JP3558979B2 - Synchronous printing - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
Regarding copyright and trade dress
A part of the disclosure content of this patent document includes a matter to be protected by copyright. This patent document may indicate and / or describe what is or may become the owner's trade dress in the future. The owner of this copyright and trade dress has no conflict with any facsimile copy of this patent disclosure, provided that it is in the same state as archived and recorded in the Patent Office. If not, however, any copyright and trade dress rights shall be attributed to this owner.
[0002]
Related application information
This patent application claims priority under US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 163,360, filed Nov. 3, 1999, "Synchronous Printing". The contents of this provisional application are incorporated herein by reference.
[0003]
This application is related to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 163,272, "Error Management for a Tandem Printing System", ( 2) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 163,343, "Generation of Cover Sheets by a Networked Printer", and (3) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 163,344. "Dynamic Load Balancing for a Tandem Printing System". All of these provisional applications were filed on November 3, 1999, and the contents of these provisional applications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0004]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to image forming devices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for efficiently transmitting and processing print jobs for image forming devices.
[0005]
[Prior art]
Most current operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows®, allow users to print documents from a networked computer workstation to a printer. The printing process typically involves a user generating a printable document using an application program on a host computer. The host computer is often a computer workstation on a network. The application program sends the document to the printer driver, which, along with the operating system, converts the document into a printer-readable language. Printers often include a combination of a printer engine and a printer controller connected to it. The document is then formatted by the printer controller, sent to the printer engine, and printed. It is desirable to perform each step in this process efficiently so that the time it takes for the printer to begin outputting this document is minimized.
[0006]
A printer driver is a software program or file that resides on the host computer (usually on the host computer's hard drive) and is executed from memory (eg, RAM), rather than the printer itself. The driver converts graphics and text into device-specific data when printing, taking into account the individual characteristics of the printer. The printer driver also provides the host computer and its user with an understanding of the capabilities of the printer so that all of the capabilities of the printer can be used.
[0007]
Usually, the printer driver informs the host computer of the printer language used, the fonts installed, the number of sheet feeders, the paper size that can be supported, the availability of double-sided printing, and the like. The printer language is a command set that the printer follows when formatting data sent from the computer. The host computer uses a printer driver to convert the document into data that can be read by the printer, and embeds a specific printer command in the data. Thereafter, the driver sends the document to the printer controller.
[0008]
Printer controllers typically include a printer built-in processor that creates an image from commands received from the source of the document. The controller may further include a dedicated computer that is not built into the printer. The controller performs several tasks. For example, the controller communicates with the host computer, (b) interprets commands embedded within the document to be printed, and (c) formats the document, including paper size, margin settings, font selection, etc. The user makes settings and performs (d) rasterization of the document (normally, a process of converting the document into a dot array that can be printed by a printer). In the rasterization stage, the controller converts the command received from the formatter into a dot array. The controller places the bitmap of each text character at a specific location in the array, and then overlays the bitmap graphics, if any, with the bitmap graphics, thereby generating a print pattern.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the printer controller finishes processing the document, the printer controller finally sends the document to a printer engine that performs printing. Alternatively, the document is loaded into a print job queue, ie, a print job queue. The printer engine is a device that physically forms a generated image on a recording medium such as paper. The printer engine cannot start printing a document until it receives at least one page of the generated image from the printer controller.
[0010]
The first page output time (FPOT) of a document is the time required from when the user first transmits a print command to when the printer engine starts printing the first page of the document. FPOT depends on various factors, such as the time it takes the printer driver to process a document and send the document to the controller. FPOT also depends on the time it takes for the controller to send the generated image to the printer engine and the time it takes for the printer engine to receive the document and start printing. In general, it is desirable to shorten FPOT so that a user can receive a print job as quickly as possible. For short print jobs, the total print time can be significantly affected by FPOT. Even for long print jobs, a longer FPOT can give an overall slower impression.
[0011]
If any of the components involved in the printing process are idle waiting for other components to complete their tasks, the FPOT of the print job can be unnecessarily long. This phenomenon is generally seen with face-up printer FPOTs that are longer than face-down printer FPOTs. Face-up printers print documents with the first printed page facing up. The face-up printer prints the document in reverse order (prints the last page of the document first) so that the pages of the finally printed document are arranged in the correct order for the user. Face-down printers print documents with the first page facing down. Therefore, the face-down printer prints the document in the normal order (the first page of the document is printed first) so that the pages of the final document are arranged in the correct order for the user.
