JP2019001081A - Image processing device, job processing control program and job processing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To maintain the sense of unity among printing results of respective pages of a combined job even when jobs are in different languages when printing a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of jobs.SOLUTION: An image processing device includes a plurality of RIP units for rasterizing jobs in a plurality of PDL formats in accordance with the PDL formats, and a job management unit for controlling storage of jobs and printing of stored jobs. When storing an input job, the job management unit stores the job in one or more PDL formats including an original PDL format. When printing a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs, the job management unit determines whether the original PDL formats of the plurality of jobs are different and the combined job contains a prescribed object for which a printing result is affected by difference in rasterization corresponding to the PDL formats, and selects a RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job on the basis of the result of determination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, a job processing control program, and a job processing control method, and more particularly, to an image processing device that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine, and stores a job in the image processing device and prints the stored job. The present invention relates to a job processing control program to be controlled and a job processing control method.

  When an original is printed by a printer based on a job, a controller that controls the printer rasterizes the job by using a software that executes a RIP (Raster Image Processor) function (hereinafter abbreviated as RIP software) to make a raster. An image is generated, and the generated raster image is transmitted to a printer to instruct printing.

  Here, there are various types of jobs input to the controller. For example, there are jobs described in PS (PostScript) and PDF (Portable Document Format), and the job language (PDL (Page Description The rasterization process performed by the RIP software differs according to the (Language) format. Therefore, the controller often has two or more RIP software (for example, CPSI (Configurable PostScript Interpreter) capable of interpreting PS jobs and APPE (Adobe PDF Print Engine) capable of interpreting PDF jobs). These are switched according to the language of the job input by the user, and a raster image for transmission to the printer is generated.

  With regard to the technology for selecting such RIP software, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 is an information processing apparatus that creates drawing data using a print job including print data and setting information, and generates a plurality of drawing data. A drawing data creation means determination means for determining the drawing data creation means corresponding to a print data print instruction; and a print job for outputting a print job to the drawing data creation means determined by the drawing data creation means determination means An output means, wherein the drawing data creation means determination means inquires a plurality of drawing data creation means about a function requested by the print instruction, and a function to which the drawing data creation means responds. It is disclosed that the drawing data creation means corresponding to the print data is determined by comparing the functions requested by the print instruction. That.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-187843

  The RIP software is configured to generate a preview image that is expressed on a document creation application that runs on a computer as it is as a print image. However, the representation of the individual objects constituting the document is different for each RIP software. The realization method may be different. For example, CPSI that can interpret PS jobs and APPE that can interpret PDF jobs have different methods for realizing transparent expression.

  Specifically, PDF has “transparent” as a language expression, but PS does not have “transparent” as a language expression. For example, when overlaying a “transparent” image object on a text object, In PS, an image in which transparency is already expressed (that is, a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a text object and a translucent image object) is embedded. As a result, in the PS job, it is impossible to change the print resolution of one of the objects constituting the composite image or perform processing such as “thinning” on the text object.

  For this reason, when page insertion from another job is permitted for a job stored on the controller, there are pages that are formed by different RIP software in one job, and each When objects with different representations exist on the page depending on the RIP software, there is a problem in that the appearance of the print result is different even though the representation is the same.

  With respect to this problem, in Patent Document 1, RIP software is selected based on the job configuration in order to obtain an appropriate output for the input job. However, Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the language of a job is single (a case where there are a plurality of RIP software that interprets a PDF and generates an image). In the case where the described page is included in one job, the above problem cannot be solved because it is not considered that the rendering result differs depending on the specifications of each language itself.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to combine a plurality of jobs, even if the languages of the two jobs are different. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a job processing control program, and a job processing control method capable of maintaining a sense of unity of print results of each page of a job.

  One aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine, and a plurality of RIP units that rasterize a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format, and job storage and storage A job management unit that controls printing of the job, and the job management unit saved and saved the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format when the submitted job was saved When printing a combined job in which a plurality of jobs are combined, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and a predetermined object whose print result is affected by a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format is included in the combined job. It is determined whether it is included, and based on the determination result, an RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected.

  One aspect of the present invention is a job processing control program that operates on an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs the job to a print engine. The image processing apparatus is configured to execute a plurality of PDL-format jobs according to the PDL format. It functions as a plurality of RIP units to be rasterized, a job management unit that performs job storage processing and print processing of the stored job, and the storage processing includes the original PDL format when the input job is stored One or a plurality of PDL formats are stored. In the printing process, when a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs is printed, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job includes a PDL format. It is determined whether a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization depending on the , And selects the RIP unit of rasterizing the merged job.

