JP2020027314A - Print data processing unit and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an apparatus capable of executing another print data analysis process even when not completing a print data analysis process.SOLUTION: A print data processing unit 100 generates an analysis instruction for extracting information constituting a page attribute used for controlling a RIP function unit 20 from print data (job), when the print data is input, and inputs into an analysis unit 120. The analysis unit 120 converts the analysis instruction into an instruction per page, and assigns the instruction per page to a plurality of information extraction units 130. This assignment may be made on a unit per job or a unit per page. The information extracting unit 130 extracts information from the data of the page of the job in a job spool 110 according to the assigned instruction per page.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

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

  In the system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the PDL data analysis unit of the DFE analyzes the print data and determines the level of the RIP processing load. Print data of a page having a high RIP processing load is subjected to RIP processing in a high load page RIP section, and raster data is sent to the MIC. The print data of a page with a low RIP processing load is sent to the MIC, and subjected to RIP processing by a low-load page RIP unit. The two types of raster data are merged by a raster data merge unit and sent to the image forming apparatus. The time required for the rendering process is reduced by dispersing the rendering process.

  The image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 2 includes a plurality of drawing modules arranged in parallel for processing a print job and generating print data, and the allocating unit converts the print job into the plurality of drawing modules. Is assigned to any one of the drawing modules. Further, in an image processing apparatus connected to a printing system including a plurality of printers, the plurality of printers are arranged such that a print job is distributed to an optimal rendering module and a priority is set to the distributed rendering module. Select the printer in.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an image forming apparatus having a plurality of PDL analysis units. This apparatus obtains information on the order of PDL analysis processing and print processing other than PDL such as COPY or FAX from the print processing standby list, and controls the timing of activation and termination of the PDL analysis means, so that PDLs that operate in parallel can be obtained. It is possible to reduce the number of analysis modules and minimize the switching time of the PDL analysis module.

  A data processing mechanism provided in the image forming apparatus performs a raster image processor (RIP) process (also referred to as a drawing process) on print data described in PDL (page description language), thereby enabling raster processing that the printing mechanism can handle. Generate image data. Some image forming apparatuses obtain filter information by analyzing information of each page of the print data before the RIP processing, and obtain the filter information at the time of the RIP processing from the filter information of each page and the setting information of the image forming apparatus. Some determine the attributes of each page. Page attributes include items such as page size, rotation, scaling, color, overprint, trapping, and hardware control information. By determining the attributes of each page in advance, when parallelizing RIP processing, it becomes possible to efficiently allocate page processing to RIP units that operate in parallel.

  The analysis processing for analyzing information of each page of the print data has a much lower processing load than the drawing processing for generating raster image data from the print data. For this reason, the conventional system does not consider a situation in which the rendering process waits because the analysis process has not been completed. However, in recent years, speeding up of drawing processing has been realized by parallelization and the like, and it has been observed that analysis processing is relatively delayed and drawing processing waits for processing. Conventionally, when the second print data having a high urgency is input during the execution of the analysis processing of the first print data having a large number of pages, the second print data is input until the analysis processing of the first print data is completed. The print data cannot be analyzed. For this reason, the analysis processing of the second print data having high urgency is delayed, and the printing is delayed.

JP 2012-061687 A JP-A-2002-215352 JP 2014050992 A

  The present invention provides an apparatus that can execute another print data analysis process without completing the print data analysis process.

  The invention according to claim 1, wherein a generating unit that generates an analysis instruction for the input print data, a holding unit that holds the analysis instruction group generated by the generation unit for each of a plurality of print data, A plurality of extracting means for extracting information from the print data corresponding to the analysis instruction in accordance with the instruction; and an extraction not executing the analysis instruction for any of the plurality of print data in the plurality of extraction means. Control means for controlling the execution of the analysis instruction of the print data by preferentially allocating the plurality of print data from the print data having the highest priority to the extraction means when the means exists. It is a print data processing device.

  The invention according to claim 2 further includes means for receiving an information extraction command from a user for any of the plurality of print data, wherein the plurality of extraction means include at least one of the plurality of print data secured for the analysis command. Analysis means for extraction, and one or more user-oriented extraction means used for the information extraction command from the user, wherein the control means includes: 2. The print data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information extraction command is not assigned.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when there is an unprocessed analysis instruction while all of the one or more analysis extraction units are processing an analysis instruction, the one or more analysis extraction units wait in the one or more user extraction units. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a unit configured to control the unprocessed analysis instruction to be processed by the user-extracting unit that is waiting, if any is present.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a first allocating means for allocating an analysis instruction to the one or more analysis extraction means, and a second allocating means for allocating an information extraction instruction or an analysis instruction to the one or more user extraction means. And a distributing means for distributing the instruction to the first allocating means if the externally input instruction is an analysis instruction, and distributing the instruction to the second allocating means if the instruction is an information extraction instruction. Means for, when a predetermined time has elapsed without the instruction assigned to the first allocating means being processed by the one or more analyzing extracting means, there is a waiting one of the one or more user extracting means; 3. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction is re-assigned to the second assigning unit.

