JP2016055455A - Printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for changing so as to enhance priority on predetermined processing to priority information on an allocation to a CPU of a plurality of processing, when executing printing processing, in the printer for allocating the plurality processing to the CPU.SOLUTION: A printer comprises a priority information holding part 353 for holding priority information on an allocation to a CPU on processing realized by the CPU, an operation state determination part 351 for determining whether or not printing processing is executed in the printer and a priority information changing part 352 for changing so as to enhance priority on predetermined processing to the priority information held by the priority information holding part 353 on a period determined that the printing processing is executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a program.

  In Patent Document 1, in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors, a processor defined as a main processor monitors the operation rate of the plurality of processors, and a task executed by a processor whose operation rate exceeds a specified value is disclosed. An invention that equalizes the load on each processor by transferring a part to another processor is disclosed. In Patent Document 2, in a multiple programming processing system in which resources are allocated to a plurality of tasks including a task that requires the occupation of resources, the priority order of tasks that already occupy resources later requests the occupation of resources. An invention is disclosed that resets the priority of a task that occupies resources to be equal to or higher than that of a subsequent task when the priority is lower than the priority of a certain task. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-259259 measures the CPU occupation time by another program being executed at the start of processing of a program in the allocation of CPU execution rights to a plurality of programs each processing a plurality of events. Disclosed is an invention that shortens the overall processing time by allocating CPU execution rights to the program when an event to be processed in the process requires a long processing time and the occupation time of another program is shorter than a reference value Has been.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-342057 JP-A-2-204838 JP 2000-259431 A

  One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a priority relating to a predetermined process with respect to priority information relating to assignment of a plurality of processes to a CPU when the printing process is executed in a printing apparatus that assigns a plurality of processes to the CPU. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a program for performing a change to be enhanced.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus, a holding unit that holds priority information regarding allocation to a CPU for each of a plurality of processes realized by the CPU, and the printing A determination unit that determines whether or not a printing process is being performed in the apparatus, and a priority period information that is stored in the holding unit for a period in which the determination unit determines that the printing process is being performed. And a priority changing means for making a change to increase the priority related to the predetermined processing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the priority information is information indicating an execution order of an allocation process for allocating the plurality of processes to a CPU. Printing device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the priority information is information indicating whether or not to occupy the CPU for processing corresponding to the priority information. This is a printing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the predetermined process includes a rasterizing process.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the predetermined process includes a process of reading rasterized data stored in the storage unit. Printing device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the priority changing unit performs the predetermined information on the priority information according to the end of the period. A printing apparatus is characterized in that a change is made to lower the priority of processing.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for storing priority information related to allocation to a CPU for each of a plurality of processes realized by the CPU, and a printing process is executed in the printing apparatus. A priority relating to a predetermined process with respect to the priority information held in the holding means for a period during which it is determined that the printing process is being executed by the determination means. And a priority changing means for making a change that enhances the program.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that, when printing processing is executed, changes the priority information related to allocation of a plurality of processes to a CPU to increase the priority related to a predetermined process. .

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that changes the priority information indicating the execution order of the allocation process for allocating a plurality of processes to the CPU.

  According to the invention of claim 3, there is provided a printing apparatus that changes priority information indicating whether or not to occupy a CPU for processing corresponding to the priority information.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that performs a change that increases the priority of the rasterizing process when the printing process is executed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that performs a change to increase the priority of the read processing of rasterized data stored in the storage means when the print processing is executed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that, when the printing process is completed, changes the priority information with a lower priority for a predetermined process.

