JP2017047666A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus notifying a user that time required for RIP processing for a printing job can be reduced by changing a printing job generation method.SOLUTION: A printing job analysis section 18 applies a feature detection program according to a creator generating a printing job to the printing job input in an image forming apparatus 10 and an analysis is executed. Concretely, processing for detecting a feature included in the printing job to be an analysis object such as an improving possible feature to be a drawing instruction and a feature modified so that time required for RIP processing is reduced by changing a printing job generation method. When the improving possible feature is detected by the processing, a control section 28 notifies a user of the effect.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  An image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral performs a printing process based on an input print job. A print job is a document in which a document to be printed is described in a PDL (Page Description Language) such as PostScript.

  In the image forming apparatus, the print job is developed into raster data that can be recognized by an output unit that performs output processing (print processing) that embodies characters or images included in the print data on a print medium such as paper. . This processing is called RIP processing. Thereafter, the raster data developed is output (output processing) to a print medium such as paper.

  Since the RIP process takes a relatively long time, the RIP process may become a bottleneck in the printing process.

  In addition, when the RIP process becomes a bottleneck, that is, when the supply of raster data to the output unit that performs the output process is delayed, a symptom called “intermittent printing” occurs in which the output process is not continuously executed in the output unit. In an image forming apparatus of a continuous paper feed type (a method in which a plurality of pages are continuously printed on one long print medium and the print medium is cut after printing), the output unit is in a standby state without being able to perform output processing. In addition, since paper feeding (paper feeding) is performed, there is a problem that a blank paper portion occurs between pages due to intermittent printing.

  In view of these, conventionally, techniques for speeding up RIP processing have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, it is checked whether each rendering command included in PDL data that is a print job is a command that causes a delay in RIP processing, and a rendering command that causes a delay is rendered from a graphics library. A technique for performing RIP processing in place of instructions is disclosed.

JP 2010-122917 A

  By the way, when two different print job generation methods are applied to one document and two print jobs are obtained, there may be a difference between the contents of the two print jobs. The RIP processing time for the two print jobs may be different depending on the difference in the contents.

  Therefore, when a long time is required for the RIP process, the user may want to determine whether or not the cause is the method for generating the print job. In other words, the user may want to determine whether the time required for RIP processing can be shortened by changing the print job generation method.

  An object of the present invention is to notify a user that the time required for RIP processing for a print job can be reduced by changing the print job generation method.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a print job receiving unit that receives a first print job obtained by applying a first print job generation method to a document to be printed, and converts the first print job into raster data. RIP processing means for executing RIP processing, and time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document, And a notification means for notifying the user when the RIP processing time improvement condition of being shorter than the time required for the RIP processing for the first print job is satisfied.

  In addition, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a print job receiving unit that receives a first print job including a plurality of processing units obtained by applying the first print job generation method to a document to be printed; RIP processing means for executing RIP processing for converting the first print job into unit raster data for each processing unit; and output means for executing output processing for sequentially outputting the unit raster data to a print medium, the output The means is configured so that a time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document is the RIP for the first print job. When the condition for improving the RIP processing time, which is shorter than the time required for processing, is satisfied, the output processing is started after temporarily storing the unit raster data. That, characterized in that.

  Preferably, it is determined whether or not the RIP processing time improvement condition is satisfied by executing a print job analysis program corresponding to the first print job generation method on the first print job.

  Desirably, the said notification means determines whether the said RIP processing time improvement conditions are satisfy | filled, when the time required for the said RIP process is more than predetermined time.

  A program according to the present invention includes a print job receiving unit that receives a first print job obtained by applying a first print job generation method to a document to be printed, and converts the first print job into raster data. RIP processing means for executing RIP processing to be converted, and time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document When the RIP processing time improvement condition that the time required for the first print job is shorter than the time required for the RIP processing is satisfied, the information processing apparatus functions as a notification unit that notifies the user to that effect.

  According to the first or fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to notify the user that the time required for the RIP processing for the print job can be reduced by changing the print job generation method.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the possibility of intermittent printing can be reduced as compared with the case where the unit raster data is not temporarily held.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the RIP processing time improvement condition is satisfied by an appropriate print job analysis program corresponding to the print job generation method.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to skip the determination processing for determining whether or not the RIP processing time improvement condition is satisfied for a print job in which the time required for the RIP processing is less than the predetermined time.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus and a terminal according to an embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of feature detection method DB. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of printing processing in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for notifying a user that a printable job includes an improveable feature. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 10 and a terminal 2 according to the first embodiment.