  The invention according to claim 5, wherein a computer is configured to generate an analysis instruction for the input print data, holding means for storing the analysis instruction group generated by the generation means for each of a plurality of print data, A plurality of extracting means for extracting information from the print data corresponding to the analysis instruction in accordance with the analysis instruction, and an extraction not executing the analysis instruction for any of the plurality of print data among the plurality of extraction means; In the case where the means exists, the extracting means functions as a control means for performing a control for executing the analysis instruction of the print data by preferentially allocating the plurality of print data in descending order of priority. It is a program for.

  According to the first or fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus capable of executing another print data analysis process without completing the print data analysis process.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a resource (analysis extracting means) for processing an analysis instruction from being used for processing an information extraction instruction.

  According to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to process more analysis instructions than when only the analysis extraction unit processes analysis instructions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a device configuration of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a job analysis instruction. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a page-based analysis command generated from a job analysis command. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall processing procedure of a print data processing unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of an analysis unit. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a state in which a plurality of job analysis instructions are executed in parallel by a plurality of information extraction units. It is a figure which illustrates the processing procedure of an information extraction part. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the analysis unit when focusing on one print data. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job analysis command in a modified example. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print data processing unit according to a modification.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a functional configuration of an embodiment of a print data processing apparatus will be described. 1 includes a print data receiving unit 10, a print data processing unit 100, a RIP function unit 20, and a UI unit 30.

  The print data receiving unit 10 receives an input of print data to be printed. The print data is input to the print data receiving unit 10 from a remote computer via a network or stored in a portable non-volatile recording medium. The print data is data in which an image of each page to be printed is described in PDL (Page Description Language) such as PostScript (registered trademark) or Portable Document Format (PDF). Hereinafter, one piece of print data is also referred to as a job. The print data received by the print data receiving unit 10 is passed to the print data processing unit 100.

  The RIP function unit 20 generates print image data in a format such as a raster format by performing RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing on the print data. The generated print image data is supplied to a printing device (not shown), and the printing device controls the print engine based on the print image data to print the image indicated by the print data on a recording medium such as paper. .

  A UI (user interface) unit 30 receives from a user input of attribute information relating to processing of print data, such as settings of a print data processing device and a printing device when processing print data. The attribute information input individually includes, for example, color settings, paper settings, layout settings (settings such as drawing position, NUp, overlapping of forms, etc.), and function designations such as spot color extraction / font extraction.

  The print data processing unit 100 analyzes the input print data and generates attribute information (referred to as “page attribute information”) for each page in the print data (job). The generated page attribute information is sent to the RIP function unit 20. The RIP function unit 20 controls parallel RIP processing of a plurality of pages by a known algorithm based on the page attribute information of each page.

  The print data processing unit 100 includes a job spool 110, an analysis unit 120, a plurality of information extraction units 130, a page information storage unit 140, and a page attribute generation unit 150, in addition to a main routine for performing main processing.

  The job spool 110 stores print data (jobs) (noted as “JOB1” or the like in FIG. 1) waiting for analysis processing by the analysis unit 120.

  When print data (job) is input, the main routine of the print data processing unit 100 creates an analysis command for the print data by a known method. This analysis instruction is an instruction for instructing analysis on a job basis.

  The analysis unit 120 performs control for analyzing print data. More specifically, the analysis unit 120 acquires a job-based analysis instruction for the target print data (job) from the main routine of the print data processing unit 100, and the job-based analysis instruction (such as “Job1” in FIG. 1). ), An analysis instruction for each page included in the job is created. Further, the analysis unit 120 performs a control of allocating an analysis process to each of the plurality of information extraction units 130 on a job basis or a page basis, and issuing an analysis instruction on a page basis to the information extraction unit 130 of the allocation destination. .

  The information extracting unit 130 analyzes the page by executing the page-based analysis instruction sent from the analysis unit 120 on the data of the page of the job corresponding to the analysis instruction in the job spool 110. Generate a result (called "page information"). Examples of items included in the page information include, for example, page size, rotation, scaling, color, overprint, trapping, hardware control information, and the like. Note that these items are merely exemplary, and the page information does not need to include all of the exemplary items, and may include items other than the exemplary items. The information extraction unit 130 returns the extracted page information to the analysis unit 120, and the analysis unit 120 stores the received page information in the page information storage unit 140.

  The page attribute generation unit 150 combines the page information stored in the page information storage unit 140 and the attribute information input from the UI unit 30 to obtain page attribute information used for RIP control in the RIP function unit 20. Generate The combination of the page information and the attribute information may be performed by a method such as merging the two.

  FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a job-based analysis command generated by the main routine of the print data processing unit 100.

