JP4352836B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that receives print job data transmitted from a client computer and includes various document information, image information, finishing processing commands, and the like, and prints and finishes the document. The present invention relates to a technique for preventing print job data transmitted later from being accumulated without being output due to an error when the print job data cannot be output due to some error.

  Conventionally, printing or finishing a document by receiving print job data including various document information and post-processing commands transmitted from a client computer, or receiving a print job including various document information, image information, and finishing processing commands. As an image processing apparatus for performing the above, a printer apparatus, a digital copying machine having a printer function, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “job processing printer”) are known. These job processing printers not only print the document data and image data constituting the print job data on a medium such as paper, but also perform layout printing according to commands included in the print job data, Or print. A job processing printer equipped with an optional finishing device performs bookbinding operations such as stapling. Thus, recently, print requests for documents have become complicated.

  On the other hand, in such a job processing printer, because a large number of fonts are used during the processing of print job data, the capacity of the print data increases, the memory installed in the job processing printer runs out, and an error occurs. It may become impossible to continue processing of print job data. Further, there are cases where memory is insufficient due to the use of complex image data or complicated finishing instructions, and processing may become impossible due to the use of illegal commands. In general, when such an error occurs, an ordinary job processing printer interrupts processing of print job data and stops accepting print job data transmitted later. In this case, the error is not recovered until the user resets the job processing printer by operating the reset instruction switch provided in the job processing printer or turning off / on the power of the job processing printer. It becomes impossible to give a print instruction to the job processing printer.

  In addition, if such a reset operation is performed, subsequent print job data that has already been received by the job processing printer is lost, and each user must send the same print job data to the job processing printer again. . In particular, in a job processing printer that is connected to a network and accepts print job data from a large number of client computers, it may not be noticed that the print job is not being executed, and the same print job data is sent to the job processing printer again. As a result, it takes a long time to complete printing and finishing.

In order to deal with such inconvenience, for example, the following job processing printer has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). That is, this job processing printer (image output apparatus) includes a reception buffer and a print data spool unit in the printer controller unit, and normally stores received print job data in the reception buffer. When an error occurs, the print job data stored in the reception buffer is moved to the data spool unit, and newly received print job data is also stored in the data spool unit. When returning from the error, the storage location of the received print job data is returned to the reception buffer, and the print job data is read from the print data spool unit and output is resumed. According to this job processing printer, even when an error occurs, it is not necessary to retransmit the print job data to the job processing printer, and the print job data can be continuously received even when an error occurs. Then, after the error recovery, the printing process can be continued.
JP 2000-6476 (abstract, FIG. 3)

  As described above, according to the conventional job processing printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to continue receiving print job data sent from a client computer even when an error occurs. Even if the printer main body is turned off for error recovery, there is no need to retransmit the print job data. However, such a job processing printer still has the following problems.

  That is, once an error has occurred, subsequent print jobs are not executed until the error is recovered. Therefore, when an error occurs in the job processing printer, measures for error recovery must be taken promptly. This is particularly troublesome when a job processing printer is installed at a remote location. In addition, when many users use the print job data other than the user that caused the error, the job processing printer remains stored in the job processing printer. You must wait until the print job data is processed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and even if an error occurs in a certain print job, the execution of other print jobs can be prevented from being hindered. It is an object of the present invention to provide a job processing printer or image processing apparatus that can be used.

A plurality of print jobs made a according to the present invention, the received print job data by processing the to that images processing device outputs an image corresponding to the print job data is received (i) in order to solve the above problems A storage device capable of storing data and storing data characteristic information of error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past; and (ii) sequentially processing print job data stored in the storage device And a printer controller for controlling the storage device. Here, when the printer controller sequentially processes unprocessed print job data, (a) data including the number of fonts, the data size, the number of finishing items, or the number of error commands as items in the process of processing the print job data extracts characteristic information, the error printing by the entry of the data characteristic information whether corresponding or likely errors than items of data characteristic information error print job data stored in the storage device It is determined whether or not the data characteristic information of the job data is similar. (B) When the data characteristic information of the print job data is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data, the print job data Defer processing (change the processing order).