  One aspect of the present invention is a job processing control method in a system including an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs the job to a print engine, and the image processing apparatus performs a plurality of PDL format jobs in accordance with the PDL format. A plurality of RIP units that perform rasterization and a job management unit that performs job storage processing and print processing of the stored job. In the storage processing, when the input job is stored, the job is stored in the original PDL format. In the printing process, when printing a combined job obtained by combining the plurality of stored jobs, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job includes: It is determined whether a predetermined object whose printing result is affected by a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format is included, and based on the determination result Te, and selects the RIP unit of rasterizing the merged job.

  According to the image processing apparatus, the job processing control program, and the job processing control method of the present invention, when printing a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of jobs, even if both jobs have different languages, It is possible to maintain a unified feeling of the print result of each page.

  The reason is that an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine performs a plurality of RIP units that rasterize a plurality of PDL format jobs in accordance with the PDL format, saves the job, and prints the stored job. A job management unit that controls, when the submitted job is stored, the job management unit stores the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format, and combines the plurality of stored jobs When printing a combined job, it is determined whether or not the original PDL format of a plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job includes a predetermined object whose print result is affected by a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. This is because control is performed to select an RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job based on the result.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other structure of the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print instruction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storing operation when a job is submitted in the printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reprint operation of a stored job in the printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the job combination operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation (job storage process) of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram showing an operation when the input job is PS in the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation when the input job is PDF in the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation (job storage process) of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation (reprint processing of a combined job) of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the table (difference point enumeration table) used by the image processing which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is an example of a table (difference determination result list) used in image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement (difference influence presence determination process) of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is an example of a table (connectable device list) used in image processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation (job transfer process to another image forming apparatus) of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a storing operation when a job is submitted in a conventional printing system. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a reprint operation of a saved job in a conventional printing system. It is a figure explaining a transparent object. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which inserts the page from which a language differs.

  As shown in the background art, a controller that processes a job often has two or more RIP software (for example, CPSI capable of interpreting a PS job and APPE capable of interpreting a PDF job). These are switched according to the language of the job input by the user, and a raster image for transmission to the printer is generated.

  19 and 20 are schematic diagrams of a conventional printing system, and an image processing apparatus (here, an image forming apparatus having a print engine) has a plurality of RIP software (here, RIP software 1 and RIP software 2). . Further, it has a non-volatile storage area such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and can store a plurality of jobs submitted by the user. A page insertion operation can be performed between the stored jobs, and the stored / edited job can be printed out again.

  At the time of job submission in this printing system, as shown in FIG. 19, the job (PDL data and job ticket) transmitted from the print instruction apparatus is stored in the HDD and RIP software (in this case, RIP) corresponding to the PDL format. Rasterization is performed using software 1) to generate a raster image, and printing is performed by the print engine. Further, at the time of reprinting, as shown in FIG. 20, a job instructed by the print instructing device is read from the HDD, and rasterized by RIP software (here, RIP software 1) corresponding to the PDL format to generate a raster image, Print with the print engine.

  Here, when only jobs having the same PDL format are transmitted from the print instruction apparatus, rasterization processing may be performed using RIP software corresponding to the PDL format, but jobs having different PDL formats such as PS and PDF. Is transmitted depending on the page due to the difference in the PDL format. For example, since a transparent object is defined in PDF, as shown in FIG. 21A, when a transparent object (a star-shaped image object indicated by hatching) is superimposed on a character object, the character object and the transparent object are transparent. Objects can be handled separately. However, since a transparent object is not defined in PS, the entire area including the star-shaped image object (area surrounded by a thick solid line in the figure) is treated as an image object as shown in FIG. However, it is not possible to change the print resolution of one object or to perform processing such as “thinning” on the text object, and the appearance of characters may change inside and outside the area (see FIG. Here, characters in the area are indicated by bold lines).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 22, when a page is inserted from a PDF job with respect to a PS job, a transparent object (not defined in PS but transparent for convenience of explanation here) In the case where an object exists), when printing is output again, depending on the page (P1 to P3 and P6 to P8) despite the same job due to the difference in the transparent expression between PS / PDF. And P4 and P5) cause a problem that the appearance changes.

  Such a problem occurs when a specific expression in document creation has different implementation methods between PDL formats (or between RIP software), and a plurality of PDL format jobs including specific expressions are mixed. It is thought that this is caused by the selection of RIP software that matches the original PDL format.

  Therefore, in an embodiment of the present invention, an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine includes a plurality of RIP units that rasterize a plurality of PDL format jobs according to the PDL format, and job storage. And a job management unit that controls printing of the stored job, and the job management unit stores and saves the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format when the submitted job is stored. When printing a combined job that combines multiple jobs, the original PDL format of the multiple jobs is different, and the combined job includes a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format The RIP unit that rasterizes the combined job is selected based on the determination result. For example, when the original PDL format of a plurality of jobs is different and a predetermined object is included in the combined job, one RIP that rasterizes the combined job from a plurality of RIP units with reference to a previously stored table The selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that can be rasterized by the RIP unit, and outputs the combined job to the print engine.

