JP5696744B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing system, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing technique, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing system, and a program for converting a data system and efficiently executing a printing process.

  In commercial applications, it is necessary to print invoices, invoices and other forms at high speed and in large quantities. Conventionally, a host computer including a mainframe computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a mainframe) is used to execute a large amount of form printing at high speed. In many cases, the host computer processes data to be output in a form and outputs it as a printed form in the form of line data, which is an output type such as a line printer.

  The technique of using a line printer when outputting print data from a host computer including the main frame described above provides high-speed printability. However, the output by the line printer has a problem in that the print quality is limited and the compatibility with a wide variety of form data is limited.

  On the other hand, in recent years, the performance of page printers using image forming technology such as so-called electrophotography has been improved with the progress of information processing technology and the increase in the speed and capacity of network infrastructure. Therefore, instead of the dedicated line printer described above, a page printer that is an image forming apparatus using electrophotography can be used for output from a host computer. Such a page printer has a network function, transmits and receives data via Ethernet (registered trademark) upon request, and can transfer data via the Internet, etc. : A page printer referred to as Multi-Function Peripheral). Also, page printers that can perform page printing at high speed are commercially available as page printers, and although their output performance does not reach that of line printers, they are sufficiently high-speed and large-capacity printing. Is possible.

  Various systems can be assumed for the line data from the host computer that can be processed by the image forming apparatus. The first system is a system in which the main frame directly outputs data in a data system that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus directly prints the form. Among the higher-level computers, the mainframe, in particular, the mainframe manufacturer, the so-called mainframer, implements its own OS, and programming languages such as COBOL, PL-1, FORTRAN, PASCAL, C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), etc. By executing the business application described in (2), the form data and the like are created and output to the line printer. Modifying the implementation of the mainframe itself for the purpose of outputting the output from the mainframe to the page printer is costly and may cause a risk that the core business will be suspended during the maintenance. There is.

  From such a point, a second system using an image processing server that executes data system conversion between the main frame and the image forming apparatus has been proposed. In the second system, the output from the mainframe uses the output API (Application Program Interface) currently held by the mainframe as it is without modifying the programming configuration of the mainframe. The image processing server receives line data from the main frame and converts it into a data system that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus, and then passes it to the image forming apparatus to execute printing.

  Conventional image processing servers often use an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark) that has a proven track record in processing line data, and are used for a specific image forming apparatus. It uses a server that implements an emulation program, and is often expensive.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus is a page printer dedicated to the main frame, and the versatility of the image forming apparatus is also impaired. Further, when the page printer is exclusively used for the mainframe, the user must prepare a backup printer so that the work is not stopped even during maintenance of the dedicated page printer.

  Since the backup printer must use the server, the user needs to redundantly arrange high-cost output systems having almost the same functions. As a result, the operation efficiency of the backup printer is reduced, and more efficient output from the mainframe is not possible. Furthermore, even if there is no output from the mainframe or there is a page printer that has sufficient capacity, if only the dedicated printer executes printing, jobs cannot be distributed among page printers. There was also a problem of lack of flexibility in terms of cost and business supportability.

  For example, as a technique for configuring the second system described above, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-178383 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-054832 (Patent Document 2), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-280857. (Patent Document 3). Patent Documents 1 to 3 all disclose that form data from a mainframe or a host computer is output to a page printer. However, although Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose that the print data sent from the host computer is emulated in a format that can be output by the page printer, the print data received from the mainframe can be distributed while distributing the job load. It does not disclose a technique for printing with a page printer more efficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and the present invention efficiently controls printing of data sent from a computer having a function of requesting printing, such as a host computer such as a mainframe or a terminal computer. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing system, and a program.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art. In the present invention, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing system, and an image processing apparatus for outputting print data generated by a computer via a network are provided. A program is provided.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention
Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Control for generating print data according to printing conditions designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus. And executing control for generating print data that has been subjected to the processing determined by itself when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. Means,
Is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently control printing of data sent from a computer having a function of requesting printing, such as a host computer such as a mainframe or a terminal computer.

The figure which showed the hardware block 100 of the image processing system 100 of this embodiment portable. The figure which showed the software block diagram 200 of the image processing system 100 shown in FIG. An embodiment of an image processing method executed by the image processing server 120 of this embodiment will be described. The flowchart of the process of step S310 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a printer list 500 used in the processing of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of processing executed by the image processing system according to the embodiment. The figure which showed embodiment of the data flow 700 in the image processing system of this embodiment. The figure which showed embodiment of the form printed matter 800 produced in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. FIG. 1 shows a hardware block of an image processing system 100 of this embodiment. The image processing system 100 is configured to include a main frame 110, a server 120, and a plurality of page printers 140, 150, and 160 that function as an exemplary host computer. The main frame 110 implements a database application such as a relational database and object-oriented database for executing form creation and a business application such as form creation, and receives data from a client.