  The terminal 2 may be a personal computer, for example, and is a terminal used by a user who transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 10. The terminal 2 includes a storage unit (not shown in FIG. 1), and a creator 4 that is a software program for generating a print job is stored in the storage unit. In addition to this, the terminal 2 includes a control unit including an input unit including a mouse or a keyboard, a display unit including a liquid crystal display, and a CPU for controlling each unit of the terminal 2 for inputting user instructions to the terminal 2. May have a part.

  The terminal 2 executes the creator 4 for the document 6 that is the document to be printed, thereby generating a print job for the document 6. In the present embodiment, the print job generated by the creator 4 is assumed to be in the PostScript format. The print job includes a plurality of drawing commands corresponding to sentences and images included in the document 6. In the present embodiment, the document 6 is a document composed of a plurality of pages, and the print job generated by the creator 4 includes a plurality of page data corresponding to each page of the document 6. The page data is considered as a processing unit in a print job.

  In the creator 4, the user can change settings related to the print job generation process. For example, it is possible to select whether to include the RAW data format image included in the document 6 as it is in the print job, or to convert the image into a compression format image and include it in the print job. Thus, by changing the setting of the creator 4, print jobs having different contents can be generated from the same document 6.

  Various types of programs are provided as creators for converting a document into a print job. Even if two print jobs are generated from the same document, the contents of the two print jobs may be different if the two print jobs are generated by different types of creators.

  As described above, even print jobs generated from the same document may have different contents depending on the print job generation method.

  The print job includes information indicating a method for generating the print job. For example, information indicating the creator that generated the print job, or information indicating the setting of the creator when the print job was generated is included.

  A print job related to the document 6 generated by the creator 4 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 via a communication line 8 such as the Internet or a LAN.

  A print job receiving unit 12 included in the image forming apparatus 10 receives a print job from the terminal 2 or the like. The print job receiving unit 12 includes a communication unit such as a LAN card or an external connection interface, and receives a print job via the communication line 8.

  The storage unit 14 includes, for example, a hard disk, ROM, or RAM, and a program for operating each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 or a print job received by the print job receiving unit 12, that is, a print input to the image forming apparatus 10. The job is stored. The storage unit 14 can also temporarily store (store) raster data developed by the RIP processing unit 20 described later.

  The storage unit 14 stores a feature detection method DB 16 referred to by the print job analysis unit 18 prior to an analysis process described later for the print job. In the feature detection method DB 16, generation method information indicating a print job generation method and analysis method information indicating a print job analysis method are associated with each other.

  The print job analysis unit 18 performs analysis processing on the print job input to the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, first, a generation method of the print job is specified based on information included in the print job. Thereafter, a print job analysis method associated with the specified print job generation method is specified based on the feature detection method DB 16, and the print job is analyzed according to the print job analysis method.

  Based on the analysis by the print job analysis unit 18, it is determined whether the time required for the RIP processing by the RIP processing unit 20 (RIP processing time) described later can be reduced by changing the print job generation method for the print job to be analyzed. Is done.

  Details of the feature detection method DB 16 and analysis processing of the print job analysis unit 18 will be described later.

  The RIP processing unit 20 performs processing (RIP processing) for expanding the input print job into raster data that can be recognized by the output unit 24 described later. When the print job includes page data as a plurality of processing units, the RIP processing unit 20 sequentially performs RIP processing for each page data, and sequentially outputs raster page data as unit raster data corresponding to each processing unit. Output.

  The RIP time calculation unit 22 calculates the time required for the RIP process for the input print job. The RIP time calculation unit 22 starts time measurement triggered by the start of the RIP processing for the print job by the RIP processing unit 20, and stops measurement triggered by the end of the RIP processing. The measured time becomes the RIP processing time for the print job.

  The output unit 24 executes output processing (print processing) for reproducing the raster data developed by the RIP processing unit 20 on the print medium. The output unit 24 includes various members of a general printer, such as toner, a photosensitive drum, and a paper feeding unit. When the print job has a plurality of page data, the output unit 24 sequentially performs an output process on the plurality of raster pages obtained by the expansion process of the RIP processing unit 20.

