JP2018125763A - Print data processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate intermediate data which uses caching as much as possible, while reducing throughput or processing time required for determination of caching availability.SOLUTION: A page determination unit 32 determines whether or not feature is included, for each logical page included in PDL data. For a logical page not including feature, a page interpretation unit 34 generates an intermediate data element for an object other than a cashing object element. Meanwhile, for the cashing object element, a cache ID corresponding to the cashing object element is incorporated into the intermediate data. A cache element interpretation unit 38 generates cache data about the cashing object element. Meanwhile, for a logical page not including feature, the page interpretation unit 34 generates an intermediate data element for all objects including the cashing object element. In other words, the page interpretation unit 34 generates an intermediate data not including the cache ID.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a print data processing apparatus and a program.

  Conventionally, print data (PDL data) described in a page description language (PDL) is temporarily converted into intermediate data, and rasterized processing is performed on the intermediate data, thereby rendering data that can be recognized by the print processing unit. May be generated. In such print data processing using intermediate data, a cache may be used when generating intermediate data. By using a cache, the generation efficiency of intermediate data is improved. For example, when the same object appears repeatedly in the PDL data, intermediate data is prevented from being repeatedly generated for the same object.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a process for generating intermediate data using a cache. Specifically, in the intermediate data generation process, the interpretation result data of the cache target element, which is an image element (object) repeatedly used in the PDL data, is stored in the cache, and then the intermediate data is stored in the intermediate data. A cache ID indicating the interpretation result data is included. Thereafter, in the rasterizing process, corresponding interpretation result data is acquired from the cache based on the cache ID included in the intermediate data.

  If the PDL data includes two overlapping objects, at least one of which is a spot color object having a spot color, and the two objects satisfy a specific condition, intermediate data using a cache for at least one of these objects In some cases, a suitable result cannot be obtained in the drawing data generated based on the intermediate data.

  For example, if a basic color object and a spot color object overlap and a base color object with a base color is overprinted (noced) on the spot color object, the color of the overlapping part of the two objects can be expressed correctly. It may disappear. This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows two overlapping objects obj1 and obj2. obj1 is a spot color object having a color component of 100% spot color, and obj2 is a basic color object having a color component of K (black) = 30%. As shown in FIG. 5, the alternative color of obj1 is CMYK (100/10/10/10). This means C (cyan) = 100%, M (magenta) = 10%, Y (yellow) = 10%, and K = 10%. In PDL data, it is defined that obj2 is arranged on obj1 with overprint designation. The overprint designation is to make the color of the overlapping portion of obj1 and obj2 the color of obj2 with the color of obj1 as the background.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where, for example, a rasterization process is directly performed on PDL data without generating intermediate data, or a special color plate is included in the intermediate data in addition to the basic color plate. An example in which an overprint process is performed before the process is shown. In the example of FIG. 5, the overprint process is performed in the state of the left figure before the flattening process. Since the overlapping information of obj1 and obj2 is maintained before the flattening process, the color of the overlapping portion of obj1 and obj2 is a color obtained by adding the color of obj2 to the color of obj1 based on the overlapping information, that is, CMYKS. (0/0/0/30/100) (C = 0%, M = 0%, Y = 0%, K = 30%, spot color = 100%). After that, when the spot color conversion process for the substitute color is performed on the object obj1 together with the flattening process, the color of the object obj1 is expressed in CMYK (100/10/10/10). The overlapping portion with obj2 is a color obtained by adding CMYK (100/10/10/10) and K = 30%, that is, expressed in CMYK (100/10/10/40) (the state in the middle diagram) ). Furthermore, by performing the rasterization process, a state expected by the user in which overprints are correctly expressed in the two objects is obtained (the state in the right diagram).

  FIG. 6 shows two overlapping objects obj1 and obj2 similar to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example in which two objects are individually processed by caching at least one of obj1 and obj2. In the example of FIG. 6, the overprint process is originally performed before the flattening process (the state shown in the left figure). Since two objects are processed individually (that is, there is no overlap information), the overprint process is performed. Processing cannot be performed. Then, the two objects are flattened individually as they are, and obj1 is subjected to a spot color conversion process to an alternative color. In this state (the state shown in the middle diagram), the color of obj1 is individually expressed as CMYK (100/10/10/10), and the color of obj2 is expressed as CMYK (0/0/0/40). When the rasterization process is executed, obj2 is overwritten on obj1 because transparent composition is not performed when the basic color object is placed on another object. As a result, the overprint is not correctly expressed in the overlapping portion of the two objects, and the color becomes obj2.