  According to the invention of claim 7, when the printing process is executed, the computer is a printing apparatus that changes the priority information related to the assignment of a plurality of processes to the CPU to increase the priority related to the predetermined process. A program for operating is provided.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller module configured in a CPU of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of the allocation process of the task to CPU. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 10 includes an operation unit 200, a CPU 300, a storage unit 400, a print processing unit 500, and a display unit 600 that are connected to each other via a bus 100. The operation unit 200 is an operation key or the like of the printing apparatus 10 and accepts an operation by an operator of the printing apparatus 10. The CPU 300 operates by a program stored in the storage unit 400 and realizes each function described later. The storage unit 400 includes a storage element such as a hard disk or a memory. The print processing unit 500 actually prints an image, a drawing, or the like based on the print data on the printing paper. The display unit 600 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a menu for operating the printing apparatus 10, an operation status of the printing apparatus 10, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the controller 310 configured in the CPU 300 of the printing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Each function is realized as a software module, and is grouped into a CEP (Center Processor) unit 320, a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit 330, and a BEP (Back End Processor) unit 340. These may be configured in one casing, or may be configured in separate casings. In the printing apparatus 10 having a plurality of CPUs 300, the same CPU 300 may be configured, or different CPUs 300 may be configured. It may be configured. A plurality of these may be configured. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 10 includes a task management unit 350 that manages tasks executed in the controller 310.

  The CEP unit 320 includes a function for managing a job such as a print job executed in the printing apparatus 10 as a system, and includes a job management unit 321, a job output unit 322, and a command distribution unit 323.

  The job management unit 321 acquires and stores information (job information) indicating a job submitted to the printing apparatus 10. The job output unit 322 sequentially acquires job information held in the job management unit 321 and outputs the job information to the command distribution unit 323. The command distribution unit 323 distributes the RIP processing execution command and the rasterization processing execution command included in the job information to the RIP unit 330 and the BEP unit 340.

  The RIP unit 330 includes functions for generating intermediate format data, parts constituting image data, and the like. The RIP unit 330 includes a command receiving unit 331, a job management unit 332, a RIP processing unit 333, a spool management unit 334, and a data distribution unit 335. Have.

  The command reception unit 331 receives the execution command distributed from the CEP unit 320 and outputs it to the job management unit 332. The job management unit 332 manages the job executed in the RIP unit 330, specifically holds the execution command input from the command reception unit 331, and outputs the RIP processing execution command to the RIP processing unit 333. To do. Also, the job management unit 332 acquires RIP processed data input from the RIP processing unit 333 and outputs the acquired data to the spool management unit 334. The RIP processing unit 333 executes RIP processing in response to a command input from the job management unit 332.

  The spool management unit 334 accumulates the RIP processed data input from the job management unit 332 in a spool data storage unit 336 configured by a storage element such as a hard disk, and sequentially acquires and outputs the data to the data distribution unit 335. . The data distribution unit 335 distributes the RIP processed data input from the spool management unit 334 to the BEP unit 340.

  The BEP unit 340 includes a function for performing processing in consideration of paper output, and includes a command reception unit 341, a data acquisition unit 342, a job management unit 343, a rasterization processing unit 344, and an engine control unit 345.

  The command receiving unit 341 receives the execution command distributed from the CEP unit 320 and outputs it to the job management unit 343. The data acquisition unit 342 acquires RIP processed data output from the RIP unit 330 and outputs the acquired data to the rasterization processing unit 344. The job management unit 343 manages the job executed in the BEP unit 340, specifically holds the execution command input from the command reception unit 341, and outputs the rasterize processing execution command to the rasterization processing unit 344. To do. The rasterization processing unit 344 performs rasterization processing on the RIP processed data input from the data acquisition unit 342 and outputs the rasterized processing data to the job management unit 343. The engine control unit 345 outputs the rasterized data input from the job management unit 343 to the print processing unit 500 and controls the print processing unit 500 to execute the print processing.

  The task management unit 350 manages tasks executed in the controller 310 (corresponding to processing in each module of the controller 310), assigns each task to the CPU 300, starts and ends, and monitors operations (each task is operating). Or whether it is stopped).