  In other words, a page can be inserted from another job with respect to a saved job. In an image processing apparatus including two or more types of RIP software (such as CPSI / APPE), the PDL format is different between a saved job and another job. In order to maintain a uniform print result between the stored job page and the inserted page of another job, considering the difference in basic drawing performance between RIP software depending on the PDL format, Controls printing of saved and saved jobs. For example, if it is determined that the image quality is different for the same expression on each page in the job due to the functional difference for each PDL type, RIP software and PDL types that can be unified in terms of image quality are appropriately selected. Select and implement rasterization with the selected RIP software to achieve consistency of image quality within the job.

  The case shown in FIG. 22 (when a job includes transparent objects and PS / PDF coexists) can be considered in two ways: RIP the entire job with PS or RIP with PDF. In the first place, there is no information “transparent object” itself, and even when it is RIP as PDF, it cannot output as expected. On the other hand, the PDF can be converted to PS and RIPed as PS. Therefore, although there is a possibility that degradation in image quality may occur with respect to the PDF page in the transparent expression, importance is attached to consistency with other pages, and RIP is performed as PS.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an image processing apparatus, a job processing control program, and a job processing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. To do. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the printing system of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are block diagrams showing the configurations of a print instruction apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, respectively. . 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing the schematic operation of the printing system according to the present embodiment. FIGS. 9, 12, 13, 16, and 18 illustrate the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams showing the schematic operation of the image processing apparatus, and FIGS. 14, 15, and 17 are examples of tables used in the image processing of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the printing system of this embodiment, a print instruction apparatus 10, an image processing apparatus (controller) 20, and an image forming apparatus 30 that can be connected via a communication network 40 are arranged on an intranet. In FIG. 1, the printing system includes the print instruction apparatus 10, the image processing apparatus 20, and the image forming apparatus 30. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 20 is built in the image forming apparatus 30. It is good also as composition to be. Although Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like can be used as the standard of the communication network 40, IEEE1394, Parallel or the like can be used for data transfer from the image processing apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 30 in addition to Ethernet (registered trademark). Is possible. Hereinafter, each device will be described in detail.

[Printing instruction device]
The print instruction apparatus 10 is a computer apparatus such as a personal computer, and includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a network I / F unit 13, a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, and the like as shown in FIG. Is done.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a and memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c, which are connected via a bus. The CPU 11a performs overall control of the print instruction apparatus 10 by reading a program from the ROM 11b and the storage unit 12, developing the program in the RAM 11c, and executing the program.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 11 (CPU 11a) executes an OS (Operating System) 16, a document creation application 17, a printer driver 18, a job operation application 19, and the like.

  The OS 16 is Windows (registered trademark), Mac OS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), or the like, and enables the document creation application 17, the printer driver 18, and the job operation application 19 to operate on the print instruction apparatus 10.

  The document creation application 17 is software that performs document creation, spreadsheet, image processing, and the like. The document creation application 17 reads the printer driver 18 when printing is instructed, and transfers document data created by the document creation application 17 to the printer driver 18.

  The printer driver 18 converts the document data created by the document creation application 17 into a language job (PS or PDF PDL data) that can be interpreted by the image processing apparatus 20. Output setting information (job ticket) set on the output setting screen of the printer driver 18 is added to this job. In this embodiment, PS and PDF are exemplified as PDL data, but PCL (Printer Control Language), XPS (XML Paper Specification), and the like can also be used.

  The job operation application 19 enables operation of job data stored in the image processing apparatus 20 (operations such as editing and reprinting of stored jobs). When the image processing apparatus 20 has a function as a Web server that provides a Web service, the job operation application 19 functions as a Web client, and a job stored in the image processing apparatus 20 using a Web browser or the like. Data can be manipulated.

  The storage unit 12 is configured by an HDD, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like, and stores a program for the CPU 11a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, document data, job data, and the like.

  The network I / F unit 13 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, and the like, and connects the print instruction apparatus 10 to the communication network 40 so that a job can be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 20.

  The display unit 14 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and the like. A screen for creating a document, a screen for setting a document output condition, and job data stored in the image processing device 20. Display the screen for operating. The operation unit 15 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 14 and the like, and enables creation of a document, setting of output conditions, operation on job data stored in the image processing apparatus 20, and the like. .