  The analysis instructions include function type, job number, job file storage directory, processing priority, filter start page, filter end page, filter information output directory, spot color information extraction flag, spot color information extraction directory, profile output flag, profile output directory Etc. are included.

  The function type is information indicating the type of the analysis function indicated by the analysis instruction. The function types of the four jobs illustrated in the figure are all “filters”. The analysis function “filter” is a function of extracting (filtering) various items to be included in the page attribute information from each page of the print data. The analysis unit 120 (and the information extraction unit 130) may be capable of providing an analysis function other than the filter function. For example, analysis functions other than the filter function include, for example, spot color information extraction, font information extraction, thumbnail creation, and the like.

  The job number is an identification number for uniquely identifying a job (hereinafter, referred to as a “target job”) that is a target of the analysis instruction. For example, the analysis instruction 1001 is an analysis instruction for the job identified by the job number “1”, and the analysis instruction 1002 is an analysis instruction for the job with the job number “2”. The job file storage directory is information indicating a path of a storage location of a print data file (job file) targeted by the analysis instruction. The storage location of the job file is in the job spool, and the job file storage directory indicates the location in the job spool.

  The processing priority is information indicating the priority of the analysis processing assigned to the target job. A job with a lower processing priority (smaller value) is more likely to be selected as an analysis process target by the analysis unit 120. The same ranking may be given to a plurality of jobs. When selecting one target job from a plurality of jobs having the same rank, the analysis unit 120 selects a job having the highest evaluation value based on a criterion other than a rank or a random job. In the illustrated example, the processing priority of each job of job numbers 1, 2, and 6 is 1, and the processing priority of job of job number 3 is 2. The use of the “rank” is merely an example. More specifically, a priority indicating the priority of each job is assigned to the job, and the analysis unit 120 selects the job with the highest priority as the target job.

  The filter start page is the number of the first page of the range to be subjected to the filtering process according to the analysis instruction in the target job, and the filter end page is the number of the last page of the range. In the illustrated analysis instruction 1001, the value of the end page of the filter is “−1”, which is a value when the value of the last page is not explicitly specified by the user, and is substantially the same as that of the job. It means to analyze to the last page. When the analysis command instructs an analysis process other than the filter process (for example, extraction of spot color information, font information, etc.), the filter start page and the filter end page indicate the start and end pages of the analysis process.

  The filter information output directory is path information indicating a directory to which a result of the filtering process for the target job is output, and indicates, for example, a path of the page information storage unit 140.

  The spot color information extraction flag is a flag indicating whether or not to extract the spot color information from the target job in executing the analysis instruction. If the value of this flag is “ON”, special color information is extracted, and if “OFF”, no special color information is extracted. The spot color information extraction directory is path information indicating a directory to which the extracted spot color information is output.

  The profile output flag is a flag indicating whether to output the profile of the target job in executing the analysis instruction. If the value of this flag is "ON", the profile is output, and if it is "OFF", no profile is output. The profile output directory is path information indicating the directory to which the profile is output.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a page-based analysis instruction. FIG. 3 shows page-based analysis instructions 1101, 1102,... Generated by the analysis unit 120 from the analysis instruction 1001 (job number 1) shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the analysis instructions 1101, 1102,... For each page include a function type, a job number, a job file storage directory, a target page, a filter information output directory, a spot color information extraction flag, a spot color information extraction directory, and a profile. Items such as an output flag and a profile output directory are included. The items other than the target page are the same as the items of the same name, such as the job-based analysis instruction 1001 illustrated in FIG. The target page is the page number of the target of the analysis instructions 1101, 1102,....

  As can be seen from the comparison with FIG. 2, the page-based analysis instruction does not include the items of the processing priority, the filter start page, and the filter end page in the job-based analysis instruction.

  With reference to FIG. 4, a processing procedure of a main routine of the print data processing unit 100 will be exemplified.

  The print data processing unit 100 determines whether the print data receiving unit 10 has received new print data (S1000). If the result of this determination is Yes, the print data is stored in the job spool 110 in association with the unique job number, and a job-based analysis command (called a job analysis command) for the print data is generated (referred to as a job analysis command). S1002). Then, a job analysis command is sent to the analysis unit 120 (S1004), and the process returns to S1000.

  If the determination result in S1000 is No, the print data processing unit 100 determines whether new page information (analysis result) is output from the analysis unit 120 (S1006). In this step, for example, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed page information in the page information storage unit 140. If the result of this determination is No, the process returns to S1000. If the determination result is Yes, the print data processing unit 100 selects one piece of new page information (unprocessed page information in the page information storage unit 140), and inputs the page information and the input from the UI unit 30. The attribute information (such as device settings) corresponding to the current job is sent to the page attribute generation unit 150 (S1008). Then, the process waits for page attribute information to be output from the page attribute generation unit 150 (S1010). When the page attribute information is output, the page attribute information is used as the identification information of the job and the identification information of the page (page number). Etc.) and transmit it to the RIP function unit 20 (S1012).