  In response to a request from the client, the main frame 110 outputs print data for printing data registered in the relational database, such as a bill, a quote, and an order form. The print data output by the main frame 110 is line data and is not in a format that can be output by a page printer as it is.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the main frame 110 sends the produced print data to the server 120 using a file transfer protocol. The image processing server 120 analyzes the print data sent as line data, and generates print data that can be interpreted by the page printer from the print data. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image processing server 120 once sends print data to the printer linker 130. The printer linker 130 provides a function for improving a utility when the received print data is output by the page printers 140 to 160, and is accessed from, for example, a terminal computer 190 described later in an open environment. The printer linker 130 can transfer the printer data received from the image processing server 120, and further uses the option setting specified by the user and various data included in the print data to add comment processing, stapling processing, collation processing, Control for tint block processing is executed.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the printer linker 130 is configured as a module separate from the image processing server 120. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the printer linker 130 can be configured as a workstation or a server. it can. In another embodiment, the image processing server 120 can be implemented as one functional module.

  After the setting for the option processing described above is completed, the printer linker 130 transfers the print data to each of the page printers 140 to 160, and outputs the print data created as line data by the main frame as a printed form from the page printer. I am letting. The printer linker 130 is not described in detail any more, but is implemented using functions of a printer server or the like that has been known so far in response to a specific request for a system configuration such as a personal computer, workstation, or server. be able to.

  Furthermore, in another embodiment of the image processing system 100 of this embodiment, the image processing server 120 directly uses a plurality of page printers 140 to 160 using USB (Universal Serial Bus), directly using USB-HUB or the like. The page printers 140 to 160 may be controlled.

  The page printers 140 to 160 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are configured as an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a so-called electrophotographic method. In the present embodiment, page printers 140 and 150 dedicated to high-speed printing can be employed as the page printers 140 to 160. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the multi-functional copying machine 160 equipped with functions such as a facsimile and an image reader, referred to as a so-called MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral), within a range that the amount of print data and the number of printed sheets allow. It can be set as a page printer to which print data is output.

  Since the main frame 110 is not the gist of the present embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the main frame 110 is PL-1, COBOL, PROLOG, FORTRAN, C, C ++, JAVA on a dedicated OS. A business application described by a program such as (registered trademark) is executed, and print data for form printing or the like is generated using data recorded in a relational database or the like. The print data is described in accordance with the standards of each main framer company in a dedicated description language including a job description language and a form description language of the print job in the main frame 110.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the image processing server 120 is implemented using a Windows (registered trademark) Server 200X as an OS, and is written in a programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), or the like. The print data from the main frame 110 or the terminal computer 190 is converted into print data to which page printers 140 to 160 can interpret, for example, a page description language (PDL) command added. In addition, in this embodiment, a server that implements UNIX (registered trademark) or LINUX (registered trademark) as an OS can also be used. However, provision of a WYSWYG environment and porting of a printer driver in a Windows (registered trademark) environment It is preferable to implement a Windows (registered trademark) Server series OS from the viewpoints of compatibility, multi-protocol compatibility at the network layer level such as NETBEUI, TCP / IP, and UDP / IP, and print quality.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a terminal computer 190 implemented as a personal computer or a workstation is connected to the image processing server 120. In addition to the main frame 110, the image processing server 120 receives print data from the terminal computer 190 and causes the page printers 140 to 160 to execute printing. The page printers 140 to 160 that have received the print request output print data as printed materials 170a to 170c in accordance with the specified printing conditions.

  In the image processing system 100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main frame 110, the image processing server 120, the printer linker 130, and the page printers 140 to 160 are interconnected by a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark). . As the communication infrastructure constituting the network, any known communication infrastructure such as telecommunications, optical communication, wireless communication, etc. can be used, and various communication protocols corresponding to the network infrastructure to be used are supported at the physical layer level. Can be used.

  Network protocols used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 include frames (data link layer level in the OSI basic reference model), NETBEUI, TCP / IP, NETBEUI over TCP / IP, and UDP that provide protocols at the transport layer level and higher. / IP etc. can be used. In this embodiment, in order to execute mutual backup processing of page printers while considering load distribution of the plurality of page printers 140 to 160, a network that provides a higher-order protocol higher than the transport layer as a network protocol Is preferably used to implement the image processing system 100.

  As the data transfer protocol, a data transfer protocol such as FTP or HTTP can be used, and a secure protocol such as FTPS or HTTPS can be appropriately employed according to a request for a security level.

  FIG. 2 shows a software block diagram 200 of the image forming system 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, only the modules related to the present embodiment are shown for the main frame 110. The main frame 110 has a business application 210 installed, creates print data in response to a request from a client, and stores the created print data in the print queue 212. The print data stored in the print queue 212 is transferred to the FTP client 214 by a first-in first-out method, and the print data is transferred to the image processing server 120 using the FTP protocol.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing server 120 implements functions as (1) an FTP server, (2) an emulator, and (3) an output controller. Hereinafter, functional blocks of the image processing server 120 will be described in more detail. The image processing server 120 includes an FTP server 220, an emulation control unit 222, an output control unit 230, and a driver management unit 240 in order to realize the functions (1) to (3) on the information processing apparatus. Consists of. The FTP server 220, the emulation control unit 222, the output control unit 230, and the driver management unit 240 described above develop the executable program and data in a storage space provided by the RAM included in the image processing server 120, and the central processing unit ( CPU) is implemented as each functional means by executing a program.