  As described above, when the basic color object and the spot color object overlap each other and the base color object having the base color is designated as an overprint on the spot color object, at least one of the two objects is intermediated using the cache. When data is generated, the result expected by the user cannot be obtained.

  In addition, for example, when spot color objects overlap each other and an overlying spot color object is designated as knockout, there is a case where the color of the overlapping portion of the two objects cannot be expressed correctly. This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 7, two overlapping objects obj3 and obj4 are shown. Both obj3 and obj4 are spot color objects, obj3 has a color component of 70% spot color, and obj4 has a color component of 30% spot color. As shown in FIG. 7, the alternative color of obj3 is CMYK (70/0/0/0), and the alternative color of obj4 is CMYK (30/0/0/0). In the PDL data, it is defined that obj4 is arranged on obj3 with a knockout designation. In the knockout designation, the color of the overlapping portion of obj3 and obj4 is set to the color of obj4, that is, obj4 is overwritten on obj3.

  FIG. 7 shows a case where the rasterization process is directly performed on the PDL data without generating the intermediate data, or the special color plate is included in the intermediate data in addition to the basic color plate. An example in which knockout processing is performed during processing is shown. In the example of FIG. 7, at the time of the flattening process, the lower object ojb3 is deformed based on the overlapping information of the two objects. Specifically, an eclipse process is performed in which the overlapping portion is removed from obj3. As a result of the flattening process and the spot color conversion process to the alternative color, the color of the overlapping portion of obj3 and obj4 becomes CMYK (30/0/0/0), that is, the color of obj4 (middle) Figure state). Furthermore, by performing the rasterization process, a state expected by the user in which the knockout is correctly expressed in the two objects is obtained (the state in the right diagram).

  FIG. 8 shows two overlapping objects obj3 and obj4 similar to FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example in which two objects are individually processed by caching at least one of obj3 and obj4. In the example of FIG. 8, the eclipse process is originally performed during the flattening process. Since the two objects are processed individually (that is, there is no overlap information), the eclipse process is not performed. Then, the two objects are individually subjected to flattening processing and spot color conversion processing to alternative colors. In this state (the state shown in the middle diagram), the color of obj3 is individually expressed by CMYK (70/0/0/0), and the color of obj4 is individually expressed by CMYK (30/0/0/0). When the rasterizing process is executed, the spot color object is transparently combined when it is placed on another object, so obj4 is transparently combined on obj3. As a result, the color of the overlapping portion of obj3 and obj4 becomes a color obtained by adding the colors of the two objects, that is, CMYK (100/0/0/0).

  As described above, when the spot color objects overlap each other and the overlying spot color object is specified to be knocked out, if intermediate data is generated using the cache for at least one of the two objects, the result expected by the user is obtained. It cannot be obtained.

  In consideration of the above problems, Patent Document 1 discloses that an object including a spot color component is not cached and only an object not including a spot color component is cached.

JP 2015-188212 A

  In generating intermediate data from PDL data, when determining whether to use a cache for each object, it is necessary to individually analyze each object included in the PDL data. This causes a problem that the processing amount or processing time (overhead) required for determining whether or not the cache can be used increases. In particular, if it is determined whether the spot color object overlaps with another object, or overprint designation or knockout designation of each object, the overhead further increases.

  An object of the present invention is to generate intermediate data using a cache as much as possible while reducing the processing amount or processing time for determining whether or not to use a cache as compared to determining whether or not to use a cache for each object. It is in.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes: a determination unit that analyzes document data described in a page description language and determines whether or not a spot color is included for each logical page included in the document data; A cache processing unit that executes a cache process for storing an analysis result obtained by interpreting a cache target element in a cache storage unit, and a logical page that is determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit. Generates intermediate data including cache reference information that refers to the analysis result stored in the cache storage unit, and the logical page determined to include a spot color by the determination unit includes an intermediate data that does not include the cache reference information. A print data processing apparatus comprising an intermediate data generation unit that generates data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the determination unit includes a feature for each logical page by analyzing header information included in each logical page and including information indicating whether or not the special color is included in the logical page. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not an image is included.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cache processing unit executes the cache processing on a logical page that is determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit, and the determination unit determines that a spot color is included. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cache processing is not executed for a logical page.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer analyzes document data described in a page description language, determines whether or not a feature is included for each logical page included in the document data, and each logic A cache processing unit that executes a cache process for storing an analysis result obtained by interpreting a cache target element included in a page in a cache storage unit, and a logical page that is determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit, Intermediate data including cache reference information that refers to the analysis result stored in the cache storage unit by the cache processing is generated, and the logical reference that is determined to include a spot color by the determination unit is the cache reference information. Print data processing characterized by functioning as an intermediate data generation unit that generates intermediate data not included Is a program.