[0012]
The reason that the FPOT of the face-up printer is longer than that of the face-down printer is that the face-down printer can start printing immediately upon receiving image data from the host computer. The host computer transmits each page in the same order as the page printing by the face-down printer. Conversely, face-up printers that print from the last page to the first page cannot start printing until the entire document is received from the host computer. This is because the face-up printer outputs pages in the reverse order of the output order from the host computer. Thus, the printer engine may be forced to idle waiting for the last page of the document to be received from the controller. Such a process is inefficient.
[0013]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the time required from when the user first transmits a print command to when the printer engine starts printing the first page of the document.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above problems can be solved by the methods and apparatus described herein. One aspect of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting a document from a computer workstation to a multifunction printing peripheral (MFP) communicatively connected to a controller (ie, a control unit). The computer workstation and the controller process the document in such a way that the MFP can start printing as soon as image data is received from the controller to reduce downtime of the MFP.
[0015]
When a computer workstation user sends a document for printing, the computer workstation uses a printer driver to convert the document to a print file. Thereafter, the computer workstation sends the print file to the controller. The controller processes the print file and sends it to the printing MFP. Before sending the document to the controller, the computer workstation arranges the pages of the document in an order such that the MFP can begin printing immediately after receiving the document from the controller. In other words, the computer workstation arranges the pages of the document in the normal order when the multifunctional peripheral performs printing in the face-down setting, and reverses the pages when the multifunctional peripheral performs printing in the face-up setting. Line up.
[0016]
Further, shortly after receiving the document from the computer workstation, the controller first processes a portion of the document and sends the processed portion immediately to the MFP. Thus, the MFP can start printing the document immediately after receiving the first image data from the controller. Then, the controller processes the remaining part of the document while the MFP is printing the initial processing part. The remaining portion includes pages not included in the initial processing portion among pages in the print job. Thereafter, the controller sends the remainder of the document to the multifunction peripheral for printing. By the above-described processing, the output time of the first page for the print job is reduced.
[0017]
Other objects and advantages associated with the device of the present invention and its use and operation will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Other objects of the present invention, further features contributing to the object, and advantages derived therefrom, will be described below with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Will become more apparent by: In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to corresponding members.
[0019]
These and other embodiments of the present invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, which describes the illustrated embodiments.
[0020]
Throughout this description, the preferred embodiments and examples set forth herein are not limiting of the apparatus and methods of the present invention, but are to be construed as merely exemplary.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a local area network (LAN) 100 according to the present invention. The LAN 100 includes a file server 120, a printer 130, a workstation 150, and a controller, that is, a host 110b. These are connected to each other via a network communication line 160. File server 120 and workstation 150 preferably have a microprocessor from Intel (R) (Santa Clara, CA) and a Windows (R) or Windows NT from Microsoft (R) (Redmond, WA). (R) Well-known in the art, such as a computer with an operating system. A multi-function peripheral (MFP) 110a is connected to the host 110b. LAN 100 may further include hubs, routers, and other devices (not shown).
[0022]
Before describing the LAN 100, some terms are defined. "File server" means a computer that controls access to file and disk resources on a network and provides security and synchronization on the network through a network operating system. "Server" means hardware or software that provides services to other hardware or software. "Workstation" means a client computer that routes commands to a local operating system or network interface adapter for processing and transmission over a network. A workstation can function as a server with the appropriate software, and can be, for example, a print server, an archive server, or a communication server. "Software" is one or more computer-readable programs and modules that are associated with, and preferably integrated with, one another to perform some desired function. A "multifunctional peripheral" is a peripheral that provides the function of two or more peripherals, and typically provides a printing function and at least one of a copy, scan, and fax function. is there.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a data processing system including MFP 110a and host 110b. MFP 110a preferably includes a high power digital copier having communication interface 220. The communication interface 220 currently includes a small computer system interface (SCSI). MFP 110a is preferably hardware and software that allows MFP 110a to receive rasterized print jobs from host 110b, manage those print jobs along with their copy jobs, and print the print jobs. It also has an interface. The hardware and software interfaces of MFP 110a also allow MFP 110a to send facsimile transmission jobs from MFP 110a to fax / modem 210 of host 110b. The MFP 110a includes a short-term memory 265 (preferably a random access memory (RAM)) that stores and executes a program for controlling the functions of the MFP 110a, and a processor 260. The MFP 110a also preferably includes a long-term memory 285, such as a read only memory (ROM) or an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM). MFP 110a may also include a disk drive (not shown) for long-term and short-term storage. The MFP 110a includes standard components such as an automatic document feeder 275, a paper bin 270, and a paper output tray 235.