  In this image processing apparatus, the storage device includes a first storage device and a second storage device, the first storage device stores the received print job data, and the second storage device has an error. Preferably, data characteristic information of the print job data is stored. In this case, when the printer controller processes unprocessed print job data stored in the first storage device, the print controller copies the print job data and stores it in the second storage device. When an error occurs in the process, data characteristic information is extracted from a copy of the print job data stored in the second storage device, and the data characteristic information is used as data characteristic information of new error print job data. It is more preferable that the information is stored (added) in the second storage device.

  In this image processing apparatus, the printer controller executes processing of unprocessed print job data, and the data characteristic information of the print job data is similar to the data characteristic information of error print job data. You may come to judge. In addition, this determination may be performed before executing processing of unprocessed print job data.

  In other words, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when a plurality of print job data is received, the print processing is similar to the print job data that is predicted to cause an error or the error print job data that has occurred in the past. The job data processing is postponed, other print job data is preferentially processed, and the print job data is processed only when there is no other print job data for which no error is predicted to occur.

According to this image processing apparatus, the data characteristic information of the print job data is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the data characteristic information is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past. In such a case, by changing the processing order of the print job data in the storage device, it is possible to preferentially process the print job data that is less likely to cause an error. Therefore, even if an error occurs in a certain print job, many other print job data are not accumulated in the image processing apparatus, and the frequency of obstructing other print jobs can be kept low. Therefore, even if an error occurs in a certain print job, it is possible to prevent the execution of other print jobs from being hindered as much as possible .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system including an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in this printing system, a plurality of client computers 20, 30,... And a digital copier 10 (image processing apparatus) which is an MFP (Multi Function Product / Printer / Peripheral) are connected to a network line 15 ( For example, they are connected to each other via Ethernet.

  In the printing system, a client computer 20 and a digital copier 10 that is a local printer of the client computer 20 are directly connected by a cable line 16 such as a parallel cable line or a serial cable line, and the other client computers 30,. However, the network line 15 may share the digital copier 10 that is a local printer of the client computer 20.

  Each of the client computers 20, 30,... Has printer drivers 21, 31,... That perform print processing in response to a print request from application software. A print request from the application software is converted into print job data including a print command and document data by the printer drivers 21, 31,..., And the print job data is sent to the digital copier 10 via the network line 15. Sent.

  The digital copier 10 includes a printer controller 11, a first storage device 12, a second storage device 13, and a print engine (not shown). The digital copier 10 receives the print job data transmitted from the client computers 20, 30,... By the printer controller 11, and sequentially stores them in the first storage device 12, while printing job data. Is processed, the document data is sent to the print engine, and the printing process is executed.

  The first storage device 12 includes a memory device including a semiconductor memory element, and sequentially stores (stores) print job data transmitted from the client computers 20, 30,. On the other hand, the second storage device 13 is composed of a magnetic disk device and includes an error database that stores (stores) data characteristic information of error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past. Further, the second storage device 13 stores (stores) a copy of the print job data when the printer controller 11 processes the print job data. That is, the print job data being processed is stored. Note that the second storage device 13 may be a memory device including a semiconductor memory element.

  Further, the digital copier 10 includes a finisher (not shown) that performs post-processing of the printed material. This finisher is equipped with a sorter that performs sorting and grouping processes, a punch that performs hole punching, a stapler that performs simple bookbinding, and a folding device that performs folding processes such as Z-folding, bag folding, and creasing. ing.

Hereinafter, a print job data processing method by the digital copier 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6A and 6B.
2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing operations of the printer controller 11 of the digital copier 10. 4A to 4E and FIGS. 5A to 5E show print job data exchange and storage states between the print controller 11 and the first storage device 12. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram. Hereinafter, the processing operation of the digital copier 10 will be described with reference to these drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the main body of the digital copier 10 is turned on and the printer controller 11 is in a ready state (Ready), the client computers 20, 30,. It will be in a state of waiting for a print request from. When the printer controller 11 receives the print job data sequentially transmitted from the client computer 20 via the network line 15 or the cable line 16 (step S101), the printer controller 11 stores the received print job data in the first order in the input order. The data is stored in the device 12 (step S102). Note that the printer controller 11 can accept newly transmitted print job data even during the processing of the print job data, and the newly transmitted print job data. Are sequentially stored (stored) in the first storage device 12.
In FIG. 4A, the print job data JOB-1 is received first, the print job data JOB-2 is received next, and then the mth print job data JOB-m is received and stored. Indicates the state.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4E, the print job data once stored in the first storage device 12 is transferred from the first print job data JOB-1 in the order of input, that is, in the order of storage. 11 (step S103). At this time, a copy of the print job data (for example, the first time print job data JOB-1) transmitted to the printer controller 11 is stored in the second storage device 13.