[Image processing device]
The image processing apparatus 20 is a computer apparatus that performs rasterization processing on a job and generates image data (raster image) in a format that can be output by the image forming apparatus 30, and stores received print jobs. Has functions such as editing and reprinting. As shown in FIG. 4A, the image processing apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a network I / F unit 23, a printer I / F unit 24, a display unit 25, an operation unit 26, and the like. The

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a and a memory such as a ROM 21b and a RAM 21c, which are connected via a bus. The CPU 21a reads the program from the ROM 21b and the storage unit 22, develops it in the RAM 21c, and executes it, thereby performing overall control of the image processing apparatus 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit 21 functions as a job management unit 27, a RIP unit 28, and the like.

  The job management unit 27 controls job storage and reprinting of stored jobs. Specifically, when a submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format. For example, the input job is stored in the original PDL format, and is converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized by a plurality of RIP units described later and stored. In addition, when a job to be combined is specified from among the stored jobs when the job is submitted, the PDL formats of the submitted job and the job to be combined are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different ( Alternatively, if the PDL formats of both jobs are different and at least one of the jobs includes a predetermined object whose print result is affected by the difference in rasterization according to the PDL format) And in the PDL format of the job to be combined, and saved. In addition, when reprinting a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs, it is determined whether the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and whether the predetermined job is included in the combined job, and based on the determination result The RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected. For example, when the original PDL format of a plurality of jobs is different and a predetermined object is included in the combined job, the combined job is rasterized from a plurality of RIP units described later with reference to a pre-stored table. One RIP part to be selected is selected, and the selected RIP part is instructed to rasterize the combined job. Note that, when saving a submitted job, if the job is only saved without printing, the job will be printed for the first time, but in this embodiment, the saved job is reprinted. Called printing.

  When the image processing apparatus 20 functions as a Web server that provides a Web service, the job management unit 27 creates a Web screen for operating job data stored in the image processing apparatus 20 to create a Web page. The information is provided to the print instruction apparatus 10 operating as a client, and job storage, reprinting of the stored job, and the like are executed in accordance with instructions from the print instruction apparatus 10.

  In accordance with an instruction from the job management unit 27, the RIP unit 28 analyzes the input job and the saved job, generates intermediate data, performs rendering, and generates a raster image (this series of processing is called rasterization processing). Then, the generated raster image is output to the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct printing. The RIP unit 28 includes a plurality of RIP units (RIP software). In this embodiment, a first RIP section (PS RIP software) 28a that performs rasterization processing on a job in the first PDL format (PS in this embodiment), and a second PDL format (PDF in this embodiment). And a second RIP unit (RIP software for PDF) 28b that performs rasterization processing on the job of ().

  The job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28 (first RIP unit 28a and second RIP unit 28b) may be configured as hardware, or job processing that causes the control unit 21 to function as the job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28. It may be configured as a control program so that the CPU 21a executes the job processing control program.

  The storage unit 22 is configured by an HDD, an SSD, or the like, and stores a program for the CPU 21a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, job data, a raster image after rasterization processing, and the like.

  The network I / F unit 23 includes a NIC, a modem, and the like, and connects the image processing apparatus 20 to the communication network 40 so that job data and the like can be received from the print instruction apparatus 10. The printer I / F unit 24 is a dedicated interface for connecting to the image forming apparatus 30 and enables a raster image or the like to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30.

  The display unit 25 is configured by an LCD, an organic EL display, or the like, and displays a print instruction screen for the image forming apparatus 30. The operation unit 26 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and enables various operations on the print instruction screen.

[Image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus 30 is a printing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripherals), and as shown in FIG. 5, a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a controller I / F unit 33, a display operation unit 34, and a print processing unit. 35 or the like.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU 31a and memories such as a ROM 31b and a RAM 31c, which are connected via a bus. The CPU 31a performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 30 by reading a program from the ROM 31b and the storage unit 32, and developing and executing the program on the RAM 31c.

  The storage unit 32 includes an HDD, an SSD, and the like, and stores a program for the CPU 31a to control each unit, data necessary for executing the program, a raster image acquired from the image processing apparatus 20, and the like.

  The controller I / F unit 33 is a dedicated interface for connecting to the image processing apparatus 20 and enables a raster image or the like to be received from the image processing apparatus 20.

  The display operation unit 34 is a touch panel provided with a pressure-sensitive operation unit (touch sensor) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a lattice pattern on a display unit such as an LCD or an organic EL display (separate display unit and operation unit) In addition to displaying various screens related to print processing, various operations related to print processing can be performed.

  The print processing unit 35 includes elements necessary for image formation using an image forming process such as an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method, that is, a charging device, a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, a fixing device. It consists of devices. Specifically, the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device is irradiated with light corresponding to the raster image from the exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image, and charged with the developing device is attached and developed. The toner image is transferred to a paper medium via a primary transfer roller and a secondary transfer belt, and is fixed by a fixing device.