  Next, a processing procedure of the analysis unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG. In this procedure, the analysis unit 120 confirms reception of a job analysis command from the main routine of the print data processing unit 100, and if received, holds the internal analysis command (S1200). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a job analysis command stored therein (S1202). If not, the process returns to S1200. If there is a job analysis instruction stored therein, it is determined whether or not there is a plurality of information extraction units 130 that are waiting (S1204). If the result of this determination is No, the process returns to S1200.

  When the result of the determination in S1204 is Yes, the value of the processing priority of each job analysis instruction (in some cases, a plurality of job analysis instructions) held therein is checked, and the priority is the highest (that is, the highest priority). One (high) job analysis command is selected as a processing target (S1206). Then, a page-by-page analysis instruction (see FIG. 3) for each page is generated from the selected job analysis instruction (see FIG. 2). The message is transmitted to one of them (S1208). Then, it waits for a response to the analysis command from the information extraction unit 130 (S1210). If the received response includes page information, the page information is stored in the page information storage unit 140 (S1212). The response from the information extraction unit 130 indicates that the last page of the job has been reached (that is, there is no longer a page to be subjected to the page-based analysis instruction received by the information extraction unit 130), in addition to the response returning the page information. May be shown. Until a response indicating that the last page has been reached is received (the determination result of S1214 is No), the analysis unit 120 repeats the processing of S1208 to S1214 for the job analysis instruction selected as the processing target in S1206. If the response from the information extraction unit 130 indicates that the last page has been reached, the determination result in S1214 is Yes, and the processing for the job analysis command selected as the processing target in S1206 ends. 120 returns to S1200.

  Note that the analysis unit 120 may execute a plurality of job analysis instructions 122 corresponding to a plurality of different jobs simultaneously and in parallel as illustrated in FIG. At the time illustrated in FIG. 6, the analysis unit 120 includes the job analysis instruction Job1 for the job of job number 1, the job analysis instruction Job2 for the job of job number 2,... The job analysis instruction for the job of job number 6. Job 6 is held inside. These job analysis instructions are illustrated in FIG. 2. The processing priority of the jobs of job numbers 1, 2, and 6 is 1, and the processing priority of the remaining job numbers 3, 4, and 5 is 2 or less. Suppose there was. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that there are three information extraction units 130 and one job is assigned to one information extraction unit 130. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, job analysis instructions Job1, Job2, and Job6 of job numbers 1, 2, and 6 are assigned to different information extraction units 130, respectively. The analysis unit 120 generates a page-by-page analysis instruction for each page from the job analysis instructions Job1, Job2, and Job6, and extracts the page-by-page analysis instruction in the order of pages and extracts information on the assignment destination of the job to which the page belongs. Send to section 130.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the analysis unit 120 allocates one job to one information extraction unit 130, but this is only an example. One job may be assigned to a plurality of information extraction units 130, and the plurality of information extraction units 130 may analyze the job in parallel.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 6, one or more information extraction units 130 in charge of the job are reserved for each job, but this is only an example. Each time the information extraction unit 130 completes processing of an analysis command for each page without securing the information extraction unit 130 for each job, the analysis unit 120 causes the information extraction unit 130 to analyze which page of which job next. You may decide to assign instructions. In this case, the information extraction unit 130 may be assigned an analysis instruction for an unprocessed page of a job different from the job to which the page related to the analysis instruction that has just finished processing belongs. In this example, the analysis unit 120 sends a processing priority to the information extraction unit 130 that has completed the processing of the page-based analysis command among the job-based analysis commands held by the analysis unit 120 at that time. An unprocessed page-based analysis instruction of the job with the highest rank (that is, the highest priority) is assigned. At this time, if there is a job of the highest rank in which the analysis of the job has already been started (that is, the analysis command of the first page has been transmitted to any of the information extracting units 130), the remaining pages of the job are Is assigned to the information extraction unit 130 with priority.

  Next, an example of a processing procedure of each information extracting unit 130 will be described with reference to FIG. In this procedure, the information extraction unit 130 waits for a page-by-page analysis command from the analysis unit 120 (S1400). Upon receiving the analysis command for each page, the information extraction unit 130 checks the job number indicated by the analysis command and the page number of the target page (see FIG. 3), and stores the data of the job indicated by the job number in the job spool 110. Try to get the data of the target page from. If the data of the target page cannot be obtained, the number of the target page is a number after the last page of the print data of the job, and the analysis instruction of the last page of the print data of the job has already been issued. It is. The information extraction unit 130 determines whether the data of the target page has been acquired, in other words, whether the analysis command has been issued up to the last page of the job (S1402). When the determination result is No, that is, when the data of the page related to the received analysis command can be obtained, the information extraction unit 130 analyzes the obtained data according to the analysis command, and extracts the page information ( S1404). Then, the extracted page information is returned to the analysis unit 120 (S1406). Note that the information extraction unit 130 may store the extracted page information in the page information storage unit 140, and may respond to the analysis unit 120 with information (for example, a memory address) specifying the storage location in S1406. If the determination result in S1402 is Yes, the information extraction unit 130 returns a response indicating that the last page of the job has been reached to the analysis unit 120 (S1406).

