of remaining allocable logical records is equal to or greater than the reference count of the reuse object to be determined (step S208; Yes), the printing apparatus is determined as a distribution destination.

  If there are multiple printing devices whose remaining assignable logical records are equal to or greater than the reference count of the reusable object to be determined, the one with the smallest remaining assignable logical records is selected as the distribution destination. .

  Then, all of the logical records that refer to the determination-target reuse object are assigned to this distribution destination, and the number of remaining assignable logical records of the distribution destination printing device is subtracted by that number (step S211). Returning to S205, the next determination target is processed.

  If there is no printing apparatus whose remaining assignable logical record number is equal to or greater than the reference count of the reuse object to be determined (step S208; No), the remaining remaining assignable logical record number is assigned to the remaining printing apparatus. Allocate a number of logical records equal to the number of allocatable logical records. Further, the number of remaining allocable logical records of this printing apparatus and the reference count of the reuse object are subtracted by the allocated number (step S209).

  Next, it is determined whether there is a printing apparatus having a remaining number of allocated logical records equal to or greater than the number of references after the subtraction of the reusable object to be determined (referred to as the number of remaining references) (step S210).

  If there is no printing apparatus whose remaining allocation logical record number is equal to or greater than the remaining reference count of the reuse object to be determined (step S210; No), the process returns to step S209 to repeat the process.

  If there is a printing apparatus in which the number of remaining allocable logical records is equal to or greater than the remaining reference count of the reuse object to be determined (step S210; Yes), that printing apparatus is set as the next distribution destination. If there are multiple printers whose remaining assignable logical records are equal to or greater than the remaining reference count of the reuse object to be judged, select the one with the smallest remaining assignable logical records as the distribution destination. To do.

  Allocate logical records corresponding to all remaining reference counts of the reusable object to be judged to the printing device that is the next distribution destination, and subtract the remaining number of logical records that can be allocated to the printing device that is the distribution destination. (Step S211). As a result, the remaining reference count of the reusable object becomes “0”, so the process returns to step S205 to perform allocation processing for the next reusable object.

  In the case of the reuse object c registered in the reference count table 90 shown in FIG. 11, 33 logical records out of 43 are allocated to the printing apparatus A in step S209. Then, a subtraction process of “43−33 = 10” is performed on the reference count of the reuse object c. As a result of this subtraction, the remaining reference count of the reuse object a is “10”. That is, ten unallocated logical records referencing the reuse object a remain. Further, the remaining assignable logical record number of the printing apparatus A is “0” by subtracting “33”.

  Further, in the case of the reuse object c, in the subsequent step S210, it is determined that all the remaining reference counts can be assigned to the printing apparatus B. Then, in the next step S211, a process of subtracting “33-10 = 23” from the remaining number of logical records that can be assigned to the printing apparatus B and subtracting “10” from the remaining reference count of the reuse object c. I do.

  As a result, the number of remaining allocable logical records in the printing apparatus B is “23”, and the remaining reference count of the reuse object c is “0”. Thereby, the logical record distribution process related to the reuse object c is completed, and the process returns to step S205 to perform the process related to the next reuse object.

  In the case of this example, the next determination target is the reuse object d. Since the reference count of the reuse object d is “27” and the remaining allocable logical record number of the printing apparatus C to which no logical record is currently distributed is “34”, “Yes” is determined in step S208. As a result, all the 27 logical records that refer to the reuse object d are distributed to the printing apparatus C, and the remaining reference count of the reuse object d is “27−27 = 0”. The number of records is subtracted from “34−27 = 7” to become “7” (step S211). Since the remaining reference count is “0”, the process for the reuse object d is completed, and the process returns to step S205 to perform the process for the next reuse object.

  Similarly, the reusable object e and the reusable object f are sorted in order. Since these are also distributed based on the same algorithm, the description thereof is omitted.

  As a result of scanning all the reusable object descriptions for the exemplary print job and finishing the distribution process, the reusable objects and layout description pages are distributed to the printing apparatuses A to C as shown in FIG.

  For example, the description “c (33)” in FIG. 12 indicates that 33 logical records referring to the reuse object c have been distributed. The description “d (0)” indicates that the logical record that refers to the reuse object d is not distributed. In this case, it is not necessary to distribute the reuse object d itself. In the example of FIG. 12, the gray shaded portion is a portion to which a logical record that refers to the corresponding reuse object is not distributed. For example, in the case of the printing apparatus A, only the reuse object c is necessary in the group specific information.

  In this way, by reallocating the logical records that refer to the same reuse object so as to be collected in as few printing apparatuses as possible, the number of reuse object images stored in the cache memory of each printing apparatus can be reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for each printing apparatus to compress or swap out the reusable object image, and the print processing time can be shortened accordingly. In addition, while performing the above aggregation, printing can be shared at a target ratio such as equalizing the amount of printing to each printing device, so synergy with the time reduction effect of aggregation and printing by distributed printing Time shortening effect can be enhanced.

  In addition, since the logical records are allocated, a plurality of pages to be printed as a whole are printed by a single printing apparatus, so that one sheet of paper can be printed on the front and back and post-processing for a plurality of pages can be appropriately performed. .

  When the layout description page and the reusable object are randomly distributed to each printing device without being aware of the efficient distribution by the aggregation of the present invention, as a worst case, when there is no gray shaded portion in FIG. That is, there may be a case where transmission of the reuse object can be omitted at all. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 12 of the present embodiment, in the combination of each group specific information of the reuse objects cf and the printing apparatus, the number of cases is 6 cases, and the ratio to the whole is 6/12. = 50% reuse object transmission is omitted.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, pages are distributed in units of logical records. However, distribution may be performed in units of pages. For example, in the case of variable printing in which one person is determined to be one page, the page may be sorted without determining the number of pages constituting the logical record.