  According to the invention according to claim 1 or 4, the cache is used as much as possible while reducing the processing amount or processing time required for determining whether or not the cache can be used, as compared to when determining whether or not the cache can be used for each object. Intermediate data can be generated.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the processing amount or processing time required for determining whether or not each logical page includes a spot color, as compared with the case where the entire logical page is analyzed. .

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the processing amount or processing time required for the cache process, as compared with the case where the cache process is performed even for the logical page determined to contain the spot color.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block schematic diagram of a front end device and a back end device. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a front end apparatus. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a front end apparatus. It is a 1st figure which shows the example of the conventional process with respect to two overlapping objects. It is a 2nd figure which shows the example of the conventional process with respect to two overlapping objects. It is a 3rd figure which shows the example of the conventional process with respect to two overlapping objects. It is a 4th figure which shows the example of the conventional process with respect to two overlapping objects.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system 10 includes a terminal device 12, a print controller 14 as a print data processing device, a printing device 16, and a spot color DB 18. The print controller 14 includes a front end device 20 and a back end device 22. Between the terminal device 12 and the print controller 14, the print controller 14 and the printing device 16, the print controller 14 and the spot color DB 18, and the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22, for example, a communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) It is connected so that communication is possible.

  The terminal device 12 may be a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer. The terminal device 12 transmits a print job, which is a document print command, to the front-end device 20 in accordance with a user instruction.

  The front-end device 20 generates intermediate data from the print job transmitted from the terminal device 12 and transmits the intermediate data to the back-end device 22. The back-end device 22 generates rendering data by performing rasterization processing on the intermediate data from the front-end device 20, and transmits the generated rendering data to the printing device 16. Detailed functional configurations of the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22 and details of processing performed by these will be described later.

  The front-end device 20 is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage medium such as a hard disk, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and a display unit. It's okay. The storage medium stores a print data processing program for causing each unit (described later) of the front-end device 20 to function, and the CPU controls each unit according to the print data processing program. Similarly, the back-end device 22 may be a computer, and a storage medium stores a print data processing program for causing each unit (described later) of the back-end device 22 to function, and the CPU executes each unit according to the print data processing program. To control.

  As a specific example of hardware for realizing the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22, it is conceivable to use a blade server in which a plurality of information processing devices each functioning as a server are mounted in one housing. The blade server is a server device in which the above-described computer configuration is mounted on a single board (blade) and a plurality of blades are mounted in a housing. For example, one blade mounted on the blade server may function as the front-end device 20 and the other blade may function as the back-end device 22. Alternatively, for example, each of the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22 may be realized by a plurality of blades mounted on a blade server. Further, the front end device 20 and the back end device 22 may be realized by a single blade.

  The printing device 16 is a device that performs a printing process as an image forming process on a printing medium such as paper, and may be, for example, a continuous paper printer. Note that the printing device 16 performs printing using an electrophotographic, inkjet, or other printing engine. In the present embodiment, the print controller 14 and the printing device 16 as the image processing device are separate, but the printing controller 14 and the printing device 16 may be integrated. In this case, the print controller 14 and the printing device 16 constitute a print data processing device.