  1 to 5 show an example of a printing system according to the present embodiment, and the configuration and function of each apparatus can be changed as appropriate. For example, in FIG. 4, the control unit 21 of the image processing apparatus 20 is configured to function as the job management unit 27 and the RIP unit 28. However, in the case of the printing system of FIG. You may make it function as a management part and a RIP part (it makes CPU31a run a job processing control program).

  Hereinafter, the job processing control method according to the present embodiment will be described. First, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the save operation, the reprint operation, and the job combination operation at the time of job input of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described. To do.

[Save operation when submitting a job]
As shown in FIG. 6, the user can specify whether or not to save the job when the job is input from the print instruction apparatus to the image processing apparatus. A job that has been designated to be stored and is submitted is stored in a nonvolatile storage area such as an HDD in the image processing apparatus. The input job is stored in the image processing apparatus as job data including at least a PDL generated based on a document created by the user and output setting information (job ticket) specified by the user. There are several types (languages) of PDL. In this embodiment, two types of PS and PDF are assumed.

[When reprinting a saved job]
As shown in FIG. 7, the user can instruct editing and reprinting of a job stored in the image processing apparatus. A job for which editing or reprinting has been instructed is subjected to rasterization processing based on the current output setting, and printing is performed by transmitting the generated raster image to the image forming apparatus. The image processing apparatus is provided with RIP software for performing a plurality of rasterization processes. Normally, RIP software capable of interpreting the language type of PDL included in the job to be designated is selected. become.

[Join Job]
The user can insert a page included in a separately stored job into a job stored in the image processing apparatus (this is called job combination). FIG. 8 shows an example of a job combination operation. Here, a specific page (here, P2 and P3) of job B whose PDL format is PDF is inserted (job combination) with respect to job A whose PDL format is PS. At this time, job A is called a main job, and job B is called a sub job. Job A is a job composed of two pages in PDL format, PS and PDF, after the job combining operation.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 18. The CPU 21a executes the processing of each step of FIGS. 9, 12, 13, 16, and 18 by expanding and executing the job processing control program stored in the ROM 21b or the storage unit 22 on the RAM 21c. Here, job storage, combined job reprinting, and job transfer will be described in order.

[Save Job]
The main feature of the present embodiment is that, for a job having a different PDL format for each page created by a job combination operation, rasterization processing is performed in accordance with one of the PDL formats at the time of reprinting. In order to realize this, the following two methods have been proposed with the essential element of converting and storing the data in the PDL format required at the time of job submission.

  The first method is a case where a job is submitted without specifying a job to be combined, and the submitted job is stored in a plurality of PDL formats. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the overall operation, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic operation when the input job is PS, and FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the schematic operation when the input job is PDF. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when receiving a submission job from the print instruction apparatus 10 (S101), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines the PDL format of the submission job (S102).

  When the input job is PS (see FIG. 10), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) stores the PS job in the storage unit 22 or the like (a job described in PS data and PJL (Printer Job Language)). The ticket is stored) (S103), and it is determined that it should be stored as another PDF format PDF.

  Next, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) performs a rasterization process on the input job when printing is specified at the same time when the job is input, generates a raster image, and outputs it to the print engine. (S104). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) extracts the job setting described in the PDL data of the PS, and based on the extracted job setting and the PJL (job ticket) designated at the time of job submission. Then, a job setting as a PDF job (JDF (Job Definition Format) job setting) is generated (S105). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) converts the PS data in the job data to PDF to generate PDF data (S106). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) stores the PDF data and JDF job settings in the storage unit 22 or the like as part of the job data (S107).

  On the other hand, when the input job is PDF (see FIG. 11), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) stores the PDF job in the storage unit 22 or the like (stores PDF data and JDF job settings). At the same time (S108), it is determined that it should be stored as PS which is another PDL format.

  Next, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) performs a rasterization process on the input job when printing is specified at the same time when the job is input, generates a raster image, and outputs it to the print engine. (S109). Further, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) converts the PDF / JDF data in the job data into the PS / PJL format (S110), and stores the PS data and the PJL job settings as part of the job data. The data is stored in the unit 22 (S111).

  The second method is to submit a job by specifying a job to be merged. The PDL format of the submitted job is compared with the PDL format of the merged job, and the job is submitted based on the comparison result. This is a method of saving a job in one or a plurality of PDL formats. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user inputs a job while selecting a job (combination target job) that is scheduled to be combined with the job on the print instruction apparatus 10, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) displays the input job. Is received and a selection operation of the job to be combined is accepted (S201). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) acquires the PDL format of the submitted job (S202), and acquires the PDL format of the combination target job selected at the time of job submission (S203).