  Next, the printer controller 11 processes (job processing) the print job data received from the first storage device 12 (step S104), and this print job data is converted into error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past. It is determined whether or not they are similar (step S105). Specifically, in the job processing in step S104, the received print job data is divided into control commands and image data. A control command to be processed by the print engine is converted into an I / F command. On the other hand, the image data is rasterized (that is, developed in a work memory in the printer controller 11).

In step S105, the printer controller 11 stores the data characteristic information of the print job data being processed in the error print job data data in which an error has occurred in the past stored in the error database of the second storage device 13. The characteristic information is compared with each predetermined item one by one to determine whether or not they are similar. The items of the data characteristic information are the number of fonts (font type number), data size (file size), finishing item number (finishing combination number), and error command number (error command number).
For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the error database in the second storage device 13 is one in which n pieces of these data characteristic information are accumulated.

  In step S105, whether or not the print job data being processed is similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past is determined based on the above-described data of the print job data obtained during the print job data processing. Characteristic information, that is, the number of fonts, the data size, the number of finishing items, and the number of commands that cause an error, and each piece of data characteristic information of error print job data stored in the error database of the second storage device 13 This is done by sequentially comparing.

  Hereinafter, a specific processing procedure of the determination in step S105 of the flowchart in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in this determination, first, after clearing the counter (step S201), the number of fonts of the print job data currently being processed and one error print job stored (saved) in the error database. The number of data fonts is compared (step S202). If the former is greater than the latter (YES), 1 is added to the counter (step S203). If the former is less than or equal to the latter (NO), the counter value does not change.

  Subsequently, the data size of the print job data currently being processed is compared with the data size of the error print job data stored (saved) in the error database (step S204). If the former is larger than the latter (YES), 1 is added to the counter (step S205).

  Next, the number of finishing items of the print job data currently being processed is compared with the number of finishing items of the error print job data stored in the error database (step S206). If the former is greater than the latter (YES), 1 is added to the counter (step S207).

  Further, the number of commands causing an error in the currently processed print job data is compared with the number of commands causing an error in the error print job data stored in the error database (step S208). If the former is greater than the latter (YES), 1 is added to the counter (step S209).

  Finally, it is compared whether or not the counter value is 3 or more (step S210). If the counter value is 3 or more (YES), it is determined that the print job data currently being processed is similar to the error print job data (step S222). On the other hand, if the value of the counter is 2 or less (NO), it is determined that the print job data currently being processed is not similar to the error print job data (step S211).

  The above comparison is performed for all error print job data stored in the error database. If the print job data currently being processed is similar to any error print job data, the current print job is being processed. Is determined to be similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past.

Here, each item used as the data characteristic information of the print job data will be described.
(1) Number of fonts (number of font types)
The use of a large number of fonts may increase the print data and cause a memory overflow. Extract how many fonts were used when memory overflow occurred and save the number of fonts. Here, not only when the font type is different, but also when the font size is different, or when the style is different such as bold or italic, the number of fonts is calculated as different fonts. .

(2) Data size (file size)
The data size of the print job data in which an error has occurred due to an increase in data size or processing time due to complex image data is stored.
(3) Number of finishing items (number of finishing combinations)
The number of finishing items in which an error has occurred due to an increase in data size or processing time due to complicated finishing instructions is stored. Here, finishing means double-sided printing, watermark characters, layout (N-up), border line, scaling, weekly magazine binding, Fit to Paper, and the like.