  In the embodiment, the case where the printing amount is assigned to the plurality of printing apparatuses almost equally has been illustrated, but the printing amount may not necessarily be assigned equally. For example, each printing device is weighted according to the print processing speed, the capacity of the cache memory, the size of the allocated object, etc., and the printing amount (number of logical records and pages) shared by each printing device is increased or decreased according to the weight. You may let them.

  The distribution method shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6, 9, and 10 of the embodiment corresponds to a print pattern that frequently occurs in variable printing, and the distribution method is not limited to this. Any method that distributes logical records and pages that use the same reusable object so as to be collected in as few printing apparatuses as possible is included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the configuration in which the representative printing apparatus A has a distribution function that divides a print job into a plurality of divided jobs and transmits the divided jobs to each printing apparatus has been described. However, the present invention provides a distribution function without having a printing function. It may be a print control apparatus to be executed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which PPML data is used as a format of variable print data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a reuse object and a temporary use object can be specified, and those pages can be specified. Any other description method may be used as long as it is a description method that can define the arrangement of the.

  The determination of the number of pages constituting one logical page is not limited to the method exemplified in the embodiment. For example, when information specifying the number of pages constituting one logical page is included in the variable print data in advance, the number of pages constituting one logical page may be acquired by referring to the information.

4 ... Network concentrator 10 ... Distributed printing system 20 ... Client terminal 21 ... CPU
22 ... RAM
23 ... Input I / F
23a ... Keyboard 23b ... Pointing device 24 ... Output I / F
24a ... monitor device 25 ... HDD
26 ... Network I / F
27 ... System bus 30 ... Printing device group 31 ... Printing device (A, B, C)
32 ... Printer controller 33 ... Printer engine 34 ... System bus 35 ... CPU
36 ... RAM
36a ... Reuse object cache 37 ... HDD
37a ... Swap-out file 38 ... Network I / F
39 ... Flash memory 39a ... PPML job distribution function 39b ... PPML interpreter function 39c ... RIP function 41 ... Video I / F
50 ... PPML data 51 ... Reuse object description part 52 ... Page layout description part 60 ... Postcard 61 ... Front surface 62 ... Back surface 63 ... Postal code frame ruled line 64 ... Postcard back frame ruled line 65 ... Guidance text 66 ... Recommended product image 67 ... Postal Number 68 ... Address 69 ... Address 70 ... Print job 71, 72, 73 ... Split job 80 ... Count table 90 ... Reference count table

Claims (9)

Printing in which a plurality of pages are printed on a plurality of printing apparatuses based on variable print data including a reuse object that is used a plurality of times, a temporary use object that is used only once, and layout information on each page. A control device,
An input unit for inputting the variable print data;
A shared amount determination unit that determines the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device when printing a plurality of pages based on the variable print data input from the input unit is distributed to the plurality of printing devices;
The number of pages allocated to each printing device is the number of pages determined by the sharing amount determination unit, and a plurality of pages using the same reusable object are aggregated in a smaller number of printing devices. A distribution unit that distributes printing of a plurality of pages based on the variable print data to the plurality of printing devices;
A printing control apparatus comprising: A determination unit that determines the number of pages constituting one logical record that is a unit of printed matter in variable printing based on the variable printing data;
The sharing amount determination unit determines the number of logical records to be allocated to each printing device based on the number of pages constituting one logical record determined by the determination unit, instead of the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by assigning pages to each printing apparatus in units of logical records. An extractor that extracts reusable objects used only in some logical records from the reusable objects as group-specific information;
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by using only the group specific information as the aggregation target. The distribution unit sequentially allocates logical records belonging to the logical record group to a smaller number of printing apparatuses in order from the logical record group using group-specific information used from more logical records. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print control apparatus is divided. The determination unit totals the number of temporarily used objects arranged at the same position in a page from the layout information included in the variable print data, and prints based on the variable print data with the maximum value. The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a quotient obtained by dividing the total number of pages is obtained as the number of pages constituting one logical record. An extractor that extracts reusable objects that are used only on some pages from the reusable objects as group-specific information;
The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit performs the distribution by using only the group specific information as the aggregation target. The distribution unit performs distribution so that pages belonging to the page group are aggregated to a smaller number of printing apparatuses in order from the page group using group-specific information used from more pages. The printing control apparatus according to claim 6. Information processing device
An input unit for inputting variable print data including a reuse object used multiple times, a temporary use object used only once, and layout information on each page;
A shared amount determination unit that determines the number of pages to be assigned to each printing device when printing a plurality of pages based on the variable print data input from the input unit is distributed to a plurality of printing devices;
The number of pages allocated to each printing device is the number of pages determined by the sharing amount determination unit, and a plurality of pages using the same reusable object are aggregated in a smaller number of printing devices. A distribution unit that distributes printing of a plurality of pages based on the variable print data to the plurality of printing devices;
A print control program that operates so as to function as a computer. The information processing apparatus;
While operating to further function as a determination unit that determines the number of pages constituting one logical record that is a unit of printed matter in variable printing based on the variable printing data,
The sharing amount determination unit determines the number of logical records to be allocated to each printing device based on the number of pages constituting one logical record determined by the determination unit, instead of the number of pages to be allocated to each printing device,
The print control program according to claim 8, wherein the distribution unit operates to perform the distribution by assigning pages to each printing apparatus in units of logical records.

Images