  The task management unit 350 includes an operation state determination unit 351, a priority information change unit 352, a priority information holding unit 353, and a task allocation unit 354. The operation state determination unit 351 determines whether or not processing is being executed in the BEP unit 340. The priority information changing unit 352 changes the priority information held in the priority information holding unit 353 based on the determination result in the operation state determining unit 351. Here, the priority information indicates a priority order when a task executed by the CPU 300 is assigned to the CPU 300. The operation of the priority information changing unit 352 will be described later. The task assignment unit 354 assigns a task to be executed by the controller 310 to the CPU 300 based on the priority information held in the priority information holding unit 353.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concept of task assignment processing to the CPU 300. Here, a user space and a kernel space defined through the OS boundary layer 800 are defined. The user thread 700 corresponds to a task (execution context) executed in the system (printing apparatus 10), that is, corresponds to one of the modules shown in FIG. The kernel thread 900 is a thread when the user thread 700 operates in the kernel space, and is an equivalent thread corresponding to the user thread 700 on a one-to-one basis. The scheduler 1000 manages tasks performed in the system, which kernel thread 900 is executed by which CPU 300 (CPU cores 301 to 304), how many time slices (operation time) are allocated, and in the cooperative processing The allocation function 1010 for determining how much priority is given in the allocation management function 1010 allocates the kernel thread 900 based on the priority information held in the task management unit 350. The scheduler 1000 is controlled from the task assignment unit 354.

  When a certain user thread 700 is executed, a kernel thread 900 is first generated, and the thread operates as the user thread 700 in the user space. Then, the allocation function 1010 of the scheduler 1000 allocates the kernel thread 900 to any of the CPU cores 301 to 304, and the CPU cores 301 to 304 execute the kernel thread 900 based on the allocation result by the allocation function 1010.

  In the printing apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the task management unit 350 changes the priority information according to whether the BEP unit 340 is executing processing. Specifically, the task management unit 350 includes a rasterization processing unit 344 and an engine control unit in a period in which rasterization processing and data output to the print processing unit 500 are executed in the BEP unit 340 compared to other periods. The priority information is changed so that the priority of the task related to 345 is higher (for example, highest).

  Here, the priority indicates the order in which tasks are assigned to the CPU 300, that is, whether or not assignment is necessary is confirmed in order from the task with the highest priority, and the necessary tasks are assigned to the CPU 300. Hereinafter, the setting value of the priority set with a higher priority of the task relating to the rasterizing process and data output is the first setting value, and the priority of the task relating to the rasterizing process and the data output is the first setting value. A priority setting value set lower (for example, the same level as other tasks) is referred to as a second setting value.

  When the operation state determination unit 351 of the task management unit 350 receives a notification from the CEP unit 320 that the rasterization processing unit 344 starts the operation, the operation state determination unit 351 determines that the process in the BEP unit 340 is being executed, and the priority information change unit 352. Request to change priority information. Upon receiving a priority information change request, the priority information changing unit 352 changes the priority information held in the priority information holding unit 353 from the second set value to the first set value. Note that, in the first set value, the priority of tasks other than the tasks related to rasterization processing and data output may be set lower than the second set value. When the process in the BEP unit 340 ends, the operation state determination unit 351 determines the end of the printing process by receiving a notification from the CEP unit 320 that the process of the engine control unit 345 has ended, for example. The priority information of the task whose priority information has been changed to the first setting value upon receiving the print processing end determination is returned to the original second setting value by the priority information changing unit 352.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. When a print job is input (S401), the job management unit 321 of the CEP unit 320 receives and holds the input job. The job output unit 322 of the CEP unit 320 acquires the job held in the job management unit 321 and outputs it to the command distribution unit 323 of the CEP unit 320. The command distribution unit 323 generates an execution command for RIP processing and rasterization processing based on the job input from the job output unit 322 (S402).

  When the command distribution unit 323 of the CEP unit 320 receives a data request from the command reception unit 331 of the RIP unit 330 (S403), the command distribution unit 323 transmits an RIP processing execution command to the command reception unit 331, and transmits the job request to the BEP unit 340. The identification information is transmitted (S404).