[0024]
MFP 110a includes a non-fixed display 225, preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a user input device 230, such as a button switch. In the memory 285 of the MFP 110a, user interface software for displaying information on the display 225 and interpreting a user input from the user input device 230 is stored. Non-stationary display 225 and user input device 230 constitute operator console 240. The operator console 240 constitutes a panel subsystem together with the user interface software.
[0025]
The host 110b is preferably a computer that includes a server, has an Intel (R) processor 255, and has Microsoft Windows NT (R). As is known in the art, the host 110b has a short term memory 250 (preferably RAM) and a long term memory 280 (preferably hard disk) associated with the processor 255. The fax / modem 210 is for transmitting and receiving a facsimile via a telephone line. Preferably, when the facsimile print job is interrupted, the host 110b provides, for example, a long-term memory 250 with a storage location for storing a large number of received faxes for a long time. The host 110b has a communication interface 205. The host 110b communicates with the MFP 110a via the communication interface 205 and the channel 290. Preferably, communication interface 205 is configured as a SCSI host.
[0026]
The host 110b preferably includes hardware 215 that enables the host 110b to receive print jobs and facsimile transmission jobs from the LAN 100, receive facsimile jobs from the MFP 110a, and send rasterized print jobs to the MFP 110a. And a software interface. The host 110b stores management software for managing print jobs, facsimile jobs, and scan jobs in the long-term memory 280. The host 110b rasterizes the print job received from the LAN 100 into print data (in a format that can be understood by the MFP 110a), and transmits the print data to the MFP 110a via the communication interface 205. The host 110b executes a facsimile transmission job received from the LAN 100 or the MFP 110a on the fax / modem 210.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a synchronization method for transmitting and processing a document to be printed by MFP 110a. The method begins when computer workstation 150 receives a print command from a user to print a document (step 305). This occurs when the user selects to print a document using a suitable software application, such as a word processor, spreadsheet application or graphics application. The document is composed of one or more pages arranged in a predetermined order specified by the user.
[0028]
When a user submits a print request, the software application and / or computer operating system typically generates a print file that includes all pages of the document in a sequential order starting at page 1 and ending at page n. Pages 1 and n are the first and last pages of the document specified by the user using the software application, respectively. When the pages of the document are arranged in the “normal order” in the print file, the pages are arranged continuously from the first page to the nth page. When the pages of the document are arranged in "reverse order", the pages are arranged continuously from the n-th page to the first page.
[0029]
Upon receiving a print command from the user, computer workstation 150 calls the printer driver to process the print file (step 310). The workstation 150 together with the printer driver determines whether the MFP 110a outputs the document with the face-up setting or the face-down setting (step 315). As described above, the face-up printer prints a document with the page (print surface) facing upward. In order to provide the user with the pages arranged in the correct order, the last page (the n-th page) of the document is preferably the first page printed by the face-up printer. Face-down printers print documents with pages facing down. Preferably, the first page (first page) of the document is the first page printed by the face-down printer.
[0030]
If the MFP 110a is a face-up printer, the workstation 150 sorts the print files through the printer driver so that the pages are in reverse order (step 320). In such a case, the internal order of pages in the print file is the order starting from page n and ending with page 1. This internal order is independent of the actual page order specified by the user, and is the order in which the pages are arranged in the print file. If the MFP is a face-down printer, the workstation maintains the internal order of the pages in order (step 325).
[0031]
In step 335, the computer workstation 150 calls the printer driver, processes the print file, and sends the print file to the host 110b (step 335). Computer workstation 150 converts the document into data readable by the MFP using a printer driver. Computer workstation 150 sends the pages in the print file to host 110b according to an internal order. In another embodiment, computer workstation 150 sends the print file directly to host 110b without determining whether to reorder the page order. Thereafter, host 110b, but not computer workstation 150, performs the functions described above with respect to steps 315, 320 and 325.