  The FTP server 220 functions as print data receiving means of this embodiment. The FTP server 220 is mounted on the image processing server 120 using an FTP transfer protocol defined in RFC959 or the like, and receives print data from the mainframe 110 using a file transfer protocol.

  Note that the mainframe 110 uses the Telnet protocol specified by RFC854 before sending the print data, and performs access authentication to ensure security. In another embodiment, when performing more secure file transfer, an FTPS server that uses the FTPS protocol defined in RFC2228 and RFC4217 can be implemented instead of the FTP server 220.

  When the FTP server 220 accepts the transfer of the print data, the FTP server 220 examines the transfer packet and determines the storage location of the print data from the path designation value. The FTP server 220 responds whether the received print data is sent from the mainframe 110, or can be sent to the page printer without emulation from the other terminal computer 190, Different processing is performed on the received transfer packet.

  When the FTP server 220 receives a transfer packet from the terminal computer 190, the FTP server 220 buffers the data in a FIFO buffer or the like without going through the emulation control unit 222, and then sends the payload of the transfer packet as an embodiment of the drawing component. The GDI (Graphics Display Interface) or DDI (Device Driver Interface) is called, image processing conforming to the OS is executed, EMF (Enhanced Meta-File) is created from the contents of the payload, and the driver management unit To 240. When there is a user-designated print driver, the driver management unit 240 calls the user-designated print driver to create RAW data, and requests output to the designated page printer via a spooler and a port monitor. Since processing from the terminal computer 190 is equivalent to the function of a normal printer server, further detailed description is omitted.

  The output control unit 230 monitors the processing state of the page printers 140 to 160 synchronously or asynchronously with the receipt of data to be printed, and prints the page printer corresponding to the condition specified by the user of the terminal computer 190 or printing at that time. A page printer that gives “Load”, which is an index value in a range suitable for processing the size of data to be processed, is determined, and an identification value that uniquely identifies the page printer to be output is set in the page printer designation variable. Note that the output control unit 230 can detect the status of the page printers 140 to 160 using various protocols. For this purpose, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used and the MIB of the page printer is used. The described data can be collected and the state of the page printers 140 to 160 can be recognized.

  When monitoring the status of the page printers 140 to 160, the output control unit 230 periodically polls asynchronously with receipt of print data, and should be used in advance before sending data to the driver management unit 240 described later. You can specify a printer. The output control unit 230 also manages the print output state of the page printer, and detects, for example, a data reception error or a print error using the SNMP protocol.

  The driver management unit 240 manages a plurality of printer drivers in order to control the plurality of page printers 140 to 160. In the preferred embodiment, the driver management unit 240 is implemented in the image processing server 120 as a virtual printer driver that can execute a plurality of printer driver functions. At this time, the driver management unit 240 is mounted on the image processing server 120 by assigning a dedicated port for the virtual printer driver and an output destination IP address, more specifically, an IP address of the printer linker 130.

  When the driver management unit 240 receives data to be printed, if there is a page printer designated by the user, the driver management unit 240 activates the printer driver corresponding to the user designation, and can receive the image metafile, for example, data received as an EMF file A page description language (PDL) command is added to the RAW data, and the RAW data is a specific format used by the general-purpose printer, and then the page printer 140 to which the RAW data is specified via the printer linker 130. To 160, and print output is executed.

  On the other hand, if the FTP server 220 inspects the transfer packet and determines that the path value specifying the storage location of the transfer file is a storage area indicating that emulation processing is required, print data is read from the payload of the transfer packet. For example, the print data 1, 2, 3,... Acquired in the memory device 250 configured as a FIFO buffer is registered by the first-in first-out method.

  The emulation control unit 222 manages a character processing unit 224, a form image acquisition unit 226, and an overlay processing unit 228. The emulation control unit 222 is called by the image processing server 120 after confirming that the print data is normally stored in the memory device 250, and further includes a character processing unit 224 and a form image acquisition unit 226 for executing emulation. And the overlay processing unit 228 are read to read the print data in the memory device 250 and execute the respective processes.

  The character processing unit 224 interprets font data used by the main frame by font data that can be interpreted by the image processing server 120 and the page printers 140 to 160, for example, the image processing server 120 such as JIS and SJIS and the page printers 140 to 160. Look up the character code association list etc. to the possible data system and execute the association.

  When the character processing unit 224 determines that the print data from the main frame includes a logo or an external character, the character processing unit 224 performs bitmap conversion and buffers the image data in an appropriate memory area.