  Next, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) stores the input job in the original PDL format in the storage unit 22 or the like (S204), compares the PDL format of each job acquired in S202 and S203, It is determined whether or not the PDL formats are the same (S205). If the PDL formats of the two are different (No in S205), the PDL format is different between the input job and the job to be combined. Therefore, the input job is converted into the PDL format of the job to be combined and stored in the storage unit 22 or the like ( S206).

  In FIG. 12, when the PDL format of the input job and the job to be combined is different, the PDL format of the input job is converted and saved. However, the PDL format of the input job and the job to be combined is different and at least one of the PDL formats is different. If the job includes an object (for example, a transparent object) that is affected by a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format, the PDL format of the input job may be converted and stored.

[Reprint Combined Job]
The main feature of the present embodiment is that rasterizing processing is performed in accordance with either PDL format at the time of reprinting for a job having a different PDL format for each page by job combination operation. Here, on the premise that the jobs saved by the first method shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 are combined, the operation from the reprint request to the execution will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14. To do.

  First, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) receives a reprint instruction from the user (S301), and determines whether the job instructed to reprint is a combined job (S302). If the job instructed to reprint is not a combined job (No in S302), the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the job instructed to reprint in the PDL format at the time of submission, and the image forming apparatus A raster image is output to 30 to instruct reprinting (S308).

  On the other hand, when the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job (Yes in S302), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that there is a possibility that a difference determination may be required, and is included in the target job. It is determined whether or not the PDL format at the time of submitting each job is the same (S303). If the PDL format at the time of submission of each job is the same (Yes in S303), the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the target job in the PDL format at the time of submission and outputs a raster image to the image forming apparatus 30. Then, reprinting is instructed (S308).

  On the other hand, if the PDL formats at the time of submission of each job are different (No in S303), it is determined that a difference determination is necessary, and the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) is a table listing PS / PDF difference points. The process of S305 is repeatedly executed for each item. Specifically, a determination process (described later) is performed to determine whether or not there is a portion affected by the difference in the main job / sub job, and the determination result is added to the “difference determination result list” (S305). FIG. 14 is a configuration example of a difference point enumeration table. For example, the name of an object in which a difference occurs and how the object is expressed in PS / PDF are described. FIG. 15 is a configuration example of the difference determination result list. For example, the name of the object in which the difference occurs, the presence / absence of the object in the job, the rasterizing method for each PDL format at the time of input to the object, and the rasterizing method Describes the effects of reprinting.

  Thereafter, the control unit 21 (RIP unit 28) re-rasterizes the target job based on the result of the difference effect determination performed in S304 to S306, outputs a raster image to the image forming apparatus 30, and performs reprinting. An instruction is given (S307).

  Next, the difference effect presence / absence determination process in S305 will be described using a transparent object as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the processes of S402 to S404 are repeatedly executed for all pages of the target job. Specifically, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines whether or not the PDL format when the current page is input is PDF (S402). Since the expression of the transparent object does not exist in the PS, the determination target is only the PDF page. Therefore, when the PDL format at the time of input is PS (No in S402), the process proceeds to the next page.

  When the PDL format at the time of inputting the current page is PDF (Yes in S402), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) checks whether a transparent object exists in the page (S403). As a result of the check, if there is no transparent object on the page (No in S404), the next page is processed, and if there is no transparent object on all pages, the effect of the difference in the job on the transparent expression It is evaluated that no occurrence occurs, and it is determined that rasterization processing should be performed for all pages in the same manner as at the time of input (S406).

  On the other hand, if there is a transparent object on the current page (Yes in S404), the loop is terminated and the transparent object is used on at least one page. It is determined that there is a possibility of occurrence of a raster, and it is determined that all pages should be rasterized as PS (S407). Note that there is a possibility that a difference occurs when the PS side is also transparent on the PS side, but it cannot be detected because the PS has no concept of transparency in the first place.

[Job transfer to other image forming devices]
In the case where a plurality of image processing devices 20 are connected to the printing system, and the predetermined image processing device 20 can be managed by setting the other image processing devices 20 as a group of image processing devices in advance, It is also possible to transfer a job to the image processing apparatus 20, and based on the difference determination result list shown in FIG. 15, the apparatus that can obtain a desired result is selected after comparing with the capability information of the transfer destination apparatus And transfer the job.

  In that case, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) of the predetermined image processing apparatus 20 extracts another image processing apparatus 20 having the RIP unit selected for the combined job, and extracts the other image processing apparatus 20 thus extracted. Is displayed on the display unit 25 or the like and presented to the user, and control is performed to transfer the combined job to another image processing apparatus 20 selected from the list.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the predetermined image processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This job transfer is based on the reprint process of the combined job shown in FIG. 13 and is a process of extracting transfer candidates, notifying the user of the extraction result, and instructing the transfer destination selected by the user to reprint. .