  The flow of processing by the print data processing unit 100 according to the present embodiment when focusing on a certain print data JOB1 will be described with reference to FIG. The input print data JOB1 is once spooled in the job spool 110 (reference numeral 112). In response to this, the print data processing unit 100 generates a job-based analysis command Job1 (reference numeral 122) for the print data JOB1 and passes it to the analysis unit 120. When the waiting information extraction unit 130 appears, the analysis unit 120 starts analyzing the job analysis instruction Job1 in units of pages, ie, an analysis instruction J1-P1 (analysis instruction of the first page of JOB1) (reference numeral 124), and J1-P2 (JOB1). Are sequentially created, and the analysis command is passed to the waiting information extraction unit 130 page by page. The information extracting unit 130 executes an analysis command for each page, acquires data subject to the analysis command from the print data JOB1, and analyzes the data. Then, the page information J1-P1 (analysis result of the first page of JOB1) (reference numeral 126), J1-P2 (analysis result of the second page of JOB1), which are the analysis results, are sequentially returned to the analysis unit 120. . The analysis unit 120 stores the page information in the page information storage unit 140. Further, in this example, the analysis unit 120 does not check the total number of pages of the print data JOB1 and responds to the next page number every time the processing result of the one-page analysis command is returned from the information extraction unit 130. To the information extracting unit 130 automatically. When receiving a response JobEnd indicating that the analysis up to the last page of JOB1 has been completed from the information extraction unit 130, the analysis unit 120 determines that the analysis of the job has been completed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the analysis unit 120 generates a page-based analysis command from a job-based analysis command received from the main routine of the print data processing unit 100, and generates a plurality of information extraction units 130 Controls the parallel processing of these page-based analysis instructions. As described above, in the present embodiment, the parallel processing of the analysis processing is packaged in a form closed by the analysis unit 120. The main routine on the upstream side only needs to pass a job-by-job analysis command to the analysis unit 120.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the analysis unit 120 issues the analysis command for each page in order from the first page without checking the total number of pages of the print data. Therefore, the analysis unit 120 checks the total number of pages of the print data. However, the loss of the time required for the analysis is smaller than in the method of determining whether the analysis up to the last page of the print data has been completed. In the method in which the analysis unit 120 checks the total number of pages of the print data, a processing time is lost because the analysis unit 120 needs time to check the print data to check the total number of pages. Although there is a loss of time required for analysis, a method in which the analysis unit 120 checks the total number of pages of print data may be used.

  Further, in a configuration in which there is only one information extraction unit 130, the analysis instruction with high urgency cannot be executed until the analysis instruction being executed in the information extraction unit 130 ends, and the only information extraction unit When the print data 130 is analyzing print data of a very large size, a highly urgent analysis command is to be waited for a long time. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since there are a plurality of information extraction units 130, the waiting time for a highly urgent analysis instruction is shorter than a configuration in which there is only one information extraction unit 130, from a statistical viewpoint. . Since the amount of print data assigned to the plurality of information extraction units 130 should be statistically uneven, the information extraction unit 130 to which the smallest amount of print data is assigned finishes the processing quickly and outputs the information. What is necessary is just to assign a highly urgent analysis command to the extraction unit 130.

  In the present embodiment, the job analysis command is divided into page-based analysis commands, and the page-based analysis command is executed by the information extraction unit 130. Therefore, the information extraction unit 130 executes the currently executed page-based analysis command. At the time of completion, the analysis command with high urgency may be assigned to the information extraction unit 130 (on a page basis). As a result, a more urgent analysis instruction is executed earlier than when the information extraction unit 130 waits for the analysis of the entire job to be completed. Also, each time each information extraction unit 130 completes execution of a currently executing page-based analysis instruction, the information extraction unit 130 causes the information extraction unit 130 to execute an analysis instruction for a different page of a highly urgent analysis instruction. The urgent analysis instruction may be executed earlier. The urgency of the analysis instruction may be represented by the processing priority (or priority). For example, a normal analysis command may be assigned a medium priority, and the higher the urgency, the higher the priority.

<Modification 1>
The above embodiment focuses on a function (filter function) of analyzing print data in order to obtain page attribute information necessary for printing the print data. However, the print data processing apparatus may have a function of analyzing print data and extracting information for the purpose of not directly connecting to printing of print data. For example, extraction of spot color information and font information from print data, creation of a thumbnail image of each page (also an example of information extraction from print data), and the like are examples of information extraction functions that are not directly linked to printing. When the user uses the information extraction function that is not directly connected to printing, the user specifies, for example, target print data and the type of information extraction function (extracting spot color information, font information, and the like) from the UI unit 30. Instruct execution. In response to this instruction, the UI unit 30 issues a job to the print data processing unit 100 to execute the information extraction function. The print data processing unit 100 processes the job in the same manner as the job of the filter function for printing.