  The spot color DB 18 includes a storage (storage unit) accessible from the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22. The spot color DB 18 stores system spot color LUT (Look Up Table) information that is referred to in rasterization processing by the back-end device 22. A plurality of system spot color LUT information may be stored according to the spot color. The system spot color LUT information will be described later.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of functional configurations of the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22. Hereinafter, the details of the front-end device 20 and the back-end device 22 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The front-end device 20 includes a print job reception unit 30, a page determination unit 32 as a determination unit, a page interpretation unit 34 as an intermediate data generation unit including a spot color conversion unit 36, and a cache element interpretation unit 38 as a cache processing unit. It is comprised including. The back-end device 22 includes an intermediate data buffer 40, a cache 42 as a cache storage unit, a drawing unit 44, and an output buffer 46. In the present embodiment, the print job receiving unit 30, the page determining unit 32, the page interpreting unit 34, the cache element interpreting unit 38, the spot color converting unit 36, and the drawing unit 44 are each a CPU, a storage medium, or the like. This is realized by cooperation between hardware and software (program) that defines the operation of the CPU. Further, the intermediate data buffer 40 and the output buffer 46 are defined in a storage medium of a computer that constitutes the back-end device 22.

  The print job receiving unit 30 receives a print job transmitted from the terminal device 12. In the present embodiment, a print job includes a document print command and PDL data as document data in which a document to be printed is described in a page description language. The page description language is a computer programming language for causing an information processing device to execute display display processing, printing processing, and the like. Examples of the PDL data format include a PS (Post Script (registered trademark)) format and a PDF format.

  The PDL data includes color information, position information, shape information, format information, and the like of objects such as characters and graphics constituting a document to be printed. Examples of the object include a basic color object having a basic color such as CMYK or RGB, and a special color object having a special color that is different from the basic color. The PDL data includes information indicating the brightness of any basic color (for example, C = 100%) as color information related to the basic color object, and includes color name and alternative color information as color information related to the special color object. It is. The substitute color information represents the spot color as a combination of basic colors. For example, the information is CMYK (100/10/10/10).

  The print job reception unit 30 passes PDL data included in the received print job to the page determination unit 32.

  The page determination unit 32 analyzes the PDL data to determine whether or not a spot color is included for each logical page included in the PDL data. A logical page is a page in a logical sense defined in PDL data, and is an opposite concept of a physical page that is one aspect of a physical print medium (such as paper).

  The page determination unit 32 may determine whether or not a spot color is included in the logical page by analyzing all of the page data that is a part corresponding to one logical page in the PDL data. . For example, when there is a description indicating a spot color object in the page data, it is determined that a spot color is included in the logical page. The description indicating the spot color object is, for example, color information related to the spot color object, that is, color information including the spot color name and alternative color information.

  Further, for example, when the PDL data is PDF, the page data may include page header information including color information of each object included in the logical page. That is, it can be said that the page header information includes information indicating whether or not a spot color is included in the logical page. In such a case, the page determination unit 32 may determine whether or not a spot color is included in the logical page by analyzing only the page header information, not the entire page data. In this way, the page determination unit 32 only needs to analyze the page header information, not the entire page data, so the processing amount or processing of the determination process for determining whether or not each logical page contains a spot color Time can be reduced.

  The determination result of the page determination unit 32, that is, information on whether or not a spot color is included in each logical page may be included in the PDL data, or may be temporarily stored in a storage unit included in the front end device 20. May be. For example, a flag indicating that the logical page includes the spot color may be set in the page data of the logical page including the spot color, or the spot color of the PDL data being processed is stored in the storage unit of the front-end device 20. Information indicating a page number including “” may be temporarily stored.

  The page interpretation unit 34 performs processing for generating intermediate data by interpreting the PDL data received by the print job reception unit 30. The intermediate data is data having an intermediate granularity between the PDL data and the drawing data processed by the printing device 16. An example of the intermediate data is a display list. The intermediate data includes a drawing command that represents the order in which drawing processing of a plurality of objects that are components of a document to be printed is performed. As a language for describing the drawing command, a language that expresses a more detailed procedure than PDL data is used. For example, when information indicating the position, shape, and size of a certain object on the document is defined in the PDL data, the drawing command for the object in the intermediate data, for example, the object in units of scan lines in the document to be printed. It may be a description of the drawing procedure.

  Further, the page interpretation unit 34 performs a color separation process for dividing the PDL data into basic color plane data (for example, C, M, Y, and K versions) corresponding to the basic colors. When spot colors are included in the PDL data, spot color data corresponding to the spot colors may be generated in addition to the basic color plane data. That is, the intermediate data may include not only the basic color plane data but also the special color plane data. When a plurality of spot colors are included in the PDL data, a plurality of spot color plane data corresponding to each spot color is generated. Alternatively, the spot color may be divided into basic colors in the front-end device 20 and then the basic color components obtained by the division may be combined with the basic color plate data. In this case, the front-end device 20 outputs intermediate data having only the basic color plane data without having the special color plane data. The process of combining the spot color with the basic color plane data is performed by the spot color conversion unit 36.