  First, when receiving a reprint instruction from the user (S501), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) acquires a pre-stored connectable device list (S502). FIG. 17 is an example of a connectable device list, which includes at least an identifier on the communication network 40 of the device and information regarding rasterization processing that the device has.

  Next, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines whether or not the job instructed to be reprinted is a combined job (S503). If the job for which reprinting is instructed is not a combined job (No in S503), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) is instructed to reprint with reference to information relating to rasterization processing in the connectable device list. Transfer destinations that can be re-rasterized and reprinted in the PDL format at the time of submitting the job are extracted (S505), the extracted transfer destination list is presented to the user, and reprinting is performed on the device selected by the user. The instructed job is transferred (S510).

  On the other hand, if the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job (Yes in S503), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that there is a possibility that a difference determination is necessary, and includes it in the target job. It is determined whether or not the PDL format at the time of submitting each job is the same (S504). When the PDL format at the time of submitting each job is the same (Yes in S504), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) selects a transfer destination that can perform re-rasterization / reprinting in the PDL format at the time of submitting the target job. Extraction is performed (S505), the extracted transfer destination list is presented to the user, and the target job is transferred to the device selected by the user (S510).

  On the other hand, when the job for which reprinting is instructed is a combined job having a plurality of PDL formats (No in S504), the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) determines that a difference determination may be necessary. Then, the process of S507 is repeatedly executed for each item in the table listing the PS / PDF differences. Specifically, as in S305 in FIG. 13, a determination process (FIG. 16) is performed to determine whether there is a portion affected by the difference in the main job and the sub job. (S507). Then, the control unit 21 (job management unit 27) extracts transfer destinations where re-rasterization / reprinting of the combined job can be performed based on the difference determination result (S509), and presents the extracted transfer destination list to the user. Then, the combined job is transferred to the device selected by the user (S510).

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, The structure and control can be changed suitably, unless it deviates from the meaning of this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the RIP unit 28 has two RIP softwares of the first RIP unit 28a and the second RIP unit 28b has been described. However, when the RIP unit 28 has three or more RIP softwares for three or more languages. Also, the job processing control method of the present invention can be similarly applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where two stored jobs are combined and reprinted is illustrated. However, the job processing of the present invention is also applicable to the case where three or more jobs are combined and reprinted. Control methods can be applied as well.

  In the above embodiment, the job data is stored in the storage unit 22 of the image processing apparatus 20. However, the job data may be stored in a server connected to the communication network 40.

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine, a job processing control program that controls the storage of the job in the image processing apparatus and the reprinting of the stored job, and a recording that records the job processing control program It can be used for a medium and a job processing control method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print instruction | indication apparatus 11 Control part 11a CPU
11b ROM
11c RAM
12 storage unit 13 network I / F unit 14 display unit 15 operation unit 16 OS
17 Document Creation Application 18 Printer Driver 19 Job Operation Application 20 Image Processing Device 21 Control Unit 21a CPU
21b ROM
21c RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Memory | storage part 23 Network I / F part 24 Printer I / F part 25 Display part 26 Operation part 27 Job management part 28 RIP part 28a 1st RIP part 28b 2nd RIP part 30 Image forming apparatus 31 Control part 31a CPU
31b ROM
31c RAM
32 Storage Unit 33 Controller I / F Unit 34 Display Operation Unit 35 Print Processing Unit 40 Communication Network

Claims (26)