  Further, the form image acquisition unit 226 checks the form identification value described in the print data and stores the form image specified by the form image identification value in an appropriate storage device, for example, a hard disk device. Read from 260 and buffer into appropriate memory area. Note that the form image uses the PostScript (registered trademark) or a page printer vendor specific page description language by interpreting the form description language (FSL) or the like when the image processing server 120 first receives the print data. Then, the emulation control unit 222 can create and store the image data such as PDF (Portable Document Format), bitmap, JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG in the hard disk device.

  If the form type is known in advance, the form may be created using an appropriate editor application and registered in the hard disk device in association with the form identification value as image data in the format described above. it can.

  The overlay processing unit 228 executes processing for creating character data and form images to create overlay data. The overlay processing unit 228 acquires a bitmap image created so as to correspond to the character data, the external character, and the logo converted by the character processing unit 224. The overlay processing unit 228 reads the form image acquired by the form image acquisition unit 226 from the buffering destination. Then, the overlay processing unit 228 executes a process of integrating the character data and the bitmap image on the form image and merging them as data, thereby integrating them as overlay data.

  In more detail, the overlay process expands the form image in the area specified by the paper size specified by the print data and the left, right, top, bottom, top and bottom margins, and places the character data corresponding to the entry position assigned to the form image. It is executed by the process. For the above-described overlay processing, a GDI module that is standardly installed in Windows (registered trademark) or the like can be used. The emulation control unit 222 shown in FIG. 2 functions as a manager unit that manages image processing, and the character processing unit 224 and the form image acquisition unit 226 overlay processing unit 228 function as a composer unit.

  In the embodiment to be described, the overlay processing unit 228 creates overlay data as an EMF file. The overlay processing unit 228 sends the created EMF file to the driver management unit 240 registered as a virtual printer driver. At this time, the EMP file is converted into a unique format, and then a PDL command is added by the driver management unit 240 to form RAW data and print data.

  Since the print data that can be output by the page printers 140 to 160 is output as RAW data from the print data sent from the main frame 110, the driver management unit 240 can be configured by selecting from a plurality of mounting forms. In the first embodiment of the driver control unit 240, after receiving the overlay data, the driver management unit 240 buffers the overlay data during the activation determination process of the printer drivers 240a to 240c set by the output control unit 230. Responsible for processing to supply overlay data to the activated printer driver.

  In the case of the embodiment, the driver management unit 240 acquires the unique identification value of the page printer registered in the page printer identification variable registered in advance by the output control unit 230, and the printer driver specified by the unique identification value. Is called and a process is executed.

  After determining the printer driver to be called, the driver management unit 240 passes the overlay data to the called printer driver, causes the PDL command to be added and conversion processing to RAW data, and creates print data. The produced print data is sent to the printer linker via a spooler and a port monitor.

  The printer linker 130 interprets the sent PDL, determines the user on-demand printing conditions, adds a PDL command for an optional function specified by the user, and transfers the print data to the page printer 140. Thus, the printed material 170a under the set printing conditions is produced. Note that PostScript (registered trademark) can be used as a PDL command that can be used in the present embodiment, and other vendor-specific languages can be adopted for the image forming apparatus. The transfer protocol used by the printer linker 130 may be the FTP protocol or the FTPS protocol. In another embodiment, when the transfer range from the printer linker 130 to the page printers 140 to 160 can be localized in the LAN, transfer at the data link layer level can be performed.

  In the case of this embodiment of the driver management unit 240, the driver management unit 240 recognizes the image processing server 120 as a single printer driver, and receives and buffers overlay data output from the overlay processing unit 228.

  Thereafter, the driver management unit 240 refers to the value of the page printer designation variable set by the output control unit 230 and acquires the function name of the printer driver that should request printing. Thereafter, the driver management unit 240 calls the printer driver as a function of the driver management unit 240 using the acquired function name, and executes processing adapted to the page printer.

  The driver management unit 240 is described in a programming language such as C, C ++, C #, for example, and in a more preferred embodiment, executes a function call of a printer driver described in the C language. The printer driver activated by the function call reads out the buffered overlay data, executes processing such as addition of a PDL command, and then can be used by a printer that is not compatible with Windows (registered trademark) by the print processor. Data is generated and output to the outside of the image processing server 120.

  The produced print data is sent to the associated page printers 140 to 160 via the printer linker 130. In another embodiment, in the case of a print request from the terminal computer 190, a printer driver is registered separately from the driver management unit 240 and directly from the image processing server 120 without using the printer linker 130. Print data can be sent to the IP address of the designated page printer.

  FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an image processing method executed by the image processing server 120 of this embodiment. The processing in FIG. 3 starts from step S300, and in step S301, the FTP server 220 receives a transfer file including data to be printed. In step S302, the storage path name of the transfer file is inspected, and it is determined from the storage path name whether the transfer source is the mainframe 110 or the terminal computer 190. If it is determined in step S302 that the transfer source is the terminal computer 190 and the transfer file is not a transfer file from the mainframe 110 (no), the process branches to step S309, and the unique identification value of the printer driver specified by the user is determined. Is used to call the corresponding printer driver to start the process, and the process ends in step S310.