(4) Number of commands that cause an error (number of error commands)
In the case of print job data using an illegal PCL (Printer Control Language) or PJL (Printer Job Language), the number of commands that cause an error, that is, the number of unsupported commands is stored. For example, when a double-sided printing command is transmitted even though the unit for double-sided printing is not provided on the digital copier 10, 1 is counted as the number of commands that cause an error. If an unsupported command is transmitted and the printer controller 11 instructs the digital copier 10 to perform the processing, the digital copier 10 may hang up.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, if the result of the comparison in step S105 is that the currently processed print job data is similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past ( YES), the print job data saved in the second storage device 13 is saved at the end of each print job data stored in the input order in the first storage device 12 Is deleted (step S106). Since this print job data is processed again thereafter, this copy may be left without being deleted. In this case, when the print job data is processed again, it is not necessary to store the print job data in the second storage device 13 again in step S103.

  Next, it is determined whether there is new print job data (step S107). If there is no new print job data (YES), the process returns to step S103, and the processes of the above steps are repeated for the first print job data in the print job data stored in the first storage device 12. On the other hand, if there is new print job data (NO), this new print job data is located at the end of the unprocessed print job data, and the print job determined to be similar to the error print job data The print job data in the first storage device 12 is rearranged so that the data is positioned after the new print job data (step S111). Thereafter, the process returns to step S103, and the processes of the above steps are repeated for the first print job data in the print job data stored in the first storage device 12.

  If the result of the comparison in step S105 is that the currently processed print job data is not similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past (NO), this print job data is processed as it is. In this case, it is first determined whether an error has occurred (step S108). If an error occurs (YES), the printer controller 11 generates an error from the copy of the print job data stored in the second storage device 13 and the number of fonts, data size, number of finishing items, and the like. The number of commands (the number of commands not supported by the printer controller 11) is extracted, and these are added to the error database shown in FIG. 6A as data characteristic information of new error print job data (step S112). ). Thereafter, the print job data in which an error has occurred is deleted, and a copy of the print job data stored in the second storage device 13 is deleted (step S113), and the current process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S108 that no error has occurred (NO), the command is converted and the print job data obtained by rasterizing the image data is transmitted to the copier (step S109). Thereafter, the print job data copied to the second storage device 13 is deleted (step S110), and the current process is terminated.

  As described above, in the printing system according to the first embodiment, when processing print job data transmitted from the client computer 20 and received by the digital copier 10, the print job data may cause an error. If so, the processing of the print job data is postponed. In other words, the priority of processing is lowered so that this print job data is processed for the first time when there is no other unprocessed print job data or print job data for which there is no possibility of occurrence of an error, The process is postponed.

  As described above, in the printing system or the digital copier 10 according to the first embodiment, it is determined whether the print job data to be processed is similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past. If the print job data is processed, the processing order of the print job data is changed, so that the print job data that is less likely to cause an error is preferentially processed. Therefore, even if an error occurs in a certain print job, many other print job data are not accumulated in the digital copier 10, and the frequency of obstructing other print jobs can be kept low. Therefore, even if an error occurs in a certain print job, it is possible to prevent the execution of other print jobs from being hindered as much as possible.

(Modification of Embodiment 1)
As described above, in the printing system or the digital copier 10 according to the first embodiment, the print job data currently being processed is compared with all error print job data stored in the database in the determination in step S105 in FIG. Although the presence or absence of similarity is determined, such processing takes time. Therefore, this determination may be performed by the following simple method.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, data characteristic information of one typical error print job data is stored in the error database of the second storage device 13, and the print job data currently being processed is stored. Is compared with this representative error print job data. If two or more items among the four items of the data characteristic information are similar, it is determined that the print job data being processed is similar to error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past.

Each item used as data characteristic information of the print job data in this case will be described.
(1) Number of fonts (number of font types)
Use of a large number of fonts may increase the print data and cause a memory overflow. Extract how many fonts were used when memory overflow occurred, save the number of the second font from the top, and update. In FIG. 6B, the number of fonts is “20”. Also in this case, the number of fonts is calculated assuming that the fonts are different not only when the font types are different, but also when the font sizes are different, or when the styles are different, such as bold or italic.