  When the command receiving unit 331 of the RIP unit 330 receives the execution command of the RIP process from the command distribution unit 323 of the CEP unit 320 (S405), the command receiving unit 331 of the RIP unit 330 further receives the command from the job management unit 332 of the RIP unit 330. Information indicating whether or not data processing is possible is acquired, and if further data processing is possible in the RIP processing unit 333 (S406), a data request is transmitted again to the command distribution unit 323 of the CEP unit 320 ( S407), the execution command is received (S405).

  The job management unit 332 of the RIP unit 330 holds the execution command of the RIP processing received by the command reception unit 331, and sequentially outputs the command to the RIP processing unit 333 to execute the RIP processing (S408). RIP processed data is acquired from the RIP processing unit 333. When the RIP process is completed for a certain execution command and further data processing is possible, the job management unit 332 notifies the command reception unit 331 to that effect.

  The job management unit 332 outputs the intermediate format data acquired from the RIP processing unit 333 to the spool management unit 334. The spool management unit 334 accumulates (spools) the intermediate format data in the spool data accumulation unit 336 and transmits job identification information corresponding to the spooled data to the BEP unit 340 (S409).

  When the BEP unit 340 notifies the CEP unit 320 that the identification information has been received from the RIP unit 330, the CEP unit 320 transmits an execution command for rasterization processing to the BEP unit 340 (S410). At this time, the CEP unit 320 also notifies the task management unit 350 that the rasterize processing execution command has been transmitted. Upon receiving this notification, the operation state determination unit 351 of the task management unit 350 determines that the BEP unit 340 of the printing apparatus 10 is operating (S411), and the priority information change unit 352 sets the priority information to the first setting described above. The value is changed (S412).

  The BEP unit 340 requests the RIP processed data stored in S409 to the RIP unit 330, and the rasterization processing unit 344 performs rasterization processing on the received data in response to the request (S413). When the rasterization process is completed, the job management unit 343 outputs the rasterized data to the engine control unit 345, and the engine control unit 345 outputs the data to the print processing unit 500 (S414).

  Then, the operation state determination unit 351 of the task management unit 350 determines, for example, that the operation of the BEP unit 340 has been completed upon receiving a notification from the CEP unit 320 (S415), and the priority information change unit 352 receives the priority information. 2 is changed to the set value (S416). Thus, the printing process in the printing apparatus 10 ends.

  According to the above configuration, while the BEP unit of the printing apparatus 10 is performing processing, the CPU 300 is preferentially assigned to rasterization processing and data output processing with a large processing load. As a result, adverse effects such as a delay in data supply to the print processing unit 500 caused by the rasterization process and the data output process becoming critical (dominant) with respect to the entire print process can be avoided. For example, when the same architecture is adopted in a plurality of types of printing apparatuses 10, processing delays also occur in a relatively low-spec printing apparatus 10 such as a model with a slow CPU operation speed or a model with a small number of CPUs. Is avoided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the printing apparatus in which tasks are assigned to the CPU has a configuration in which the priority of assignment is dynamically changed, and is relatively processed during execution of predetermined processing. In addition to a configuration in which the priority of a task with a large load is changed to a high priority, a configuration having a configuration in which the priority of a task with a relatively small processing load is changed to a low is also included.

  Here, the priority information is information indicating the execution order of the allocation processing in the above-described configuration, but information indicating whether a certain CPU 300 is occupied (not switched to another task in the middle). , Information indicating the length of time to be allocated (allocating a long time to a task with high priority), information indicating the amount of hardware resources such as the number of cores to be allocated ((more for tasks with high priority) Allocate resources)).