  The display unit 26 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and is for displaying various types of information. For example, a screen for notifying the user of the analysis result of the print job analysis unit 18 is displayed.

  The control unit 28 is constituted by, for example, a CPU or a microprocessor, and performs control to operate each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 according to a program stored in the storage unit 14. In addition, the control unit 28 receives information indicating the analysis result of the print job (that is, whether or not an improveable feature has been detected in the print job) from the print job analysis unit 18, and when the improveable feature is included in the print job. Causes the display unit 26 to display a screen for notifying the user of that fact. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, the print job analysis unit 18 and the control unit 28 constitute notification means.

  The schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 is as described above. In addition to the above, the image forming apparatus 10 may be provided with an input unit (for example, including a touch panel and buttons) for inputting a user instruction. The print job analysis unit 18 and the RIP time calculation unit 22 may be functions of the control unit 28 (that is, the control unit 28 includes the print job analysis unit 18 and the RIP time calculation unit 22). Also good).

  Details of the feature detection method DB 16 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the feature detection method DB 16.

  As described above, in the feature detection method DB 16, generation method information indicating a print job generation method is associated with analysis method information indicating a print job analysis method. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the feature detection method DB 16 has a table format. Information for specifying a creator as generation method information and information indicating a feature detection program as analysis method information are included in one record. Each feature detection program shown in the feature detection method DB 16 is stored in the storage unit 14.

  In this embodiment, the creator name is used as the generation method information. However, the generation method information may be other information (such as a creator ID) as long as the information can uniquely identify the creator.

  The feature detection program associated with the creator name in the feature detection method DB 16 is determined according to the feature of the creator. Specifically, a program that can detect a weak point of a print job generated by a creator (that is, a feature that increases the RIP processing time) when viewed from the viewpoint of the RIP processing time is associated with the creator.

  For example, referring to the record R1 shown in FIG. 2, “uncompressed image detection program” is associated with the creator name “ABCD Ver2.0” as a print job analysis method. The “uncompressed image detection program” is a program for detecting an uncompressed image (RAW image) from a print job.

  As a premise, the time required for the RIP process is shorter when the RIP process is performed on the compressed image (for example, JPEG) obtained by compressing the RAW image than when the RAW image included in the print job is subjected to the RIP process. . Some creators convert a RAW image contained in a document to be printed into a compressed image and include it in a print job. That is, when a RAW image is included in a print job, according to other creators, the RAW image can be converted into a compressed image and included in the print job, thereby reducing the RIP processing time for the image. To get.

  It should be noted that a feature that is included in a print job, such as a RAW image, and that can be modified to shorten its RIP processing time according to a print job generation method that is different from the method that generated the print job. Are referred to herein as “improveable features”.

  The creator “ABCD Ver2.0” can include the RAW image in the print job 6 as it is without being compressed into a compressed image when the document 6 to be printed is included, or such a setting can be made. For this reason, the print job generated by the creator can include a RAW image that can be improved. Accordingly, the creator is associated with an “uncompressed image detection program” that detects a RAW image included in the print job.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a different feature detection program is associated with each creator. This means that the print job is analyzed by a different analysis method depending on the print job generation method. The record associated with the creator name “undefined” is a record that is referred to when the information for specifying the creator is not included in the print job.

  Preferably, a feedback comment can be associated with each record in the feature detection method DB 16. The content of the feedback comment is displayed when notifying the user that an improveable feature has been detected in the print job.

  The feature detection method DB 16 is created in advance by an administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 and stored in the storage unit 14. Further, the feature detection method DB 16 may be updated at the time of update of a program for operating the image forming apparatus 10 or maintenance.

  The processing flow of the image forming apparatus 10 in the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S10, the print job receiving unit 12 receives a print job. That is, a print job is input to the image forming apparatus 10.

  In step S12, the print job analysis unit 18 analyzes the input print job and identifies the creator that generated the print job. Specifically, the print job analysis unit 18 refers to the creator information described in the DSC comment of the print job in PostScript format, or creator information or producer information included in the metadata of the print job. Identifies the creator that generated the print job. Here, it is assumed that “ABCD Ver2.0” is specified as the creator.