(2) Data size (file size)
The second one from the top of the data size in which an error has occurred due to an increase in data size or processing time due to complex image data is saved and updated. In FIG. 6B, the data size is “30000 KB”.
(3) Number of finishing items Save the second item from the top of the number of finishing items that caused an error due to an increase in data size or processing time due to complicated finishing instructions. Here, finishing means double-sided printing, watermark characters, layout (N-up), border line, scaling, weekly magazine binding, Fit to Paper, and the like. In FIG. 6B, the number of finishing items is “3”.

(4) Number of commands in error (number of error commands)
In the case of print job data using an illegal PCL (Printer Control Language) or PJL (Printer Job Language), an error command, that is, the number of unsupported commands is stored. In FIG. 6B, the number of commands is “3”.

Thus, as a result of the comparison in step S105, if there are no two or more items similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past, the print job data is processed as it is. If there are two or more, this print job data is saved at the end of the first storage device 12 and a copy of the print job data in the second storage device 13 is deleted. Other points are the same as those in the first embodiment.
According to this modification, the determination process of whether or not the print job data currently being processed is similar to the error print job data in step S105 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is simplified, and the time required for the determination process Is shortened.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, since the basic configuration and function of the printing system according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in order to avoid duplication of description, the following mainly describes the first embodiment. Different points will be explained. The system configuration of the printing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the printing system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, a processing method of print job data by the digital copier 10 according to the second embodiment or a processing operation of the printer controller 11 of the digital copier 10 will be described. As described above, in the first embodiment, while performing job processing (step S104), it is determined whether the print job data currently being processed is similar to the error print job data (step S105). .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, whether or not the print job data to be processed this time is similar to the error print job data before the job processing (step S104 ′) is performed. A determination process is performed (step S105 ′). In the second embodiment, the first storage device 12 spools the print job sequence, and the second storage device 13 holds an error information database. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, steps that are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the printing system or the digital copier 10 according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, whether the print job data to be processed is similar to the error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past is determined. If they are determined to be similar, the print job data that is unlikely to cause an error is preferentially processed by changing the processing order of the print job data. Therefore, even if an error occurs in a certain print job, it is possible to prevent the execution of other print jobs from being hindered as much as possible.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system including a digital copier (image processing apparatus) according to the present invention connected to a plurality of client computers. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the printer controller of the digital copier according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart (subroutine) showing in detail the operation of the printer controller in step S105 of the flowchart shown in FIG. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows the transition of the storage state of print job data when there is no print job data similar to the print job data in which the error has occurred in the past. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows the transition of the storage state of print job data when the process of the print job data JOB-1 similar to the print job data in which the error has occurred in the past is postponed. . (A), (b) is a figure which shows the data characteristic information of the error print job in which the error generate | occur | produced in the past. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printer controller of the digital copier concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 digital copier, 11 printer controller, 12 first storage device, 13 second storage device, 15 network line, 16 cable line, 20 client computer, 21 printer driver, 30 client computer, 31 printer driver.

Claims (5)

Processes the received print job data has a field picture processor you output an image corresponding to the print job data,
A storage device capable of storing a plurality of received print job data and storing data characteristic information of error print job data in which an error has occurred in the past;
A printer controller that sequentially processes the print job data stored in the storage device and controls the storage device,
The printer controller
When sequentially processing unprocessed print job data, in the process of processing the print job data, data characteristic information including the number of fonts, the data size, the number of finishing items or the number of error commands as an item is extracted, and the data characteristics The item of information is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data depending on whether or not the error is more likely to occur than the corresponding item of the data characteristic information of the error print job data stored in the storage device. Whether or not
An image processing apparatus, wherein when the data characteristic information of the print job data is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data, the processing of the print job data is postponed.   The storage device includes a first storage device and a second storage device, the first storage device stores received print job data, and the second storage device stores an error print job. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data characteristic information of data is stored.   When the printer controller processes unprocessed print job data stored in the first storage device, the print controller copies the print job data and stores it in the second storage device, and processes the print job data. When an error occurs, data characteristic information is extracted from a copy of the print job data stored in the second storage device, and the data characteristic information is used as data characteristic information of new error print job data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is stored in a storage device.   The printer controller determines whether or not the data characteristic information of the print job data is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data while executing processing of unprocessed print job data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus.   The printer controller determines whether or not the data characteristic information of the print job data is similar to the data characteristic information of the error print job data before executing the processing of the unprocessed print job data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured.

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