  The spot color conversion unit 36 divides the spot color plane data generated by the page interpretation unit 34 into each basic color based on the alternative color information for the spot color included in the PDL data. For example, when the substitute color information of a certain spot color object is CMYK (100/10/10/10), information other than color information such as the shape or position of the spot color object is maintained, and the color is changed to C = 100. %, M = 10%, Y = 10%, K = 10%. Then, a process of combining each basic color component obtained by the division with each basic color plane data originally included in the intermediate data is performed. As a result, intermediate data including only the basic color plane data including the spot color object expressed in the alternative color is generated, although the special color plane data is not included as the intermediate data.

  The page interpretation unit 34 transmits the generated intermediate data to the back-end device 22 and stores it in the intermediate data buffer 40.

  The cache element interpretation unit 38 interprets the cache target element included in the PDL data received by the print job reception unit 30 and analyzes the intermediate data format data (hereinafter referred to as “cache data”) as an analysis result representing the cache target element. Cache processing to be converted into (described) and stored in the cache 42 of the back-end device 22. A cache target element is an object that is repeatedly used in one piece of PDL data. For example, when the PDL data is in the PS format, an example is a type of object such as a form or an image. In one example, whether an element is a cache target element may be determined by the type of element. For example, when a drawing command corresponding to an element type to be cached, such as a form or an image, is found from PDL data, one or more objects drawn by the drawing command are determined as an element to be cached. Also, in PDL data, identification information that uniquely identifies the object in the PDL data is often assigned to the object to be cached. When there are commands specifying the same object ID in the PDL data, these commands instruct the drawing of the same object. In such a case, the object ID that appears for the second time in the same PDL data may be used as the cache target element.

  While interpreting the PDL data in order from the top, the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not generate cache data for elements other than the cache target element, and converts only the cache target element into cache data. The cache element interpretation unit 38 associates cache data with a cache ID (for example, an object ID of the cache target element) as cache reference information for uniquely identifying the cache target element corresponding to the cache data. The data is transmitted to the back-end device 22 and stored in the cache 42.

  Note that the cache element interpretation unit 38 holds information regarding the cache ID and cache data held in the cache 42. When processing the cache target element in the PDL data, the cache element interpretation unit 38 determines whether or not the cache data of the element has been stored in the cache 42. If the cache data has been stored, the cache data of the element is determined. The cache data is generated only when it is not stored.

  On the other hand, the page interpretation unit 34 does not generate an intermediate data element that is an interpretation result related to the object for which the cache data is generated by the cache element interpretation unit 38 (that is, a cache target element). Instead, a cache ID indicating the cache target element is included in the intermediate data. As described above, after the cache element interpretation unit 38 generates the cache data for the cache target element, the page interpretation unit 34 does not generate the intermediate data for the cache target element, but instead includes the cache ID in the intermediate data. Thus, inefficiency that intermediate data of the same cache target element is repeatedly generated can be avoided. In other words, by generating intermediate data using a cache, the processing amount and processing time for generating intermediate data can be reduced compared to a case where no cache is used.

  The page interpretation unit 34 and the cache element interpretation unit 38 generate intermediate data or cache data based on the determination result of the page determination unit 32. Specifically, the page interpreting unit 34 and the cache element interpreting unit 38 process the logical pages that do not include the spot color and the logical pages that include the spot color in the PDL data in different flows. Do. Details of this processing will be described later.

  The drawing unit 44 of the back-end device 22 performs rasterization processing based on the intermediate data held in the intermediate data buffer 40 and the cache data held in the cache 42, and draws drawing data in a format that can be processed by the printing device 16. Generate. For example, the value of each pixel within the range indicated by the shape data of the object is obtained from the color information of the object, and the object is drawn (rendered). By drawing all objects included in one logical page in this way, drawing data of the logical page is formed. As a format of the drawing data, for example, a bitmap format having color data for each pixel can be used.