  In step S14, the print job analysis unit 18 refers to the feature detection method DB 16 and identifies a feature detection program associated with the creator identified in step S12. In this example, since the creator “ABCD Ver2.0” is specified in step S12, the “uncompressed image detection program” is specified as the feature detection program (see FIG. 2). Then, the print job analysis unit 18 applies an “uncompressed image detection program” to the input print job and performs analysis. In other words, a process for detecting a RAW image that can be improved from a print job is performed.

  In step S <b> 16, the control unit 28 determines whether an improveable feature has been detected in the print job as a result of analysis by the print job analysis unit 18. If an improveable feature is detected in the print job, the process proceeds to step S18. If not, the process of steps S18 and S20 described later is skipped and the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S18, the control unit 28 notifies the user that the improveable feature is included in the print job. FIG. 4 shows an example of a notification screen. For example, the control unit 28 causes the display unit 26 to display a pop-up 40 as shown in FIG. Note that the control unit 28 may display the pop-up 40 on the display unit of the terminal 2 in addition to or instead of the display unit 26.

  The pop-up 40 displays the content of the feedback comment associated with the feature analysis program that analyzed the print job in the feature detection method DB 16. The pop-up 40 displays a button for the user to select how to perform future print processing for the print job. Each button is described below.

  In step S <b> 20, the control unit 28 determines the instruction content from the user regarding future print processing for the print job.

  If the print process continuation button 42 shown in FIG. 4 is tapped and the user instructs to continue the print process, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the RIP processing unit 20 executes RIP processing for the print job, and then the output unit 24 executes output processing for the raster data developed.

  When the print process stop button 44 shown in FIG. 4 is tapped and the user instructs to stop the print process, the print process is terminated without performing the RIP process and the output process for the print job.

  When the raster data saving process button 46 shown in FIG. 4 is tapped and the user instructs the raster data saving process, the process proceeds to step S24. The raster data saving process obviates intermittent printing that may occur due to the inclusion of improvable features in the print job (ie, the print job requires more time for RIP processing than with an ideal generation method). Process.

  In step S24, the RIP processing unit 20 sequentially performs RIP processing on a plurality of page data included in the print job. By this processing, unit raster data corresponding to each page data is generated. The generated unit raster data or unit raster data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 14.

  In step S <b> 26, the output unit 24 waits for a predetermined time without immediately performing output processing on the generated unit raster data. While waiting in step S26, the RIP processing unit 20 performs the RIP process on the subsequent page data. Therefore, unit raster data is accumulated in the storage unit 14 in step S26.

  The standby time in step S26 may be determined based on the time required for the output process of the output unit 24. The RIP time calculation unit 22 predicts the time required for the RIP processing of each page data based on the contents of the print job including the improvable characteristics, and outputs the RIP processing time for each predicted page data and the output processing. The standby time may be determined based on the time required.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S28. In step S28, the output unit 24 executes an output process on the plurality of unit raster data stored in the storage unit 14.

  According to the processing from steps S24 to S28, the unit raster data is accumulated to some extent and collectively output, so that the possibility of intermittent printing can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, when a print job includes the characteristics that can be improved, that is, when the time required for RIP processing can be reduced according to another print job generation method, the user is notified of the fact. Is done. Generally, since it is difficult for the user to grasp the difference in the contents of the print job due to the difference in the creator, the user is notified that the RIP processing time can be reduced by changing the creator or its setting. Is very meaningful.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, a feature detection program for analyzing a print job is selected according to the creator that generated the print job. Thereby, the improveable features included in the print job are detected efficiently (ie at high speed).

Second Embodiment
Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The process flow of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, steps having the same processing contents as those in the flowchart (FIG. 3) according to the first embodiment are assigned the same step numbers as those in the flowchart of FIG. 3.

  In the second embodiment, when the print job includes the improveable feature, the raster data saving process is executed without notifying the user of the feature. Specifically, when it is determined in step S16 that the print job includes the improveable feature, the raster data saving process in steps S24 to S28 is immediately executed.

  According to the second embodiment, the user can perform the printing process while reducing the possibility of intermittent printing while omitting the confirmation work of the notification of the analysis contents of the print job and the subsequent work instruction work. .

<Third Embodiment>
Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The process flow of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 includes steps having the same processing contents as those in the flowchart according to the first embodiment (FIG. 3), but step numbers are reassigned for convenience in FIG.

  In step S40, the print job receiving unit 12 receives a print job. That is, a print job is input to the image forming apparatus 10.