[0032]
Upon receiving the print file, the host 110b starts processing for converting the contents of the print file into a format that can be printed by the MFP (interpretation of the print file, format setting, and calling of a rasterization task, etc.). Preferably, host 110b first processes only the initial processing portion of the print file, not the entire print file (step 340). The initial processing portion of the print file includes one or more pages starting from the first page of the print file in the internal page order among all pages of the print file. In some embodiments, the initial processing portion includes only the first page of the print file. This first page is the first page of the document (for a face-down printer) or the last n-th page of the document (for a face-up printer).
[0033]
Host 110b preferably maintains a print queue for MFP 110a. The host 110b stores one or more print files waiting for use of the MFP 110a as a one-column matrix. MFP 110a maintains a buffer queue. The MFP 110a stores a plurality of pages of the print file received from the host 110b in this buffer queue. If there is no print file before the current print file in the host's print queue, the host 110b sends the initial processing portion of the print file to the printing MFP 110a (step 345). In this manner, MFP 110a can advantageously start printing the first page of the current print file immediately while host 110b is processing the rest of the current print file (step 350). It is. Accordingly, the MFP 110a does not go into an idle state waiting for the host 110b to process the entire current print file. This is the same regardless of whether the MFP prints face up or face down. When the MFP 110a is a face-up printer, the first page of the print file is the n-th page (last page) of the document. When the MFP 110a is a face-down printer, the first page of the print file is the first page (first page) of the document.
[0034]
In another embodiment, the initial processing portion includes any number of pages up to the maximum number of pages (n) of the current print file. Preferably, host 110b has the following two temporal factors:
(1) the time required for the host 110b to process the entire current print file, and
(2) the time required for the MFP 110a to print all print files in the host print queue,
To determine the page amount of the initial processing portion.
[0035]
Host 110b essentially synchronizes the time it takes to process a page in the current print file with the time it takes MFP 110a to print the entire print queue. Preferably, host 110b takes advantage of the large print queue by processing as many pages as possible while MFP 110a is attempting to complete the print queue. On the other hand, if there is little or no print file before the current print file in the print queue, the number of pages in the current print file to be initially processed by the host 110b is reduced. In this way, the host 110b can provide the processable data to the MFP 110a as quickly as possible. Thereafter, host 110b processes the remaining pages in the current print file.
[0036]
If the time taken by host 110b to process the entire print file is shorter than the time taken by MFP 110a to complete processing of its current print queue, host 110b preferably processes the entire print file at one time. Resulting in. In such a case, the initial processing portion includes the entire print file. After the processing, the host 110b sends the print file to the print queue. Then, immediately after the MFP 110a completes the processing of the print queue, the MFP 110a can start printing the print file.
[0037]
Conversely, if the time taken by host 110b to process all pages in the print file is longer than the time taken by MFP 110a to complete processing of its current job queue, host 110b will only send a portion of the print file. Is initialized. In such a case, the initial processing portion includes a page amount less than the total number of pages in the print file. The page amount to be initially processed is preferably a page amount based on the time required for MFP 110a to complete processing of the queue. The longer the time required to complete the processing of the job queue of the MFP 110a, the larger the number of pages in the initial processing portion.
[0038]
The host 110b preferably polls the MFP 110a so that the MFP can process its current print load (including any print files in the print queue prior to the current print file). Determine the time it takes to complete. The host 110b preferably takes into account the amount of time and complexity of the pages remaining in all print jobs prior to the current print file, as well as the time it takes the MFP 110a to print each page. Host 110b preferably also takes into account any warm-up and warm-down times required by MFP 110a between print jobs.
[0039]
After the host 110b determines the page amount of the initial processing part, the host 110b processes the initial processing part and sends it to the printing MFP 110a (step 345). In this way, MFP 110a starts printing the document immediately after receiving the first page of the print file and while host 110b is processing the remaining portion (if any) of the print file. Can be advantageous.
[0040]
If the initial portion is less than the entire print file, host 110b then processes the remaining portion of the print file (step 350). Thereafter, the host 110b transmits the remaining part of the print file to the printing MFP 110a (step 355). Also in this case, the MFP 110a can start printing a page immediately after transmission from the host 110b.
[0041]
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications, changes and alternatives of the invention described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, all such variations, modifications and alternatives are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the time required from when the user first transmits a print command to when the printer engine starts printing the first page of the document is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a LAN including a plurality of multifunctional peripheral devices.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing system including a host and an MFP.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a synchronized printing system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100: local area network, 110a: multifunctional peripheral device, 110b: host, 120: file server, 130: printer, 150: workstation, 160: network communication line.