  Note that the printer driver called in step S309 may be a printer driver managed by the driver management unit 240, or a printer driver registered in the image processing server 120 separately from the driver management unit 240. Also good.

  If it is determined in step S302 that the transfer file has been sent from the main frame (yes), the emulation control unit 222 is activated in step S303 to start emulation of print data from the main frame. To start emulation, the character processing unit 224 and the form image acquisition unit 226 are called to execute parallel processing.

  In step S304, it is determined whether the character data includes a logo or an external character. If the character data includes a logo or an external character, the logo or the external character is converted into an image such as a bitmap. In step S305, other character data is converted into a code interpretable by the page printer, and the character data is buffered. On the other hand, in step S305, the form identification value of the form image is inspected, and the form image specified by the form identification value is acquired and buffered. In step S306, the overlay processing unit 228 is called, character data, a bitmap, and a form image are read from the buffer memory, and the character data and bitmap are overlaid and integrated on the form image to create an EMF file and a driver management unit. The data is stored in a buffer memory managed by 240.

  In step S307, the driver management unit 240 checks the value of the page printer designation variable. In step S308, the inspection result is referred to, a function is called for the printer driver corresponding to the unique identification value set in the page printer designation variable, and the process is started. In step S310, the process is ended.

  The output control unit 230 sets the unique identification value registered in the page printer designation variable value. The value of the page printer specification variable is used when the remaining capacity of the page printer is determined to be insufficient for processing new print data, or when the page printer itself is out of paper, the toner is insufficient, other problems occur, maintenance For some reason, a unique identification value that uniquely identifies a page printer that should be recommended as having appropriate processing capability at that time is set.

  The printer driver in charge of processing that has received the EMF file by implementing the processing shown in FIG. 3 converts the EMF file into RAW data, and further creates a print data by adding a PDL command or the like to the image processing server. Print data is sent to the outside of the printer 120, addressed to the printer assigned to the main frame 110 or the printer assigned to the terminal computer 190.

  In addition, by adopting the process shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to execute an optimal print process in response to a print request from both the main frame 110 and the terminal computer 190. Also, for print data from the mainframe 110, a page printer having an optimum processing capability is automatically allocated corresponding to the amount of data to be printed at that time and the issuer of the print request, and a print output is requested. Therefore, the printing efficiency can be improved, which is a preferred embodiment.

  In addition to the above-described embodiment, a printer driver is set as a default for the driver management unit 240, and a printer driver assigned to the main frame 110 in response to receipt of an EMF file to be printed by the printer driver itself. In the second embodiment, it is possible to determine whether to perform the processing in the above or to cause any printer driver assigned to the terminal computer 190 to switch the processing.

  In another embodiment of the driver management unit 240, it is necessary to add processing codes for determining the suitability as a printer driver individually to the printer for each printer driver installed in the image processing server 120. It also increases the compatibility of existing printer drivers and the number of programming codes that need to be modified. However, it is possible to efficiently process print requests from the mainframe 110 and the terminal computer 190, and the mounting format of the driver management unit 240 is appropriately selected and adopted according to a specific application or a user request. be able to.

  The second embodiment can be said to be a preferred embodiment when the image processing server 120 directly manages a plurality of page printers using USB-HUB or the like without using the printer linker 130.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a page printer designation variable setting process executed by the output control unit 230. The processing in FIG. 4 can be executed by the output control unit 230 using data such as MIB. The process in FIG. 4 starts from step S400, and in step S401, the size of data to be printed next time (RAW data conversion) is calculated. In step S402, the capacity status of the page printer includes the remaining memory capacity collected from the MIB, the print output status (given different values Print set to be small during printing and large during printing standby), the page printer Calculation is performed using standard capacity such as PPM and the size of data to be printed next time.

  In the calculation, for example, Load = (size of data) / (remaining memory capacity + PPM value + Print) is set to an appropriate value so that the print job is not excessively transferred only to the page printer having the maximum processing capacity. It is possible to set so as to preferentially select a page printer which is given and is not executing printing. In this embodiment, the page printer can be switched in consideration of the processing capability of the page printer including printing or standby.

  In another embodiment, an allocation table in which the size of data to be printed and the page printer responsible for the size of the data is allocated for each processing capacity of the page printer is created, and the allocation table is looked up. Therefore, an optimal page printer can be determined as a page printer to be recommended. In this embodiment, the current operating state of the page printer is not reflected, but it is possible to reliably specify a page printer that is optimal for the size of data to be printed, and to perform more appropriate load distribution. .

  In step S403, it is determined whether or not there is a more appropriate page printer for the print data to be printed at that time than the default page printer by referring to the calculation result.