  In step S42, the RIP processing unit 20 executes RIP processing on the input print job. Further, the output process may be performed by the output unit 24 after the completion of the RIP process. Simultaneously with the RIP process, the RIP time calculation unit 22 measures the time required from the start of the RIP process for the print job to the completion of the RIP process.

  In step S44, the control unit 28 determines whether or not the RIP processing time measured in step S42 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The predetermined time is set in advance by an administrator or the like, and information indicating the predetermined time is stored in the storage unit 14. The predetermined time is set based on the time required for output processing in the output unit 24. For example, a time that does not cause intermittent printing in the output unit 24 is set.

  If the RIP processing time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time in step S44, the process proceeds to step S46. Otherwise, the processing from steps S46 to S54 described later is skipped, and the processing is terminated.

  In step S46 to step S52, processing similar to that in step S12 to step S18 of the first embodiment is executed. That is, the print job is analyzed by the feature detection program specified based on the feature detection method DB 16, and if the print job includes an improveable feature, the fact is notified to the user.

  If it is determined in step S50 that the print job does not include the improveable feature, the process proceeds to step S54, and the print job is not deleted even after the printing process is completed, and is continuously stored in the storage unit 14.

  When the process proceeds to step S54, when the RIP processing time of the print job is longer than the predetermined time (that is, there is a possibility that intermittent printing may occur), the improvable feature is not included in the print job. It is. In such a case, there is a possibility that the capacity of each page data included in the print job is really enormous, or an unknown improveable feature that is not detected by the feature detection program defined in the feature detection method DB 16 is included. There is a possibility that Therefore, the print job is continuously stored in the storage unit 14 in order for the administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 to analyze the print job later. If an unknown improveable feature is found by analysis of the print job, it is preferable that a detection program for detecting it is added to the feature detection method DB 16.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, all print jobs input to the image forming apparatus 10 are not analyzed by the print job analysis unit 18, but a predetermined condition, that is, the print job Only a print job whose RIP processing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time is analyzed afterwards. As a result, the analysis processing is not performed on the print job for the print job whose RIP processing time is less than the predetermined time, so that the print processing speed of such a print job is improved as compared with the first embodiment.

  Although the three operation modes of the first to third embodiments, that is, the image forming apparatus 10 have been described above, the image forming apparatus 10 may be operable by switching between these three operation modes. That is, the image forming apparatus 10 may include an operation mode switching unit that switches between the three operation modes.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible unless it deviates from the meaning of this invention.

  2 terminal, 4 creator, 6 document, 8 communication line, 10 image forming apparatus, 12 print job receiving unit, 14 storage unit, 16 feature detection method DB, 18 print job analyzing unit, 20 RIP processing unit, 22 RIP time calculating unit , 24 output unit, 26 display unit, 28 control unit.

Claims (5)

Print job receiving means for receiving a first print job obtained by applying the first print job generation method to a document to be printed;
RIP processing means for executing RIP processing for converting the first print job into raster data;
The time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document is required for the RIP processing for the first print job. A notification means for notifying the user when the RIP processing time improvement condition of being shorter than the time is satisfied;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Print job receiving means for receiving a first print job including a plurality of processing units obtained by applying the first print job generation method to a document to be printed;
RIP processing means for executing RIP processing for converting the first print job into unit raster data for each processing unit;
Output means for executing output processing for sequentially outputting the unit raster data to a print medium;
With
The output means determines the time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document. When the RIP processing time improvement condition of being shorter than the time required for the RIP processing is satisfied, the output processing is started after temporarily storing the unit raster data.
An image forming apparatus. It is determined whether or not the RIP processing time improvement condition is satisfied by executing a print job analysis program according to the first print job generation method on the first print job.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The notification means determines whether or not the RIP processing time improvement condition is satisfied when the time required for the RIP processing is a predetermined time or more.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. Computer
Print job receiving means for receiving a first print job obtained by applying the first print job generation method to a document to be printed;
RIP processing means for executing RIP processing for converting the first print job into raster data;
The time required for the RIP processing for the second print job obtained when a second print job generation method different from the first print job generation method is applied to the document is required for the RIP processing for the first print job. A notification means for notifying the user when the RIP processing time improvement condition of being shorter than the time is satisfied;
A program characterized by functioning as