Claims (8)

A method of transmitting a document to a multifunction peripheral for printing, the document comprising a plurality of pages arranged in a positive sequential order starting from a first first page and ending with a last nth page. The multifunctional peripheral device is communicatively connected to a control unit, the control unit is communicatively connected to a computer workstation, and prints a queue of print files waiting for use of the multifunctional peripheral device in a print job. Stored as a queue, the method comprising:
a. The control unit receiving a command to print the document;
b. The control unit converts the document into a print file including a document page described in a language understandable by the multifunction peripheral device, wherein the multifunction peripheral device performs printing in a face-down setting. In the case, the control unit arranges the pages in the print file in a continuous order in the positive direction starting with 1 and ending with n, and when the multifunction peripheral performs printing in a face-up setting, the control unit performs the control. A unit arranging the pages in the print file in a reverse sequential order beginning with n and ending with 1;
c. The control unit prints an initial processing portion including one or more pages starting from the first page in the print file and continuing continuously thereafter, by the multifunctional peripheral device for printing all the print files in the print job queue. Determining based on the time it takes to complete, and processing the initial processing portion into a printable format setting;
d. The control unit sending the initial processing portion of the print file to the multifunction peripheral for printing;
e. The control unit, of the pages in the print file, processing the remaining portion not included in the initial processing portion, to a printable format setting,
f. The control unit sending the remaining portion of the print file to the multifunction peripheral for printing;
To send documents to multifunction peripherals for printing, including: The method of claim 1 wherein the initial processing portion of the print file includes the entire print file. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial processing portion of the print file includes only the first page in the print file. The control unit compares a time required for the control unit to process the entire print file and a time required for the multi-function peripheral to print all the print files in the print job queue. 2. The method for transmitting a document to a multi-function peripheral for printing according to claim 1, wherein the number of pages to be included in the initial processing portion is determined. A printing system for printing a document having a plurality of pages arranged in a continuous order starting from a first first page and ending with a last n-th page, the printing system comprising a computer workstation and a multifunction peripheral for printing. A control unit communicatively connected to a device, the control unit storing a queue of print files awaiting use of the multi-function peripheral device as a print job queue, the control unit comprising: To
i. Whether the multi-function peripheral performs page printing with a face-up setting, or whether to perform page printing with a face-down setting,
ii. In response to receiving a command to print the document, converting the pages of the document into a print file containing a language usable by the multifunction peripheral;
iii. When the multi-function peripheral performs page printing in a face-down setting, the pages in the print file are arranged in a continuous order in the forward direction starting from the first page and ending with the n-th page. When performing page printing with the face-up setting, the pages in the print file are arranged in a reverse continuous order starting from page n and ending with page 1.
iv. A command for causing the control unit to transmit each page in the print file in the same order as the order in which the pages are arranged in the print file,
The control unit includes:
a. The multifunction peripheral completes the printing of all print files in the print job queue, starting with the first page in the print file, and then performing an initial processing portion that includes one or more successive pages. Determined based on the time it takes to process the initial processing portion into a printable format setting,
b. Sending the processed page to the multifunction peripheral,
c. A document printing system, further comprising a command for processing remaining pages of the print file, including pages that have not been processed. 6. The document printing system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit further comprises a command for causing the control unit to perform initial processing on only a first page in the print file. 6. The document printing system according to claim 5, wherein the multifunctional peripheral device starts printing pages of the print file immediately after receiving the print file from the control unit. A method of transmitting a document to a multifunction peripheral for printing, the multifunction peripheral being communicatively connected to a control unit, wherein the control unit is communicatively connected to a computer workstation, Storing a queue of print files awaiting use of a peripheral device as a print job queue, the method comprising:
a. The control unit receiving a command to print the document;
b. The control unit converting the document into a print file including document pages described in a language understandable by the multi-function peripheral c. The control unit prints an initial processing portion including one or more pages starting from the first page in the print file and continuing continuously thereafter, by the multifunctional peripheral device for printing all the print files in the print job queue. Determining based on the time it takes to complete, and processing the initial processing portion into a printable format setting;
d. The control unit sending the initial processing portion of the print file to the multifunction peripheral for printing;
e. The control unit, of the pages in the print file, processing the remaining portion not included in the initial processing portion, to a printable format setting,
f. The control unit sending the remaining portion of the print file to the multifunction peripheral for printing;
To send documents to multifunction peripherals for printing, including:

Images