  If it is determined in step S403 that there is a more appropriate page printer (yes), the printer controller managed by the output control unit 230 is referred to in step S405, and the page printer identification value, IP address, Gets a value that uniquely identifies the page printer, such as an assigned port number, driver file name, and driver function name. Thereafter, the acquired unique identification value of the page printer is set in the page printer designation variable, and the process is terminated in step S406.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the default page printer has sufficient remaining capacity (no), in step S404, the printer name, IP address, assigned port number, driver file name of the default page printer, After setting the driver function name and the like in the page printer designation variable, the process ends in step S406.

  FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a printer list 500 used in the processing of FIG. The printer list 500 includes a field 510 for registering the page printer identification value, a field 520 for registering the IP address (fixed) of the page printer, a field 530 for registering the assigned port value assigned to the printer driver by the image processing server 120, and A configuration including a field 540 in which a value such as a printer driver name assigned to the port is registered can be employed.

  When selecting a page printer, the image processing server 120 compares the size of data to be printed with the processing capability of the page printer, and a page printer identification value that uniquely identifies a page printer having an index value in the optimum range; The page printer designation variable for designating the printer driver for processing the overlay data is set with reference to the IP address, the assigned port number, and the like. The printer driver set in the page printer designation variable receives overlay data, adds a PDL command and the like, and further converts the EMF file into RAW data via a print processor and a spooler to create print data.

  Thereafter, the printer driver that is further processing acquires the printer name or IP address of the page printer from the printer list 500. In the embodiment to be described, for example, the print data and the IP address of the page printer are addressed to the IP address of the printer linker. Is sent in a payload or packet, and a print process is requested. The printer linker 130 receives the packet, adds PDL for option processing to the print data, sends it to the spooler, sends the print data to the acquired page printer, and executes printing. . In the printer list 500 shown in FIG. 5, the field 530 for registering the assigned port is an option field, and it is not necessary to provide it if the assigned port need not be used for processing.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of processing executed by the image processing system according to this embodiment. The main frame 110 functions as an FTP client, and when printing data is output, sends a user ID, a password, etc. to the FTP server 220 using the Telnet protocol in step S600 and requests authentication. Upon receipt of the authentication request, the FTP server 220 generates a thread for processing the request, sends the user ID and password acquired from the payload of the authentication packet received in step S601 to the request authentication unit 600, and requests authentication. . The request authentication unit 600 can be implemented as a functional module of the image processing server 120, or can be a module such as another authentication server.

  In step S602, the FTP server 220 receives the authentication result from the request authentication unit 600. In the following description, it is assumed that the authentication result returns the value of true. The FTP server 220 that has received the authentication result issues a data transmission permission to the mainframe 110 in step S603. When the main frame 110 receives permission to send data, the print data is read out from the print queue by the first-in first-out method and transferred to the FTP server 220 in step S604. In step S605, the storage location of the print data is determined, and it is determined whether emulation processing is necessary. In the described embodiment, it is determined that emulation processing is necessary.

  During this time, the main frame 110 is responsible for forwarding the transfer packet in step S606. The FTP server 220 detects the EOF of the transfer file from the mainframe 110, a delimiter indicating the end of the file, and when the received data is inspected, the FTP server 220 notifies the mainframe 110 of the completion of the file transfer in step S607. When the FTP client 214 of the main frame 110 receives the notification in step S607, the processing is terminated. If print data remains in the print queue 212, the main frame 110 issues an authentication request again in step S624, and the authentication process by the FTP server 220 is repeated in step S625.

  On the other hand, the FTP server 220 determines in step S605 that emulation processing is necessary, and calls the emulation control unit 222 in step S608 to start processing. When the file transfer is completed, the emulation control unit 222 calls the character processing unit 226 in step S609 to execute conversion processing and bitmap conversion of the character code included in the print data. At the same time, the emulation control unit 222 calls the form image acquisition unit 224 to acquire and buffer the form image from a hard disk device or the like with reference to the form identification value included in the print data.

  In step S613, it is determined whether or not the character data includes an external character and a logo, a conversion method to a bitmap is called, and processing is executed. When the processing of the character processing unit 226 is completed and generation of character data, a logo, and the like is completed, the character processing unit 226 notifies the emulation control unit 222 in step S614. In step S615, the emulation control unit 222 calls the overlay processing unit 228 and requests character data, bitmap, and form image synthesis processing.

  When called from the emulation control unit 222, the overlay control unit 228 performs overlay processing by expanding character data, a bitmap, and a form image into a print size in step S616, and generates overlay data. The overlay data is further converted into an EMF file by the overlay processing unit 228 and stored in a suitable buffer memory for executing the following processing.

  When the creation of the EMF file is completed, the overlay processing unit 228 notifies the emulation control unit 222 of the end of EMF file creation in step S617. Upon receiving the notification, the emulation control unit 222 instructs the driver management unit 240 to notify the page printer capability state in step S618. In step S619, the driver management unit 240 executes capability calculation processing and sets a value that uniquely identifies the page printer in the page printer designation variable. Further, the driver management unit 240 notifies the emulation control unit 222 that the update of the page printer designation variable is completed in step S620.