  Since a filter function for obtaining page attribute information necessary for printing control needs to be in time for high-speed printing processing, high-speed processing is required. On the other hand, the information extraction function that is not directly connected to printing is a process in accordance with an instruction from the user, and therefore does not require the high speed of the filter function.

  Here, if the print data processing unit 100 executes the processing for the filter function for printing and the processing of the information extraction function that is not directly connected to printing without discriminating, all of the plurality of information extraction units 130 It is used in the processing of the information extraction function, and it is conceivable that the processing of the filter function for the job that arrives immediately after cannot be executed immediately.

  The first modification provides a mechanism for preventing the processing of the filter function from being waited for by the processing of the information extraction function that is not directly connected to printing.

  In this modification, the print data processing unit 100 generates a job analysis command including channel information (shown in bold in the figure) as shown in FIG. The channel information is information indicating a channel to be applied to the job targeted by the job analysis command among channels of the analysis (information extraction) function of the print data processing unit 100. In this modification, the analysis function of the print data processing unit 100 is, for example, a channel of a filter function for printing focused on in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. (Extraction, font information extraction, etc.). The former is assigned channel number 1 and the latter is assigned channel number 10. The job analysis command 2001 shown in FIG. 9 is a command of the above-described filter function, and the channel information number is 1, whereas the job analysis command 2010 is a command of the spot color information extraction function (see the function type column). And the number of the channel information is 10. Using this channel information, a job analysis instruction is distributed.

  FIG. 10 shows a functional configuration of the print data processing unit 100 in this modified example. 10, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those of the apparatus of the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the overlapping description will be omitted.

  The print data processing unit 100 of this modification shown in FIG. 10 includes two analysis units 120A and 120B and a channel distribution unit 160.

  Each of the two analyzers 120A and 120B has a plurality of information extractors 130A and 130B dedicated to itself. The functions and processing operations of the analysis units 120A and 120B are the same as those of the analysis unit 120 of the above-described embodiment, except that the information extraction units 130A and 130B that are managed and used are respectively limited to the units that they own. . For example, when a job analysis command is input from the upstream side, the analysis unit 120A allocates a page-based analysis command generated from the analysis command to one of the plurality of information extraction units 130A included in the analysis unit 120A. The analysis unit 120A is in charge of the analysis processing of the filter function. On the other hand, the analysis unit 120B is in charge of an analysis process for an information extraction function that is not directly connected to printing.

  The information extraction units 130A and 130B both analyze the PDL description of the print data, and may have exactly the same function. The information extraction units 130A and 130B behave as a filter function, a spot color information extraction function, a font information extraction function, and the like by changing the value of a parameter that specifies extraction target information included in the analysis instruction.

  The channel distribution unit 160 distributes the job analysis command generated by the main routine of the print data processing unit 100 to the analysis unit 120A or 120B according to the channel information included in the analysis command. That is, if the value of the channel information of the job analysis command is 1, the channel distribution unit 160 inputs the job analysis command to the analysis unit 120A, and if the value is 10, the job analysis command is input to the analysis unit 120B.

  The analysis unit 120A converts the input job analysis command (filter function) into a group of page-based analysis commands and assigns it to the information extraction unit 130A of the job to process. At this time, the analysis unit 120A determines, among the job analysis instructions received by itself, a job analysis instruction for each page to be assigned to the vacant information extraction unit 130A according to the processing priority. .

  The analysis unit 120B converts the input job analysis command (special color extraction function, font information extraction function, etc.) into a group of page-based analysis commands, and assigns it to the information extraction unit 130B of its own for processing. At this time, the analysis unit 120B determines, among the job analysis instructions received by itself, which job analysis instruction is to be assigned to the vacant information extraction unit 130B with respect to which job analysis instruction according to the processing priority. .

  As described above, in this modified example, the analysis unit 120A and the information extraction unit 130A group dedicated for the filter function for printing use the information extraction function that is not directly connected to the printing process, such as the extraction of spot color information that does not require high speed. Not used for Therefore, there is no need to wait for the execution of the filter function due to the information extraction function that is not directly connected to the print processing.

<Modification 2>
The use of information extraction functions that are not directly related to print processing, such as spot color information extraction, font information extraction, and thumbnail creation, occurs less frequently than the use of analysis processing for printing (filter function). Therefore, in the apparatus configuration of the first modification, all the information extraction units 130A of the analysis unit 120A for the filter function are in use, but the information extraction unit 130B of the analysis unit 120B for the information extraction function that is not directly connected to the printing process. It is common for some to be waiting.

  Therefore, in the second modification, when all of the information extraction units 130A are in use, control is performed to assign an analysis instruction of the filter function to the information extraction unit 130B that is waiting.