  In the above-described configuration, a configuration has been shown in which the priority of rasterizing processing and processing related to data output is increased during the operation of the BEP unit 340. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the other is critical to printing processing. It is good also as a structure which raises a priority about the process of. For example, in the printing apparatus 10 having a configuration in which data after rasterization processing is once spooled (accumulated) on a hard disk or the like and output to the print processing unit 500 while reading the spooled data (spool data), the spool data read processing Can become critical. In this case, by setting the priority of the spool data reading process to be higher during the execution of the printing process, a delay in the printing process due to a delay in reading the spool data can be avoided.

  Furthermore, although the above-described configuration discloses a configuration in which priority information is changed during execution of processing in the BEP unit 340, a configuration in which priority information is changed during execution of printing processing in the printing apparatus 10 may be adopted. .

  In the above-described configuration, when decoration processing or the like is performed by a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) separately provided for rasterized data, an end interrupt is input from the GPU to the controller 310. Here, when operating an interrupt handler that processes an end interrupt, a configuration for recognizing a CPU core to which rasterization processing is assigned based on the first set value is provided. When an end interrupt is input, the end is performed. A configuration may be adopted in which an interrupt is directly operated by a CPU core that recognizes the interrupt (assigned rasterization processing). With such a configuration, processing for an end interrupt is executed more quickly.

  In the above-described configuration, the task management unit 350 changes the priority information by a notification from the CEP unit 320. However, the priority information is changed to the first set value when the BEP unit 340 operates. For example, the task management unit 350 may monitor the operation status of the BEP unit 340 and change the priority information when it recognizes that the processing has started. In the first setting value, the priority of tasks other than the tasks related to the rasterizing process and the data reading process may be set lower than the second setting value. Further, the configuration in which the priority information is changed again in response to the end of the operation of the BEP unit 340 is a configuration in which the priority of tasks related to rasterization processing and data read processing is changed to a setting value lower than the first setting value. Well, it is not always necessary to return to the second set value.

  Note that the operation of the printing apparatus 10 described here is realized by operating a program stored in the storage unit 400. This program may be provided by communication, or may be provided by being stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM that can be read by a computer.

  10 printing device, 100 bus, 200 operation unit, 300 CPU, 301, 302, 303, 304 CPU core, 310 controller, 320 CEP unit, 321 job management unit, 322 job output unit, 323 command distribution unit, 330 RIP unit, 331 Command reception unit, 332 Job management unit, 333 RIP processing unit, 334 Spool management unit, 335 Data distribution unit, 336 Spool data storage unit, 340 BEP unit, 341 Command reception unit, 342 Data acquisition unit, 343 Job management unit, 344 Rasterization processing unit, 345 Engine control unit, 350 Task management unit, 351 Operation state determination unit, 352 Priority information change unit, 353 Priority information holding unit, 354 Task allocation unit, 400 Storage unit, 500 Print processing unit, 600 display , 700 user thread, 800 OS boundary layer, 900 kernel threads, 1000 scheduler 1010 allocation function.

Claims (7)

In the printing device,
Holding means for holding priority information related to allocation to the CPU for each of a plurality of processes realized by the CPU;
Determination means for determining whether a printing process is being executed in the printing apparatus;
Priority changing means for changing the priority information held in the holding means to increase the priority for a predetermined process for the period in which the determination means determines that the printing process is being executed;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority information is information indicating an execution order of an allocation process for allocating the plurality of processes to a CPU. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority information is information indicating whether to occupy a CPU for processing corresponding to the priority information. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The printing apparatus, wherein the predetermined process includes a rasterization process. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process includes a process of reading rasterized data stored in the storage unit. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority changing unit changes the priority information to lower the priority related to the predetermined process in accordance with the end of the period. Computer
Holding means for holding priority information related to allocation to the CPU for each of a plurality of processes realized by the CPU;
Determination means for determining whether a printing process is being executed in the printing apparatus;
Priority changing means for changing the priority information held in the holding means to increase the priority for a predetermined process for the period in which the determination means determines that the printing process is being executed;
A program for causing a printer to operate as a printer.

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