  The drawing unit 44 basically generates drawing data based on the intermediate data held in the intermediate data buffer 40. When the cache ID is found while analyzing the intermediate data, the cache data corresponding to the cache ID is read from the cache 42. Then, based on the read cache data, a drawing data element of the object corresponding to the cache ID is generated.

  The drawing unit 44 generates drawing data of each basic color plate (for example, C plate, M plate, Y plate, K plate) corresponding to each basic color. When the special color plane data is included in the intermediate data, the drawing unit 44 converts the special color of the special color plane into each basic color based on the system special color LUT information corresponding to the special color stored in the special color DB 18. Thus, the obtained basic color components are synthesized into the basic color plates.

  As described above, the spot color DB 18 may store a plurality of system spot color LUT information corresponding to each spot color in advance. The system spot color LUT information includes at least a spot color name and alternative color information. The drawing unit 44 specifies and acquires system spot color LUT information used for color conversion based on the spot color name included in the spot color plane data of the intermediate data. Further, the system spot color LUT information may further include spot color correction information (for example, a profile dedicated to spot colors) corresponding to the printing device 16, and the drawing unit 44 performs this process in the process of conversion to an alternative color. The spot color correction may be performed using the spot color correction information. By converting the spot color to the substitute color after performing the spot color correction, the converted substitute color can be a device-dependent color according to the characteristics of the printing device 16.

  Further, new system spot color LUT information may be added to the spot color DB 18 from the page interpretation unit 34. Specifically, when a spot color name that is not stored in the spot color DB 18 is found while the page interpretation unit 34 interprets the PDL data, the spot color name and the spot color included in the PDL are detected. It is also possible to associate these with the alternative color information and add them to the spot color DB 18 as system spot color LUT information. The system spot color LUT information added to the spot color DB 18 by the page interpreter 34 may be temporarily stored (for example, until the processing of the print job is completed). May be stored non-temporarily so as to be usable.

  The drawing data of each logical page generated by the drawing unit 44 is stored in the output buffer 46. Each drawing data stored in the output buffer 46 is sequentially read out by the printing device 16. Then, the printing device 16 prints the drawing data of each logical page read from the output buffer 46 on a sheet.

  Hereinafter, the details of the processing flow of the page interpretation unit 34 and the cache element interpretation unit 38 according to the determination result of the page determination unit 32 will be described.

  First, the flow of processing for a logical page determined by the page determination unit 32 as not including a spot color will be described.

  The page interpretation unit 34 interprets the object other than the cache target element to generate an intermediate data element, and incorporates the generated intermediate data element into the intermediate data. On the other hand, for the cache target element in the logical page, instead of interpreting the cache target element and generating an intermediate data element, refer to the cache data corresponding to the cache target element, that is, obtained from the cache target element. The cache ID for this is incorporated into the intermediate data.

  The cache element interpretation unit 38 interprets the cache target element, generates cache data, and performs a cache process of storing the cache data in association with the cache ID indicating the cache target element.

  As described above, the page interpretation unit 34 and the cache element interpretation unit 38 perform processing for generating intermediate data using the cache 42 for a logical page that is determined not to include a spot color.

  Next, the flow of processing for a logical page that is determined by the page determination unit 32 to include a spot color will be described.

  In this case, the page interpretation unit 34 interprets all the objects included in the PDL data including the cache target element, and generates an intermediate data element corresponding to each object. Then, the generated intermediate data element is incorporated into the intermediate data. That is, the page interpretation unit 34 generates intermediate data that does not include a cache ID.

  The cache element interpretation unit 38 interprets a cache target element included in the logical page even for a logical page determined to include a spot color, generates cache data, and indicates the cache target element. A cache process for storing in the cache 42 after associating with the cache ID may be performed. As a result, it becomes possible to cache the basic color object in the logical page including the spot color, and when the basic color object appears on the logical page not including the subsequent spot color, the cache data is used. be able to. Alternatively, the cache element interpretation unit 38 may not perform the cache process on the logical page determined to include the spot color. That is, even if a cache target element is included in a logical page determined to include a spot color, cache data for the cache target element does not have to be generated.

  As described above, for a logical page determined to include a spot color, the page interpretation unit 34 generates intermediate data not including a cache ID. That is, processing for generating intermediate data that does not use the cache 42 is performed.