  The emulation notification unit 222 instructs the overlay processing unit 228 to send overlay data in step S621. Thereafter, the overlay processing unit 228 sends the overlay data to the driver management unit 240 in step S622, thereby requesting the production of the print data as RAW data. After adding a PDL command for performing various print settings to the print data, the driver management unit 240 sends the overlay data including the PDL command to the print processor and the spooler in step S623, and sends the RAW data. The print data is sent to the outside of the image processing server 120 via the port monitor.

  When the output control unit 230 updates the value of the page printer setting variable asynchronously with the reception of the print data, the page to which the print processing should be requested when the overlay data is received from the overlay processing unit 228. The value of the printer specification variable is fixed. When this embodiment is adopted, the sequence from step S618 to step S620 can be omitted, and the sequence can immediately be shifted to the sequence in step S621 to call the printer driver. Such an embodiment is effective in an embodiment in which the output control unit 230 polls the capability states of the page printers 140 to 160 asynchronously with print data processing and accumulates information using the MIB or the like.

  The processing sequence of FIG. 6 is continued until no print data is stored in the print queue 212 of the main frame 110, thereby enabling efficient use of print resources while distributing the processing load of the page printer.

  In an embodiment in which a page printer can be specified by a user command, an output destination corresponding to the user's environment can be specified, and output data can be more easily used in the main frame 110. In this embodiment, as described above, the emulation control unit 222 can provide an API (Application Program Interface) that allows connection to a plurality of page printers instead of a dedicated page printer. High expandability can be provided to the image processing system including the image processing system.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a data flow 700 in the image processing system of this embodiment. The business application 710 implemented by the mainframe 110 extracts data such as a relational database or an object-oriented database using a SQL (Structured Query Language) statement or an object manipulation language (OML), and then frames, ruled lines, etc. Print data is generated as form data such as invoices, invoices, purchase orders, etc. together with form data including The form data is created as line data and stored in the print queue 212 mounted on the output module of the main frame 110 or the like.

  The print data in the print queue 212 is transferred from the FTP client 214 mounted on the main frame to the image processing server 120 using the FTP or FTPS protocol. FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the transferred print data 720. The print data sent from the main frame 110 is created using JSL and FSL. JSL is a control language used by the mainframe for job control, and FSL is a description language for describing forms. When the print data 720 is received by the image processing server 120, the print data 720 is stored in a memory device 250 such as a FIFO buffer, and waits to be read by a first-in first-out method.

  The emulation control unit 222 passes the print data stored in the memory device 250 to the character processing unit 224 and the form image acquisition unit 226 to execute processing such as conversion of print data and extraction of form data, and is described in FSL. Form data and character data are processed separately and expanded to create a data structure 730. The character code of the data structure 730 is converted by the character processing unit 224 into a general-purpose code such as SJIS, JIS, or ASCII that can be processed by the page printer. Each character data is subjected to a paging process in a page format described in JSL.

  On the other hand, the form image acquisition unit 226 acquires the value “AAA” of FORM = AAA from the data extracted as DJDE from the print data 720, and reads the form image 750 specified by the value “AAA”. The overlay processing unit 228 performs overlay processing on the form image 750 for each page of the data structure 730 to generate overlay data 740.

  The created overlay data is converted into an EMF file by the overlay processing unit 228 and passed to the driver management unit 240. The driver management unit 240 activates an appropriate printer driver, passes an EMF file, adds a printer control language such as PDL, and further generates RAW format print data used by a device other than a non-Windows (registered trademark) printer. Print data is sent to the page printer 140 for print processing later. In this embodiment, the print data is sent to the printer linker 130. However, in other embodiments, the print data can be sent directly to the page printers 140 to 160. Whether or not to use the function of the printer linker 130 can be appropriately set in consideration of a user request of the image forming system 100, a specific application, and the like.

  For example, when print data is sent directly to the page printer 140, the print data is described in the payload of the TCP / IP packet, the IP address of the page printer 140 is described in the destination address instead of the payload, Ethernet (registered trademark), etc. The data is sent to a network 180 such as a LAN, and print data is sent to the page printer 140. As a print data transfer protocol, NetBIOS over TCP / IP may be used, and print data transfer may be executed using a printer name or the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image forming server can function as an FTP client for the printer linker 130 or the page printers 140 to 160, and the printer linker 130 or the page printers 140 to 160 can function in a cascade manner as an FTP server. In the case of this embodiment, file transfer between the image forming server 120 and the page printers 140 to 160 is executed by the FTPS protocol, whereby an encryption-based secure connection between the main frame 110 and the page printers 140 to 160 is performed. It can be configured by file transfer, and higher reliability can be provided. In addition, by configuring the image forming system 100 by combining the access control on the page printer side, the reliability can be further improved, and the printing output of the main frame 110 can be made more efficient and highly reliable. can do.

  FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a printed form 800 produced in this embodiment. The form printed matter shown in FIG. 8 is generated by outputting print data generated by overlaying character data at an appropriate position on the form image 810 from the page printer. The form printed matter 800 shown in FIG. 8 is created by forming fields 820 defined by ruled lines in the form image 810, and entering item attributes 830 and numerical data in each field.