  In one example, in the configuration of the print data processing unit 100 shown in FIG. 10, when the job analysis command of the filter function arrives, the channel allocation unit 160 determines that all the information extraction units 130A in the analysis unit 120A are in use. (Ie, executing the assigned analysis instruction). If any of the information extraction units 130A in the analysis unit 120A is not being used, the job analysis instruction is distributed to the analysis unit 120A. On the other hand, if all the information extraction units 130A in the analysis unit 120A are in use, the usage status of the information extraction unit 130B in the analysis unit 120B is checked. If there is, the job analysis command is distributed to the analysis unit 120B. Upon receiving the job analysis instruction, the analysis unit 120B allocates the job analysis instruction (or a page-based analysis instruction generated from this) to the waiting information extraction unit 130B and causes the information extraction unit 130B to execute the instruction. When both the information extraction unit 130A of the analysis unit 120A and the information extraction unit 130B of the analysis unit 120B are in use, the channel allocation unit 160 converts the input job analysis instruction of the filter function into the analysis destination that is the original allocation destination. Distribute to section 120A.

  In another example, not the channel distribution unit 160 but the analysis unit 120A performs control for using the standby information extraction unit 130B. That is, the analysis unit 120A, when there is an unprocessed job analysis instruction or an unprocessed page-based analysis instruction in a situation where all the information extraction units 130A owned by the analysis unit 120A are in use, stores the information held by the analysis unit 120B. It is checked whether any of the extraction units 130B is on standby. If there is the waiting information extraction unit 130B, the unprocessed job analysis command or the unprocessed page unit analysis command is assigned to the waiting information extraction unit 130B and executed.

  In this modified example, there are several examples of conditions for determining that an analysis command (job unit or page unit) of the filter function can be assigned to the information extraction unit 130B of the analysis unit 120B. For example, if at least one of the information extraction units 130B is empty, it may be determined that an analysis instruction of the filter function can be assigned to the empty information extraction unit 130B. As another example, only when all the information extraction units 130B in the analysis unit 120B are on standby, it may be determined that an analysis instruction of the filter function can be assigned to the information extraction units 130B. As an intermediate example between the two, when a predetermined ratio or more of the information extraction units 130B in the analysis unit 120B is on standby, an analysis instruction of the filter function can be assigned to the information extraction unit 130B on standby. May be determined. Further, the user may be able to set which judgment condition is used and the value of the “predetermined ratio” when the last exemplified condition is used.

  Note that assigning the analysis command of the filter function to the information extraction unit 130B in the analysis unit 120B is only a temporary measure. When the execution of the analysis instruction is completed, the information extraction unit 130B to which the analysis instruction of the filter function is assigned returns to the use for the information extraction function that is not directly connected to the original print processing.

  Also, the analyzing unit 120B is a feature that is an original target function of the analyzing unit 120B when all of the subordinate information extracting units 130B are in use and at least one of them is executing a filter function analyzing instruction. When an analysis command such as an information extraction function is input, the following control is performed. That is, as soon as the information extraction unit 130B that is executing the analysis instruction of the filter function completes the execution of the analysis instruction, the analysis unit 120B allocates the analysis instruction of the original target function to the information extraction unit 130B. Here, when the analysis unit 120B assigns the analysis instruction of the filter function to the information extraction unit 130B in units of jobs, the analysis unit 120B does not wait for the execution of the analysis instruction in units of jobs to end, and does not wait for the execution of the analysis instruction in units of pages. As soon as the execution of the analysis command is completed, the assignment of the analysis command for the job unit to the information extraction unit 130B is released, and the analysis command for the original target function is assigned to the information extraction unit 130. Is also good. In addition, the analysis unit 120B may return the job unit analysis command of the filter function whose assignment has been canceled at this time to the channel distribution unit 160 or may pass it to the analysis unit 120B. In this case, the channel distribution unit 160 passes the job analysis command of the filter function returned from the analysis unit 120 to the analysis unit 120A (because all the information extraction units 130B of the analysis unit 120B are in use).

<Modification 3>
In an example of the second modification, when both the information extraction unit 130A of the analysis unit 120A and the information extraction unit 130B of the analysis unit 120B are in use and a job analysis command of the filter function is input, the channel allocation unit 160 distributes the job analysis command to the analysis unit 120A that is the original distribution destination. In this case, the job analysis command is not executed until the execution of the job analysis command having the processing priority higher than the job analysis command held in the analysis unit 120A at that time is completed. Therefore, a situation may occur in which the job analysis command once distributed to the analysis unit 120A is kept in the analysis unit 120A for a long time. During this long waiting time, it is not unlikely that one or more of the information extraction units 130B in the analysis unit 120B will be in a standby state. Thus, in the third modification, in the configuration of the second modification, a mechanism is provided in which an analysis instruction waiting to be executed in the analysis unit 120A is assigned to the waiting information extraction unit 130B in the analysis unit 120B. I do.