An image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine,
A plurality of RIP (Raster Image Processor) units for rasterizing a plurality of PDL (Page Description Language) jobs according to the PDL format;
A job management unit that controls job storage and printing of the stored job,
The job management unit
When saving a submitted job, save the job in one or more PDL formats including the original PDL format,
When printing a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and a print result is affected by a difference in rasterization corresponding to the PDL format. It is determined whether an object is included, and based on the determination result, a RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job is selected.
An image processing apparatus. The job management unit
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the predetermined job is included in the combined job, the combined job is referred to from the plurality of RIP units by referring to a previously stored table. Select one RIP part to rasterize,
The selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that can be rasterized by the RIP unit, and outputs the combined job to the print engine.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The job management unit
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized by the plurality of RIP units, and saved.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The job management unit
When a job to be merged is specified from the stored jobs when the job is submitted, the PDL format of the submitted job and the job to be merged are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and converts it into the PDL format of the job to be combined and saves it.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The job management unit
When the PDL format of both jobs is different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined Convert to and save,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4. The plurality of PDL formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF ((Portable Document Format),
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined by PDF.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. The job management unit
If the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the transparent job is included in the PDF job. If the transparent job is included in the PDF job, the combined job is determined. Select a RIP part capable of rasterizing the PS job as one RIP part for rasterizing the job.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6. When one or more other image processing devices capable of transferring jobs are connected to the image processing device,
The job management unit
The other image processing apparatus having the RIP unit selected for the combined job is extracted, the list of the extracted other image processing apparatuses is presented, and the other image processing apparatus selected from the list is displayed. Transfer the combined job;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus including the print engine.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. A job processing control program that operates on an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine,
The image processing apparatus;
A plurality of RIP (Raster Image Processor) units for rasterizing a plurality of PDL (Page Description Language) format jobs according to the PDL format;
Function as a job management unit that performs job storage processing and print processing of stored jobs,
In the saving process, when the submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or a plurality of PDL formats including the original PDL format,
In the printing process, when a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs is printed, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job has a print result due to a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. Determining whether a predetermined object to be affected is included and, based on the determination result, selecting a RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job;
A job processing control program. In the printing process,
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the predetermined job is included in the combined job, the combined job is referred to from the plurality of RIP units by referring to a previously stored table. Select one RIP part to be rasterized, and cause the selected RIP part to rasterize the combined job in a PDL format that the RIP part can rasterize.
The job processing control program according to claim 10. In the saving process,
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized by the plurality of RIP units, and saved.
The job processing control program according to claim 11, wherein: In the saving process,
When a job to be merged is specified from the stored jobs when the job is submitted, the PDL format of the submitted job and the job to be merged are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and converts it into the PDL format of the job to be combined and saves it.
The job processing control program according to claim 11, wherein: In the saving process,
When the PDL format of both jobs is different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined Convert to and save,
The job processing control program according to claim 13. The plurality of PDL formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF ((Portable Document Format),
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined by PDF.
15. The job processing control program according to claim 10, wherein the job processing control program is any one of claims 10 to 14. In the printing process,
If the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the transparent job is included in the PDF job. If the transparent job is included in the PDF job, the combined job is determined. Select a RIP part capable of rasterizing the PS job as one RIP part for rasterizing the job.
The job processing control program according to claim 15. The image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus including the print engine.
17. The job processing control program according to claim 10, wherein the job processing control program is any one of claims 10 to 16. A job processing control method in a system including an image processing apparatus that rasterizes a job and outputs it to a print engine,
The image processing apparatus includes:
A plurality of RIP (Raster Image Processor) units for rasterizing a plurality of PDL (Page Description Language) jobs according to the PDL format;
A job management unit that performs job storage processing and print processing of the stored job,
In the saving process, when the submitted job is saved, the job is saved in one or a plurality of PDL formats including the original PDL format,
In the printing process, when a combined job obtained by combining a plurality of stored jobs is printed, the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different, and the combined job has a print result due to a difference in rasterization according to the PDL format. Determining whether a predetermined object to be affected is included and, based on the determination result, selecting a RIP unit for rasterizing the combined job;
A job processing control method. In the printing process,
When the original PDL format of the plurality of jobs is different and the predetermined job is included in the combined job, the combined job is referred to from the plurality of RIP units by referring to a previously stored table. Select one RIP part to rasterize,
The selected RIP unit rasterizes the combined job in a PDL format that can be rasterized by the RIP unit, and outputs the combined job to the print engine.
The job processing control method according to claim 18, wherein: In the saving process,
The submitted job is saved in the original PDL format, and converted into all other PDL formats that can be rasterized by the plurality of RIP units, and saved.
The job processing control method according to claim 19. In the saving process,
When a job to be merged is specified from the stored jobs when the job is submitted, the PDL format of the submitted job and the job to be merged are compared, and the PDL formats of both jobs are different Saves the submitted job in the original PDL format, and converts it into the PDL format of the job to be combined and saves it.
The job processing control method according to claim 19. In the saving process,
When the PDL format of both jobs is different and the predetermined object exists in at least one job, the submitted job is saved in the original PDL format and the PDL format of the job to be combined Convert to and save,
The job processing control method according to claim 21, wherein: The plurality of PDL formats include PS (Postscript) and PDF ((Portable Document Format),
The predetermined object is a transparent object defined by PDF.
The job processing control method according to claim 18, wherein the job processing control method is a job processing control method. In the printing process,
If the combined job is composed of a PS job and a PDF job, it is determined whether the transparent job is included in the PDF job. If the transparent job is included in the PDF job, the combined job is determined. Select a RIP part capable of rasterizing the PS job as one RIP part for rasterizing the job.
24. The job processing control method according to claim 23. When one or more other image processing devices capable of transferring jobs are connected to the image processing device,
In the printing process,
The other image processing apparatus having the RIP unit selected for the combined job is extracted, the list of the extracted other image processing apparatuses is presented, and the other image processing apparatus selected from the list is displayed. Transfer the combined job;
The job processing control method according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein The image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus including the print engine.
The job processing control method according to any one of claims 18 to 25, wherein

Images