  As described above, the page interpretation unit 34 and the cache element interpretation unit 38 generate intermediate data using the cache 42 for the logical page determined to contain no spot color, while the spot color is included. For the logical page determined to be present, intermediate data that does not use the cache 42 is generated. As a result, intermediate data that does not use the cache 42 is generated for two overlapping objects, at least one of which is a spot color object. Therefore, it is possible to prevent such a problem related to the color of the overlapping portion of the objects. On the other hand, since there is no spot color object that overlaps with other objects in a logical page that does not include a spot color, intermediate data using the cache 42 is generated for such a logical page. . Accordingly, when viewed as the whole PDL data, intermediate data is generated using the cache 42 as much as possible, and the generation efficiency of the intermediate data is improved as a whole.

  In this embodiment, whether or not the cache 42 is used is determined based on whether or not each logical page includes a spot color. As a result, the processing amount or processing time for determining whether or not a spot color is included in each logical page is for individually determining whether or not at least all objects included in the PDL are spot color objects. Less than the processing amount or processing time. Therefore, the overhead for determining whether or not the cache 42 is used is reduced by determining whether or not the cache 42 is used based on whether or not each logical page includes a spot color.

  The outline of the configuration of the image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment is as described above. Hereinafter, the process flow of the front-end device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 10, the page determination unit 32 analyzes the PDL data received by the print job reception unit 30 to determine whether or not a spot color is included for each logical page included in the PDL data.

  In step S <b> 12, the page interpretation unit 34 acquires one logical page from the PDL data received by the print job reception unit 30.

  In step S14, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether or not a spot color is included in the logical page acquired in step S12, based on the determination result in step S10. If no spot color is included, the process proceeds to step S16. If a spot color is included, the process proceeds to step S28. First, the processing (steps S16 to S26) when it is determined that no special color is included in the logical page will be described.

  In step S16, the page interpretation unit 34 acquires one object included in the logical page acquired in step S12.

  In step S18, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether or not the object acquired in step S16 is a cache target element. If it is a cache target element, the process proceeds to step S20, and if not, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S20, the cache element interpretation unit 38 interprets the object acquired in step S16, and generates cache data that is the interpretation result. Then, the generated cache data and the cache ID indicating the object are associated with each other and stored in the cache 42. Further, the page interpretation unit 34 does not generate an intermediate data element of the object, and includes a cache ID indicating the object in the intermediate data.

  On the other hand, in step S22, the page interpretation unit 34 performs a process of generating an intermediate data element of the object and including it in the intermediate data. In step S22, the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not perform processing.

  In step S24, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether there is another object that has not performed the processes in steps S16 to S22 in the logical page acquired in step S12. If there is, the process returns to step S16 again, and the processes from steps S16 to S22 are executed for other objects in the same logical page. If not, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S <b> 26, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether the PDL data received by the print job reception unit 30 includes a logical page that has not been subjected to intermediate data generation processing. If there is, the process returns to step S12 again. If not, the process ends.

  Next, processing (steps S28 to S38) when it is determined in step S14 that a special color is included in the logical page will be described.

  In step S28, as in step S16, the page interpretation unit 34 acquires one object included in the logical page acquired in step S12.

  In step S <b> 30, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether the object acquired in step S <b> 28 is a spot color object having a spot color registered in the spot color DB 18. If so, the process proceeds to step S32. If not, that is, if the object is not a spot color object (basic color object) or a spot color object, the spot color of the spot color object is registered in the spot color DB 18. If not, the process proceeds to step S34.

  In step S <b> 32, the page interpretation unit 34 performs processing for generating an intermediate data element of the object and including it in the intermediate data. In step S32, even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element, the page interpretation unit 34 interprets the cache target element and generates an intermediate data element. Here, it is assumed that the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not perform the cache process even if the object acquired in step S28 is the cache target element.

  Here, the page interpretation unit 34 generates intermediate data having spot color plane data in addition to each basic color plane data. In the spot color plane data, the spot color name of the corresponding spot color is included. As described above, for the spot color object in which the spot color name is included in the intermediate data, the system spot color LUT information corresponding to the spot color name is read from the spot color DB 18 during the rasterizing process by the drawing unit 44 later. Based on the system spot color LUT information, the spot color is decomposed into basic color components.

  In step S34, when the object acquired in step S28 is a spot color object, the spot color conversion unit 36 divides the spot color into basic color components and then synthesizes the basic color components divided into the basic color plate data. I do. If the object acquired in step S28 is a basic color object, the process in step S34 is bypassed.