  In the present embodiment, the output from the main frame 110 can be output to an image forming apparatus such as a page printer via a more versatile network, and the physical configuration of the image forming system 100 including the main frame 110 can be realized. On the other hand, it becomes possible to provide more flexibility. In the present embodiment, it is possible to optimize the output destination with respect to the main frame 110 in consideration of the designation by the user and the remaining capacity of the image forming apparatus, and more efficient form printing. Is possible.

  In yet another embodiment, an image forming apparatus such as a page printer can be selected flexibly. The image forming apparatus can perform user ID / password authentication, authentication using an IC card, access authentication using a fingerprint or palm print, and the like. Thus, the print data can be stored in a storage device such as a hard disk device without being output as a printed matter until it is authenticated as a valid user.

  According to the other embodiment, in addition to an image forming apparatus installed in a dedicated printer room, for example, an image forming apparatus installed on a normal office floor is designated as an output destination in consideration of its remaining capacity. Thus, the accessibility to the output of the main frame 110 can be improved. In the present invention, the host computer has been described as a mainframe computer for the purpose of concrete description. The present invention can be applied to any computer that can function as a host computer even with a personal computer, a workstation, or a server having an LPT port, and can request printing by optimizing the data format as appropriate.

  The above functions of the present embodiment can be realized by a device-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like. It can be stored in a device-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, MO, flexible disk, EEPROM, EPROM and distributed, and can be transmitted via a network in a format that other devices can.

  Although the present embodiment has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like can be conceived by those skilled in the art. It can be changed, and any aspect is within the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image processing system, 110 ... Main frame, 120 ... Image processing server, 130 ... Printer linker, 140-160 ... Page printer, 170a-170c ... Printed matter, 180 ... Network, 190 ... Terminal computer, 210 ... Business application, 212 ... Print queue, 214 ... FTP client, 220 ... FTP server, 222 ... Emulation control unit, 224 ... Character processing unit, 226 ... Form image acquisition unit, 228 ... Overlay processing unit, 230 ... Output control unit, 240 ... Driver management unit , 250 ... memory device, 260 ... form image storage unit

JP 2004-178383 A JP 2004-054832 A JP 2003-280857 A

Claims (14)

Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Control for generating print data according to printing conditions designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus. And executing control for generating print data that has been subjected to the processing determined by itself when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. Means,
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The control unit, when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus, print data that has been subjected to processing determined by data analysis based on the print target data The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control for generating the image is executed.   The control means performs the overlay processing of the form image determined by the data analysis based on the print target data when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control for generating the performed print data is executed. Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the print information is output to an output destination designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus, Control means for outputting the print data to the output destination determined by itself when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The control unit outputs the print data to the output destination determined based on the size of the print data when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.   When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus, the control unit sets the output destination determined based on the capability of the image forming apparatus that is the target of the output destination. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image processing apparatus outputs print data. An image processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
Receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When it is determined in the determining step that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the print condition specified by the user in the first information processing apparatus is set based on the print target data. If the transfer source of the print target data is determined to be the second information processing apparatus by the determination step, the modification processing determined by itself based on the print target data is generated. Generating generated print data; and
The information processing apparatus executes the method. An image processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
Receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When it is determined in the determining step that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the print data is output to an output destination designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus; Outputting the print data to the output destination determined by itself when it is determined that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus by the determining step;
The information processing apparatus executes the method. A first information processing apparatus, a second information processing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that performs print control of print target data received from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus via a network. An image processing system to be connected,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus performs control to generate print data according to a print condition specified by the user. A control unit that executes control to generate print data that has been subjected to the processing determined by itself when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. When,
An image processing system comprising: An image processing system in which an image processing apparatus that performs print control of print target data received from a first information processing apparatus or a second information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that prints print data are connected via a network. There,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus performs control to generate print data according to a print condition specified by the user. A control unit that executes control to generate print data that has been subjected to the processing determined by itself when the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus. When,
An image processing system comprising: A first information processing apparatus, a second information processing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that performs print control of print target data received from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus via a network. An image processing system to be connected,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the print information is output to an output destination designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus, Control means for outputting the print data to the output destination determined by itself when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus;
An image processing system comprising: Image processing in which an image processing apparatus that performs print control of print target data received from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus and a plurality of image forming apparatuses that print print data are connected via a network A system,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Print data receiving means for receiving print target data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print target data;
Determining means for determining whether the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus;
When the determination unit determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the first information processing apparatus, the print data is transmitted to an output destination designated by the user in the first information processing apparatus, Control means for transmitting print data to the output image forming apparatus determined by itself when the determination means determines that the transfer source of the print target data is the second information processing apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An image processing system comprising printing means for printing print data received from the image processing apparatus.   An apparatus-executable program for an information processing apparatus to execute each step according to claim 7. An apparatus-executable program for an information processing apparatus to execute each step according to claim 8.

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