  That is, in this modification, when a job analysis command (with a filter function) is input, the analysis unit 120A starts a timer that measures the waiting time of the job analysis command. Then, when the timer counts the elapse of a predetermined time (for example, the time set in the system), if the execution of the job analysis instruction associated with the timer has not been started, the analysis unit 120A The job analysis command is sent back to the channel distribution unit 160. When a job analysis command is sent back from the analysis unit 120A, the channel distribution unit 160 checks whether there is a standby one in the information extraction unit 130B in the analysis unit 120B. And distributes the job analysis instruction to the analysis unit 120B. The analysis unit 120B causes the information extraction unit 130B on standby to execute the assigned job analysis command (or a page-based analysis command generated from now).

  Note that, instead of the analysis unit 120A measuring the waiting time of the job analysis command assigned to itself, the channel assignment unit 160 may measure the waiting time of the job analysis command assigned to the analysis unit 120A. In this case, the channel distribution unit 160 performs polling or the like on the analysis unit 120A to determine whether or not execution of each job analysis instruction distributed to the analysis unit 120A has been started. For the instruction, the measurement time of the timer is advanced. If the timer times out (a predetermined time elapses without the execution of the job analysis command) and there is any information extraction unit 130B in the analysis unit 120B at that time, the information is distributed to the analysis unit 120A. After canceling the job analysis command corresponding to the timer, the job analysis command is reassigned to the analysis unit 120B.

  The print data processing apparatus exemplified above may be realized by, for example, causing a computer to execute a program representing the function of each of these functional modules. Here, for example, the computer includes, as hardware, a processor such as a CPU, a memory (primary storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), an HDD controller for controlling an HDD (hard disk drive), An I / O (input / output) interface, a network interface for controlling connection to a network such as a local area network, and the like have a circuit configuration connected via a bus, for example. In addition, a portable nonvolatile recording of various standards such as a disk drive and a flash memory for reading and / or writing on a portable disk recording medium such as a CD or a DVD via the I / O interface to the bus, for example. A memory reader / writer for reading and / or writing on a medium may be connected. A program in which the processing content of each functional module exemplified above is described is stored in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk drive via a recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, or via a communication means such as a network, and is stored in a computer. Installed. The program stored in the fixed storage device is read into the RAM and executed by the processor such as the CPU, thereby realizing the functional module group exemplified above. Further, a portion of the image processing apparatus suitable for processing by a hardware circuit may be implemented as a hardware circuit.

10 print data receiving unit, 20 RIP function unit, 30 UI unit, 100 print data processing unit, 110 job spool, 120, 120A, 120B analysis unit, 130, 130A, 130B information extraction unit, 140 page information storage unit, 150 pages Attribute generation unit, 160 channel distribution unit.

Claims (5)

Generating means for generating an analysis instruction for the input print data;
Holding means for holding the analysis instruction group generated by the generation means for each of a plurality of print data,
According to the analysis command, a plurality of extraction means for extracting information from the print data corresponding to the analysis command,
When there is an extraction unit that has not executed the analysis command for any of the plurality of print data among the plurality of extraction units, the priority among the plurality of print data is given to the extraction unit. Control means for performing control to execute the analysis command of the print data by assigning priority from the highest one,
And a print data processing device. Means for receiving an information extraction command from the user for any of the plurality of print data,
The plurality of extraction units include one or more analysis extraction units secured for the analysis instruction, and one or more user extraction units used for the information extraction instruction from the user. And
The print data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not assign the information extraction command from the user to the analysis extraction unit.   If there is an unprocessed analysis instruction while all of the one or more analysis extraction means are processing the analysis instruction, if any of the one or more user extraction means is in a standby state, The print data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a unit that controls the user-extracting unit in a standby state to process the unprocessed analysis instruction. First allocating means for allocating an analysis instruction to the one or more analysis extracting means;
A second assigning unit that assigns an information extraction instruction or an analysis instruction to the one or more user-oriented extracting units;
A distributing unit that distributes the instruction to the first allocating unit if the externally input instruction is an analysis instruction, and distributes the instruction to the second allocating unit if the instruction is an information extraction instruction;
And if the command allocated to the first allocating unit has not been processed by the one or more extracting units for a predetermined time, the distribution unit waits in the one or more user extracting units. 3. The print data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if there is an inside command, the command is reassigned to the second assigning unit. Computer
Generating means for generating an analysis instruction for the input print data,
Holding means for holding the analysis instruction group generated by the generation means for each of a plurality of print data,
A plurality of extracting means for extracting information from the print data corresponding to the analysis instruction according to the analysis instruction;
When there is an extraction unit that has not executed the analysis command for any of the plurality of print data among the plurality of extraction units, the priority among the plurality of print data is given to the extraction unit. Control means for performing control to execute the analysis command of the print data by preferentially allocating the print data,
Program to function as

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