  In step S <b> 36, the page interpretation unit 34 performs processing for generating an intermediate data element of the object and including it in the intermediate data. Similarly to step S32, even in step S36, even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element, the page interpretation unit 34 interprets the cache target element and generates an intermediate data element. In step S36, the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not perform cache processing even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element.

  Since the spot color has been combined with the basic color in step S34, the intermediate data generated in step S36 does not have the spot color plane data but only the basic color plane data.

  In step S38, as in step S24, the page interpretation unit 34 determines whether there is another object that has not performed the processes in steps S28 to S36 in the logical page acquired in step S12. If there is, the process returns to step S28 again, and the processes from steps S28 to S36 are executed for other objects in the same logical page. If not, the process proceeds to step S26.

  Hereinafter, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, steps that perform the same processing as the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 are given the same step numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In the modification, the flow of processing for a logical page determined to include a spot color is different from the flow of processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the logical page includes a spot color and one object is acquired from the logical page in step S28, the page interpretation unit 34 in step S50 determines that the object acquired in step S28 is a spot color object. It is determined whether or not there is. If it is a spot color object, the process proceeds to step S52. If not, that is, if it is a basic color object, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S52, the page interpretation unit 34 performs processing for generating an intermediate data element of the object and including it in the intermediate data. In step S52, even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element, the page interpretation unit 34 interprets the cache target element and generates an intermediate data element. Also in this case, the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not perform the cache process even if the object acquired in step S28 is the cache target element.

  Here, the page interpretation unit 34 extracts the spot color name and alternative color data associated with the spot color object in the PDL data, and temporarily stores the spot color LUT information associated with these in the spot color DB 18. In addition, the page interpretation unit 34 generates intermediate data including spot color plane data in addition to each basic color plane data. In the spot color plane data, the spot color name of the corresponding spot color is included. As described above, for the spot color object in which the spot color name is included in the intermediate data, the corresponding spot color LUT information temporarily stored in the spot color DB 18 is read at the time of the rasterizing process by the drawing unit 44 later. Based on the spot color LUT information, the spot color is converted into each basic color component.

  In step S54, as in step S36, the page interpretation unit 34 performs processing for generating an intermediate data element of the object and including it in the intermediate data. Also in step S54, even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element, the page interpretation unit 34 interprets the cache target element and generates an intermediate data element. Also in step S54, the cache element interpretation unit 38 does not perform the cache process even if the object acquired in step S28 is a cache target element.

  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.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing system, 12 Terminal device, 14 Print controller, 16 Printing device, 18 Spot color DB, 20 Front end device, 22 Back end device, 30 Print job receiving part, 32 page determination part, 34 page interpretation part, 36 Spot color conversion 38, cache element interpretation unit, 40 intermediate data buffer, 42 cache, 44 drawing unit, 46 output buffer.

Claims (4)

A determination unit that analyzes document data described in a page description language and determines whether or not a spot color is included for each logical page included in the document data;
A cache processing unit that executes a cache process for storing in a cache storage unit an analysis result obtained by interpreting a cache target element included in each logical page;
For logical pages that are determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit, intermediate data including cache reference information that refers to an analysis result stored in the cache storage unit by the cache process is generated, and the determination unit For a logical page determined to include a spot color, an intermediate data generation unit that generates intermediate data not including the cache reference information;
A print data processing apparatus comprising: The determination unit determines whether each logical page includes a spot color by analyzing header information included in each logical page and including information indicating whether or not a spot color is included in the logical page. To
The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1. The cache processing unit performs the cache processing on a logical page that is determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit, and the logical page that is determined to include a spot color by the determination unit. Do not perform caching,
The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data processing apparatus is a print data processing apparatus. Computer
A determination unit that analyzes document data described in a page description language and determines whether or not a spot color is included for each logical page included in the document data;
A cache processing unit that executes a cache process for storing in a cache storage unit an analysis result obtained by interpreting a cache target element included in each logical page;
For logical pages that are determined not to include a spot color by the determination unit, intermediate data including cache reference information that refers to an analysis result stored in the cache storage unit by the cache process is generated, and the determination unit For a logical page determined to include a spot color, an intermediate data generation unit that generates intermediate data not including the cache reference information;
A print data processing program that functions as